Topic: Episode 518 Part 2: The Last Breath of the Puns

[NWR_Lindy]

With a combined 500 hours under our belts, we're finally ready to talk The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild.

http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/rfn/44500/episode-518-part-2-the-last-breath-of-the-puns

We've been exploded, murdered by Dr. Who enemies, electrocuted, threatened by gods, burned alive, frozen solid, stranded at sea, crushed, smashed, bashed, and stomped. It's the absolute best. All four of us Studs of Studwork loved The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, despite the litany of disasters we've experienced.

It's finally time for the Breath of the Wild spoilercast, as we spend two full hours discussing its design, world, characters, and our own stories of heroism and failure. Enjoy.

If you want to hear our hot takes on last week's Nintendo Direct, you can hear them here.

As always, you can drop your own hot takes in our inbox.

[TheXenocide]

So my first moment of "So this is how this world works, huh?" came in Hetano village when you have to carry the ancient flame back to the research lab. I made my way to the flame pretty effortlessly, then lit my torch. I took three steps away, and it immediately started raining, putting out my torch. I had to stay at an inn and go for it again the next day. As annoying as that entire thing was, just the fact that it could happen impressed me and I got a small pang of twisted joy out of it.

[ClexYoshi]

I ended up doing a super Metroid style heat run to the goron village via liberal use of temporary heart food I had concocted with hearty durains and Faries.

using the hot springs as checkpoints of sorts, I managed to duck into Goron village and buy myself an ugly pair of metal pants.


I ended up doing Zora's domain/Vah Rutah last because I made my playthrough so i actively rebelled against getting railroaded by the game's original progression line. I'd probably do Rito village first given a second playthrough with that knowledge.

I didn't get the camera rune until the end of the game.

Also, my last shrine I got was tied to a Kakariko quest line that involved taking a pic of the Kakariko Great Fairy Fountain. which was gated behind a 10K Rupee paywall because it was the last great fairy fountain I opened.


I'd also like to add that I got VERY Efficient at slaying Lynels, as the Barbarian set was my go-to armor set for most of the game. Urbosa's fury makes it easy to chain-stunlock and use the spin-2-win on claymores to chop lynel down to size, and headshots cna also stun them . otherwise, the sword wielding ones especially have a move set prone to being exploited by Flurry Rush.

my bow inventory is almost entirely Savage Lynel bows at any given time, and I always seem to have more shock arrows on hand than I do even regular arrows.

[Lemonade]

10/10 episode. Great work guys, this has to be one of your best episodes ever.

Just a few thoughts I had while listening
I would be interested to know who didnt stumble across the Zora until after finishing other beasts. The game really does draw you in that direction.
I think these are the best dungeons in any Zelda game because they arent too long.
It was never mentioned in the show, but I liked how the Goron Beast played with darkness, I didnt see that anywhere else in the game.
You guys put a lot more time into the game than I did, a bit over 55 hours and I only did enough shrines to get 13 hearts and 1 stamina upgrade.
Beast ranking. Lizard > bird > elephant > camel.
Flying is one of my favourite parts of the game.
I really liked the cooking too, but I only played around with simple recipes.

[wcmullins]

My funniest moment in the game was trying to get up death mountain. I had managed to make it to the spring, but I used all my healing items at this point. I managed to find the goron village while on fire and ran around going "where is the shop! Where is the shop!"


First I found the inn then the shop. In my moment of panic, I forgot that you don't buy things from the clerk you have to go to where it is at. The clerk said something along the lines of "BAAH!! You're on fire! Hurry and buy some armor!!!"


I bought the armor and had less than a heart left. Walked over to the inn and got the massage. I felt pretty bad ass for cheating the game and doing it in a way that it wasn't intended. I didn't come across the stable with the heat potions until later.


I also didn't know you could shoot the wings off of the winged guardians

[lolmonade]

Regarding the story:


While this game probably has the least amount of story in any Zelda game I've played, this is probably the closest to a story that follows the name of the series.  The story IS THE Legend of Zelda - A young princess who is stubbornly pursuing attaining the power she needs in order to fulfill her role in the prophecies, failing to do so in spite of her best efforts until the decisive battle had ended in catastrophe in order to save Link, then once that power has awakened, knowing the only way she can fulfill her role is to contain Calamity Ganon until the day Link could come-to and aid in a final confrontation.


