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| boxart = [[File:NintendoSwitch_TLOZBreathoftheWild_boxart.jpg]]
| boxart = [[File:NintendoSwitch_TLOZBreathoftheWild_boxart.jpg]]
| release [[Nintendo Switch]]
| release [[Nintendo Switch]]
[[Wii U]] =  
[[Nintendo Wii U|Wii U]] =  
{{Region|jp|y=2017|m=3|d=3}}
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| publisher = Nintendo
| publisher = Nintendo
| producer = [[Eiji Aonuma]]
| producer = [[Eiji Aonuma]]
| director = Hidemaro Fujibayashi
| director = [[Hidemaro Fujibayashi]]
| walkthrough = [http://www.zeldadungeon.net/breath-of-the-wild-walkthrough/ Text Walkthrough]
| walkthrough = [http://www.zeldadungeon.net/breath-of-the-wild-walkthrough/ Text Walkthrough]
| guides =  
| guides =  
[https://www.zeldadungeon.net/breath-of-the-wild-interactive-map/ Interactive Map]
[https://www.zeldadungeon.net/breath-of-the-wild-walkthrough/korok-seed-locations/ Korok Seed Locations]
[https://www.zeldadungeon.net/breath-of-the-wild-walkthrough/side-quest-catalogue/ Side Quest Catalogue]
[https://www.zeldadungeon.net/breath-of-the-wild-walkthrough/shrine-locations/ Shrines]
[https://www.zeldadungeon.net/breath-of-the-wild-walkthrough/star-fragment-guide/ Star Fragment Guide]
[https://www.zeldadungeon.net/breath-of-the-wild-walkthrough/dragon-guide/ Dragon Parts Guide]
| gallery =  
| gallery =  
| videos =
| music =
}}</onlyinclude>
}}</onlyinclude>


'''The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild''' is the latest installment in the ''The Legend of Zelda'' series and was released simultaneously on the [[Nintendo Wii U|Wii U]] and Nintendo Switch on March 3, 2017.
{{ZD|[http://www.zeldadungeon.net/breath-of-the-wild-walkthrough/ ''Breath of the Wild'' Walkthrough]}}
 
'''The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild''' is the latest installment in [[The Legend of Zelda (Series)|''The Legend of Zelda'' series]], taking place long after the events of [[Ocarina of Time]].{{Ref|"Breath of the Wild Doesn't Fit Anywhere on the Zelda Timeline" - [https://kotaku.com/breath-of-the-wild-doesnt-fit-anywhere-on-the-zelda-tim-1793130754 Kotaku]}} It was released simultaneously on the [[Nintendo Wii U|Wii U]] and [[Nintendo Switch]] on March 3, 2017. As of December 31, 2018, 13.18 million copies of the game have been sold worldwide, of which 11.68 million units were Switch titles and 1.5 million Wii U titles.{{Ref|"Nintendo Releases New Sales Figures for Pokemon Let's Go, Smash Bros. Ultimate, Zelda: Breath of the Wild" - [https://www.ign.com/articles/2019/01/31/nintendo-releases-new-sales-figures-for-pokemon-lets-go-smash-bros-ultimate-zelda-breath-of-the-wild IGN]}} A ''[[The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild (Sequel)|sequel]]'' was announced at E3 2019.


==Development==
==Development==
The game's development began with the team experimenting with what kind of gameplay experience the Wii U could offer.


{{Quote|It's not something they're working on daily right now, but we are talking about some of the things we might be able to do with that system.  The demo that we showed at E3 was really just more of a rough idea of if all we were to do was to make a Zelda game and put it in HD, this is what it might look like.  We're much more interested in looking at the power of the Wii U system and seeing how we can take advantage of that power to do things that we haven't been able to do in a Zelda game before.|[[Interview:Game Informer October 2011|Aonuma, GameInformer]]}}
Even before the release of Skyward Sword for the Wii, Zelda fans received a preview of what a new HD Zelda release might look like for the Wii U at E3 2011. The 2011 Zelda HD tech demo showcased the hardware capabilities of the then upcoming Wii U. {{Ref|"E3 2011: Zelda Goes HD on Wii U" - [http://www.ign.com/articles/2011/06/07/e3-2011-zelda-goes-hd-on-wii-u IGN]}}{{Ref|''[[The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild|Breath of the Wild]]''|It's not something they're working on daily right now, but we are talking about some of the things we might be able to do with that system.  The demo that we showed at E3 was really just more of a rough idea of if all we were to do was to make a Zelda game and put it in HD, this is what it might look like.  We're much more interested in looking at the power of the Wii U system and seeing how we can take advantage of that power to do things that we haven't been able to do in a Zelda game before. |Interview:Game Informer October 2011. Aonuma, GameInformer}}


