By Kirsten Moreton
Players can expect some difficult features in The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, which will make Link's adventure in Hyrule more challenging.
Arguably one of, if not the most anticipated games of 2023 is The Legend of Zelda: Tears Of The Kingdom, the sequel to the iconic Breath of The Wild game. Both games have been received incredibly well with some fans even believing Tears of The Kingdom has improved upon BOTW which was seen as a game-changer for Nintendo.
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The two games share many differences, as well as similarities and features which are present in both games. However, one of the biggest differences is how much more Tears of The Kingdom has to offer, as well as how hard the game can be with its bout of villains.
8 Decayed Weapons
One of the new additions to the game that proves difficult for players is the decayed weapons. The Upheaval causes all weapons to be 'decayed', essentially meaning they are not as strong as they normally would be, or as powerful as they were in Breath of the Wild. Tears of the Kingdom also introduced the 'Fuse' rune which allows players to fuse items to weapons, essentially giving gamers a way to combat this issue and become the strongest in Hyrule.
Certain aspects of the game require specific fused weapons that normally would not be great in combat, for example, fusing a rock and stick to create a hammer, or a leaf and a stick to make a fan. The requirement for these weapon fuses means players usually need to have a weapon or two in the inventory not for combat.
7 Increased Enemy Camps
Enemies and enemy camps have had a huge shift from what they were in Breath of the Wild. In BOTW most camps had low-strength enemies that were easy to beat, usually with a few explosives which could be ignited with a fire arrow, taking out the entire camp in one. However, in TOTK, enemies and enemy camps are littered with high-level enemies with powerful fuse weapons, as well as new and more powerful monsters.
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Combined with the decayed weapons, the game becomes more challenging and the 'blood moon' which occurs in both games grows more daunting. Especially early in the game when players have fewer weapons, stamina, health, inventory, and armor to survive these aggressive enemies which are spread out across almost every inch of the map, making players wish for some companions to help.
6 Shrine Detector
Although the shrine detector feature is available in both games, it is much easier to obtain within the prior game Breath of the Wild. Within BOTW the shrine detector known as the 'Sheikah Sensor', is given to players upon completing the game's tutorial beginning on the Great Plateau, where they can use the best horses to find and complete each shrine.
The shrine detector is much harder to obtain in Tears of the Kingdom, thus making it harder to improve stamina and health, adding an overall more challenging aspect to the game. In Tears of the Kingdom, the shrine detection feature can only be obtained once gamers complete the Hateno Village Research Lab quest. With so many quests and tasks within the game, it is unlikely that most players would prioritize this one, and it is not made known that shrine detection is made available upon completion. Because of this, many have played much of the game in the detectors' absence.
5 More Objectives
The newest game in The Legen of Zelda series comes with a whopping 253 quests in total, including side quests and side adventures. This is a huge difference from Breath of The Wild which had just under 150 quests in total. Although all of this new gameplay is amazing for players, it can become a little bit overwhelming at times.
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The sheer amount of content and quests happening at once can be overwhelming, and there is not much direction in where players should take this and in what order to complete them. This overwhelming feeling and lack of direction make the game pretty challenging, as it is hard to keep up with all the things there is to do in Tears of the Kingdom. There is so much to do to obtain 100%, including 1,000 Korok Seeds.
4 The New Runes
Tears of The Kingdom also introduced players to four of the best new runes in replacement of the original four, Stasis, Cryonsis, Magnesis, and Remote Bombs. These four new runes are Fuse, Ultrahand, Ascend, and Rewind. Although the new runes bring benefits to their own, fans have been missing the game's original runes. Remote Bombs in particular was a beloved Rune that helped with more challenging aspects, as they were unlimited and dealt a decent amount of damage.
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Also, without Revali's Gale, players can no longer ascend cliffs, escape enemies and gain vantage points. Without Daruk's Protection and Urbosa's Fury fighting enemies becomes harder, and without Mipha's Grace, players essentially have less help. The absence of these features certainly makes the game that extra bit more difficult and alone.
3 The Depths
The Depths are an entire pitch-black world below Hyrule which can be entered through chasms, and players must use elixirs or certain items to light up the map. The darkness makes this area impossible to navigate and enemies much more of a threat. There is also gloom across the depths, a deadly substance that will quickly drain players of health within seconds.
