Customer Ratings & Reviews

There are definitely much more in depth reviews than what you'll find here, but briefly: this game just hits all the right notes. You never feel like you're slogging through a dungeon or battle for too long, but somehow you end up playing for hours without noticing. So many things to explore, to try, and just to see. The graphics lack the processing power available with the competition but even on the wii u the game is amazing to behold. Absolutely worthwhile on the wii u if you aren't ready to upgrade.

I purchased the WiiU version of this game after reading recommendations about differences between the WiiU and Switch versions. I don't have a Switch (yet), but was happy to purchase this game for the WiiU if it held up okay. Hardware-wise, this game performs just as well or better than the Switch version. So far, I have not experienced any technical issues with the game as was being described in the Switch version. Game play-wise, this is the best Zelda game. Period. The open-world environment satisfies my exploration and curiosity I seek in games today allowing me to chart my own path. Controls had a small learning curve at first and targeting controls could be improved, but I feel powerful now that I have a handle on how to move and engage in combat. Puzzles in dungeons and shrines are relatively challenging with more than one way to complete a task. I highly recommend you play this game. It is worth purchasing a Switch or even a WiiU just to play this game alone.

The Legend of Zelda series originally had it roots in an open world environment. The original game all of the way back on the NES had a giant world to explore despite whether or not Link was actually ready to deal with areas he couldn't fully explore and/or enemies he was too weak to fight. Didn't stop anybody for going where they weren't supposed to! As the series has gone on, the Legend of Zelda took a linear approach to its game design. In order to "explore" you had to get a new item from a dungeon in the order the game chooses or the game would outright stop you from going where you wanted using NPCs, giant indestructible rocks, or gimmicks that can only be solved with a usable tool from a dungeon. This isn't particularly bad; The series has done a good job making sure Link isn't too powerful before tackling the next exploration-limiting obstacle. I also presume this type of game design was made in order to structure a better narrative, as many story events wouldn't make sense if they were played out of order. As a long term fan, I often enjoy these narratives and I enjoy the linearity, but for me, the series' game design using linearity to advance has begun to overstay its welcome. In Breath of the Wild, the exploration limits are the borders of what makes the entire land of Hyrule. You are given all of the tools necessary to explore every facet of the game world after the tutorial. Then the game lets you go anywhere you want, whether or not Link is ready for what's out there. At this point, Link only has three or four hearts. A lot of things will kill Link in one hit. The cloth shirt and cloth pants Link wears at the beginning of the game is as effective at reducing damage as a real cloth shirt and real cloth pants: They do nothing to help Link survive when he suffers to swords, clubs, spears, fire, lightning, lava, freezing cold temperatures, scorching desert sun... the list goes on. These are still "obstacles," but they're lite in so far as you can still go... Link will just die. Really fast. The beginning of the game is quite cruel. As it should be. This is the game's way of teaching the player that you can't stroll your way along through many of the game's hazards (barring glitches some people have discovered). Yet, this is still a sandbox game. You have to learn the game by finding crafty solutions to do something to get somewhere. It may be absolutely cheesy, but you still found a solution. The player is rewarded for finding ways to bypass situations Link was supposed to tackle "properly". Or you may end up taking the long way around an obstacle to get to a certain place, if the player doesn't feel confident winning in a direct confrontation. I think that's really cool. But eventually, you will have to do that direct confrontation. Most sandbox games don't really have an "end". Usually you decide when the game ends. Skyrim doesn't truly end until you've done everything you've wanted to or really, gotten sick of playing. This sandbox game does have an actual end. Calamity Ganon is waiting for you at the end... or at the beginning. You can go to the final boss of the game as soon as you finish the tutorial level. And unlike Skyrim, it's not scaled to the Level of the Dragonborn (Link doesn't have Levels). Whether you're skilled enough to survive the final boss and the dungeon to get to the final boss is a different story, because the main story missions make the final boss easier and the trek there easier. You're in for a bad time if you go right away. And if you do, better have those reflexes polished and know those attack tells as if it was second nature. Breath of the Wild accomplishes what it aimed to do really well. The only issues I've encountered are some framerate issues while Link is running through areas heavy with trees and grass, but it lessens after leaving the tutorial area (my guess is they were trying to make the tutorial area as beautifully dense as possible). There are also times when the game freezes for a moment. Once out of a playtime of about 60 hours, it lasted about two seconds. I've noticed this only happens while fighting enemies. I don't know why, but it's there. This will definitely bother some players more than others, but it didn't affect my ability to deal with enemies.