On November 28th, 2012, Nintendo President Satoru Iwata was asked about Nintendo Wii U versions of the Legend of Zelda and Mario and he gave the following response.
In an edition of Iwata Asks in November of 2011, Nintendo president Satoru Iwata stated that the five year development of ''Skyward Sword'' was quite long. In response to this, ''Skyward Sword'' director Hidemaro Fujibayashi set the following goal:


{{Quote|We will announce the launch schedules for new 3D Zelda and Mario games in the future, but this is not the right opportunity for me to indicate when we will make such announcements.<br/><br/>...as we develop a new hardware platform, we ask ourselves such questions as, 'what kind of new Zelda and Mario games do the software creators hope to make on this?|[[Satoru Iwata]]{{Ref|"New 3D Zelda and Mario Games are in the Works for Wii U" - [http://gengame.net/2012/11/iwata-new-3d-zelda-and-mario-games-are-in-the-works-for-wii-u/ GenGAME]}}}}
{{Quote|I'll think of something that can happen in three years!|[[Interview:Iwata Asks: Skyward Sword (Volume Eight: Those Who Played The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword for Hundreds of Hours)|Fujibayashi, Iwata Asks]]}}
 
[[File:Nintendo-Direct-Wii-U-02.png|right|thumb|250px|January 23rd, 2013 Nintendo Direct]]On January 23rd, 2013 during a Nintendo Direct video stream, Eiji Aonuma updated about the progress of Zelda for the Nintendo Wii U. He stated that the game still had a significant way to go, but in the meantime, announced the remake of ''[[The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker|The Wind Waker]]'' for the Nintendo Wii U, set for release in Fall of 2013. Regarding Zelda Wii U, Aonuma particularly mentioned that Nintendo would be rethinking many of the conventions of Zelda, including the following.
*The order a player is supposed to complete dungeons.
*Rethinking how Zelda is a 'Play by yourself' game.


At E3 2014, Aonuma emphasized the large open world shown in the brief video, which seems to reflect this mentality.
Because of this statement, many people believed that the game would be released in 2014, which was three years after 2011.  


In July 2014, Nintendo Japan's official website revealed more information about ''Zelda Wii U''. It would be possible to explore and go anywhere in the new ''Zelda'' world without boundaries and challenge new and tougher enemies as a new, mysterious Link. However, without an official English translation, a new nemesis has been translated from this information instead of new enemies.{{Ref|"New Detailed & Insightful Zelda U 'New Enemy' Translation"
By late 2012, it had been confirmed that a new HD title for the Wii U was in development.{{Quote|We will announce the launch schedules for new 3D Zelda and Mario games in the future, but this is not the right opportunity for me to indicate when we will make such announcements.<br/><br/>...as we develop a new hardware platform, we ask ourselves such questions as, 'what kind of new Zelda and Mario games do the software creators hope to make on this?|[[Satoru Iwata]]{{Ref|"New 3D Zelda and Mario Games are in the Works for Wii U" - [http://gengame.net/2012/11/iwata-new-3d-zelda-and-mario-games-are-in-the-works-for-wii-u/ GenGAME]}}}} A few months later in January of 2013, it was confirmed by producer Eiji Aonuma that a number of changes would be coming with the new game, which were brought on by the desire to "rethink the conventions of Zelda". Among these changes would be the ability to complete dungeons in any order the player desired. {{Ref|"Nintendo will ‘rethink the conventions of Zelda’ on Wii U" - [https://venturebeat.com/2013/01/23/nintendo-will-rethink-the-conventions-of-zelda-on-wii-u/ VentureBeat]}}
- [http://www.rev-level.com/#!New-Detailed-Insightful-Zelda-U-New-Enemy-Translation-/clfr/2214FE55-49AC-4DF9-8017-35A35663397F Rev-Level]}}


