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150 Tiny Things That Make Breath of the Wild a Game for the Ages

Optimus Lime

(L3) + (R3) | Spartan rage activated
One day, a PhD student who is certain that they don't want an actual career will waste five years of their lives writing a thesis on why games like BOTW and Bloodborne are so psychotically overrated.
 

daveonezero

Banned
One day, a PhD student who is certain that they don't want an actual career will waste five years of their lives writing a thesis on why games like BOTW and Bloodborne are so psychotically overrated.
Then at the same time someone will write a these on why they are so acclaimed.
 

MrMephistoX

Member
I repeat the sense of exploration in this game is unmatched, like they handed each developer the job of making one item and giving it as many uses as possible :D

Only hope the sequel fixes the many shortcomings and becomes more like an actual Zelda title...

It’s a fantastic game as a whole the only thing that was kind of a let down at the time were the lack of traditional Labrynths. But it has way more replay ability due to the exploration and shrines than any other Zelda so I can’t fault it that much: if 2 fixes that then we’re in for a treat.
 
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DGrayson

Mod Team and Bat Team
Staff Member
One day, a PhD student who is certain that they don't want an actual career will waste five years of their lives writing a thesis on why games like BOTW and Bloodborne are so psychotically overrated.

Then at the same time someone will write a these on why they are so acclaimed.

And both will be members of NeoGAF


MtZ9N.gif
 

IbizaPocholo

NeoGAFs Kent Brockman


Returning with more secrets that you probably don't know about in Breath of the Wild! This time we dive into an object you can multi-stasis, what diaries around Hyrule actually say, teleporting fire with the Master Cycle, and much more!

In the video above, we cover 28 tips and tricks that aren’t quite as well known, ranging from secrets to glitches, some that are pretty simple and others that are fairly complex. Breath of the Wild has been out for four years at this point, and players have found some amazing things, intended or not, that keep the game and its sense of discovery feeling fresh.

GameSpot sure loves breath of the wild...

 
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IbizaPocholo

NeoGAFs Kent Brockman


Another round of secrets you probably don't know about in Breath of the Wild! This time we dive into ways you can steal swift carrots in Kakariko Village, putting yourself in a Lynel's shoes, and a secret lava puddle right next to the great plateau.

In the video above, we cover 33 tips and tricks that aren’t quite as well known, ranging from secrets to glitches, some that are pretty simple and others that are fairly complex. Breath of the Wild has been out for four years at this point, and players have found some amazing things, intended or not, that keep the game and its sense of discovery feeling fresh.

Ariana Grande Shrug GIF
 
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IbizaPocholo

NeoGAFs Kent Brockman


One of the newest finds in Breath of the Wild has some utility use, but most of all, looks pretty awesome, and brings some anime themes to the game.

Discovered by Satougashi in June 2021, Active Arrow Smuggling, while purely a cosmetic bug, is surely one of the coolest looking glitches found so far. Breath of the Wild continues to show new discoveries, intended and unintended, and we continue to cover them still to this day.
 

IbizaPocholo

NeoGAFs Kent Brockman


Returning with more secrets that you probably don't know about in Breath of the Wild! This time we dive into what heart containers are made of, the highest damage amount you can do in the game, lifting ingredients in your hands, and much more!

In the video above, we cover 25 tips and tricks that aren’t quite as well known, ranging from secrets to glitches, some that are pretty simple and others that are fairly complex. Breath of the Wild has been out for four years at this point, and players have found some amazing things, intended or not, that keep the game and its sense of discovery feeling fresh.

90S Reaction GIF
 

IbizaPocholo

NeoGAFs Kent Brockman


Over the past four years, players have made some unconventional ways to navigate Zelda: Breath of the Wild. Here is a list of 33 amazing ways to launch and fly around the land of Hyrule.

The world of Breath of the Wild is huge, and the developers have offered many ways for you to travel across the massive landscapes. But over the years players have preferred some less conventional methods by air. So today we'll be covering 33 techniques and some variations of them, small and large, to launch and fly across the land of Hyrule, and do a very light explanation for each, with nothing too in-depth.
 
