Some things always stay the same, but what are the top 10 differences between Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom? If you’re a fan of the beloved action-adventure franchise The Legend of Zelda, you sure are in for a ride with Tears of the Kingdom. Breath of the Wild captured the hearts of gamers worldwide with its captivating story, unique gameplay mechanics, and breathtaking visuals. However, the sequel takes the game to new heights with an all-new storyline, new abilities, and fresh challenges. In this article, we will explore the top 10 differences between Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom.
10. No Climbing Towers
In Breath of the Wild, you had to climb up to the top of the Sheikah Towers to activate a region’s map. But in Tears of the Kingdom, Sheikah Towers are replaced by Skyview Towers, which propel you from the base to the Sky Island, scanning the area nearby. Long gone are the days of struggling to make your stamina last until you reach the top. Still, that doesn’t mean there isn’t a challenge to Skyview Towers. Each one has a sort of puzzle you have to solve.
9. Improved Performance
Tears of the Kingdom is the latest Zelda game for the Nintendo Switch. It runs on the same engine as Breath of the Wild but with some optimizations and enhancements that make it run even better. The Switch is the perfect console for this game, giving it a stable and smooth performance that is hard to resist. As a result, playing this game feels like butter, which is pretty impressive for a handheld device.
8. A New, Cleaner HUD
The HUD in Tears of the Kingdom has received subtle changes. The mini-map shows altitude, latitude, and longitude, while the D-pad no longer includes the Shiekah Slate. Instead, it provides easy access to materials for fusing. Temperature, time, noise, and weather remain the same. Using Link’s Hand abilities is accessible through the L button. For further information, look at the new enemies and rewards from the Legend of Zelda Amiibo.
7. No to Divine Beasts, Yes to Dungeons
The Breath of the Wild’s Divine Beasts lacked the traditional dungeon experience that The Legend of Zelda fans crave. In Tears of the Kingdom, traditional dungeons return, each with a unique theme related to the four Sage abilities. These dungeons allow players to explore in any order, unlocking a series of locks and ending with a boss fight to test their skills. While the Tears of the Kingdom‘s dungeons may not be as intricate as those in past games, they offer a refreshing change from the Divine Beasts.
6. Fly into the Sky Islands
Tears of the Kingdom introduces floating islands throughout the map of Hyrule, ranging from small platforms to massive landmasses filled with enemies and varying environments. Once free to explore, Link can take the plunge and return to the ground at breakneck speed or use his paraglider and certain flying vehicles to slow his descent. To return to the sky and continue exploring, Link must ascend himself or use recall abilities to retrieve fallen rocks.
5. Actual Companions
In Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, Link teams up with four Hyrule tribes to receive their Sage abilities. These abilities can be used when Link is standing close to the corresponding Sage and offer a range of valuable skills to aid in your journey. The game’s main quest revolves around assisting these tribes and ridding their land of evil, making the acquisition of these abilities an essential part of the game. So whether you prefer water, fire, wind, or lightning-based abilities, there’s a Sage for you to team up with.
4. New Enemies and Improved Enemy Design
The roster of foes in TOTK is diverse and includes familiar faces with new gear and completely new creatures. Among them are the Constructs, patchwork synthetic beings, and a colossal bat-like flying enemy that differs from the tiny Keese in BOTW. Additionally, Moblins and Bokoblins are back and more challenging than ever with armor upgrades. At the same time, a revamped Lynel with a new color scheme will make for an intense fight.
3. Descend Into The Depths
In Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, the Depths is a dark and malevolent force that poses a real danger to Link’s health and progress. Brightbloom Seeds and Lightroots are necessary to brighten the surroundings and act as fast travel points. Heart Containers will be sealed off if Link gets afflicted by gloom, but the depths are where the best rewards and secrets are. It is the biggest single addition in the game and overshadows the Sky Islands, which are heavily featured in marketing. While exploring the Depths is risky, the rewards are worth the risk.
2. Vehicle Creation
Tears of the Kingdom introduces a variety of vehicles for Link to construct and pilot across its open world. Using the Ultrahand ability, forgotten Zonai Devices technology can be fused with materials like logs, fans, wheels, and more to make self-propelled vehicles that can cross lakes, drive across the terrain, and even take to the sky to cross between floating islands. Vehicles are fully customizable and work in tandem with the game’s physics engine.
1. New Abilities
In The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, Link gets a new set of abilities different from the Sheikah Slate powers he had before. Instead, he’ll use a new technology fused with his corrupted arm to gain access to powerful skills like Recall, Fuse, Ultrahand, and Ascend. These new abilities will offer players new gameplay mechanics to explore as they journey through the world of Hyrule. Although Link may have lost his Sheikah Slate, his new powers seem just as exciting and versatile.
The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom is available on the Nintendo Switch.
