RPG – My Life, or Something Like It

Everything We Know: The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild

In less than a month The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild is set to hit shelves for both the Wii U, and for the launch of the Nintendo Switch and here is everything we know.

The Legend of Zelda series has been a longstanding staple of the Nintendo repertoire since its launch on the Famicom back in 1986. Link has grown up, shrunk down, cell-shaded, and time traveled throughout our many years together. However, Breath of the Wild seeks to take our journey with Link one step further, into the vast open space of true sandbox gameplay.

After multiple delays since 2013, the title will seemingly give us the experience of Zelda we’ve been after for years: adventure, story, and beautiful environments which rival the best of The Elder Scrolls. With a newly developed physics engine, open-world environment, and voice acting, Breath of the Wild seems much more like a Skyrim-meets-Studio-Ghibli than a traditional Zelda game–and we love it.

Play through dungeons in any order, as you are thrown headfirst into this new take on Hyrule. Rather than being guided along by a rail story, players will be able to explore the lush fields and forests at their own pace. Additionally, a large number of cut scenes help to develop the game’s narrative and were the primary motivation for developers including voice acting for the first time in the series’ history.

*Breath of the Wild* showcases an entirely breathtaking take on Hyrule.

The Story

Some 100 years after a great societal collapse in Hyrule, Link awakens in an amnesiac state. Guided by a mysterious voice, Link’s first steps are shakily taken in a world all too familiar, and yet strange. While these initial steps and memory fog are par for the course in many Zelda games, where Breath of the Wild takes us after that, is entirely new territory.

Set after the events of Ocarina of Time, players will return to Hyrule and see the world left behind through the same strange veil Link awakens within. Not fully removed from the previous stories, and yet not fully aware of the narrative they’re in, Breath of the Wild wants to give players an entirely new Legend of Zelda experience.

Redefining what it means to be a *Zelda* title.

Gameplay

While some things are new, others are simply redesigned. Even as early as Ocarina of Time, players were used to items being more than what they seemed. For example, sticks could be used not only as torches but also as weapons. Additionally, the methods you killed an enemy, could result in different loot options, i.e. shells or sticks. Breath of the Wild takes this one step further and ups the ante on its inventory and crafting system. Tree branches could be used not only as weapons, or torches, but also for sliding on snow-ridden paths, or as shields.

Various goods can also be used for clothing, food, or weaponry. There will also be a rune system which will allow for increased crafting abilities and the manipulation of combat mechanics. Alongside inventory improvements, this title will feature a proper quest log, allowing for players to follow their progress on the main storylines, as well as side missions.

The game also features Amiibo integration, allowing for players to bring in sidekicks, and unlock alternative story paths when certain conditions are met.

As a Switch launch title, the game will feature improved graphics on the new console, over the Wii U version.

DLC

Nintendo announced that players could purchase an Expansion Pass for Breath of the Wild that would include two DLC packages. The first of which will be released this summer and includes the “Cave of Trials” challenge, a new hard mode and an update for the in-game map. The second will launch in the winter and include a new dungeon and new story content. The pass will cost $19.99 USD and is available for both the Wii U version and the Switch.

Launch Details

Breath of the Wild will launch simultaneously on March 3rd for the WiiU and Nintendo Switch for $59.99 USD. The Switch launch version of Breath of the Wild will also come in “Special” and “Master” edition bundles, for $99.99 and $129.99 USD respectively. Both feature a Sheikah Eye coin, a Calamity Ganon tapestry and world map, a soundtrack disc, and a themed carry-case for the console, while only the “Master” edition comes with a bonus figurine of the Master Sword.

Finally, there will be some minor graphic quality changes between the last first-party title version for the Wii U, and the launch title version for the Nintendo Switch. The Wii U version will run at 720p and 30FPS, while the Switch will feature 900p and 30FPS when docked to a television. While in standalone embedded-display the Switch will also run at 720p.

It’s time to return to Hyrule. Are you hyped for Breath of the Wild? Let us know in the comments or by tweeting us on our Twitter or visiting our Facebook page!

Images © Nintendo

Famine & Flood: The State of World of Warcraft

Whether you’re raiding, PVPing, or pet battling, Legion offers a lot to do. But is it too much?

Whether you’re raiding, PVPing, or pet battling, Legion offers a lot to do. But is it too much? If you’ve been playing World of Warcraft for a long time, you’ve experienced the content ebbs and flows of Blizzard’s patches. With Legion’s most recent Patch 7.1.5 drop, it’s hard not to feel a little overwhelmed with the amount of content flowing in.