==Story==
For E3 2014, the world was given its first real look into what the new Zelda would look like with a brief gameplay trailer. With this new footage came several full resolution screenshots and additional information about the game. With the ability to choose the order in which dungeons were completed came a massive open world, inspired by the feel of the original Legend of Zelda from 1986. It was also announced that the game was scheduled to be released in 2015. {{Ref|"E3 2014: The Legend of Zelda for Wii U First Details" - [http://www.ign.com/articles/2014/06/10/e3-2014-the-legend-of-zelda-for-wii-u-first-details IGN]}}


{{Spoiler|section}}
In Q1 of 2015, Nintendo announced that the new Zelda would be delayed until 2016 and would not be shown at E3 that year, owing to the desire to give the developers ample time to bring "all these ideas to life" and focus completely on their work. {{Ref|"The Legend of Zelda for Wii U delayed until 2016, and won't be at E3" - [https://www.digitaltrends.com/gaming/zelda-wii-u-delayed-e3/ DigitalTrends]}} Then, on April 27, 2016 an additional delay was announced pushing the game's release further out to 2017. It was also announced that the title would be released simultaneously on the Wii U and upcoming Switch (then known as the NX), and that the game would be Nintendo's focus of E3 2016. {{Ref|"Zelda Wii U Delayed to 2017, Also Coming to NX" - [http://www.ign.com/articles/2016/04/27/zelda-wii-u-delayed-to-2017-also-coming-to-nx IGN]}}


====Past====
The long anticipated E3 2016 reveal unveiled the title of the new game as ''Breath of the Wild'', and offered fans a chance to play the game for 30 minutes in an area known as the Great Plateau, which is only 1% the game's total area. Reception to the playable demo of the game was immediately and overwhelmingly positive with its art style and massive open world gameplay. Many notable changes to the franchise were noted as well, including the weapon and food collection system and associated survival mechanics, new combat techniques, and the presence of the Sheikah Slate as a technological aid to Link's quest. {{ref|["E3 2016: The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild Might Be The Open World Zelda We Always Wanted" - [http://www.ign.com/articles/2016/06/14/e3-2016-the-legend-of-zelda-breath-of-the-wild-hands-on-preview IGN]}}


The history of [[Hyrule#Breath of the Wild|Hyrule]] is closely intertwined with the history of the appearances of [[Ganon]] over the ages. The beast was known to have been turned back repeatedly by a warrior with a hero's spirit and a princess who carried the spirit of the Goddess through various tales and legends.
During the Nintendo Live Treehouse Switch event on January 13, 2017, it was announced via a new trailer that Breath of the Wild would be released simultaneously with the Nintendo Switch on March 3, 2017. {{Ref|source=[http://www.gamespot.com/articles/the-legend-of-zelda-breath-of-the-wild-released-da/1100-6446886/ The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild Release Date Confirmed]}}


One legend told is that ten thousand years prior, the land of Hyrule had become very technologically advanced - so much so that fierce monsters were considered little threat. The Hylians crafted technological marvels to ensure the kingdom's safety if Ganon was ever to return. Among these technical marvels was a legion of autonomous [[Guardian|Guardians]] and four [[Divine Beasts]]. The Divine Beasts were piloted by four individuals of exceptional skill from across Hyrule, known as [[Champions]].
==Release==


Upon Ganon's return, the princess of Hyrule and the hero fought with the other champions and their Divine Beasts against Ganon. The Guardians protected the hero while the Divine Beasts lay siege upon Ganon, until the hero could unleash his final blow and allow the princess to use her sacred power to seal away the beast.
At launch on March 3rd, 2017, Special and Master Edition packages were released in limited quantities. Both packages included the game itself; however, additional items included an audio CD containing 24 musical selections from the game, the Sheikah Eye coin that was first given away to E3 2016 attendees, the Relic of Hyrule: Calamity Ganon tapestry and weather worn map, and a unique Sheikah Slate Switch console carrying case. The Master Edition also included a statuette of the Master Resurrection Sword.{{Ref|source=[https://mic.com/articles/169451/zelda-breath-of-the-wild-limited-edition-what-comes-with-each-special-edition-release Zelda: Breath of the Wild Limited Edition - What comes with each release?]}}


By the end of the month, less than four weeks after release, it was announced that 3.84 million copies of the game had been sold worldwide. {{Ref|"Sales Numbers for the Nintendo Switch and The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild" - [http://kotaku.com/sales-numbers-for-the-nintendo-switch-and-the-legend-of-1794696207 Kotaku]}} By early September, Breath of the Wild had outsold Twilight Princess in Japan. {{Ref|["Zelda: Breath of the Wild surpasses sales of Twilight Princess in Japan" [http://nintendoeverything.com/zelda-breath-of-the-wild-surpasses-sales-of-twilight-princess-in-japan/ Nintendo Everything]}}


