It’s dangerous to go alone, take this guide to aid you on your adventure! The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild can be overwhelming for newcomers, but don’t worry; the massive world is yours to explore with ease.
Once players make it past the tutorial area and get the glider, the world opens up entirely for exploration.
Pay Attention
The world is vast, and one can easily get lost in it. The game provides plenty of cues and information for you to follow if you so choose to. NPCs play a large role in exploration and side quest. Speaking to them can give you hints towards finding new items and areas. There are also a series of books lying around that can be read that will give hints to secrets you can uncover.
The loading screens provide plenty of useful information as well. Each item description provides detailed information on what it does and how well they will mix with others in cooking and crafting elixirs.
Go Slow And Explore Hyrule
Getting lost in this world is bound to happen. Let it happen. This will give you the chance to learn, explore, and really figure out how the game works. The game truly shines in its sense of discovery and the freedom that is allowed. If you begin to wander off while heading to town or on a main quest, that’s okay. Most of the time you will be rewarded for your exploration.
Finding new areas is essential to making Link stronger in the end. Some of these new areas will hold tougher enemies, and even better items. Also, the game is absolutely gorgeous, and taking the time to get lost in it is well worth it for all the surprises it offers.
Always Go For The Towers And Shrines
If you see a massive tower, go to it no matter what. These are among the most important landmarks in the game, so make sure your stamina is full and get climbing. These towers will unlock further map data which is essential to exploring Breath of the Wild. Also, having the high ground will allow you to glide down and reach areas much faster. The top of the tower is also a great point to mark Shrines and key points.
Shrines are the main puzzle-like dungeons in this game. They offer an amazing change of pace, and make the player think more before tackling them. At the end of each Shrine players will be rewarded with a Spirit Orb. Four of these orbs can be traded at shrines to increase your health or stamina. Another added bonus after completion is a new fast travel point, another essential for traversing Hyrule.
Avoid Guardians and Lynels
These six-legged machine monsters will destroy Link in the early game. Guardians have a charged long-range laser beam. These shots can instantly kill Link in the early game before you have many hearts. Once players get enough weapons and armor Guardians will be easier to face.
Lynels, on the other hand, will not engage you unless you engage them first. These massive beasts have a variety of attacks that can also instantly kill Link without the proper knowledge and gear. They are equipped with close-range weapons and long-range weapons. They are also fast, very fast. Be ready if you chose to engage one.
Combat: The Dodge, The Parry, and The Charge
Breath of the Wild’s combat is straightforward and to the point. Beat the enemy down until they have no more health. Of course there is some complexity to it. Players can get perfect dodges, and parry’s which significantly alter how battles take place.
The Perfect Dodge can happen when a player dodges right before an enemy hits them. This will result in time slowing down and the players being prompted to use a move called Flurry Rush. Flurry Rush is a devastating attack that unleashes multiple attacks on an enemy.
The Perfect Parry is similar to the Dark Souls parry. Using your shield to block a move right before impact will stagger the enemy and leave them vulnerable to attacks.
The Charge attacks will vary based on the weapon that is equipped. Links signature 360 spin slash returns when you have a sword in hand. If you have a spear in hand you will unleash a flurry of spear jabs.
Learning the combat is easy, but understanding enemy move sets will take some time. These moves are essential for fighting stronger enemies, and bosses.
Collecting And Cooking
During your exploration, you will come across a wide variety of items, and ingredients. Collect them all as if it were Pokémon. Weapons and shields are essential since they do break, but the key to prolonging your survival is dishes.
Cooking is the newest feature in this entry in the series, and it brings massive benefits. From increasing Links heath, stamina, and much more. Even some recipes will give you increased stealth and power. Reading the descriptions of each ingredient is key to making new recipes. Also, mixing too many things together will result in a failed dish called Dubious Food, which will only heal for one heart.
Stealth
Who would have thought that Link could ever sneak around and avoid combat in this setting. Well now it is a major part of gameplay. Sneaking offers a major benefit in catching your enemy by surprise and delivering a Sneakstrike. Sneakstrike does massive damage and even killing most.
When approaching a camp or a tough enemy it is highly suggested to sneak around or find the best position to combat them. Running in head-on is not always the best idea. Using different environments is another key to combat. Enemies in a field of tall grass? Put a flame arrow or explosive arrow attachment on and set them ablaze form the shadows.