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IbizaPocholo

NeoGAFs Kent Brockman


We're not slowing down anytime soon! This time we take a look at new ways to detonate bomb arrows, how to smuggle wildlife into the Gerudo Desert, and the hidden meaning behind the Yiga Assassin's cursed letters!

In the video above, we cover 20 facts, tips and tricks that aren’t quite as well known, ranging from secrets to glitches, some that are pretty simple and others that are fairly complex. The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild has been out for four years at this point, and players have found some amazing things, intended or not, that keep the game and its sense of discovery feeling fresh.
 

IbizaPocholo

NeoGAFs Kent Brockman


It's been five years since The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild was released and we're still hooked. But how different could the game have been? What if Hyrule had invading UFOs? Or Link wielded a guitar? What if Link could shrink himself down, Minish Cap style, and visit tiny villages? These ideas and many more were discussed and we revisit 19 of them in this video.
 

Robb

Gold Member
I wish we could get a solid date for the sequel at some point.. Looking forward to replaying this gem in preparation for it.
 

jaysius

Banned
I would also add:

No rewarding gameplay
That is the consequence of the 2 issues listed.

You're never going to get anything good out of a treasure chest because of weapon degradation.

You're never going to fully appreciate all of Link's abilities because of the shitty dungeon design which is a keystone of the entire IP.
 

NeoIkaruGAF

Gold Member
Those neck beards can't handle that Elden Ring is the better open world game.
This will be the gaming debate of the year, but… no, just no.
Elden Ring is literally a 10+ years old game in an open world setting and, you’re on a horse now. BOTW‘s interactivity is several galaxies away.
BOTW also makes exploration a joy. ER rewards exploration by killing you again and again :messenger_beaming:
 
This will be the gaming debate of the year, but… no, just no.
Elden Ring is literally a 10+ years old game in an open world setting and, you’re on a horse now. BOTW‘s interactivity is several galaxies away.
BOTW also makes exploration a joy. ER rewards exploration by killing you again and again :messenger_beaming:
I enjoyed BotW, but Elden Ring is 10x the better game. BotW exploration was meaningless. Same looking shrine with same enemies/no enemies 120 times, just for a tiny boost in either health or stamina, that you don't need anyway.

Elden Ring exploration is rewarding, not only because it takes you to actual interesting levels and enemies, but because what you find can legitimately help you from then on out.
 

Astral Dog

Member
Its very good but they really should improve it for the sequel, story, boss fights, enemy variety and dungeons all suck and that was a big part of previous Zelda games. specially now with Elden Ring that has fun boss battles in an open world
 
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Raven117

Gold Member
This will be the gaming debate of the year, but… no, just no.
Elden Ring is literally a 10+ years old game in an open world setting and, you’re on a horse now. BOTW‘s interactivity is several galaxies away.
BOTW also makes exploration a joy. ER rewards exploration by killing you again and again :messenger_beaming:
I can be derivative too. Botw is just an Ubisoft game with a good physics engine in it.

(Yes, BotW interaction is by far better than any open world yet…. But to me, that is not nearly as compelling as good exploration… which Elden Ring is far more compelling. There is nothing out there in Botw. A few korok seeds… maybe a weapon that shatters. Some shrine puzzle or some bad dungeon. Elden Ring the items you find out there can fundamentally alter the game… it’s all dangerous… rewarding… for me…. It’s light years better).
 

Raven117

Gold Member
I enjoyed BotW, but Elden Ring is 10x the better game. BotW exploration was meaningless. Same looking shrine with same enemies/no enemies 120 times, just for a tiny boost in either health or stamina, that you don't need anyway.

Elden Ring exploration is rewarding, not only because it takes you to actual interesting levels and enemies, but because what you find can legitimately help you from then on out.
This. Exactly this.

I’ll never understand folks that say exploration is good in BotW…. There is nothing cool out there. The physics are in fact what makes the game special and separate from its peers. If that’s your bag, then there is no other game that comes close. If it isn’t (like me), game is just okay.
 

Bragr

Banned
I enjoyed BotW, but Elden Ring is 10x the better game. BotW exploration was meaningless. Same looking shrine with same enemies/no enemies 120 times, just for a tiny boost in either health or stamina, that you don't need anyway.