One hundred years before present events, a prophecy warned that the signs of Calamity Ganon's return would be clear, and said that the power needed to oppose him lay dormant beneath the ground. This prophecy, combined with the tales from the legends of old, prompted [[Rhoam Bosphoramus Hyrule|King Rhoam]] and his kingdom to begin excavating the earth. The ancient Guardians and the four Divine Beasts were discovered, at which point King Rhoam realized that they were set upon the same path as their ancestors as told in the legends.
==Story==
 
Following this path, four Champions from across Hyrule were chosen to pilot the Divine Beasts: [[Mipha]] of the [[Zora#Breath of the Wild|Zora]], [[Daruk]] of the [[Goron#Breath of the Wild|Gorons]], [[Urbosa]] of the [[Gerudo#Breath of the Wild|Gerudo]], and [[Revali]] of the [[Rito#Breath of the Wild|Rito]]. They, alongside [[Link#Breath of the Wild|Link]], the princess's appointed knight, were placed under command of [[Zelda#Breath of the Wild|Princess Zelda]], the princess of Hyrule.
 
As detailed by various memories both Zelda and Link share, some details leading up to the events of Ganon's most recent return are known. Zelda conducts a ceremony to appoint Link as her appointed knight, attended by the four other Champions. During the ceremony, Zelda has a hesitant and insecure attitude, which the Champions readily observe. They  interpret this as the princess's melancholy jealousy of Link's ability to fulfill his destiny as the hero while her own destiny remains uncertain. A short time later, as Zelda and Link are traveling to Goron City to make adjustments to one of the Divine Beasts, Zelda shows enthusiasm for experimenting with the ancient technology. Again, however, her insecurity regarding her inability to fulfill her destiny shows through as she speaks to Link. Later, this fascination with the ancient technology becomes even more apparent as she is later seen attempting to gain access to a Shrine of Trials as Link arrives to escort her away on the king's orders. She lashes out at Link in surprise and frustration, but returns with him nevertheless.
 
As Zelda and Link continue to travel throughout Hyrule to inspect and make adjustments to the Divine Beasts, Zelda is attacked by three members of the Yiga Clan. Link returns at the last possible second to rescue Zelda from their assault, after which Zelda begins to realize she shares a unique bond with Link as her protector. Then, while traveling in the Eldin region, Link repels an attack from numerous monsters - but not without sustaining injuries to himself. Zelda recognizes that not only have attacks have become more frequent, but that monsters have gotten more powerful as well. She recognizes these events as premonitions to the imminent return of Ganon, and urges Link to use caution.
 
Taking shelter under a large tree during a storm, Zelda watches Link as he practices with the Master Sword - remarking that his devotion to his role is admirable. She then opens up to him about her doubt and insecurity in fulfilling her own destiny by stating how she feels as though she was born into a role and set onto a path she may not be able to follow.
 
Back at [[Hyrule Castle#Breath of the Wild|Hyrule Castle]], Zelda takes a moment to observe the progress of the experiments with the Guardians, noting that the Hylian researchers are now able to control them. Suddenly King Rhoam appears and scolds Zelda for spending too much time distracted by the ancient technology in lieu of training to unlock the sealing power. Zelda explains that even after having prayed at the Spring of Courage, her powers remain dormant - yet he forbids Zelda from having anything further to do with the ancient machines and to focus solely on her training. Zelda then proceeds to pray at the Spring of Power, however her powers remain dormant and her frustrations become even more apparent.
 
The day before her seventeenth birthday, Zelda speaks to Link about the final ceremony at the Spring of Wisdom on Mount Lanayru. She hopes that praying at the last Spring will awaken the power within her, but openly expresses her resignation to the possibility that she may never awaken her power. The next day, she and Link are seen by the four Champions returning from the summit as they realize she has again been unsuccessful in her attempt to awaken the power. As the Champions express consolation over her failure and  reassert optimism that her power will be triggered eventually, the earth begins to shake and Ganon suddenly is seen encircling Hyrule Castle. The Champions head to their respective Divine Beasts and Link and Zelda make their way to the castle.
 
