Games Beaten 2017

[isiolia]

There's also a fair amount of crafting in Demon's Souls, and the cooking/crafting in BOTW feels very similar to the crafting in that game.

For equipment, perhaps, but none of the Souls games use crafting for consumables (that I recall). You buy them, find them, or have an supply that's automatically replenished.

BoTW, you're looking at making food or potions or whatnot to both heal you, but (potentially) allow you to get past challenges. Whether that's surviving the cold, having stamina to climb something, etc.

[noiseredux]

everything is the Dark Souls of something.

[Omerta]

As far as the games that BotW takes elements from are concerned, I wonder to what degree those ones were inspired by a previous Zelda or Nintendo game. Circle of life, baby.

[Sarge]

Yeah, I was going to say, as good as HZD is, it's apparently very derivative of games that have come before it. Both of these games are taking elements from others and putting their own spins on them.

I haven't played HZD, but is it fair to say that perhaps it is a little more structured as far as its open world goes, compared to Zelda? I'm just struck by how organic everything feels in Zelda.

[ElkinFencer10]

everything is the Dark Souls of something.

If we're talking difficulty, Zelda II is the Dark Souls of the Zelda series.

[Exhuminator]

As far as the games that BotW takes elements from are concerned, I wonder to what degree those ones were inspired by a previous Zelda or Nintendo game. Circle of life, baby.

I remember reading a breakdown one time where someone showed all the influences that formed the original Zelda. I wish I could find that now and show you guys (just a fun read). But it only proves your point further; every game is mostly a derivative influence of other games before it. And that's perfectly understandable.

If we're talking difficulty, Zelda II is the Dark Souls of the Zelda series.

This man speaks the truth.

[noiseredux]

everything is the Dark Souls of something.

If we're talking difficulty, Zelda II is the Dark Souls of the Zelda series.

Demon Souls is the Dark Souls of Bloodborn.

[isiolia]

Yeah, I was going to say, as good as HZD is, it's apparently very derivative of games that have come before it. Both of these games are taking elements from others and putting their own spins on them.

I haven't played HZD, but is it fair to say that perhaps it is a little more structured as far as its open world goes, compared to Zelda? I'm just struck by how organic everything feels in Zelda.

HZD is definitely a highly derivative game in most respects - mechanically at least - but either copies from the best or iterates on things slightly to the point that there's little it doesn't do in an exemplary fashion. Part of that is having a nice detailed map with clear direction on where to go, what to do, and so on. Get a piece of loot, and it tells you (in general terms) what it's useful for, etc.

The main thing that isn't necessarily as structured is fighting machines, as there's a wide range of weapons and tactics that'll work (though some will work better).

BoTW is definitely the less structured of the two, even if the end result is still going around to different points of interest to do one thing or another. The environment in general is far more interactive as well, but it's also a lot more of what the game seems to be about.

[MrPopo]

I think that's a good summary, especially how there's a lot of ways of approaching HZD's combat. I definitely thing it has stronger combat than Zelda does. But Zelda's never been huge about the combat, so I don't see it as a big downside.

[dsheinem]

Wow, what a pot that was stirred! Unfavorable BotW comparisons or any perceived slights certainly seem to rise people's dander!

On a related note, I thought the point raised earlier about Zelda's high review scores being based, in part, on it being a Zelda game was interesting. If the game featured some random new character/world and didn't incorporate the same imagery, music, icons, etc. that are so closely associated with a beloved series, would it have earned scores as high as it did?

What if the lead character were just some other random pointy-eared tropish adventurer/hero? I know it is hard to separate "Zelda" from "Breath of the Wild", but what if the game were some new Nintendo IP, similar to how HZD is a new IP? Would its scores still be as strong as they were? Would they be closer to...or even lagging behind....the consensus/aggregate scores for HZD? I think they likely would...