So, yesterday my girlfriend started playing Breath of the Wild. It took her a decent chunk of time to make it off the plateau. She isn't really a gamer, she's played a few games here and there and has had some experience with the series, but not much actually playing it (mostly watching cousins or taking short turns with them on OoT and MM). She did a pretty decent job of reasoning her way around the Plateau and found some Korok Seeds, and just generally had a really good time of everything. She did ask for my help a few times, and I showed her some general gameplay tips (like how to use the camera controls properly and how taking off your pants and gear makes you quieter). She was feeling really confident.
But then she got off the Plateau and landed in the forest near the Outpost Ruins and it was a whole different story. She learned how to use her bombs, and by the end of the ordeal was even getting in some Flurry Rushes. But hoboy, getting to that point was something to witness. She'd try to hurl a bomb only to panic and crouch, then get walloped by a club. She'd run through forest and field with a single Moblin in dogged pursuit. Sometimes if a Chuchu or Octorok popped up, or a horde of Keese showed up, she'd scream and practically hurl the controller. She'd crouch and creep through the trees to sneak up on a Moblin, only to have it turn and see her and she'd take off like a shot through the forest yelling at it to go away. There were a few times she got a bit stressed and frustrated, but we also both had a ton of laughs over it as well as the fun stories and comic-like ideas we came up with. She also caught and tamed a horse on her first try! All in all, it was an enjoyable and hilarious time.