To the surprise of all, Ganon cunningly seized control of the Guardians and Divine Beasts, and turned them against their commanders. Zelda and Link managed to escape the onslaught, but not before the four Champions and all those inside the castle, including King Rhoam, lost their lives. As Zelda and Link retreat, Zelda laments to Link about how her failure to unlock the goddess's sealing power cost them not only their only chance to defeat Ganon, but of leaving her friends dead and the kingdom in ruin.
 
As the relentless siege of the Guardians continues away from the castle, Link reaches the critical point of physical abuse in his defense of Zelda and collapses to his knees. Zelda urges Link to save himself and run away as more Guardians approach, but Link, refusing to leave Zelda's side, finds the strength to stand one more time in her defense. As an attacking Guardian locks on to Link in preparation to fire its weapon, Zelda selflessly stands between the Guardian and Link in a futile attempt to save his life. Suddenly a glowing white light begins to emanate from her raised right hand and destroys all the Guardians in the area. Realizing she has finally unlocked the Goddess's sealing power, she turns to Link who has collapsed on the ground behind her. She desperately cries out to him to awaken him, but he merely looks her in the eye for a moment as he passes out. As Zelda cries with Link in her arms, she sees the Master Sword begin to pulsate with a gentle glow. Now hearing the call of the spirit of the [[Master Sword#Breath of the Wild|Master Sword]], she understands that Link can still be saved. Seconds later, two members of the [[Sheikah]] Tribe arrive to help Zelda, but she immediately orders them to take Link to the [[Shrine of Resurrection]].
 
Zelda returns the Master Sword to the [[Korok Forest]] and drives it into its pedestal in front of the Great Deku Tree. She realizes that Link's Slumber of Restoration will likely deprive him of his memories, but is confident that he will return for the sword after his awakening. At this point, Zelda informs the Deku Tree that she has more to do, then heads back to Hyrule Castle to use the sealing power to contain Calamity Ganon within the castle until Link's return. She asks the Deku Tree to take a message for Link from her, but the Deku Tree stops her before she can express her thoughts and tells her it would be best for Link to hear her message to him in her voice.
 
 
====Present====
 
 
A century after the return of Calamity Ganon and the deaths of the Champions and King Rhoam, Link awakens from his slumber in the Shrine of Resurrection to a mysterious voice, not knowing who or where he is. Waking up and finding a strange device nearby, the [[Sheikah Slate]] once used by Princess Zelda herself, he walks out onto the [[Great Plateau]] to meet an [[Old Man#Breath of the Wild|Old Man]]. The voice Link hears instructs him to proceed to a point on the map on his Sheikah Slate. Upon arriving at this point, Link discovers an ancient [[Sheikah Tower|Sheikah Towers]], which had been uncovered in the attack of Ganon 100 years before. With the Sheikah Slate now in the hands of the chosen hero, Link is able to activate the tower, which simultaneously activates the other towers across Hyrule as well as the many [[Shrine of Trials|Shrines of Trials]].
 
Upon seeing this, the old man tasks Link with accessing the four Shrines on the Plateau to obtain the treasures inside. Inside these shrines, Link obtains [[Spirit Orb|Spirit Orbs]] and activates several runes on the Sheikah Slate, granting him abilities to freeze objects in time ([[Stasis]]), manipulate metallic items ([[Magnesis]]), create and smash ice blocks ([[Cryonis]]), and use bombs ([[Remote Bomb]]).
 
The old man, believing that Link's fragile memory is now ready to be regaled with the story of Hyrule's demise, then tells Link that he is actually the spirit of King Rhoam from 100 years ago. He details the events of his kingdom's fall, including the discovery of the ancient relics, return of Calamity Ganon, and fact that Link is the revitalized knight who valiantly fell in battle defending the princess. He tells Link that Princess Zelda is the one who has been calling out to him, and that she has been gradually losing her power to contain Ganon within the castle. He warns that soon Zelda's power will be exhausted, after which Ganon will be free to regenerate and consume the land of Hyrule unopposed. With instructions to head to [[Kakariko Village]] to meet [[Impa]], Link sets out on his journey to regain his memories and re-harness control and support of the Divine Beasts in his new quest to defeat Ganon.


