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I was hoping to finish Steamworld Heist over the weekend so I could make a start and binge on Zelda yesterday (my birthday!) but it's been a tougher game than expected and a lot more enjoyable for it too. Seriously good stuff.
Sooo this weekend I hope to start Zelda. Your praise has been noted xtal and I can't wait.
With regards to the visuals I'd say it's leaning towards the Wind Waker's stylisation which, for me, is a huge plus. Games that don't aim for realism I find age much more gracefully.
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I don't think I've ever bought a console for a single game, though a single game has usually been the tipping point. Like xtal, I'd have been happy with my PS3 if Demon's Souls were the only game I ever owned for it, and indeed Demon's Souls was the final decisionmaker. When added to the already-strong gravity exerted by Valkyria Chronicles and curiosity about Uncharted, the pull was strong enough, and I've never felt any regret.
Still, I can understand the idea of buying a console for one game. Let's be honest, sometimes there are games that are worth nearly any investment to play; which games they are vary from person to person. Hearing Breath of the Wild compared to Half-Life and Dark Souls is inspiring to me. It's the essential-ness of these games that are under discussion; obviously I doubt gameplay in BoW has much in common with Half-Life's corridor shooting, and I'd be surprised to hear it was nihilistic and bleak in the way of Dark Souls. But those qualities aren't what made those games great. In most cases something more nebulous and undefinable makes a game great, and if Breath of the Wild has that greatness, I sure do want to try it out.
As we've reflected elsewhere, this has been a crazy time. Not only have several big releases happened, they've been several big releases of big games -- Horizon is among the shortest at a fairly traditional 30-ish hours (much more serious explorers). Mass Effect Andromeda, despite all the bleah, is going to get my attention and that's 200 hours. Persona 5 is my current obsession and some sites are saying 500 hours for that. Breath of the Wild is one I don't usually include in my personal calculus just because I don't have the platform, but I absolutely want to add it to my list. Just... where??
--
Actually it occurs to me I did buy a platform for a single game, more or less... I bought my first PC in 1994 chiefly so I could play Wing Commander 3, though DOOM and Arena and X-Com and Civ and Gabriel Knight and a whole host of others were part of it. But Wing Commander 3 was the reason it happened, and again, no regrets.
what are the differences, pray tell, between Breath of the Wild on Wii U and Breath of the Wild on Switch? Visual fidelity? Performance? Controls? Anything?
Life is the misery we endure between disappointments.
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Here you go Steerpike: http://www.eurogamer.net/artic.....u-face-off
In the end the differences were negligible, as evidenced by the videos there. Definitely worth a read and a look.
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I played Breath of the Wild on WiiU since I've only recently gotten that system and wasn't compelled by the Switch's launch line-up, and although you lose the ability to take the game on the go (which many of my Switch-owning friends did a lot), otherwise the differences are pretty minor. I guess if you're the type who really quibbles over 720p vs. 1080p or is bugged by very occasional minor slowdown you'll want the Switch version; otherwise the WiiU version is just fine.
I mean, hell. You can still see pretty obviously where some material was removed from the game to accommodate Switch, since it was originally intended as a WiiU game.
As far as the WiiU goes, I'm sure the prices will drop soon enough, as the Switch gains traction. I also wouldn't say you're buying for just Breath of the Wild, even if that's the breaking point; once you have a WiiU, you've got access to various other really great games - various Mario titles, Wind Waker HD, Bayonetta 2, Tokyo Mirage Sessions, the list goes on - so I think you can get some pretty good mileage out of the console itself. That's what I'm doing.
"Home is not a place. It is wherever your passion takes you."
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You're right of course Dix. I know there are a few games my kids will want to play on the Wii U (good gracious that name is so ridiculous I feel like a dork just typing it. I always see an image of Reggie Fils-Amie looking like an uber-dork while saying it).
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That Eurogamer article sums it up nicely, thanks Gregg. I recall this was originally developed for Wii U, and Dix, I remember you saying it felt like certain things were meant for Wii U-specific controls that aren't in the Switch. As for resolution differences, thanks to BoW's art style, it seems like a pretty negligible issue. Good move on Nintendo's part to focus on retaining the more readily noticeable visual elements across either platform. So it seems like the final word is "yes there's a visual difference between the two, no you won't actually see it."
Since the Switch will be sold out until 2315, it's nice to know the Wii U is a good potential alternative. As for me, I think I might follow xtal's suggestion and see if there's any rental options around... after I make more progress in Persona.