Nintendo nailed the exploration in botw. There is plenty to do, a huge world to explore, and an incredible amount of freedom with how you can play. The enemy diversity is rather small, and the game drops frames in villages and a couple other areas, but other than that, its a very polished game. If you have a Switch, get it on the Switch. If you only have a Wii U, its still a fantastic title.

After being disappointed with Skyward Sword for the Wii, I was hesitant about this new Zelda. In short, Nintendo learned from its mistakes and also took cues from modern open-world games to create a truly unique and engrossing experience. The open world aspect and free design will suck you in, and you could easily find yourself lost in this world for sixty or more hours.

Differences Wii U version compared to Switch: The core experience is the same just some technical issues that doesn't make it the definitive version of the game like: -Slightly lower resolution -Slower loading. Dying can result in 5-10second loading screen which is maybe half of that or less on the Switch version -Lower Audio Quality -Requires a mandatory 3gb install Wished the Wii U version have duel screen/gamepad compatibility (like in Wind Waker HD, Twilight Princess HD) to make it stand out from the Switch version, but it doesn't which is very disappointing. Overall if you can deal with the loading times for the most part, you are essentially getting the same experience. Now onto the Review: Like how 'Zelda Link Between Worlds' harken back to 'Zelda Link to the Past' in the 2D games, Zelda Breath of the Wild goes back to the open world design of the original Legend of Zelda (although technically not a 3D game). The game is very open world. You can just rush though and go to your main objective, but there's a lot of side quests and detours along the way to detract you from saving the world. Also without upgrades along the way it's a very hard game to beat, unless you're a very skilled gamer. So for those who like more linear games and do not like to exploring or crafting then this game may be a bit off putting. This game has a lot of resource management involved in terms of stamina, weapon/inventory management, weather and health. Weapons are breakable in this game so you are not able to hold onto an attack item or shield for the duration of the game. Crafting is involved for some weapons. Items are easy to come by, but will not be the same for every play session, so a great conversation piece when comparing experiences with your friends. The weapon variety is amazing, even if you break a weapon, you are able to obtain another one from a fallen enemy making a enemy defeat a satisfying victory. Not everything is expendable as there are some permanent upgrades you gain in your adventure Inventory management is a bit troublesome especially if you're used to the gamepad screen in Wind Waker HD or Twilight Princess HD and you have to scroll through menus instead of a simple blind press(if you know where the weapon/item is), but is is manageable Enemies in the game do a lot of damage. You have to get used to the battle animations of most enemies. It's not Dark Souls hard, but some trail and error is required especially if you go against enemies that does high damage. The checkpoint system is forgivable though. The world is very massive and you can go anywhere in the world with no invisible walls. There's also mini dungeons or shines sprinkled through the mass landscape so there's a lot to do. There's a sense of wonder and discovery as you learn as you go instead of the game hand holding you through it The 4 main dungeons does not have keys like in past Zelda games, instead you have to manipulate your surroundings to progress which is a nice change in the series and feels more life like/realistic Overall very good game if you're the explorer type and like to learn game mechanics as you go.

I've been a Zelda fan for years and have been very happy with this purchase. the world seems endless and the difficulty scales by areas. There are tons of shrines, which are basically puzzles to level up your guy. There's no experience, so only gear, weapons and food affect your damage/stats. This may seem odd, but makes it nice so you don't have to grind to level up and makes it more of a skill game. The graphics are great. Zelda based amibos give you a chest (or even Epona, which is the best horse I've gotten so far) while the other amibos you have give you items daily. The only frustrating this is that your weapons and shields can break with use. You pick up enough stuff that this doesn't become a major issue, but it is still frustrating at first.

