Daily Debate: Can Tears of the Kingdom Become Repetitive After a Small Amount of Gameplay?
Posted on July 21 2023 by Vitor Mansano
With little more than two months after its release (and in my case with almost 170 hours of gameplay), we can say without a doubt that Tears of the Kingdom met all its really, really high expectations, and not for nothing the title became the fastest-selling in the series history. That is really impressive and heartwarming for us fans.
Being an extremely anticipated game that arrived six years after the launch of its acclaimed predecessor, the title quickly generated a lot of discussions between fans of the series and specialized gaming media outlets. Among initial debates about gameplay, new mechanics and even graphics, one of the most valid and divisive points was the feeling of the game bringing “more of the same” to the table. This has been the big elephant in the room since its announcement.
That is because, in addition to its gigantic map, Tears of the Kingdom also reuses many game mechanics born in Breath of the Wild, such as the hunting for Korok Seeds and armor upgrades, for example. Furthermore, despite the title bringing hundreds of new side quests, side adventures and shrine quests, many of these seem to repeat excessively the formula “take something from point A to point B”.
As I observed the comments over the last few weeks, I’ve noticed that one of the biggest complaints from players is the fact that the game relies too much on repetition. For example, a fun and clever mission like helping Addison place his bosses’ signs all over Hyrule can end up becoming tiresome for the number of times the player needs to do it (at least those who intend to go for that 100%). The rewards often don’t help either. I cannot help feeling that maybe we are seeing too much of a good thing here.
Don’t get me wrong, I’ll be the first one to defend Tears of the Kingdom all day long, and I’m still relishing in it and obsessed since day one. The title improves on what was already practically perfect, and naturally delivers the sense of continuity to Breath of the Wild’s timeline. In addition, extensive new exploration points, charismatic characters and Link’s new abilities leaves Nintendo’s latest best seller feeling almost completely brand new.
Having said all that, we want to hear from you readers. In your opinion, does Tears of the Kingdom rely too heavily on repetition? After over two months of gameplay, have you ever felt bored or unmotivated in your adventure? Or do you, like me, keep finding something new and exciting to explore every day? Let us know in the comments below.
Gaymer, vegan and obsessed with everything from the 90’s.
