I have played many a game in my life, including open world games like Fallout 3, New Vegas, and Skyrim(as well as previous Elder Scrolls).
Breath of the Wild is my favorite. I’m stunned how well they did.
I just defeated the third dungeon today. I only have Gerudo area left, but I do plan to explore and wander plenty before then.
It took me 93 hours, but I beat the game today. Did all 4 divine beasts, 95 shrines, found all 13 memories, and many other things. Final boss was easy peasy since we were very strong.
Anyway, we will easily play another 10-15 hours to do more quests and shrines, but my kids really wanted to fight Ganon.
We didn’t even walk around or explore Hyrule castle, which is now on our list.
We got a switch a few weeks ago and BOTW was no.1 on my list. Mainly on the strength of the reviews and the hints towards open world and the ability to solve the quest in your own time. My wife was playing Twilight Princess on the Wii U and I was playing Windwaker. There was much to enjoy with those two games but the incessant back and forth and coming to hard stops when inspiration deserted you becomes a little tiring.
So anyway, BOTW has been a revelation. The difficulty is pitched just right in that it becomes as hard as you want only when you want. You can simply wander off and complete side-quests, “powering up” as you do so and gaining a lot of enjoyment that way.
Is there anything more enjoyable than flinging a bomb arrow into a bokoblin skull lair packed with explosives and then watching the show?
The shrines become the things you look forward to tackling rather than dreading them defeating you and bringing you to a crashing halt.
So much to gush about but it is a truly brilliant game and I’m someone with 35 years gaming experience, I’ve seen it all.
It has universal appeal beyond my expectations as well. I’m loving it. My 12 year old daughter is well into it (and has pushed on to the fourth beast already) My 10 year old boy who is more minecraft and scrap mechanic has spent hours on there as well and I never thought that would happen.
The only person yet to get into it is my wife who is stubbornly trying to get through Twilight princess and complete Pikmin 3 in record time (she is a completionist) but I suspect once she has brain space to devote to it she’ll be hooked as well.
Now I suggest you go watch a speed run. I recommend the one at SGDQ 2017. It isn’t as fast, but they describe what she’s doing doing as she goes.
That said, that particular run is using Amiibos, which is safer for a marathon run (Don’t want to fail part of the way through). So maybe also check out a no Amiibo run. (That is the current world record).
You can even try out some of the techniques for fun. I’m pretty sure whistle sprinting is doable for most people. And damage canceling might be fun to try and get right.
We still play it. Found all 120 shrines, too. Only 200+ korok seeds.
120+ hours now.