Elden Ring exploration is rewarding, not only because it takes you to actual interesting levels and enemies, but because what you find can legitimately help you from then on out.
Dude, no one is gonna take your opinion seriously in a discussion like this with a fucking Elden Ring avatar, curb your fanboying.
 

NeoIkaruGAF

Gold Member
What?

Me every time I reach a new place in BOTW:

travolta GIF
The very world in BOTW is simply interesting to travel and see. There’s a level of craft in the map that ER can’t match from what I’ve seen so far, the use of landmarks and perspective manages to catch the player’s attention in a very special way. I was satisfied in simply reaching a place and seeing it. ER doesn’t have the same effect on me, and the landscape often gets quite confusing too. Some locations are extremely drab too, and From could afford to tone down the sepulchral theme every once in a while - not everything needs to be gravestones as far as the eye can see.

And yeah, the shrines in BOTW may be simple and many have no enemies inside, but that’s not the point. Most have puzzles that exploit the game’s mechanics in creative ways. ER is always about more enemies, more traps, more death. Zelda lets you explore without the constant hassle of everything around wanting to kill you. In ER you can never just drop your guard and enjoy your surroundings because, you know, anything can sprout out of the earth and one-shot you from behind at any moment. It’s OK if you prefer that, but so far I haven’t seen anything in ER that makes it an objectively better game than BOTW, and it surely doesn’t take the open world thing to new frontiers.
 

TheDreadBaron

Gold Member
I love this new twist on BOTW hating called Elden Ring is better. They're both great games, and I love how they do things differently. Well alright folks, let's talk about durability and dungeons again.

To people complaining about weapon durability, I can sort of understand. It doesn't feel good when your weapon breaks, and they feel especially fragile compared to most other games. It conflicts with peoples' need to maximize efficiency and hoard resources, and weapons breaking is like precious damage dealing ability slipping through your fingers, but it serves a valuable gameplay function.

The other side of the coin is a system like Elden Ring or many other classic RPGs where you carry around your entire accrued arsenal and only end up using your main upgraded weapon and maybe one or two secondary weapons. I love the weapon variety to choose from in Elden Ring, but because of the weapon upgrade system you're actively discouraged from experimenting with other weapons because of stat requirements and damage output of raw weapons.

In BOTW I know that I tried every single weapon, and came to understand their niche uses and quirks, because I had to and the game made it not only necessary, but rewarding to experiment. Both systems have their strengths, some may prefer one or the other, but it's simply an intentional gameplay tradeoff.

As for dungeons I can also understand. The dungeon portions in BOTW are not as deep and puzzle based as in past Zeldas. People used to say BOTW had no dungeons, so it's at least encouraging to see that talking point has shifted. I have to admit though, the dungeons were never my favorite part of Zelda. Ocarina of Time was my first Zelda played to completion, and I remember wanting to hurry up and finish dungeons to get back out into the world and explore. To my taste, the divine beasts were good length and complexity, and the shrine puzzles were a fun little periodic diversion. It would have been great if they had more variety in their visual design, but it's obvious they focused their attention on the open world experience. I think perhaps another part of the reason why the dungeons are rather light is because they slow everything down, restrict link's abilities (climbing would break dungeons), and generally don't tap as deeply into the fun that the game offers through its philosophy of freedom.

Elden Ring has dungeons for days, and a comparatively weak open world when it comes to interactivity and freedom. It makes total sense to focus more on dungeons using the established souls gameplay formula. There seems to be an inherent tension between focusing on dungeons and focusing on an open world, they are opposite experiences. The players abilities, movement, etc should be tailored to each environment and what's fun in an open world can break a dungeon. Doesn't mean Elden Ring is better or worse than BOTW, they have different philosophies and they're difficult to compare directly.

Now it seems silly to participate in this tired discussion again, and take time to articulate these thoughts, because this has already all been hashed out before and the people that love BOTW love it, and the people that hate it, hate it. It just seems better to try to have the discussion than sling snarky one sentence remarks.
 
