The Undying Hyrule: What Happens After You Beat Calamity Ganon in Breath of the Wild?
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Yes, you can continue playing Breath of the Wild (BOTW) after defeating Calamity Ganon, but with a significant catch. The game doesn’t offer a true “post-game” experience in the traditional sense. After the final battle and ending cutscenes, you’re placed back at your last save point before the fight with Ganon. This means Hyrule remains in its pre-Ganon-defeated state.
Understanding the Breath of the Wild Post-Ganon Experience
It might seem counterintuitive, but this design choice is deliberate and crucial to the game’s mechanics and narrative. The core gameplay loop of Breath of the Wild revolves around preparing for and ultimately confronting Calamity Ganon. Removing that threat entirely would fundamentally alter the game world and its inherent challenges.
Think of it this way: Breath of the Wild isn’t about living in a world free of Ganon, but about the journey of preparing to face him. The satisfaction comes from exploring Hyrule, mastering your skills, completing side quests, and uncovering its secrets – all with the overarching goal of defeating the ultimate evil.
After defeating Calamity Ganon, the game does acknowledge your accomplishment. A star icon appears on your save file, indicating that you’ve completed the main quest. This lets you know which save file you’ve defeated him on without loading the game, and some minor things become unlocked. The game also tracks your progress towards 100% completion, displaying a percentage on the map.
However, the world itself reverts to its pre-battle state. Blood Moons still rise, monsters still roam, and the quest to defeat Calamity Ganon remains active. This allows you to continue exploring Hyrule, completing side quests, finding remaining Shrines, and collecting Korok Seeds without losing the core gameplay experience.
Why This Design Choice Works
The lack of a true post-game might disappoint some, but it actually enhances the overall experience for several reasons:
- Preservation of Gameplay Loop: The core gameplay loop remains intact, allowing you to continue experiencing the exploration, combat, and puzzle-solving that make Breath of the Wild so engaging.
- Freedom of Choice: You retain the freedom to tackle challenges in any order you choose. You can continue exploring, discovering new areas, and upgrading your equipment, all while knowing that you’ve already conquered the main threat.
- Focus on the Journey: The game emphasizes the journey rather than the destination. The experiences you have along the way, the characters you meet, and the challenges you overcome are ultimately more important than simply reaching the end.
- Replayability: The save system allows you to re-challenge Ganon any time you want, without having to start an entire new playthrough.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Here are some frequently asked questions about playing Breath of the Wild after defeating Calamity Ganon:
1. What exactly changes after defeating Ganon?
The primary change is the star icon on your save file, indicating your victory. You also unlock the progress tracking feature on the map. Some NPCs may have slightly altered dialogue. Kilton starts to offer medals for defeating all of certain monsters in the game, Hinox, Talus, and Molduga.
2. Can I keep the Bow of Light after defeating Ganon?
Unfortunately, no. The Bow of Light is a temporary weapon granted specifically for the final battle. It disappears after you defeat Calamity Ganon.
3. Do Blood Moons still occur after beating Ganon?
Yes, Blood Moons continue to occur even after defeating Calamity Ganon. This is essential for maintaining the game’s challenge and respawning enemies.
4. Does Hyrule Castle remain in its destroyed state after the battle?
No, after reloading your save, Hyrule Castle will revert to its pre-battle state. This is because the game world essentially resets to the moment before you entered the final boss arena.
5. Is there a reward for beating Ganon?
The primary reward is the satisfaction of completing the main quest and seeing the ending cutscenes. The star icon on your save file is a badge of honor. Defeating Ganon is the ultimate objective, and achieving it is its own reward.
6. Can I complete all the side quests after defeating Ganon?
Absolutely! You can continue completing any remaining side quests, Shrine Quests, and other activities after defeating Calamity Ganon. This is one of the best ways to extend your enjoyment of the game.
7. What happens if I use an Ancient Arrow on Ganon?
Ancient Arrows are very effective against Guardians and can deal significant damage to Dark Beast Ganon. They are one of the few weapons that can damage him. However, in normal Ganon’s phases, it just does regular damage.
8. Can I keep playing the Champion’s Ballad DLC after defeating Ganon?
Yes, the Champion’s Ballad DLC can be completed before or after defeating Calamity Ganon. Many players prefer to complete it before, as it provides valuable upgrades and lore.
9. Does anything carry over to Tears of the Kingdom from Breath of the Wild?
Only your registered horses transfer from Breath of the Wild to Tears of the Kingdom. They will be waiting for you at stables across Hyrule.
10. How many Hearts should I have before fighting Ganon?
It’s generally recommended to have at least 13 hearts before facing Calamity Ganon. This will give you a better chance of surviving his attacks. Equipping strong armor and cooking healing meals is also crucial.
11. Can you beat Ganon without the Sages in Tears of the Kingdom?
Yes, you can go straight to Ganon. However, you have to beat all the monster waves on your own. RIGHT after the last wave you have to beat all 5 dungeon bosses and puppet Ganon.
12. Can you replay the final boss fight?
Yes, as your save file places you right before the final encounter, you can challenge Calamity Ganon as many times as you like.
13. What is the significance of the completion percentage on the map?
The completion percentage on the map primarily reflects the number of Korok Seeds you’ve collected. It also takes into account completed Shrines and other key milestones.
14. Is there any way to change the weather permanently after defeating Ganon?
No, the weather patterns in Breath of the Wild are dynamic and cannot be permanently altered, even after defeating Calamity Ganon.
15. Where can I learn more about game design and its impact on learning?
You can explore the work of the Games Learning Society, an academic organization dedicated to studying the intersection of games and learning. Check out their website at https://www.gameslearningsociety.org/ for research papers, conference information, and other valuable resources regarding the educational aspects of video games, game design, and the impact of games on society. You can find information on how games affect the way people learn, and much more at GamesLearningSociety.org.
Final Thoughts
While Breath of the Wild doesn’t offer a traditional post-game experience, it provides ample opportunities to continue exploring, discovering, and enjoying its vast and engaging world after defeating Calamity Ganon. The star icon serves as a reminder of your accomplishment, while the unchanged world allows you to continue your adventure at your own pace. So, saddle up, grab your sword, and continue exploring Hyrule – the adventure never truly ends.