After hearing more details about the 10,000 year old legend and events of 100 years prior from Impa in Kakariko Village, Link begins his journey to defeat Ganon by regaining control and the support of the four Divine Beasts. Along this journey, he discovers the locations of photos left on the Sheikah Slate from the past which jog elements his memory, eventually allowing him to regain the complete picture of his role in the events of the past. Link also meets [[Purah]] and [[Robbie]], the other two Sheikah who were present 100 years ago, who help him enhance the runes on his Sheikah Slate and create ancient equipment to aid him in battle against the Guardians. Link finally frees the spirits of the four Champions and obtains the unique abilities each possessed as an aid to his quest.
{{Main|Breath of the Wild Story}}
With the four Divine Beasts taking aim at Ganon within Hyrule Castle, Link proceeds to the castle to battle Calamity Ganon once more. As Link enters the sanctum of the castle, Zelda exclaims that she is no longer able to restrain Ganon, at which point he breaks free from containment and crashes through the floor. Just before Link engages the Calamity, the Divine Beasts unleash their fury against Ganon, weakening him. After defeating the Calamity within the castle, Link is drawn out to Hyrule Field for a final showdown on horseback with the Beast of Ganon. Zelda presents Link with the Bow of Light before the battle, explaining that she will use her remaining power to open holes in Ganon's defense to allow Link to strike the beast. In the end, he succeeds defeating the beast of Ganon, freeing Princess Zelda and allowing her to finally seal away Ganon.


After the battle, the spirits of King Rhoam and the four Champions are briefly seen observing Link and Zelda walking together. Starting towards Zora's Domain, Zelda tells Link that the Divine Beast Vah Ruta has stopped working and that she can no longer hear the voice of the Master Sword inside her head. Assuming that this is a result of her power waning after 100 years, she simply states "I think I can live with that", and the two embark on their journey to rebuild Hyrule to its former glory.
Link awakens to the call of an unfamiliar voice after a long slumber, with no memory of his identity or whereabouts. Venturing outside the [[Shrine of Resurrection]] onto the [[Great Plateau]], the strange voice gives Link instructions to make his way to the point on his map. Along the way, Link meets a mysterious [[Old Man#Breath of the Wild|Old Man]], who seems to know more about Link and his past than he initially reveals. After completing a series of challenges tasked to him by the Old Man, Link embarks upon a journey to restore his memories, learn about the past, confront [[Calamity Ganon]] residing in [[Hyrule Castle#Breath of the Wild|Hyrule Castle]] and restore peace to [[Hyrule]].


==Gameplay==
==Gameplay==
''Breath of the Wild'' is the latest installment in the move towards more realistic and environmentally immersive game play in the Legend of Zelda series. While previous games have tip-toed carefully towards this from the limited ability to pick up enemy weapons in ''The Wind Waker'' to the extensive collection system, exhaustion meter, and shield degradation in ''Skyward Sword'', ''Breath of the Wild'' has taken a giant leap forward down this avenue and relies heavily on survival mechanics.
''Breath of the Wild'' is the latest installment in the move toward more realistic and environmentally immersive game play in ''The Legend of Zelda'' series. While previous games have tip-toed carefully toward this from the limited ability to pick up enemy weapons in ''The Wind Waker'' to the extensive collection system, exhaustion meter, and shield degradation in ''Skyward Sword'', ''Breath of the Wild'' has taken a giant leap forward down this avenue and relies heavily on survival mechanics.


Gone are the days of heart collecting to restore health. Link must now hunt, gather, and cook to survive in Hyrule. [https://www.zeldadungeon.net/wiki/Breath_of_the_Wild_Recipes Different combinations] of ingredients help in various ways from restoring health to adding additional hearts on the end of the health meter to providing extra warmth for a limited time to combat cold weather.  
Gone are the days of heart collecting to restore health. Link must now hunt, gather, and cook to survive in Hyrule. [https://www.zeldadungeon.net/wiki/Breath_of_the_Wild_Recipes Different combinations] of ingredients help in various ways from restoring health to adding additional hearts on the end of the health meter to providing extra warmth for a limited time to combat cold weather.  


Scavenging doesn't just pertain to food that can be cooked, though. Link, like his ''Wind Waker'' counterpart, can pick up enemy weapons and use them. While The Hero of Winds was confined to using those weapons on the same screen on which they were acquired, this Link can add any weapon he picks up to his inventory and use it until it breaks, or he otherwise loses it. Tunics and armor can also be changed out for look or functionality. A quilted tunic, for instance, in a snowy area will stop Link from losing health to the cold.
Scavenging does not just pertain to food that can be cooked, though. Link, like his ''The Wind Waker'' counterpart, can pick up enemy weapons and use them. While the Hero of Winds was confined to using those weapons on the same screen on which they were acquired, this Link can add any weapon he picks up to his inventory and use it until it breaks, otherwise he loses it. Tunics and armor can also be changed out for look or functionality. A quilted tunic, for instance, will stop Link from losing health to the cold in snowy areas.