Life is the misery we endure between disappointments.
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Well it is good news that the differences are only in the resolution plus a few other minor things. The deal-breaker for me would be actual content differences, which appears to not be true.
I also prefer the more stylized look of WW vs TP, as I've said way too many times here (so what's one more!?). And I'm more than a little baffled by the war between the two graphics camps. Zelda fans certainly are a strange bunch.
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I will vouch for the Wii U version - it performs just fine. There are framerate drops; usually in an area where there's some forestation or weather effects kicking in - but it's so negligible to the overall experience. And the patch released a couple weeks ago actually seems to have reduced the amount of framerate dipping, in my own experience.
I've thought this to myself but forgot to mention until now: the graphical style is like a living painting.
This game is probably a technical afterthought to a lot of people. And still, in that Nintendo way - when they're operating at their best - they make things work on their own hardware; much like Naughty Dog's mastery of development for PlayStation.
My opinion is probably slanted by bias of how much I enjoy the game, but this really is one of my favourite looking games, artistically. Blades of grass and fire blowing in the wind. Rainstorms, sunsets, sunrises, they all look so good. The things beamed into ones eyes by this game are beautiful.
I just have so much to say about this game. The editor in me is having a fit.
If some of you ever catch up to where I'm at, I'd love to dedicate a podcast to the game, like we did with The Last of Us.
If being wrong's a crime I'm serving forever
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Synonamess Botch said
Well it is good news that the differences are only in the resolution plus a few other minor things. The deal-breaker for me would be actual content differences, which appears to not be true.
Yeah, there are no content differences presently, nor do there appear to be any plans to change that.
I also prefer the more stylized look of WW vs TP, as I've said way too many times here (so what's one more!?). And I'm more than a little baffled by the war between the two graphics camps. Zelda fans certainly are a strange bunch.
I think some of this runs back to the good old days when "graphics" were the most important thing about a game. I knew several people who were taken in by the comparative realism of early 3D ("Yes, this is an actual screenshot!") that they saw Wind Waker as moving away from that. I think it also is a matter of when you became a Zelda fan - people brought in by Ocarina of Time, I find, think of Zelda as a darker, more mature franchise than those that had been playing previous Zelda games.
Also, I would absolutely podcast about this for hours. I've finished the game, and it's been weeks now, but I probably remember most of it.
"Home is not a place. It is wherever your passion takes you."
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Finished! Wow! Question for ya:
Did you do all the divine beasts? And how many shrines did you get through? I think I'm just under 40 shrines now, and I don't have many more sitting in plain sight. Though I don't even have the whole map uncovered; the four areas on the western edge of the map I haven't explored. But I've heard the total number of shrines is 120, which is crazy. There must be so many more hiding.
If being wrong's a crime I'm serving forever
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xtal said
Finished! Wow! Question for ya:Did you do all the divine beasts? And how many shrines did you get through? I think I'm just under 40 shrines now, and I don't have many more sitting in plain sight. Though I don't even have the whole map uncovered; the four areas on the western edge of the map I haven't explored. But I've heard the total number of shrines is 120, which is crazy. There must be so many more hiding.
I did do all the Divine Beasts, but I accidentally went to the final boss battle before I had at one point (I lost in the end because I hadn't brought many healing items with me; I was just exploring Hyrule Castle and kept going even when I reached the Obviously Triggering the End Boss room because I was curious what would happen). It is possible to beat the game without doing them, but the climactic battle is a bit harder for each one you neglect. You also miss out on getting the associated memories and thus the full ending.
I did about 90 shrines. There were others I knew about and just didn't go find; I think a lot of the ones I didn't do were connected to a shrine quest to make them appear, rather than just sitting out in the open. Especially if you've got some good meals, you don't need to do even that many to have a pretty reasonable shot at completing the game, though that does partially depend on how many you've spent on stamina versus health.
"Home is not a place. It is wherever your passion takes you."
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Yeah I'd heard the divine beasts are optional and they're more or less a way to make the final boss easier. Having completed one though, seeing the bonus ability it offers, I'm definitely going to do them all.
If being wrong's a crime I'm serving forever
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xtal said
Yeah I'd heard the divine beasts are optional and they're more or less a way to make the final boss easier. Having completed one though, seeing the bonus ability it offers, I'm definitely going to do them all.
