The upcoming release of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom has been the topic of discussion among fans of Nintendo’s popular gaming series. However, there’s some good news for gamers who may not have played the previous title, Breath of the Wild. According to the developers of the new game, Tears of the Kingdom can be enjoyed as a standalone release, without any previous knowledge of the previous entry required.
No previous experience necessary
Zelda series producer Eiji Aonuma and game director Hidemaro Fujibayashi recently spoke about Tears of the Kingdom as part of Nintendo’s Ask the Developer interview series. The two developers shared their insights into the new gameplay ideas involved in the forthcoming RPG, as well as speaking about the ease of access for first-time players. According to Aonuma, “…the new gameplay ideas we packed into this title are all things that can be solved intuitively, so I think first-time players can rest assured that this game is easy to get into.” Players will be able to easily pick up the new game mechanics and ideas, without being familiar with Breath of the Wild.
A comfortable storyline for all
Fujibayashi echoed Aonuma’s comments, speaking about how the game’s story has been designed to be enjoyable for newcomers to the series as well as those who have played Breath of the Wild. The game features a character profile, which enables players to understand the relationships between the different characters. Fujibayashi noted that, “we put in some effort to make sure that it feels comfortable for both first-time players and those with experience of the previous game.”
The “hands” theme in the game
Another interesting aspect that the developers shared was the game’s “hands” theme. Link uses his hand to solve puzzles and open doors in the game. This theme also appears in key elements as the story develops. Takuhiro Dohta, the technical director, shared that Shigeru Miyamoto wanted to create one island and use it as a base to add various kinds of gameplay for different games. The idea of having new discoveries in the same setting was striking, and they have applied this approach to Tears of the Kingdom. This means that players can expect to discover interesting new things during their journey through the game.
Recap video for Breath of the Wild
Although Nintendo’s developers have made it clear that playing Breath of the Wild is not necessary to enjoy Tears of the Kingdom, they recently released a recap video to catch players up on events from the previous game. This will no doubt be a welcome addition for those who have never played Breath of the Wild, but still want to enjoy the full Zelda experience.
Final thoughts
Overall, it’s great to see that the developer team behind Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom has made considerable effort to ensure that the game stands up as a standalone release. The new gameplay features, comfortable storyline, and intriguing “hands” theme all make for an exciting experience that fans of the Zelda series and newcomers alike can look forward to. So, pre-order the game now, and get ready to embark on a new adventure in the magical world of Zelda!
