Customer Ratings & Reviews

As a long standing fan of The Legend of Zelda since the days of the original Nintendo, and having a strong affinity toward the Ocarina of Time on the Nintendo 64, I would say that this iteration has been too heavily influenced by the moving tide of modern video gamers. Even still, Breath of the Wild still receives high marks in my book because of the amount of things to do, places to go, and the story behind it (don't worry - no spoilers here). Outside of the longer load times upon first bootup and after dying - because I bought the wii U version, there are only a couple of things that irritated me (and they really aren't that big of a deal, regardless): 1) Weapon durability degrades over time, which is really annoying. This is not something I enjoy dealing with in any video game, really, but in Breath of the Wild, it seems like you always have to be scrounging for weapons and it's always at the forefront of your mind - it can be distracting if you are not careful. 2) Poor inventory management: I get it, Link doesn't have much space on his person for an infinite amount of items (and there are *a lot* of items in this game), but man... It felt like I needed to devote the entirety of the first part of the game to finding Korok seeds in order to expand my inventory. All in all, this was - is - a great adventure. The graphics, even on the wii U, are great, and I immediately felt at home in the kingdom of Hyrule once again after a small learning curve. There is much to be done, and even after 120 hours, there is still so much to do (even outside the forthcoming DLC) that I don't know that anyone but the most easily bored can find a way to overplay this game. Oh, and make sure you have your amiibos ready for this one - they are surprisingly helpful.

As there are already many reviews that praise the game itself (which it certainly deserves), my review will deal more with what you can expect specifically for the Wii U version. Despite the Wii U's limited power and 720p resolution output, Zelda looks and performs remarkably well. Load times are reportedly faster than even the Switch version, which was a surprise, and even then there are relatively few loading screens throughout. While the frame rate does dip below 30fps, it only occurs when entering a new area or during hectic combat scenarios for only several seconds at a time. Screen tearing may occur as well from time to time, but only when the game is installed directly on the Wii U system. I have an external hard drive for my Wii U, and I found that having the game installed on the hard drive not only eliminates the screen tearing, it also results in fewer frame rate dips and contributes to faster load times. The few complaints I do have are more centered around the use of the game pad. Unlike other Zelda titles on the Wii U, this title does not feature the ability to manage items or display maps on the second screen. It does offer "Off TV Play" but colors are drastically washed out compared to how it appears on TV. And while the game supports nearly every controller type (Wii U Pro Controller is my main choice), use of the game pad is required for certain motion control based puzzles, so you'll need to at least keep the game pad charged and close by. Luckily switching controls is simple and instantaneous, so alternating controller types is painless. All in all, Zelda is a game that should not be missed and is still a grand experience on the Wii U.

I admit I have not played every single Zelda games but I have played my share of them all the way from the very first NES one. I have to say that this is the best out of all of them. The open world is HUGE and majority of the puzzles/shrines/dungeons are quite satisfying. There is not much hand holding like previous Zelda games which is good because you are free to explore the game any way you like. I have finished the game after 50 hours or so but I feel like I barely scratched the surface and am eager to go back and find all the side quests I missed. If you are going to play only one zelda game in your life, this is it!

