Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom is the latest addition to the Legend of Zelda series on the Nintendo Switch. The game might have some mixed reviews but fans were excited to be receiving a new game after Breath of the Wild was first announced. During the anticipation for the next Zelda game, Nintendo gave us a video of around 13 minutes of gameplay, while also introducing us all to the limited edition Zelda OLED Switch, which many have rushed out to purchase.
However, after watching the 13-minute video of the gameplay from Tears of the Kingdom, many fans feel it isn’t a new game but more of a DLC. Fans of The Legend of Zelda have expressed their claims that it feels less like a sequel and more like added content. There are several reasons why fans have been suggesting and coming to this conclusion. The game does offer many new features and also gameplay mechanics, but it seems it is mostly just some minor tweaks that fans wanted to see in the previous game. As many have mentioned, the overall open-world design isn’t new and honestly, a lot of it looks like the same map from Breath of the Wild. Going forward in this article, we will be discussing reasons why Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom feels like a DLC and not a true sequel game.
Maybe Zelda Should Have Just Gotten A DLC
Tears of the Kingdom does offer some new dungeons, weapons, and items for its players, but the actual amount of new content added to the game is very minimal compared to what we would expect from any other full-on sequel. Something that other players have pointed out about the game is the storyline feels rushed and underdeveloped each time that we have gotten a sneak peek of it. Usually, Nintendo games don’t feel like this, for example, many Mario and Kirby games released recently have felt brand new other than the remakes that were added to the Switch from previous consoles. With fans already saying the game seems to have undeveloped gameplay, it already risks the fact of not as many people checking the game out for the example, “if you already have Breath of the Wild, any bother getting its similar twin brother?”
However, the game’s graphics and visual design haven’t received much of a significant upgrade, which is something that a lot of fans had expected with the new installment in the franchise, however, if we are being honest, does it really need new graphics? Yes, it is a new game, and usually, new games have better graphics, but from Nintendo’s standpoint, maybe they thought since the game is already doing so well and doesn’t look bad by any means, it didn’t need much improvement in that area. But if that’s the case, why does it seem we haven’t gotten much else new in the sequel?
To touch on the game’s length, it isn’t really a short game, but it is a lot shorter than Breath of the Wild or other previous Zelda games. This is yet another reason why Tears of the Kingdom can feel more like an add-on rather than a whole sequel. The main quest will take about 35-40 hours to beat, while the side quest take 20-25, Dunegons/Shrines will be 25-30, and Collectibles is 15-20 hours. The game’s shortness just adds to the fact of many players think this is just an extension of the previous game, which is disappointing to see for such a big game and popular franchise.
Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom will more than likely still be a great game that will keep many of its players and die-hard fans pleased. However, it does feel true that the sequel is a DLC and not a completely new game, but maybe that statement will change once the game is released. The underdeveloped storyline, minimal new content and items, and other features really put a damper on the excitement of the game though. Fans of the Zelda series shouldn’t go into the new game expecting a ton of new things to blow their socks off, but nevertheless, it is a new Zelda game which is a big deal.
What Is Tears Of the Kingdom About?
Tears of the Kingdom will be an adventure across the world we already know of Zelda and a lot awaits you on your journey. In the sequel to Breath of the Wild, you will decide your path through many different landscapes of the Hyrule, as well as uncover many mysterious islands floating in the skies above. It is time to harness Link’s power and his new abilities and save the kingdom.
The game is a sequel to Breath of the Wild and is recommended to be played in order. While you could get one or the other at any given time, there are a lot of storylines and features players might not understand without having played the first game. However, the first game is a lot longer than the sequel, so preparing ahead of time will be time-consuming but very worth it as Breath of the Wild is a beautiful game that stands out on the Switch.
The Legend of Zelda sequel will be available on the Nintendo Switch on May 12th, meaning you still have time to check out the other games in the series before the release. So if you are going to dive into the world of Zelda now is your chance so you can be involved with this big release. We were blessed to see many things already announced with this release, like a limited edition Zelda-themed switch for the new sequel, so there is no telling what else we will get to see before release, but it probably won’t be much more with the showcase has come and gone. The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom is available for pre-order on the official Nintendo website for $69.99, but can be purchased cheaper with a Nintendo Switch Game Voucher. The game releases on May 12th while Breath of the Wild is available to purchase today and play.