Weapons aren't everything, though. The new Sheikah Slate is an important part of Link's arsenal and allows Link - once the runes have been learned in Sheikah Shrines - to do things such as create columns of ice from water, build different types of bombs, and, with the Wolf Amiibo from Twilight Princess HD, summon a companion Wolf Link to fight alongside him. Stealth mechanics and a noise indicator also make interaction with the wilder elements of the game more involved. The level of noise Link is creating can alert enemies to his presence, scare off prey, and even spook a horse Link is trying to mount or tame.
Weapons are not everything, though. The new Sheikah Slate is an important part of Link's arsenal and allows Link once the runes have been learned in Sheikah Shrines to do things such as create columns of ice from water, build different types of bombs, and, with the Wolf Amiibo from ''Twilight Princess HD'', summon a companion Wolf Link to fight alongside him. Stealth mechanics and a noise indicator also make interaction with the wilder elements of the game more involved. The level of noise Link is creating can alert enemies to his presence, scare off prey, and even spook a horse Link is trying to mount or tame.


A dynamic system of horses is one new addition. Any horse that you find in the wild can be mounted and tamed and brought to one of the many stables in the game, where it can be named.  You can also summon your horses by whistling; however, they can't hear you if you are too far away.
A dynamic system of horses is one new addition. Any horse that you find in the wild can be mounted and tamed and brought to one of the many stables in the game, where it can be named.  You can also summon your horses by whistling; however, they cannot hear you if you are too far away.


The land of Hyrule itself is full of exploration potential. ''Breath of the Wild'' is a truly open world game hearkening back to the original ''Legend of Zelda'', getting rid of the need to play the game in any sort of order. In fact, nearly the entire story can be skipped while still completing the game. The large terrain can be traversed using horses Link has tamed, or by using warp points at Sheikah Shrines and Towers, and there are many opportunities to use the environment and runes in the Sheikah Slate to open up ways to new areas. If you can see it, you can go there, and with the largest map of any Zelda game, that is an adventure all in itself.
The land of Hyrule itself is full of exploration potential. ''Breath of the Wild'' is a truly open world game hearkening back to the original ''The Legend of Zelda'', getting rid of the need to play the game in any sort of order. In fact, nearly the entire story can be skipped while still completing the game. The large terrain can be traversed using horses Link has tamed, or by using warp points at Sheikah Shrines and Towers, and there are many opportunities to use the environment and runes in the Sheikah Slate to open up ways to new areas. If you can see it, you can go there, and with the largest map of any ''The Legend of Zelda'' game, that is an adventure all in itself.


==Controls==
==Controls==
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{{Quote|I'd like to do things that are more surprising than [what was in the tech demo].|[[Interview:IndustryGamers July 14th 2011|Aonuma, Industry Gamers]]}}
{{Quote|I'd like to do things that are more surprising than [what was in the tech demo].|[[Interview:IndustryGamers July 14th 2011|Aonuma, Industry Gamers]]}}


However, it's still a possibility that we will see motion controls return.  After all, after swinging your own sword to interact with the game, how could one go back to using a controller?
However, it is still a possibility that we will see motion controls return.  After all, after swinging your own sword to interact with the game, how could one go back to using a controller?


{{Quote|'''Iwata''': Now, can you talk about how this new controller works together with the Wii Remote that we have been using until now?<br/>'''Miyamoto''': Sure. Actually, as I was making it I didn't have a whole lot of doubts in my mind that the Wii Remote would still be used as it was. I feel like the Wii Remote has pretty much become its ideal form with the Wii Remote Plus.<br/>'''Iwata''': I see, you mean you can do just about everything you want to do with it.<br/>'''Miyamoto''': That's right. And when I thought whether we really needed to require the purchase of something completely new, I felt that we could continue with this way to play for another while. I feel that way even when I play The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword.|[[Interview:Iwata Asks: Wii U|Iwata Asks]]}}
{{Quote|'''Iwata''': Now, can you talk about how this new controller works together with the Wii Remote that we have been using until now?<br/>'''Miyamoto''': Sure. Actually, as I was making it I didn't have a whole lot of doubts in my mind that the Wii Remote would still be used as it was. I feel like the Wii Remote has pretty much become its ideal form with the Wii Remote Plus.<br/>'''Iwata''': I see, you mean you can do just about everything you want to do with it.<br/>'''Miyamoto''': That's right. And when I thought whether we really needed to require the purchase of something completely new, I felt that we could continue with this way to play for another while. I feel that way even when I play The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword.|[[Interview:Iwata Asks: Wii U|Iwata Asks]]}}