While I agree with James that Zelda STARTS off as whiny or demanding, the whole arc of her story really reads more like a person who is struggling to come to terms with not being able to force the awakening of her powers, and not being able to contribute meaningfully to what everyone is aware of down the pipeline despite her best efforts.  Imagine being told all your life you're meant to be one of the saviors of the land as foretold by prophecy and past generations, and failing to meet those standards over and over despite your best efforts.  While I wouldn't argue they earned the power of the moment of her collapsing in Link's arms crying, the thought behind it is fairly clear given the history of the franchise and fleshing out of the NPC dialogue.


Yes, the story in the game is really the events leading up to what the current Hyrule universe is in-game today.  I think more could have been done to link events in the memories to some of the characters within the game.  Instead of having the ghosts of champions control the divine beasts while beating them, why couldn't the NPC's you work with within each race inherit the role of champion FROM those specters in preparation for the final battle?  Those NPCs are who you interact with in the game, and I think those in game interactions carry more weight than the brief cutscenes you have with the deceased champions, even if some of them have interesting characterizations. 


That said, I'm nit picking on an issue of an overall delightful game that I've taken a break from but will no doubt return to once I get some real world responsibilities ironed out.  I haven't felt this delighted by a Zelda game since Ocarina of Time.

[lolmonade]

Also, great episode.  Been anxious to hear a full spoilercast, and the music interludes between topics aping the game's music overlay into different moments was really clever.

[Enner]

The music editing is so choice!

[Crimm]

I'm glad people like the music; I was really unsure about including it. There exists an alternate edit without the music (very minor difference otherwise) because I was so worried about it.


Basically my gut won out. Originally the music played over the entire Lynel story, but it hit me the pause during the "relief" was funnier.

[InvaderREN]

No mention of Eventide Island! That was my favourite area. That is some serious Lord of the Flies action going on there.  My friend has a hilarious story where he slogged away for 2 hours there, killed the Hynox and just as he went to get the Orange ball he got Blood-mooned and was forced to retreat and do it all again 


A lot of our funny stories involve epic battles and just when you are down and out, yet victorious, that damn Blood Moon pops up and you are forced to run away.


I got punched by a Talus off a hill and rag-dolled clear down the entire side of a mountain. Ouch!


And unless I missed it, no talk of the dragons? They were awe inspiring! And their eerie music as they fly by. Just magical.


BUt by FAR the best feeling in the game is getting the Master Sword and just eviscerating the Guardians! Tear their legs off, rip them apart! After 50+ hours of running away in absolute terror, to have that payback was just the best thing!

[ClexYoshi]

No mention of Eventide Island! That was my favourite area. That is some serious Lord of the Flies action going on there.  My friend has a hilarious story where he slogged away for 2 hours there, killed the Hynox and just as he went to get the Orange ball he got Blood-mooned and was forced to retreat and do it all again 


A lot of our funny stories involve epic battles and just when you are down and out, yet victorious, that damn Blood Moon pops up and you are forced to run away.


I got punched by a Talus off a hill and rag-dolled clear down the entire side of a mountain. Ouch!


And unless I missed it, no talk of the dragons? They were awe inspiring! And their eerie music as they fly by. Just magical.


BUt by FAR the best feeling in the game is getting the Master Sword and just eviscerating the Guardians! Tear their legs off, rip them apart! After 50+ hours of running away in absolute terror, to have that payback was just the best thing!

My story of eventide island is I sent across the ocean on cryonosis blocks to do it, got my stuff taken, died, got put back ont he beach at the other end of the ocean, and then went again and threw all my weapons onto the beach.

Then things went smoothly.

[ejamer]

...
BUt by FAR the best feeling in the game is getting the Master Sword and just eviscerating the Guardians! Tear their legs off, rip them apart! After 50+ hours of running away in absolute terror, to have that payback was just the best thing!

Having not yet found the Master Sword, any fear of Guardians disappears once you get the tech lab open and can craft Ancient Arrows that allow you to one-shot-kill them. Instead of objects of terror, they become desirable targets because I wanted the parts to craft extra goods (and as a way to get some payback from the times they terrorized me).