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arvfab

Banned
The very world in BOTW is simply interesting to travel and see. There’s a level of craft in the map that ER can’t match from what I’ve seen so far, the use of landmarks and perspective manages to catch the player’s attention in a very special way. I was satisfied in simply reaching a place and seeing it. ER doesn’t have the same effect on me, and the landscape often gets quite confusing too. Some locations are extremely drab too, and From could afford to tone down the sepulchral theme every once in a while - not everything needs to be gravestones as far as the eye can see.

And yeah, the shrines in BOTW may be simple and many have no enemies inside, but that’s not the point. Most have puzzles that exploit the game’s mechanics in creative ways. ER is always about more enemies, more traps, more death. Zelda lets you explore without the constant hassle of everything around wanting to kill you. In ER you can never just drop your guard and enjoy your surroundings because, you know, anything can sprout out of the earth and one-shot you from behind at any moment. It’s OK if you prefer that, but so far I haven’t seen anything in ER that makes it an objectively better game than BOTW, and it surely doesn’t take the open world thing to new frontiers.

Let's agree to disagree. For me as a Zelda fan, BotW was one of the most disappointing experiences I had with videogames. Worst 3D Zelda and a mediocre game at best.
 

IbizaPocholo

NeoGAFs Kent Brockman


Happy 5 year anniversary Breath of the Wild! We continue to find more secrets to this day, such as a brand new Item Transmutation glitch found by Kai and gtapanda, flaming or frozen horses that can survive Death Mountain, and many fire attacks ice weapons can secretly nullify!

In the video above, we cover 22 facts, tips and tricks that aren’t quite as well known, ranging from secrets to glitches, some that are pretty simple and others that are fairly complex. The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild has been out for four years at this point, and players have found some amazing things, intended or not, that keep the game and its sense of discovery feeling fresh.

Dj Khaled GIF by Music Choice
 

IbizaPocholo

NeoGAFs Kent Brockman


The list of secrets and weird glitches in Breath of the Wild continues to grow, such as bokoblins stealing your horse, eating your own paraglider and sheikah slate, and the Yiga Blademasters able to carry around the ancient flame.

In the video above, we cover 18 facts, tips and tricks that aren’t quite as well known, ranging from secrets to glitches, some that are pretty simple and others that are fairly complex. The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild has been out for four years at this point, and players have found some amazing things, intended or not, that keep the game and its sense of discovery feeling fresh.
 
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IbizaPocholo

NeoGAFs Kent Brockman


This time in Breath of the Wild, we show how Nintendo updates the map as you play the game, the newest broken glitch that duplicates anything, and the many places poison water is located in Breath of the Wild.

In the video above, we cover 16 facts, tips and tricks that aren’t quite as well known, ranging from secrets to glitches, so me that are pretty simple and others that are fairly complex. The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild has been out for four years at this point, and players have found some amazing things, intended or not, that keep the game and its sense of discovery feeling fresh.

0:00 Intro
0:12 Bow Sight Aiming
0:51 Inventory Slot Transfer
1:53 Blocking Your Cooking
2:24 Remembering NPC's Names
2:39 Map Is Sometimes Updated
3:02 Cheese Your Way Over Electrified Metal
3:15 Chuchu Categorization
3:54 Secret Ancient Weapon Boosting Gear
4:27 Secret Wolf Link Boosting Trick
5:09 Teba's Bow Holster
5:30 Bolson's Logo On Everything
5:46 Races Run At Different Speeds
6:06 Throwing Bug
6:24 How Puddles Work
6:43 The Forgotten Surf Up Modifier
7:05 The Poison Water Secret
8:09 Outro
 
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IbizaPocholo

NeoGAFs Kent Brockman


This time in Breath of the Wild, we look back at some secrets about Zelda WiiU, what clothing shop banners actually are, and funny ways to disarm certain enemies.

In the video above, we cover 15 facts, tips and tricks that aren’t quite as well known, ranging from secrets to glitches, so me that are pretty simple and others that are fairly complex. The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild has been out for four years at this point, and players have found some amazing things, intended or not, that keep the game and its sense of discovery feeling fresh.
 
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