The new open world concept can lead you in any direction you wish to go. unlike previous Zelda games, where you can only get to a certain area after completing other areas first. This gives the player more control and ability to just explore. Most of the game has the classic Zelda basics, such as puzzles to solve, horses to ride, and monsters to fight. In this game, however, weapons actually break with use, which can be a bit inconvenient in big boss battles. You also no longer collect heart container pieces. Instead, you complete shrine puzzles to get spirit orbs, which you then exchange for more hearts/stamina. Overall, the game has beautiful graphics, good puzzles, and lots of hidden secrets all to do in whichever order you like.

Everyone needs to play this game! The more time I spend with it the more impressed I am. It literally has everything a fan of open world games could want. Pros: - Gameplay is rock solid, as expected from a Nintendo game - NPC reactions are true to life and give an added element of immersion - The physics-based system is unlike anything I've ever experienced before - Unlimited ways to solve puzzles and defeat enemies - The music is wonderful, I will be picking up the soundtrack for sure - Graphics are definitely good enough. The world is very colorful and vibrant. Cons: - A few framerate issues throughout - The controls take a bit getting used to. Could really use a custom option Long-story short: Get this game!!!

Link wakes up to a strange voice. With no guidance whatsoever he heads to the doorway. He leaves his resting spot and the world of Hyrule awaits. Breath of the wild is an open world Zelda. From the beginning you can go and do whatever you see fit. However if you get to ambitious it will not end well. The game has a good frame rate that only hiccups when there is a lot going on. But nothing that bothered me to much. The lack of guidance makes the game feel like a real world. You see something interesting you go check it out. Some graphic popins happen but again like the frame rate this is nothing that took me out of the experience. And after close to 60 hours playing. I can't wait to get back in the world and explore more.

I'm not sure how to say I love this game without sounding like a Nintendo fanboy. I decided to wait on the Nintendo Switch and play the Wii U version instead. I am not sorry at all. Other then the occasional frame rate stutter. Which is rare. I think the game runs perfectly. The art style is amazing and the combat is what's the highlight for me. It's the best of any Zelda so far. The main thing I love about the game is the open world. There are so many puzzles and shrines throughout the world, and if I had to give the game one sentence to describe it, I would say Breath of the Wild is an open world Portal. PLAY THIS GAME!!

Any one that grew up playing Zelda will love this game. It brings back tons of memories, and creates new one. The fighting elements and open world put this Zelda near the top of my favorite game list.

Having never really played a Zelda game before, I was pleasantly surprised how engaging I've found this game. Exploration and experimentation are rewarded in this game with lots of little items and reactions to discover. I love how the game makes you figure out how to progress in many areas without being overly difficult. As far as the game running on the Wii U, I've only noticed a very few scenes with any noticeable lag, and nothing that impeded the gameplay.

This is a fun zelda game. I like that it's basically a free game from the beginning. you don't have to do hours of predefined quests before you can explore like in twilight princess.

I honestly was not prepared for the scale and beauty of this game. It is so much fun and so amazing to watch. Its challenging, mysterious, rewarding and...ITS NEW ZELDA! But seriously, this is a pretty hardcore game if you are a fan and plan on experiencing everything you can. I have over 30 hours into exploration alone...haven't even started the story line yet... Looks absolutely amazing on the Wii U. No reason to waste money on a new system

I've always enjoyed the Zelda game franchise. Breath of the Wild takes the crown for Zelda Games. Nintendo is at their best here and it shows in every little nuance of the game. I had figured that this was going to be a "Switch" exclusive so I was pleasantly surprised that they released this game for the Wii U. Watching videos of the two side by side, there isn't any reason for this game to be the motivating factor in the purchase of a Switch if you have a Wii U. The graphics in it are awesome for a Zelda game and the map is freagin' huge! I am amazed they were able to get it all on a single disc. The attention to details in game play is astonishing. Everything from the main story line to the side quests (I'm trying not to give any spoilers here). Little things like the way the horse moves down a steep hill to the fact that the bad guy's can ride them. If you knock the bad guy off, you can then ride the bad guy's horse. Dialog from the characters is amusing at times and varies depending on how you're equipped and whether you've completed certain things. I will say you spend a lot of time climbing and cooking (Not at the same time). In some ways this game has a PC Game feel in all the good ways. Controls are OK, although they took me a little while to get used to. Sadly DLC has extended into the Zelda universe. At this point it is there but a bit lacking in regards to what is available with what is basically a pre-order of DLC through Nintendo for $20. Future DLC looks to be better. Be forewarned, you will find yourself losing track of time and subjecting yourself to sleep deprivation while playing (Totally worth it!)

