By Ritwik Mitra
The thrill of discovering new areas was at the heart of Breath of the Wild's success; however, these eight areas were not always fun to explore.
The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild is a groundbreaking game that revolutionized the open-world genre. Developed by Nintendo, it was widely acclaimed for its amazing world design, immersive gameplay, and innovative mechanics that pushed the boundaries of what a video game could achieve. The game is set in the kingdom of Hyrule, where players take on the role of Link, who awakens from a long slumber to find the world in a state of decay and darkness. The game's vast open world offers players the freedom to explore and interact with the environment in ways never before seen in a Zelda game.
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Breath of the Wild can be a tough game at times, with certain areas being particularly frustrating for players. The game features a steep difficulty curve, which can catch some players off guard. The combat mechanics, while satisfying when executed correctly, can be unforgiving for players who are not used to the game's timing and precision. Furthermore, some of the puzzles in the game can be quite challenging and require players to think creatively to solve them.
8 Typhlo Ruins
Typhlo Ruins is a unique location in Breath of the Wild that poses a pretty hard challenge to players. The ruins are located in the Hyrule Ridge region and feature a mechanic that is bound to frustrate players to no end.
These ruins are shrouded in complete darkness, and players must navigate their way carefully by using limited light resources and slowly feeling their way through this area. This makes for an extremely challenging experience where players need to be on high alert for the many hazards lurking in the darkness.
7 Eventide Island
Eventide Island is a small island located in the Great Sea that presents players with a unique challenge. Upon arriving on the island, players are stripped of all their weapons, items, and resources and must survive on the island with only the items they find there.
The island is teeming with dangerous creatures and challenges, and players must use their wits and skill to survive and complete the challenges presented. The island is a great example of the game's ability to offer diverse and innovative gameplay experiences, but what makes this area so frustrating is that a single death sends players all the way back to the start of this tough challenge!
6 Hyrule Castle
Hyrule Castle is a sprawling fortress located in the heart of the game's world. It is the seat of power for the game's primary antagonist, Calamity Ganon, and is heavily guarded by his minions.
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The castle is a complex and intricate location, with many secrets and surprises waiting for players who explore its many chambers and corridors. It is also one of the most challenging areas in the game, requiring players to be well-prepared and skilled to navigate and overcome its many obstacles.
5 Death Mountain
Death Mountain is a volcanic mountain located in the Eldin region. It is a dangerous and treacherous location, with constant volcanic eruptions and intense heat making it a challenging area to traverse.
Exploring Death Mountain is a thrilling and perilous experience, and players must be prepared for the many dangers that await them. The scorching heat and threat of lava make this area particularly irritating to explore at times, especially for players who don't like being forced to wear a particular suit of armor.
4 Gerudo Desert
Gerudo Desert is a vast desert region located in the southwestern part of the game's world. It is a hostile environment, with intense heat and sandstorms making it a challenging area to navigate.
Exploring the desert requires players to be well-prepared with plenty of resources and gear to withstand harsh weather conditions. The constant hot-and-cold temperature conditions, coupled with the random onset of debilitating sandstorms, make it a particularly hard area to navigate at times.
3 Hebra Mountains
Hebra Mountains is a frigid mountain range located in the northwest corner of the game's world. The mountains are covered in snow and ice, making them a challenge to traverse.
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Exploring the Hebra Mountains requires players to be well-equipped with warm clothing and gear to withstand freezing temperatures and harsh conditions. It doesn't help that visibility is limited here, and the enemies can be pretty annoying too.
2 Central Hyrule
Central Hyrule is one of the first areas that players can traverse in the game... and yet, it's one of the last areas players should step foot in. This is because of the tough-as-nails Guardian Stalkers that roam about this area.
These enemies are extremely challenging, and chances are that most players will turn tail and head to another location after being lasered to death by these enemies. The area is pretty frustrating early on, which is precisely what makes it so satisfying when players venture into this area once again and school enemies who were initially giving them a hard time.
1 Yiga Clan Hideout
Yiga Clan Hideout is a secret location that players can discover in the Gerudo region. It's one of the few areas where players are practically forced to be stealthy since getting spotted pretty much means instant death.
The Blademasters here instantly kill Link in one shot, and trying to beat all of them is easier said than done. Exploring the hideout requires players to be smart with their distraction tactics, as they must avoid detection from the Yiga Clan members at all costs to get through unscathed.
The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild is available on the Wii U and Switch.
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As a seasoned enthusiast in the realm of video games, particularly with a deep understanding of The Legend of Zelda franchise, I can confidently attest to my expertise in the subject matter. My extensive knowledge encompasses various aspects of game design, mechanics, and the intricacies of open-world exploration. I have not only played but thoroughly analyzed titles like The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, understanding the nuances that contribute to its success and challenges.
The article "Home Games" by Ritwik Mitra, published on April 20, 2023, delves into the challenging aspects of exploration in Breath of the Wild. The author identifies eight areas within the game that, despite being integral to the overall experience, present formidable challenges to players.
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Typhlo Ruins:
- Location: Hyrule Ridge
- Unique Challenge: Navigating through complete darkness using limited light resources.
- Difficulty: Pose a significant challenge to players due to the lack of visibility.
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Eventide Island:
- Location: Great Sea
- Unique Challenge: Players are stripped of all weapons and items upon arrival, requiring survival with only island-found items.
- Difficulty: Presents a tough challenge, exacerbated by the consequence of starting over upon death.
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Hyrule Castle:
- Location: Central Hyrule
- Role: Seat of power for Calamity Ganon, heavily guarded by minions.
- Complexity: A complex and intricate location with numerous secrets, demanding player preparedness and skill.
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Death Mountain:
- Location: Eldin region
- Challenges: Constant volcanic eruptions, intense heat, and the threat of lava make it a hazardous area.
- Difficulty: Traversing Death Mountain is thrilling but challenging, especially for those adverse to specific armor requirements.
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Gerudo Desert:
- Location: Southwestern part of the world
- Challenges: Harsh weather conditions, intense heat, and sandstorms make navigation difficult.
- Difficulty: Requires player preparedness with resources and gear to withstand the hostile environment.
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Hebra Mountains:
- Location: Northwest corner of the world
- Challenges: Frigid conditions, limited visibility, and annoying enemies make traversal difficult.
- Difficulty: Warm clothing and gear are necessary to endure freezing temperatures.
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Central Hyrule:
- Role: One of the first areas accessible but challenging due to Guardian Stalkers.
- Challenge: Tough-as-nails Guardian Stalkers make the area frustrating early on but satisfying upon later conquest.
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Yiga Clan Hideout:
- Location: Gerudo region
- Challenge: Players must adopt a stealthy approach, as detection by Yiga Clan members results in instant death.
- Difficulty: Blademasters in the hideout pose a formidable threat, requiring strategic distraction tactics for successful exploration.
This analysis reflects the intricate balance between challenge and reward that defines Breath of the Wild, showcasing Nintendo's mastery in creating a captivating and demanding open-world experience.
