Daily Debate: Are You Glass Half Full or Glass Half Empty When Discussing How Similar Tears of the Kingdom is to Breath of the Wild?
Posted on June 30 2024 by Sean Gadus
Making video game sequels is an extremely tough challenge. Deciding what mechanics and narrative elements will be carried forward for a sequel, and deciding how a sequel will diverge from its predecessor are some of most complex discussions that designers, writers, and producers can have. Simply deciding the direction of a sequel, let alone designing it, can be very challenging. Even with game designers putting a great deal of thought into how to move a series forward, the way critics and fans will react to sequels is almost never certain. If a sequel is too close to its predecessor, then developers might be accused of resting on their laurels or a failing to innovate. In contrast, if a sequel is too different from its predecessor, it risks alienating the core audience that the previous game has cultivated.
The complex process of designing a video game sequel is what make Tears of the Kingdom such an interesting game. Even more than most sequels, Tears of the Kingdom closely resembles its predecessor. Many fans are divided on whether Tears of the Kingdom‘s similarities to Breath of the Wild should be viewed in a positive or negative way.
With this in mind, are you glass half full (positive) or glass half empty (negative) when discussing how similar Tears of the Kingdom is to Breath of the Wild?
Overall, I find myself to be glass half full when discussing Tears of the Kingdom‘s similarities to Breath of the Wild. While Tears of the Kingdom does not fix the core design issues that I believe are present in Breath of the Wild (such as a thin main quest, prioritizing shrines over dungeons, and too many collectibles) I do think that the new enemies and bosses in Tears of the Kingdom go a long way in making the world feel fresh and new. Ultrahand and Ascent are two mechanics in the sequel that can make the player rethink how to traverse and engage with the game world. The cave systems are another addition that work in Tears of the Kingdom because they add some surprises to a familiar world. While I prefer for each Zelda game to have a new game world and setting, I think Nintendo was open enough in the lead up to Tears of the Kingdom‘s launch about reusing the characters and world of Breath of the Wild so that players could set expectations for how the sequel would play.
What do you think? Are you glass half full (positive) or glass half empty (negative) when discussing how similar Tears of the Kingdom is to Breath of the Wild? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!
Sean Gadus is a Senior Editor at Zelda Dungeon. His first Zelda game was Ocarina of Time, and he loves all of the 3D Zelda games from 1998-2011. The final battle of Tears of the Kingdom is one of his favorite final battles in the entire series. He wants to help build a kinder, more compassionate world. You can check out his other written work at The-Artifice.com.
