Should I Play Breath of the Wild or Tears of the Kingdom First?
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To answer the question directly, you don’t necessarily need to play Breath of the Wild before Tears of the Kingdom, as the latter stands on its own without requiring prior knowledge of the Zelda series or Breath of the Wild‘s continuity. However, playing Breath of the Wild first can enhance your understanding and appreciation of Tears of the Kingdom, given the similarities in their maps and the fact that Tears of the Kingdom builds upon the foundations laid by Breath of the Wild.
Introduction to the Series
The Legend of Zelda series is renowned for its rich history, engaging storylines, and innovative gameplay mechanics. Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom are two of the most recent and critically acclaimed entries in the series, offering expansive open worlds, intricate puzzles, and a deep narrative that explores the lore of Hyrule.
Gameplay and Storyline
Breath of the Wild introduced a new era of Zelda games with its emphasis on exploration, survival, and physics-based puzzle-solving. Tears of the Kingdom expands on these concepts, introducing new mechanics such as Ultrahand and Ascend, which allow for more complex interactions with the environment and greater freedom in exploration. The story of Tears of the Kingdom follows the events of Breath of the Wild, delving deeper into the mysteries of Hyrule and the return of Calamity Ganon.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Is Tears of the Kingdom a Direct Sequel to Breath of the Wild?
Yes, Tears of the Kingdom is a direct sequel to Breath of the Wild, continuing the story and gameplay mechanics introduced in the previous game.
2. Do I Need to Play Breath of the Wild to Understand Tears of the Kingdom?
No, Tears of the Kingdom is designed to be accessible to new players, but playing Breath of the Wild can provide a deeper understanding of the game’s world, characters, and storyline.
3. How Long is Tears of the Kingdom?
Tears of the Kingdom is approximately 59 hours long when focusing on the main objectives, and it can take up to 236 hours to achieve 100% completion.
4. Is Tears of the Kingdom Bigger Than Breath of the Wild?
Yes, Tears of the Kingdom is significantly larger, with additional layers to explore, including the Depths and Sky Islands, making it over twice as large as Breath of the Wild in terms of content.
5. Can I Play Tears of the Kingdom If I’ve Never Played a Zelda Game?
Yes, Tears of the Kingdom is designed to be enjoyable for both new and veteran players, with an engaging storyline and intuitive gameplay mechanics that do not require prior knowledge of the Zelda series.
6. Which Zelda Game Should I Play First?
For new players, The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild is a perfect starting point, as it redefined the series and offers an expansive open world to explore.
7. Is Tears of the Kingdom Worth It?
Yes, Tears of the Kingdom is a must-have for any Switch owner, offering a staggering level of creativity, player freedom, and an engaging storyline that builds upon the foundations of Breath of the Wild.
8. How Many Shrines Are in Tears of the Kingdom?
There are 152 Shrines in Tears of the Kingdom, with 120 located on the surface of Hyrule and 32 in the Sky Islands, each containing physics puzzles of varying difficulties.
9. Do Weapons Break in Tears of the Kingdom?
Yes, even with the Fuse mechanic, which allows for the creation of unique tools, weapons in Tears of the Kingdom will eventually break and cannot be repaired or sold.
10. What is the Easiest Zelda Game?
The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess is often considered the easiest in the series, providing a simplified version of the gameplay and puzzle systems found in other Zelda games.
11. What is the Longest Zelda Game?
Tears of the Kingdom is currently the longest Zelda game, with a completion time of roughly 55 hours for the main story and up to 236 hours for 100% completion.
12. In What Order Should I Play the Zelda Games?
For a chronological understanding of the series, playing the games in release order is recommended, starting with the original The Legend of Zelda and proceeding through the series to Tears of the Kingdom.
13. Why is Tears of the Kingdom So Hard?
Tears of the Kingdom features ruthless enemies and a health system that requires careful management, with many enemies capable of defeating Link in a single hit, making it challenging even for experienced players.
14. Is There a DLC for Tears of the Kingdom?
No, according to the game’s director, Eiji Aonuma, there will not be any DLC for Tears of the Kingdom, as all desired elements were implemented in the base game.
15. Will Tears of the Kingdom Be the Last Zelda Game?
Despite the conclusive nature of Tears of the Kingdom‘s ending, the success of the Zelda series and the game itself suggests that it is unlikely to be the last entry in the franchise, with expectations for future games and potential new console releases.