Chapter 896: Mastery Found in the Ordinary
This weapon system initially annoyed many people, but after playing it more, they discovered that this unprecedented approach actually has many unique advantages.
The most obvious advantage is that almost every weapon has its use.
In other games, players only use a few specific weapons. They will inevitably pick the highest-damage, most comfortable weapon from the vast arsenal, leaving the rest to be sold off at shops.
In other words, designers create a wide variety of weapons, but over 90% of them are ignored by players and thrown straight into the store.
However, in "The Legend of Zelda," almost every weapon gets a chance to be used. Players carry a large number of weapons on them and choose different types depending on the enemies they face.
Beyond that, the weapon system includes many random attributes. The same weapon can have different bonus properties, such as throw enhancement, elemental enhancement, durability boost, bow rapid-fire, and so on, each with varying degrees of rarity.
Additionally, the materials of the weapons themselves have different characteristics. In different regions, players must select weapons made of specific materials to fight.
For example, in volcanic areas where the outdoor temperature is extremely high, players not only need to wear heat-resistant clothing but also choose metal weapons. Wooden weapons exposed to the volcanic region will smoke, catch fire, and quickly burn up. Of course, ignited weapons deal increased damage, and players can use this to their advantage in combat.
In thunderstorms, metal weapons conduct electricity and attract lightning strikes. Many players have been zapped so often they question their life choices. But this can also be exploited: drop a metal weapon on the ground for a monster to pick up, then shout "Lord of Thunder, aid me!" or "Divine Justice descends!" to let the lightning kill those powerful foes.
There are many more examples. For instance, the game features a troublesome type of mage monster that looks like a paper cutout, can walk on air, disappear, and teleport. They can only be hit with arrows the moment they attack. These mages also wield staves with various elemental properties—some electric, some ice—and combined with surrounding minions, they make every encounter frustrating.
But some players discovered that if you use a large banana leaf to fan these mages, they get dizzy, fall to the ground, and lose all ability to resist, giving players a chance to go all out.
In other words, almost every monster in "The Legend of Zelda" has a weakness. As long as you choose the right weapon, you can resolve most battles without relying on brute force.
In terms of story, the main plot of "The Legend of Zelda" is not the same type as "The Last of Us." At first glance, many players might think the plot is cliché—isn't it just a knight rescuing a princess? Hasn't that plot been used since the first electronic game appeared?
But diving deeper into the game reveals that even this seemingly traditional story contains many touching aspects.
Players find themselves in a world of "complete failure, where Ganon turned the tables and won." The world is scarred with remnants of destruction, such as rampaging Guardians and ruins scattered everywhere.
The storyline is divided into two threads: one hundred years later and one hundred years before. The modern thread, set a century later, allows players to explore and act freely. The thread from a hundred years ago is a fully linear story, gradually recalled through Link's lost memories, presenting past events completely to the player.
Although Link and Princess Zelda are the undeniable protagonists of the game, they are not the most outstanding characters. Many NPCs leave a deeper impression than these two.
Among the four Champions, each has their own personality and story. The mermaid lady Mipha, in particular, gained even more fans than Princess Zelda due to her deep affection for Link.
Many other NPCs, even those with just a few lines, are memorable. For example, when Link is about to jump off a bridge into a river, a passing NPC runs over to kindly advise him to cherish his life. A child in the village who plays hide-and-seek with Link talks in his sleep at night, calling for his parents to come home—only for it to be revealed that his mother was killed by monsters, and the child runs to a deserted spot at dawn to cry. After Link buys a house, the worker who helps him moves to a new village, and Link must find helpers from around the world to gradually build a small settlement. This worker even finds love, with Link playing matchmaker.
These seemingly trivial story fragments come together to form a vast open world, where every NPC seems to have a soul. Players genuinely feel that this world is beautiful and must be saved.
Beyond that, "The Legend of Zelda" hides countless details that further highlight its meticulous craftsmanship, such as:
Many important cooking recipes are posted on stable walls or found in books somewhere—pay attention and you'll find them.
NPCs patrolling fixed routes quicken their pace when it rains or take shelter under trees.
The sound of footsteps changes depending on the equipment worn.
When it rains, the ground doesn't get wet instantly, and after a sunny day, it doesn't dry immediately either.
When wearing a monster mask, Link automatically cosplays as a monster, making monster sounds while walking and striking monster poses when standing still. With the mask on, monsters of the same type won't attack; instead, they gather around to sniff or even greet him.
Horses in the game love apples. You can increase their affinity by feeding them apples, or use apples to lure a horse to places it doesn't want to go.
At a stable in a snowy area, a merchant carrying many goods still wears summer clothes, shivering from the cold. If the player stands next to him for a selfie, the merchant forces himself to stand straight for the photo. But after that one shot, no matter how many more you take, he refuses to straighten up.
If you lure Bokoblins, who can't swim, into a river, they drown.
If you use Stasis on a Bokoblin and take its weapon while it's mid-swing, when Stasis ends, it will swing at nothing, lose its balance, and stare at its empty hand in confusion.
...
These are just a few of the details in "The Legend of Zelda." The game is packed with countless more waiting for players to discover.
A single detail might seem insignificant, but stuffing so many into one game makes it feel incredible to players.
Even a single unique action or reaction makes players feel that this game is different from others—because it's made with enough care.
Even after dozens or even hundreds of hours of nonstop play in "The Legend of Zelda," players still find that there are many mysteries left to solve.
Players suddenly understand the "wild cooking" mindset: with a game this awesome, isn't it only right that it gets wildly praised?