Nintendo has announced that the highly anticipated Nintendo Switch 2 will be released on June 5, although it will not include a new main title in the Legend of Zelda series. However, the launch is accompanied by enhanced versions of the acclaimed games The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom, which promise to offer players a renewed experience on the new console. An app that aims to change how we play these two games One of the most notable features of these new releases is Zelda Notes, a mobile function that will make it easier for players to […]
Nintendo has announced that the highly anticipated Nintendo Switch 2 will be released on June 5, although it will not include a new main title in the Legend of Zelda saga. However, the launch is accompanied by enhanced versions of the acclaimed games The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom, which promise to offer players a renewed experience on the new console.
An app that aims to change how we play these two games
One of the most notable features of these new releases is Zelda Notes, a mobile function that will make it easier for players to exchange items between both games. Additionally, these items can be shared with friends using the Nintendo Switch mobile app. During a demonstration at Nintendo Treehouse: Live, it was shown how Link’s character was able to receive a war hammer from another player through this exchange system.
Despite the exciting possibilities that Zelda Notes offers, there are significant restrictions. Items that are exclusive to Tears of the Kingdom will change when transferred to Breath of the Wild. However, players of Tears of the Kingdom will be able to use this feature to share autobuild blueprints via QR codes and also benefit from a navigation option to reach difficult locations.
In addition, new Amiibo are being released that will include characters such as Tulin, Yunobo, Sidon, Riju, and Mineru’s Construct, which will be available on launch day along with the games. Players who already own any of the previous versions of Breath of the Wild or Tears of the Kingdom on the original console will have the option to purchase the editions for Switch 2 via download, at no additional cost for Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack members. It is important to note that the Zelda Notes feature will not require a subscription for access.
The upcoming open-world game, The Knightling, is catching the attention of fans thanks to its clear inspiration from the iconic entries of The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom. What sets The Knightling apart is its innovative approach to the protagonist’s shield, which serves multiple functions within the game, from melee weapon and throwable weapon to glider, parry, and slow-motion attack. This central mechanic is not only crucial for combat but also for movement in a 3D world designed for […]
The upcoming open-world game, The Knightling, is catching the attention of fans thanks to its clear inspiration from the iconic entries of The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom. What sets The Knightling apart is its innovative approach to the protagonist’s shield, which serves multiple functions within the game, from melee weapon and throwable weapon to glider, parry, and slow-motion attack. This core mechanic is not only crucial for combat but also for navigating a 3D world designed for players to effectively slide their shield across ramps and speed boosters.
A game clearly inspired by the latest Zelda
The first details of the demo of The Knightling, tested during the Steam Next Fest, reveal an entertaining and charming experience, although some critics have noted that the world feels somewhat empty compared to the masterpieces of Zelda. In this demo version, players explore picturesque hills, interacting with NPCs and collecting treasures, but the lack of density and dynamism in the setting may limit immersion.
Despite the criticism regarding its current state, The Knightling shows great potential, especially thanks to its brilliant artistic style and lively soundtrack, which complements the cheerful energy of the game. The protagonist’s movements are fluid and responsive, offering satisfying moments, such as perfect stops during battles, suggesting that there are more surprises and gameplay mechanics to discover in the full version.
Although the game still does not have a release date and presents a sense of incompleteness, its promise of improvements and updates in the future suggests that it could become a strong contender in the 3D platformer category, in a world where comparisons with classic titles like Super Mario Odyssey and Wind Waker are already emerging. Fans are eagerly awaiting more information about this exciting project from Twirlbound.
Some believe that watching a movie or video game trailer is a spoiler. They think that everything from the poster itself is a preview that they didn’t ask for. Even knowing who appears is a huge attack against our right not to find out anything at all. Perhaps that’s why Nintendo decided to backtrack on the title of the sequel to The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, fearing the fans’ backlash.
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On its day, all gamers were waiting for Breath of the Wild 2, and more specifically, its title, which was expected to be just as free and amazing as the first game in the franchise. However, when Nintendo finally decided to show its first trailer, it was called Tears of the Kingdom, and there were quite a few disappointed ones.
But there was a reason behind this somewhat strange name: it was used to cover up a huge spoiler. As Eiji Aonuma says, “Dropping the hint that the Light Dragon is Zelda would have been a problem, and it had an effect on the title. One of the candidates that made it to the end was Tears of the Dragon.”
Of course, people would have connected the dots: “It would have been a bad idea to have the word ‘Dragon’ in the title, and we wanted to have draconian patterns in the logo, but we decided to do it differently. We would emphasize the Light Dragon, after all.” The problem was that nothing good came out. The release date was approaching, and someone on the team said, “What about ‘Kingdom’?”
“With Tears of the Kingdom, we felt that the phrase could join the Dragon of Light for us, and we could use dragons in the logo. With the title decided, the logo became what it is now.” Honestly, I can’t be the only one who, with Tears of the Dragon, would have gone to the window to applaud with excitement, right?
Now, in the midst of 2024, Nintendo has reminded us of its existence with an unexpected surprise: the revelation of exactly how many units it has sold. And they are not few.