Having grown up playing various Legend of Zelda games, I found myself quite excited for the release of this "open world" Zelda game. And for the most part, it certainly did not disappoint. This game changed up a number of familiar aspects in its mechanics, with the most notable addition being the weapon durability system. While at first this system proved to be an annoyance as it routinely caused me to wear out my powerful weapons. I quickly learned from those mistakes and took better care in what I used. The durability system affects the weapons Link wields, his shields, and also his bows. As I progressed through the game though, I never ran into a situation where I was completely helpless. Weapons were also always right around the corner by either finding some off a soon-to-be fallen enemy, through purchasing them, or simply plucking some out of the shrines. With shrines being mentioned, the next big change worthy of noting was the handling of the dungeons in this game. In Breath of the Wild, there are four main dungeons directly related to the story. While they are not required, it is strongly suggested that you go through them. These four dungeons (the Divine Beasts) are all fairly simple, and a little disappointing in scope and repetitiveness when compared to the longer dungeons of Wind Waker or Ocarina of Time. That being said, each dungeon features a unique mechanic that affects the map layout, which you must make use of in order to finish it. The bosses of each dungeon are all various forms of Gannon, and are similar in appearance, but require different strategies in order to beat. The other type of dungeons you will run into are the various shrines scattered throughout all of Hyrule. These, for the most part, are min-dungeons that generally can take 5 - 10 minutes to complete, depending on complexity and player ability. Some shrines contain a handful of puzzles to figure through while others merely hold an enemy of varying power to defeat. The reward in each shrine (120 in total) is what is known as a Spirit Orb. These orbs essentially take the place of the heart containers that you would have searched out in other games. The main difference being that you may use four Spirit Orbs for another heart, or use four of them for an increase in the new stamina meter. A brief mention with the stamina meter: it's annoying at first, but as you move through the game and get more stamina, travelling becomes easier. Stamina is mainly expended when you run, climb, or swim. Certain gear allows your easier climbing. The gear (different clothing) is also a nice addition to the game, and allows for various stat boosts and abilities. The weakest element of Breath of the Wild for me is actually the story. It seems to have placed such a high focus on the open world element, that the story really feels like it has taken a back seat to everything else. While everyone gets something different out of the Zelda games, the story-telling has always been one of my favorite elements. In Breath of the Wild, the story is really up to the player to discover. Since it is open world, you could attempt to bypass almost the entire story and go straight for the final boss (not recommended). For those that want to get the story out, there unfortunately isn't much depth to it other than Link awaking from a long slumber and finding Gannon terrorizing Hyrule. The story mainly comes through flashbacks with Zelda, and also from what you learn from visiting the Divine Beasts. This is also the first Zelda game to feature voice acting. For this game, the quality of voice acting varies, but fortunately, you will have the option (via an update from Nintendo) to listen to the voice-overs in a variety of languages. While I haven't made use of the bilingual update, I am excited to listen to the characters in other languages to compare the voice-work. With the voices, it certainly is a personal preference, and I'm sure there are plenty who will have less issue with the voice-work then I. Overall, this game was a lot of fun to play. The exploration was certainly a great deal of fun, and sometimes, I enjoyed just letting my horse do the navigating so I could enjoy the beautiful scenery. The graphics in this game look gorgeous, and having the ability to travel pretty much anywhere very early-on made this to be that much more of an immersive experience. While this is certainly not a perfect game from my perspective, I certainly think it is worth your time if you are Zelda fan, or even if you've never picked up a Zelda game before, there is a lot to enjoy from this game.