The bonus abilities are all very nice, and even though the Divine Beasts are pretty short, they're still fun puzzle dungeons, I think. Each one has a specific transformative gimmick that lets its puzzles stand out a bit from the other Divine Beasts and the shrines. Besides, doing them is the only way to piece together the entire story of what happened 100 years prior.
"Home is not a place. It is wherever your passion takes you."
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I got really stuck on Vah Ruda (Zora area). I left that alone for a couple weeks. I completely missed something (that I could get into the map room), and forgot or didn't know I was looking for that.
The other one I've recently done is the Goron area. That divine beast went a lot smoother for me. I liked that place, it had a weird vibe.
If being wrong's a crime I'm serving forever
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- The lovely sparse music that flirts with some of the familiar themes from the series. Very relaxing and compliments the atmosphere perfectly.
- The cooking and sizzling jingle/animation! I love that thing so much.
- The day/night and weather cycles and how they play with the lighting and colour palette of the environments. I'm a sucker for that kind of stuff. Loved it in Wind Waker and particularly Miasmata.
- Paragliding. I want to paraglide everywhere.
- Cutting down trees to make bridges.
- I noticed a big barrel I could hide in after I'd killed the nearby Bokoblins. Sob.
- Being told off for stealing the Old Man's baked apple and axe. Shame I couldn't give an apple back!
- The subtle sound differences between different types of gear made from different materials clinking and clunking on your back, or when you walk on different surfaces. I love that sort of attention to detail.
- Link's rosy cheeks in the cold areas.
That sounds pretty negative, and I'm not trying to be, but I wasn't expecting quite so many things to rub me the wrong way, particularly for such a highly praised game. Early doors yet so we'll see what else is in store...
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I think most people who have been raving about it, they actually still have a soul. Gregg, you see. So. That might be a starting place.
I kid. You have a soul of course. It obviously just died a long time ago.
But really, I get your complaints. One thing I didn't realize until you just said it there, how the ancient parts picked up from dead guardians always show their info thing like it's the first time you picked it up. I never even thought about that. They seemed like chests more or less.
I (and many people) agree the controls are the most unfortunate part of the experience. I find Nintendo's control scheme irritating to begin with; being stuck with the reversed button thing that's common in Japan. Using the damn Wii U is rewiring parts of my brain that have stored PlayStation and Xbox knowledge and fucking it all up. And the run and jump buttons being the top and bottom...Yeah that's just a bad mistake.
Still, none of these complaints bother me because I just love playing the game so much. I think something might actually be wrong with you, Gregg. You're just....You're dead inside there's no other good way of saying it. I'm sorry that's the case. I'm sure it's a hard life, one with no joy.
Anyway, you'll be alright. Keep exploring the world and giving it time, if you at least enjoy it enough. To me it continues to be rewarding.
Tip: max out your stamina before bothering with hearts; it ups the challenge of combat for a little while, and will allow you to climb higher and glide farther, faster. The most important things.
If being wrong's a crime I'm serving forever
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So, has anyone else jumped on the BOTW train over the summer? (Or winter, if our friend Jarrod is reading) I'm still going at it, loving every minute. Did some exploring of Hyrule Castle but didn't want to have what you said happened to you, Dix (ending triggered), so I retreated when I found a convenient exit hole in the castle wall.
I bought the dlc packs (which Nintendo has you buy all or none of) so I now have the Master Trials to do. It sounds like a fun challenge, like a hyper Eventide Island. Also there's apparently a Korok seed-detecting mask in the dlc, which could be helpful.
If being wrong's a crime I'm serving forever
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I have not returned to it yet. I've had lots of other things to play, and I think I'll probably hold off on returning until the rest of the DLC is out. I'm more interested in the narrative DLC anyway, although once that brings me back I'm sure I'll mess with a lot of the the stuff that the first DLC pack added.
"Home is not a place. It is wherever your passion takes you."
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Anybody ever finish Breath of the Wild? I still haven't completed it. I've found 111 of 120 shrines. The last bunch are proving a challenge to find. There's also one memory that has eluded me still. Somehow I still have a few outstanding quests, including getting into some secret club in Gerudo Town, and the construction of Tarrey Town.
Even after a year and a half I still discover new things: Just last week I learned that stamina restoring food doesn't work only on Link, but horses too! Incredible...
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This is one of those Reason-To-Buy-A-System games, but I still haven't bought a Switch. It just seems irresponsible given the embarrassment of riches I already have at my command. I've enjoyed vicariously playing through posts here, though!
Life is the misery we endure between disappointments.
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