Do you remember when ‘Tears of the Kingdom’ was released? It seems like ages ago, and yet it was just last year around this time. A complete success that everyone was talking about for over a month, which in the gaming world is equivalent to a couple of centuries. But now, in the midst of 2024, Nintendo has reminded us of its existence with an unexpected surprise: the revelation of how many units it has specifically sold. And they are not few.
Specifically, the game has sold 20.61 million copies worldwide, an impressive number that places it in 9th place among the best-selling titles for Nintendo Switch. A very diverse ranking, by the way, led by ‘Mario Kart 8 Deluxe’ and followed by, among others, ‘Animal Crossing’, ‘Super Smash Bros’, ‘The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild’ or ‘Super Mario Odyssey’.
Come on, Switch is in top form. And thank goodness, because it needs to be this year. After all, we’ve reached the point of stagnation where games are going to be released sparingly. Yes, it has very little left to offer before passing the crown to Nintendo‘s next console, and everyone knows it.
What is clear is that in the new gadget, ‘The Legend of Zelda’ will continue to aim for open worlds, rather than the closed dungeons of yesteryear. Or maybe a mix. Either way, right now the company would give everything to release a game from the saga for Nintendo Switch 2.
Between the two titles of the franchise, they have sold over 51 million units in this generation. And even by today’s standards, that’s a lot. To put it in perspective, both games combined would surpass ‘Overwatch’ or ‘The Witcher 3’. That’s saying something. Now we just need them not to disappoint us in the future, but with the movie coming soon and bringing new inhabitants to Hyrule, it’s very unlikely that they will. Let’s play the ocarina and cross our fingers.
Let’s take a look at the 3 best (and 3 worst) things that has brought us, as everyone knows it, the new Zelda. And after that each one takes the side that they like the most.
Tears of the Kingdom has been with us for a week now, and if you’ve been watching Twitter, people are doing real stunts. Don’t feel pressured to build a rocket if you don’t feel like it: if you think you’re the host of ‘Bricomania’ just by attaching a motor to a board, don’t let anyone take away your enthusiasm. The sequel to ‘Breath of the wild’ is receiving categorical deuces from the entire gaming community and, indeed, it is a tremendous game, a masterpiece, a before and after in the industry… Or maybe it’s not so bad? Let’s take a look at the 3 best (and 3 worst) things that has brought us, as everyone knows it, “the new Zelda”… And then let everyone take the side they like the most.
Undoubtedly, it is a wonderful addition. If in ‘Breath of the wild’ it was already a masterful move to change Link’s classic instruments for different magics and powers, in ‘Tears of the Kingdom‘ it is improved to the extreme. If you have the ability to build and enough patience, your ride through Hyrule in a truck, your automatic killing machine or your jet plane will make the experience much more fun. But then again, by thinking of the game vertically instead of the horizontality of the previous installment, being able to easily climb and escape from almost anywhere is a great addition, just as much as rolling things backwards. No one thought Nintendo was going to pull it off, but they have.
Not as free as it seems
This Zelda is sold as the game where you can do whatever you want, whenever you want and however you want… And for the most part it is, but not exactly. Before going here and there you’ll have to go through several gofer quests, assorted tutorials or, even worse, the impossibility of taking down some monsters with ideas of your own: even if you have a wit to take down some of them, the game forces you to do it its way, and it goes against everything it pretends to stand for. It happens only sometimes, but it’s undeniably annoying.
Three maps
Quelling accusations that this was a glorified DLC, Hyrule now grows above and below: the secrets hidden in the clouds and underground are a great addition that enlarges the map to unsuspected limits. If in ‘Breath of the wild’ it was already difficult to get from one side of the country to the other, now, with three times as much place to cover, it’s surprise after surprise. And the best part: you’re always seeing things and places, you always know where you want to go next, you never run out of ideas to keep jogging. Great.
Not so many new features
Yes, it’s back to Hyrule in style. Yes, every plan of the map has been retouched and new places have been opened. And yet… The walk (or ride) around the map feels too much like ‘Breath of the wild‘: although the powers give, playably, a new life to the game, it doesn’t really innovate in the same way that ‘Majora’s Mask’ did with ‘Ocarina of time‘. It’s essentially the same game, with enemies being killed in the same way and similar mechanics. It never ends up feeling like something completely new, but rather like coming home for Christmas and seeing that your parents have done a complete overhaul. It’s not the same, but the structure is.
There is always something to do
Unlike in the previous installment, where the map sometimes seemed to be completely empty, in ‘Tears of the Kingdom’ there is always a sanctuary to reach, a gadget to build, an enemy to kill, a side mission to finish, a piece of map to explore… It is, indeed, a world where you will always find things to do and getting bored is, literally, impossible. It is absolute perfection as far as open world games are concerned, and ‘GTA VI’ has a very difficult time overcoming its variety of tests and, above all, the feeling of a world that is always alive and in motion.
The. Falls. Continuous.
With the addition of the islands in the sky also comes another one that we didn’t see coming: Link’s clumsiness, who falls over and over again to the ground… And unless he sinks into the water or uses the parasail in time, he’ll have no choice but to crash to the ground. Later in the game we get a medallion that will help us, but until then it’s all falls, deaths, crushing and pain. Couldn’t we also have a little rope tied to our ankle so we can easily get back to where we were, please?