Warlords of Draenor was not a great expansion for content releases. Much of the content originally planned was either scrapped or drastically changed in order to meet ever condensed release schedules. It’s predecessor Mists of Pandaria however boasted a great start to the expansion, dropping content patches like hotcakes. Unfortunately for MoP, content stretched to a famine after the release of the Siege of Orgrimmar raid, a patch which left players wanting for over a year before Warlords finally dropped.

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So far Legion appears to be following a similar release schedule to MoP. From the outset of Legion’s release, there has been a steady flow of content for players to indulge in… perhaps a little too much content. For hardcore players, at the release of the expansion, it was nearly impossible to even consider focusing on anything but your main character. Between world quests, reputation grinds, and professions, there was a near overwhelming amount of things to keep oneself occupied. As raids opened up, arena seasons started, and new storylines were released, Blizzard has kept the river flowing. While the content may not necessarily be up to your speed, the fact remains that there is a lot to do.

Might there just be a little too much going on? While Blizzard has made efforts to try and help alts and new players catch up to current content levels, it can at times feel like there’s too much to do. However, it might just be in how you look at things. In past expansions, at max level, you pretty much logged in just for raids, dailies, or even your daily dungeon and that was it. Now for many players there is a greater variety of things to do. World quests have given a breath of fresh air to the old daily structure, allowing the freedom to not log in every day with only a minor loss to progression, as emissaries last for up to three days. Weekly events and micro holidays help players interact with the world in new ways, and change up the face of the game. Even if you don’t like what’s going on this week, usually something will be coming along soon to carry you away.

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In looking at how much Legion has to offer, it is hard not to draw parallels to MoP. We were fanned with content during Mists, and we were left with a drought in the end. Had Blizzard have paced their content releases a bit more steadily throughout Mists, the content drought would not have lasted nearly as long and might have left people feeling better about the expansion when transitioning into Warlords (which was effectively another drought). It is not surprising then that many fear that Blizzard’s content releases may run out of steam before the next expansion drops, leaving us caught in the content desert as we wait for new things to do.

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While an inter-expansion lull is always expected, one would hope that Blizzard has learned a thing or two about helping ease the transition. While the time between expansions is often a good time to catch up on things you might have let slide (pet battles, Brawler’s Guild, or transmog collections), these are often not the things which keep people subscribed. Legion doesn’t appear to be singing its final swan song anytime soon, and it’s current content trajectory appears to be solid. While players may feel a little overwhelmed with what’s currently on their plates, and the impending menu Blizzard has in store, we can hope that our Warcraft overlords have learned proper content pacing techniques. Not too fast, not too slow, but just right: the Goldilocks schedule. Something we’ll hopefully get to see after our coming trip to Argus.

How do you feel about Blizzard’s content releases so far in Legion? Do you think things are happening too fast? Are you bored already? How did you handle past expansion droughts? Let us know below, or join in the conversation on social media!

Ghoul On! Horror Video Games, Then & Now

Pumpkins are on every post in World of Warcraft and our heroes are dressing up in Overwatch—it’s that time of year to get spooky and break out the horror games.

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KH3 Prologue Gets New Launch Date & Trailer

During the 2016 PlayStation Press Conference in Japan earlier today, updates were given on a number of titles. This included Final Fantasy XV, as well as the new PS4 System Software Update. For dedicated Kingdom Hearts fans however, it was announced that the prequel to Kingdom Hearts 3 would be delayed until at least January 12, 2017 in Japan, and January 24, 2017 in North American markets. In E3 2016, Kingdom Hearts 2.8 Final Chapter Prologue (KH2.8) was originally set for a December 2016 release.

While slipping release dates are not uncommon in gaming production, hardcore fans of the series may worry that this delay will further push the highly anticipated Kingdom Hearts 3 down the line. However, the launch of the prequel will hopefully give fans something engaging to tide them over until Kingdom Hearts 3 is released. A new trailer for KH2.8 was launched alongside the announcement, featuring stunning graphical updates to the engine as well as an overview of what’s to come. KH2.8 itself is built from the KH3 engine and will include a new storyline to set the stage for KH3‘s events. The title also includes a remaster of Kingdom Hearts: Dream Drop Distance, as well as a new side-quest story, Kingdom Hearts Chi: Back Cover.

Unfortunately, Kingdom Hearts fans will have to wait until later this year for further information about Kingdom Hearts 3.