Lighting up this area of the map is incredibly hard especially given the huge size of the area as well as the gloom and monsters lurking below. The game does include lightroots which players can discover to further bring light to The Depths.
2 The Shift Between Games
The vast majority of TOTK players would have played the previous entry, BOTW. Coming straight off of BOTW, where gamers will have earned good armor, mastered all the attacks, and have full weapon and arrow stashes, to suddenly having nothing, is a challenging shift.
It may feel unfamiliar for fans to be playing with the bare minimum supplies they are given at the game's beginning. The decayed weapons and lack of the old runes and abilities certainly take a bit of getting used to.
1 Health Damage
Tears of the Kingdom is a ruthless game when it comes to health. Many of the new enemies within the game will defeat Link in one hit, something that only a few enemies could do in Breath of the Wild. This adds a harder element to the game, however, the real difficulty in terms of health is the gloom. Gloom is a slime-like substance within the game that will lower players health and only specific recipes can restore said health.
This means that without the right ingredients or parts, players have to play with fewer hearts until they can be restored. Players can also restore health at the lightroots in The Depths, however, this means they have to of already found them. Gloom enemies such as the gloom hands can also do this kind of damage to players. Making gloom and health one of the hardest aspects of the game.
The Legend Of Zelda: Tears Of The Kingdom is available now exclusively on Nintendo Switch.
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I'm an avid gamer with a deep passion for the world of video games, particularly in the realm of action-adventure titles. My extensive knowledge and hands-on experience in gaming allow me to provide insights into the intricate details and challenges that players might encounter. Let's delve into the concepts mentioned in the article about "The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom."
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Decayed Weapons: Tears of The Kingdom introduces decayed weapons, a feature that alters the strength and power of weapons, making them less effective. To counter this, the game introduces the 'Fuse' rune, allowing players to combine items with weapons strategically. This mechanic adds a layer of complexity to the gameplay, requiring players to think creatively about their weapon choices.
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Increased Enemy Camps: The article discusses a shift in enemy difficulty and the abundance of high-level enemies and powerful monsters in Tears of The Kingdom compared to Breath of the Wild. This change, coupled with decayed weapons, heightens the game's difficulty, especially with the addition of the 'blood moon' phenomenon, posing a challenge for players to survive aggressive enemies scattered throughout the map.
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Shrine Detector: The shrine detector, a feature available in both games, is highlighted as more challenging to obtain in Tears of The Kingdom. In Breath of the Wild, players receive the 'Sheikah Sensor' early on, aiding in the discovery of shrines. However, in Tears of The Kingdom, obtaining the shrine detector becomes more difficult, impacting players' ability to improve stamina and health.
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More Objectives: Tears of The Kingdom introduces an extensive number of quests, totaling 253, surpassing the quest count in Breath of the Wild. The sheer volume of quests, combined with a lack of clear direction, adds to the game's challenge, making it overwhelming for players to decide which objectives to pursue and in what order.
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The New Runes: The game introduces four new runes: Fuse, Ultrahand, Ascend, and Rewind, replacing the original four from Breath of the Wild. The absence of certain beloved runes, such as Remote Bombs and abilities like Revali's Gale and Daruk's Protection, increases the game's difficulty, forcing players to adapt to new tools and strategies.
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The Depths: The Depths is described as a pitch-black world beneath Hyrule, accessed through chasms. Navigating this dark environment is made challenging by the presence of gloom, a deadly substance draining players' health. The need for elixirs or specific items to light up the map adds an additional layer of difficulty to exploring this mysterious area.
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The Shift Between Games: Players transitioning from Breath of the Wild to Tears of The Kingdom face a challenging shift. Starting with minimal supplies and the absence of familiar weapons and abilities requires adaptation. The decayed weapons and the change in dynamics make the initial stages of Tears of The Kingdom feel unfamiliar and demanding.
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Health Damage: Tears of The Kingdom is noted for its ruthlessness regarding health damage. New enemies can defeat Link in one hit, and the introduction of gloom, a substance lowering players' health, adds a significant challenge. Restoring health becomes more difficult, requiring specific recipes and ingredients, making health management a crucial aspect of the gameplay.
In summary, Tears of The Kingdom builds on the success of Breath of the Wild by introducing challenging features such as decayed weapons, tougher enemies, and an abundance of quests, creating a more demanding and immersive gaming experience for players.
