Analysis Video Examines the Efficacy of Lookout Landing as a Fort
Posted on August 22 2023 by Josh Wittmershaus
“Willful suspension of disbelief” is sometimes a necessity when playing video games, and the Zelda franchise is no exception. However, while fighting three-headed dragons, transporting through solid ground, and receiving aim from ancient, sentient machines, there are certain shortcomings in form and function that can make us question the reality we find ourselves in, and the practicality of what surrounds us.
Enter The Bread Pirate and his recent video, Lookout Landing SUCKS as a fort! (Tears of the Kingdom). Already at over half-a-million views, this video presents an example of something that absolutely would not fly in the real world (and no, he’s not referring to the hoverbike, which, as far as I know, absolutely would fly in the real world.)
When we re-enter Hyrule in Tears of the Kingdom after completing the Great Sky Island, the game guides us towards Looking Landing, a sort of “home base” for the Hyrulean counter-insurgency against Ganondorf and his minions. The place acts as a reconnaissance hub for fighting forces, a place for Purah and her crew to perform research, and an underground hideout in case of attack. But, as The Bread Pirate points out, this fort wouldn’t serve its purpose or protection in the instance of an attack by moderate numbers.
I encourage you to watch the video, as the creator provides methodical and thoughtful evidence part-by-part, showcasing the ineffectiveness of the entire structure. What this video does for me more than anything is highlight that little details such as those discussed can take away from the overall experience of a game, as I now require that much more willful suspension of disbelief in order to convince myself that Lookout Landing was a product of military professionals and survivalists.
What do you think? Do videos like this ruin the gaming experience for you? Or do they assist in finding the blind spots that could prevent such things from happening in future games? For me, this video was both, but I appreciate the time and effort The Bread Pirate put into it, as such analysis is what makes being a member of this fanbase so rewarding.
How much willful suspension of disbelief is too much? Are there other impracticalities in Tears of the Kingdom or other Zelda games that irk at you? I’m excited to see where this goes, so leave a comment below!
Source: The Bread Pirate
Josh Wittmershaus is a writer at Zelda Dungeon. Originally from Erie, Pennsylvania, he now resides in Northern California. Aside from Zelda, Josh enjoys playing music, seeing live music, music history, and all other things music. He also enjoys skating, hockey, and the occasional political or philosophical thought exercise.