This Day in Gaming History: June 5

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This Day in Gaming History is an editorial released 2-3 days per week, that takes you on a ride in its custom-built gaming history blue box. We take a look at titles all released on the same day throughout gaming history, while also giving extra facts and anecdotes as available or appropriate. Got a favorite game that you want to learn more about, or perhaps want to see featured on TDIGH? Send angel1573 a message on the forums, or leave a comment below!

We continue to drag our heels through the last few weeks of spring, looking towards a summer filled with sunshine…outside our windows as we sit inside and play video games. That’s how summers are spent, right? Regardless, we continue to have gaming history coming your way, even as historical releases are dwindling. Look for some summer special posts coming soon to help tide you over til mayhem hits in Q3. The blue box has some stories to tell today, so let’s take a look at one of the most well known-cult SNES titles, revisit some ancient ruins, and piece together a little bit more of the plotweb of Kingdom Hearts–all on This Day in Gaming History.

EARTHBOUND (SNES)

Also known as Mother 2 in Japan, this RPG title was modestly received on its release, only to carry a weighty global legacy. EarthBound has frequently been listed on top games every gamer should play at least once in their lives; often ranked rather highly as well. Critics, as well as players, find the title to be a “classic” of the RPG genre, as well as for its socio-political commentary. Praised for its humor, intelligence, and ability to captivate, EarthBound has continued to charm players of all kinds since its initial release. The title has also quite a cult following, developing slowly ever since its release. The community has struggled to gain access to North American releases of the greater Mother series, developed countless fan art and tributes, and has generally been quite vocal about the series more broadly–a fandom holding strong since EarthBound’s 1994 release.

The sequel to EarthBound/Mother 2 was originally to be released on the Nintendo 64 console, as EarthBound 64, but was later canceled. The title was later revived as a Japanese-only sequel in 2006 for the Gameboy Advance. EarthBound was re-released in 2013 for the Wii U Virtual Console. Beyond the game itself, the lead character Ness, has also become a fan-favorite icon since the game’s release. So much so, that fans advocated for his inclusion in Super Smash Bros. and its sequels). Ness thus has become perhaps more recognizable for his roles in Super Smash Bros than from his own game. Ness has even received his own amiibo figure.

TOMB RAIDER: ANNIVERSARY (PC/PS2)

Released in 2007, Tomb Raider: Anniversary is a remake of the original 1996 Tomb Raider. Utilizing an improved version of the “Legend” game engine, it includes all of the original environments from its prototype. While it was the least commercially successful game in the Tomb Raider series, the title was well received by critics. Nine official trailers and four developer diaries were released in anticipation of the remastered title; highlighting various zones and their updated graphics. Despite being an updated copy of the original, Anniversary featured new abilities, like pole swinging, which had been absent from initial gameplay. A game trailer showing footage of the game was released in June of 2006, however, the then-PSP title developed by Core Design was canceled; the had been leaked and was not meant to be released. In the week following the trailer’s leak, Eidos Interactive announced the Tomb Raider: 10th Anniversary Edition for PS2, PSP, and Windows, to be developed by Crystal Dynamics. Core Design is no longer legally allowed to produce Tomb Raider titles; the leaked trailer now considered to be copyright infringement.

KINGDOM HEARTS: DREAM DROP DISTANCE (3DS)

Taking place after the events of Kingdom Hearts Re:coded, the game focuses on Sora and Riku as they prepare for the return of Master Xehanort. Besides these two well known characters, players can recruit Dream Eaters to assist them in fights. Square Enix decided to develop Dream Drop Distance, having been impressed by the quality of the Nintendo 3DS. Taking advantage of the handheld’s functionality, Square was able to include action elements from the series seen in Birth by Sleep, as well as to give plot hints for Kingdom Hearts III. The game has sold well, and an HD remastered version for the Playstation 4 was announced in September of 2015, as part of the upcoming compilation Kingdom Hearts HD 2.8 Final Chapter Prologue.

Some other titles released on this day:

Athena [Japan] – NES – 1987
Digimon World 3 – PlayStation – 2002
Hospital Tycoon – PC – 2007
The Incredible Hulk – PS2/PS3/Wii/Xbox360 – 2008
Final Fantasy Tactics – Android OS – 2015

This Day in Gaming History: May 30

Sailing through the mid 2000’s to just a few years ago, we’ve got the blue box clearly moving through the timestream. Only a few bumps through June 1st, but that hasn’t happened yet. Agent 47 returns for one of the best titles of the series, Kingdom Hearts continues its side stories away from the lead consoles, and you’ll never see the blue shell coming the eighth time around; all on This Day in Gaming History!

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Tag: RPG