[4.5 / 5 stars] (rounded up to 5 on the Best Buy scale) This is a great new entry in the Zelda series. It draws on a mix of gameplay mechanics that worked well in past Zelda games and brings them into a fresh open-world experience. Gameplay is great. I love that this game rewards curiosity and experimentation. There are a lot of different ways you can approach combat, for example. You can creatively use tools and the environment to deal with enemies, or you can rush in for a close-quarters brawl if you wish. Most of the time, if you ask yourself "I wonder if this will work...?", it usually will - and it's awesome! It's very fun to experiment with different creative ways to solve problems. The combat itself is challenging, especially at the beginning. You can easily encounter enemies that are vastly more powerful than you and can one-shot you. The swordplay is similar to Wind Waker but I find the timing for perfect dodges/parries more difficult than Wind Waker, which is a good thing because I think the Wind Waker swordplay was too easy. The swordplay in Breath of the Wild, thankfully, has a little bit more of a learning curve to it, and I find to be more satisfying than past titles. Weapons do degrade and break, and it seems like this has drawn a mixed reaction from people. Personally, I love the weapons system because it keeps you constantly scavenging for weapons and forces you to be creative and strategic in combat situations. It creates fun situations - for instance, in dire situations you might have to race monsters to pick up the last weapon on the field before they do! And never fear, you can find some special weapons that can be rebuilt after they break, and the Master Sword never breaks. The world is huge, and beautiful. There are many different biomes to explore and many things to encounter. I am very deep into the game and still find something new virtually every time I sit down to play. There are some graphical issues. Draw distance is very poor for a modern game, resolution is relatively low for a modern game, and there are frequent frame rate drops. However, these don't ultimately hinder the enjoyment of the game at all, at least not for me. The world is so awesome and fun it was easy for me to overlook the graphical drawbacks. I'm playing on the Wii U version and can say I have felt no reason whatsoever that I might have missed out on something by not getting the Switch version. The game is perfectly fine on the Wii U. One last thing I will say is that the main story and dungeons seem weaker to me than past titles, but again I didn't mind this so much because the world as a whole is so fun to explore. This is a Zelda game in which you can almost write your own story with all the fun you will have adventuring out in the vast wilderness! Highly recommended to past Zelda fans and newcomers alike, I think this is easily one of the funnest games out on the market right now.

After 71 hours of gameplay, I can attest this game is definitely a masterpiece. I felt all throughout like I last did with A Link to the Past; my favorite Zelda game. After beating BotW, I can safely say it instantly rose among the top of my favorite Zelda games. The game was obviously optimized for the Wii U GamePad. The motion-aided aiming controls were as excellent as I found them to be in games like Uncharted: Golden Abyss on the PS Vita. You don't have to aim all the way via motion controls. You do your usual aiming via the right analog stick, bring the crosshairs within range of your target, then use the motion controls for that final pinpoint precision aim. It was flawless, IMO. Now, this, is the proper use of motion controls. I cannot imagine having this same flow when playing in handheld format on the Switch, though; as it is exactly what playing on the Wii U GamePad screen is like. You have to tilt the screen when aiming to at least 45 degrees at times; which took me away from the visual dynamic slightly. But the most important reason why it just won't play with motion controls as beautifully as it did with the Wii U GamePad on the Switch is during some of the shrine puzzles; which are so easy to do with motion controls; but would prompt you to use that tablet like a literal plank, twisting it upside down and sideways to balance one or several rolling balls, etc. I will admit, it took me a while to get into the gameplay; primarily because I went into it right after finishing-up with Horizon: Zero Dawn on the PS4. At this point, tbh, I don't consider one game to be superior to the other. They are their own entity, each offering as polished an experience as any gamer could ask for. But, as I said, I will go on to admit that it did take me a while to really get into BotW. It may have been just a couple of hours out of the whole 71+ hours I invested into it, but those were 2 solid hours that kept taking me away from the experience from not fully grasping the textures and solid sharp colors I got so used to seeing in games like, even, Mario Kart 8; or the funny climbing mechanics of BotW (akin to Spider-Man) that I found downright unimaginative at first glance. But all of these and more managed to quickly find their way into a very congruent gameplay experience, shock-full of what I now consider awe-inspiring graphics. In the end, the textures were there when they needed to be; and so did the sharpness in graphics as well as solid colors. It is an art style akin to a waterpainting; which I absolutely love. It reminded so much of J.R.R. Tolkien's personal illustrations for The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings; for which he used watercolors. He, too, had a predilection for depicting flora and landscapes with inlaid ruins and fantastic characters. Tolkien is my favorite writer. Needless to say, I was right at home.

Started off eh about the game, so much death and controls were different. But if you keep pushing through, everything clicks and it's almost impossible to not love.

