The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild is one of the greatest video games ever made. It's not just a critical success; it's a record-breaking commercial hit that set the stage for the Nintendo Switch to become one of the all-time, best-selling consoles. Combine that with Nintendo’s reputation for high-quality gameplay, and there may be no game with more pressure and expectations than Breath of the Wild's upcoming sequel, The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom.
After teasing the game back in 2019, producer Eiji Aonuma finally showcased real gameplay footage. The new hook is one that's surprising and packed with creative potential.
It's Zelda Meets Lego
Remember how creative Breath of the Wild players combined objects to make wacky physics objects? Or how Banjo-Kazooie: Nuts & Bolts was all about crafting weird vehicles? Tears of the Kingdom turns those concepts into its central gimmick. Forget Lego Mario, this is Lego Zelda.
Using his new fusing abilities, Link now combines items into useful new tools. Need to cross a river? Fuse a couple of logs with a fan to make a boat. Need a weapon more powerful than a broken stick? Merge that stick with a rock to make a hammer. Put an eyeball on an arrow to make it a homing arrow. Cliché as it may sound, the gameplay possibilities look endless.
Tears of the Kingdom's Game World
Although the game takes place in the same world as its predecessor, today's Zelda showcase highlighted changes to the world, as well as how you navigate it. Like Skyward Sword, Tears of the Kingdom's map is dense with floating sky islands. Based on the revealed footage, one way to reach them is to find a fallen rock, stand on it, and rewind time to travel upward.
The sky islands seen in the presentation had more autumnal vibes than the forests below, and featured new robotic enemies called Constructs (they're connected to the mysterious Zonai race). You can also ascend through solid roofs and cave ceilings, which lets you avoid stamina-taxing mountain climbing.
Will There Be More Surprises?
Today's footage shed light on Tears of the Kingdom's gameplay, but that gameplay may only be a fraction of what the upcoming title offers. After all, Nintendo revealed many Breath of the Wild surprises after the game's extensive marketing cycle. That may also explain why Nintendo thinks it can get away with charging $70 for it.
Fortunately, we won’t have to wait much longer to play the game. The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom releases May 12. Before that, you can order a new Zelda-themed Nintendo Switch OLED model starting April 28.
For more, check out The Best Nintendo Switch Games and Play These 'Zelda' Games on Nintendo Switch.