By Scottie Andrews, CNN
(CNN) — “The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom” is perhaps the the most expected video game of the year. (Actually, this won this same award in 2022 – The wait has been long.)
And by all accounts, it lives up to the hype: “Tears of the Kingdom,” released on May 12, has already broken sales records, won praise from experts like IGN and longtime “Zelda” fans, and made some time off from work to immerse yourself in its complex and enveloping world.
The first “Zelda” game was released in 1986, and almost 40 years later, Link’s adventures continue to delight players and infuriate those who have no more than 100 hours to spend discovering the game’s many hidden treasures. Here’s what you need to know about the new installment in the “Zelda” franchise, without spoilers.
The research is familiar, with many surprises
Link, now a knight of the kingdom of Hyrule, has just saved Hyrule The acclaimed game of 2017, “Breath of the Wild.” But just when he thought he could surrender his green robe, the super villain Ganondorf returns to wreak havoc, taking the wise Princess Zelda with him. Link sets out to find her and once again save Hyrule from one of its most frequent threats.
But oh! Zelda has a few surprises up her billowy sleeves: a la last trailer before the premiere of “Kingdom”, Zelda is seen holding the Master Sword, Link’s famous weapon, and says ominously, “I know why I’m here, it’s something only I can do.” Maybe she will be the one to save his kingdom? In its perfect-10 reviewIGN said the plot takes “buck wild” directions at points, with revelations and plot twists that would surprise even the most devoted “Zelda” fan (the typical plot is: save Zelda, defeat Ganondorf, repeat) .
There are other surprises in terms of gameplay and Link’s new powers. In one appearance on NPR, The Guardian’s video game editor Keza McDonald said the game “lets you play with everything you can find in the world.” This kind of open exploration and creative freedom is new to “Zelda.”
The game has already made history
The hype for “Tears of the Kingdom” was astronomical after “Breath of the Wild,” which received rave reviews upon its release in 2017. Critics praised it for its expansive world, stunning graphics, and seemingly endless ways to die, survive, and ultimately complete the game.
But “Tears of the Kingdom” seems to have surpassed its predecessor in terms of popularity and critical acclaim: it sold 10 million units in its first three days, Nintendo said, making it the best-selling “Zelda” game to date. It’s already the fastest-selling Nintendo game of any game system in America (take that, mario i “Animal Pass”!).
‘Tears of the Kingdom’ is a time commitment
This game is a behemoth that demands your time: the main story takes about 51 hours to complete, IGN estimates. And if you’re a completist, be prepared to spend over 100 hours to finish all side missions and extras. As with several of the recent “Zelda” games, its creators expect their players to be somewhat versed in its complex world. Casual players, take note.
The “legend” itself is complex
Maybe you’ve never played “Zelda,” but this latest game and its astronomical hype has finally piqued your interest. Its tradition is a bit bare, but the essence of the titular “legend” is like that, according to the “Zelda” official site.:
Three goddesses of power, wisdom and courage created the fictional world in which “Zelda” takes place. These goddesses made an object called the “Triforce”, with three triangles representing each of their virtues. Link received the Triforce of Courage; Zelda possesses the Triforce of Wisdom. The evil Ganondorf has the ultimate Triforce: Power.
Link is tasked throughout the games with protecting Zelda, Princess of Hyrule, usually from Ganondorf, who often tries to take over Zelda’s kingdom. (And yes, Link and Zelda’s relationship is vaguely romantic, but it’s mostly about the business of keeping the kingdom going.) Characters are killed and reincarnated, and we meet them as youths and then adults in two timelines, depending on the game. It makes more sense when you play, but even so, it’s still a bit nebulous.
As for the specifics of this game and how it is based on the legend of “Zelda”, we will save those surprises for players to discover for about 50 hours.
The-CNN-Wire
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