As a long, longtime Zelda fan (the first came out around the time I was born and I've grown up with the series, always playing each new major installment when they're new) I'd like to think I'm pretty qualified to give some pretty solid opinions on this series of games. I love every one of them, from the first up to Skyward Sword, though some especially shine -- generally either the ones that establish long-running traits of the series and mold it as a whole (Zelda 1, Link to the Past and Ocarina especially), or ones that stand out from the rest and try something unique (such as Majora's Mask or A Link Between Worlds). Breath of the Wild is, without a doubt, both of those things at once, and very strongly so. It's the new precedence for the series, and the entry that will likely highly inspire future Zeldas as much as Link to the Past and Ocarina did up until now. But at the same time, it's easily the most unique mainline Zelda yet, taking the open, challenging route of Zelda 1 as well as the "four races in four corners of the world need your help" concept of Majora's Mask, increasing the size and scope by what feels like a hundredfold and altering many basics you've become used to with the series. No ever-present hand-holding helper character, no familiar dungeon system, no myriad of tools that you must complete X amount of the game and Y dungeon to attain (you get MANY of the tools you'll need VERY early on and are set free to explore the rest of the world at your leisure). It's an incredible feeling of freedom, accentuated by things such as the fact that you truly can go anywhere you see, with climbing and scaling mechanics that rival the most open sandboxes out there, with even extremely steep cliffs traversible and nearly any completely vertical surface climbable like a ladder. Then there's the sheer openness of how you can approach and solve any problem you come across -- for this camp of monsters, shall I pelt them from afar with arrow, quaff an elixir of attack or defense and dive in to finish them off? Shall I sneak up and assassinate them, perhaps with stealth gear or potions, then switch to a giant axe to overwhelm the last guy? Shall I fire a carefully-aimed explosive arrow from a nearby hillside and knock the lot of them off a nearby cliff? Shall I lure this one to attack a Cuccoo until they swam him in a hilarious twist of the usual Zelda killer chicken attack? Shall I attach a bomb to a balloon, blow it over there with a wind-generating leaf, pop it with a cheap arrow and remotely detonate it to sow panic and light the surrounding grass on fire, then hop on a wild horse and stomp them in their confusion? Or do I simply fight classic 3d Zelda-style, employing sword, shield and jump-dodging, but adding this game's new mechanics such as perfectly-timed dodges generating wild counterattack combos and multi-level charged attacks reminiscent of Secret of Mana? The list truly goes on and on. It's incredible. And don't think this only applies to combat, either -- puzzles can almost always be solved in a variety of different ways, and considering how strong and realistic the physics are in this game, the possibilities are endless. Can't find a heavy weight to hold down this button? Why not find something lighter, and supplement it with one of each of your bombs to hold the button down? Or perhaps just cast a stasis spell that will keep the button down simply and freely, but with a time limit? Maybe you can't reach an important shrine because it's covered with traps and powerful enemy camps -- so why not swing around the back of the mountain it's perched on, cook some haste and stamina-restoring potions, equip your climbing-sped-buff headband and scale the thing with your bare hands to reach the shrine safely? Again, I could go on and on. Long story short: this game is absolutely essential. If you have a Wii U or Switch or ever plan to get either, you simply must own this game. It's Nintendo's greatest product in ages, and as defining an entry into their legendary catalog as the most genre-defining games of the past. Breath of the Wild *IS* this generation's Ocarina of Time. In fact, it might just be the most defining Zelda since the first.

Bought this for my husband and he loves everything about it. The graphics, story line, everything. My 4 year old even started his own game and is playing it now too.

This is the reason I bought the Switch. I soon realized how amazing the Switch was on its own, but boy does this game help sell it through. It's a tight, well thought out game. Growing up with the first Zelda on the original NES, you have expecations for what the game should be. BOTW delivers on those points yet still manages to recreate the experience through an open world format, akin to Ocarina of Time. However, everything is accessible. Every mountain top is scaleable and that sense of freedom made for a truly immersive experience. This is a must buy.