I was blown away by this game. This is the first Zelda to give players an open world to explore and complete all at their own pace. Don't feel like doing the story? Go on a supply run instead. You can lose yourself just wandering around with no direction and still stumble upon side-quests, towers, shrines, and hidden weapons giving you an immense feeling of satisfaction. I've sunk so much time into this game and there's still tons more to do. They've packed it full of things to do and explore. I have nothing bad to say about this game. This is definitely game of the year material.

Zelda and open world were meant for each other. Lots of side quests to do, including over 100 shrines (which go towards helping you increase your stamina bar and hearts) and (I believe) 900 Korok Seeds to find (which can go towards increasing your inventory). The story itself is intriguing, but I've gotten so lost in exploring the world, that I haven't gone beyond the tutorial missions as far as the story goes. Item breakage is annoying, but from what I've been reading/hearing, that isn't so much of a problem later in the game. Highly recommend to fans of Zelda games and RPGs in general.

This game isn't quite the same as Skyrim--character customization is weaker, but freedom and interconnectedness of the world is much stronger IMO--but I think it will appeal to many of the same players. Breath of the Wild has a massive open world that is actually worth exploring; full of secrets, surprises, enemies, and small puzzles that you can dive into or ignore as you prefer. Fun on either the Wii U or the Switch, I can't recommend this game enough.

Breath of the Wild is already the highest rated game in recent decades, and for good reason. This game will blow you away with the size of the world and how interactive it all is. Some open world games go for size but forget to make it interesting -- that's where Zelda BotW succeeds. There is so much to do and you can play around with different weapons, use stealth or go full on attack mode, and discover multiple ways to approach any situation. Everything can be climbed, everything has a purpose or function, and the game is challenging like no other recent Zelda game has been.

The Legend of Zelda holds a special place in a lot of our hearts. Starting on the NES and perfecting on the N64. I didn’t own a Gamecube so all my experiences with the newer titles were isolated to the HD remakes. Case and point, Zelda carries an unquestionable pedigree. I like many fans have eagerly awaited a true NexGen Zelda game. We’ll everyone, I am here to tell you the newest game in the entry is that game. I would like to start my opinion of this game by saying I have it on the Wii U. I have never been a fan of Nintendo’s recent “Innovations” in console controls, so I don’t plan on purchasing a Nintendo Switch. I will go ahead and get something out of the way. The Nintendo Wii U port of Zelda is perfect for an immersive open world on a last gen system. Too often we forget the hurdles of LastGen gaming as it relates to open world games. Skyrim despite it’s many updates and patches still takes forever to load, has clipping, framerate drops, pop in… ETC. I have never played an open world game and not experienced some form of technical error. However, despite those short comings, Open World adventure and RPG games are my favorite. So with that out of the way. Now time to talk about Zelda The Breath of the Wild. What would you get if Studio Ghibli created a game staring Link and borrowing elements from Princess Monanoke, Castle in the Sky and the game play from Shadows of Mordor? An incredibly realized vision. Very few games give you a since of adventure. Most games are either too linear or so open ended they become mundane. While Zelda will obviously be prone to repetition, the new emphasis on resource managements and constantly swapping out items adds a refreshing since of desperation to the usual open world adventure tropes. The sense of wonderment on display every time you climb a mountain and glide aimlessly toward your next destination is beyond on words. It’s like sailing through a painting. Many good games are coming out this year. The market is overly saturated with triple A titles and the competitive gaming market is at it’s all time high. Developers are tasked with constant innovation and strict release schedules. I can honestly say Nintendo has poured their heart and soul into this title. It’s not about graphics, innovation, 10 star reviews or outselling the next big budget franchise. They game is simply put a love letter to the fans and developer that loyally follow this time honored franchise.

I've been playing on my Wii U for a week now and am still amazed at this game. It's Zelda's first true open world experience. Nothing is linear. You can literally go anywhere. Climb any mountain. I've put in a few hours most days and haven't touched even 25% of the map. I have yet to do a main dungeon (keep getting distracted) but have done a bunch of shrines (which have really nice puzzles in their own right). The only small annoyances are the controls are a little cumbersome. Nintendo does not follow a typical control scheme (they're "confirm" button is "a", which is located at the "O" position when compared to PlayStation, for example) and they're not very customizable. Fully customizable control scheme would be nice. I also cannot toggle the z targeting system. You must hold the button down. Lastly, weapons break often. I understand weapon damage (I'm not new to this game type), but with this game it's too quick and they're not repairable. But other than that the game is great. The open world is huge (seems larger than Fallout) and I have yet to experience any form of a glitch. The amount of things to do is numerous and you can do any of it whenever you want. There are many nods to games past as well- some more subtle than others (still can't figure out where it sits in the timeline). This is a great direction for the franchise. The game also doesn't hold your hand (no Navi, tetra, or lion boat guiding you), which a huge departure for Zelda of late and it's welcome. If you pay attention you don't need it. Nintendo has done a fine job of giving you ways to track your progress without explicitly saying "go here and do this.". Definitely recommend.

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 have played many Zelda games in the past, and with the exception of the first entry and The Wind Waker I could never finish them because they never seemed to hold my attention. Breath of the Wild is beautiful, immersive, and most importantly, fun! I cannot stop playing! One game session could take up to four hours, leaving me wanting to play more. The game also encourages one to think critically when facing complex situations. I can see myself playing BotW for many years. I may never even want to buy a Switch.

Breath of the Wild stands as one of the best Legend of Zelda games to ever have come out. It definitely changes to dynamic to the game series in a way that has not been seen since the original Zelda. There are a number of aspects which are highlights, but one of the best is that every that you can see from the beginning is reachable. I have played the game for over 90 hours so far and I am still finding new and exciting characters, items, locations, etc. A must own for any Zelda, Nintendo or open world fan!

I have played 90% of the zeldas and this is easily top 3. Ocarina of time and link between worlds are probably the other 2. This game is fun start to finish. I put in 52 hours, beat the game, and there's still tons to do. An absolutel must buy. Cons: the frame rate isn't consistent. They dropped a patch on 3/30 but I just beat the game so I haven't seen the improvements...yet. Horses aren't as easy to come by Side note: Temples are no longer the main focus, the world is but it's still amazing

I haven't been able to put this game down. From the moment I started playing it, I fell in love with the game. The graphics are great, and the storyline is too. You have to make your own food, your weapons break, the map is huge. I can't stop exploring. And when I'm not playing, I'm thinking about what I will do next. Best game of the year in my opinion. I would like to add that I'm almost 40 years old. If you loved Zelda during your childhood, you will love this even more

I'm not a super fan of this franchise and I don't really like the open-world games because exploration is kind of boring for me, but, this game introduce me in a new point of view of the exploration and it really keep me attached to the game. It's very addictive. The story is great, the music sublime, and the general game mechanism is very cool, the battle system could be better. I would recommend this game for everyone that want to feel and enjoy one of the best games ever.

I finished this game within 5 days of game play and while I enjoyed the game a lot, there were certain parts of the game where I feel a bit disappointed. The game started out pretty frustrating with the amount of weapons breaking but by the end I thoroughly enjoyed that aspect (especially with the survival island.) It ended up as probably one of my favorite things about the game. The large world is fun to explore but the amount of climbing and walking makes the game a little boring at times. Though being about to search for little imperfections for Koroks helped with the boredom for some time. The biggest negative I have to say for the game is the fact that the final boss fight took me barely three minutes to finish. The Divine Beast make the final fight really easy. I only used the Master Sword and a Bow the entire fight even though I had stock pilled extra weapons incase the sword ran out of power and ton of health foods; which I barely used. Other than that I really enjoyed the game but I don't think its something I could play through over and over.

The graphics are perfect, the story is great and the open world environment feels amazing.