In an interview at E3 2012, Miyamoto hinted that the Zelda game in development for Wii U may not include motion controls after all.
In an interview at E3 2012, Miyamoto hinted that the ''The Legend of Zelda'' game in development for Wii U may not include motion controls after all.


{{Quote|With the last game, Skyward Sword, that was a game where you had motion control to use your weapons and a lot of different items, and I thought that was a lot of fun, but there were some people who weren't able to do that or didn't like it as much and stopped playing partway through it. So we're in the phase where we're looking back at what's worked very well and what has been missing and how can we evolve it further..|[[Interview:Entertainment Weekly June 7th 2012|Miyamoto, Entertainment Weekly]]}}
{{Quote|With the last game, Skyward Sword, that was a game where you had motion control to use your weapons and a lot of different items, and I thought that was a lot of fun, but there were some people who weren't able to do that or didn't like it as much and stopped playing partway through it. So we're in the phase where we're looking back at what's worked very well and what has been missing and how can we evolve it further..|[[Interview:Entertainment Weekly June 7th 2012|Miyamoto, Entertainment Weekly]]}}


==Graphics==
==Graphics==
The beautiful tech demo has gotten a lot of attention, and this time [[Eiji Aonuma]] is careful to not set our expectations in stone.  What was shown at E3 is merely a demonstration of the system's power, not a teaser for a new Zelda game.
The beautiful tech demo has gotten a lot of attention, and this time [[Eiji Aonuma]] is careful to not set our expectations in stone.  What was shown at E3 is merely a demonstration of the system's power, not a teaser for a new ''The Legend of Zelda'' game.


{{Quote|You probably remember that when we introduced the GameCube, we showed a somewhat realistic Zelda demo, and what we actually created was the cel-shaded Wind Waker. So when we show a graphic demo, people think, 'Oh, this is what the next Zelda will look like,' but that's not necessarily the case.|[[Interview:Wired July 1st 2011|Aonuma, Wired]]}}
{{Quote|You probably remember that when we introduced the GameCube, we showed a somewhat realistic Zelda demo, and what we actually created was the cel-shaded Wind Waker. So when we show a graphic demo, people think, 'Oh, this is what the next Zelda will look like,' but that's not necessarily the case.|[[Interview:Wired July 1st 2011|Aonuma, Wired]]}}
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{{Quote|I'm on one of the committees that oversaw the general steering and direction [of the Wii U]. We talked to each other a lot about several elements, one of which was, 'How exactly will the HD graphics work?' In doing concepts for that ... we used Zelda assets quite often to examine, OK, how real will we make this look?|[[Interview:Wired July 1st 2011|Aonuma, Wired]]}}
{{Quote|I'm on one of the committees that oversaw the general steering and direction [of the Wii U]. We talked to each other a lot about several elements, one of which was, 'How exactly will the HD graphics work?' In doing concepts for that ... we used Zelda assets quite often to examine, OK, how real will we make this look?|[[Interview:Wired July 1st 2011|Aonuma, Wired]]}}


[[Shigeru Miyamoto]] sheds some more light on what he'd like this look to be.
[[Shigeru Miyamoto]] sheds some more light on what he would like this look to be.


{{Quote|This is an HD system, our first HD system, and we want to create a real HD Zelda game for it. You will see a lot of these in-depth and deep experiences in terms of visual style. You will also see some play styles that are fun and interesting because of the play structure. We are not planning on putting any restrictions in terms of requiring developers to leverage HD in a particular ways. Even if you are using a simpler visual style it will still look very beautiful.|[[Interview:Kotaku June 22nd 2011|Miyamoto, Kotaku]]}}
{{Quote|This is an HD system, our first HD system, and we want to create a real HD Zelda game for it. You will see a lot of these in-depth and deep experiences in terms of visual style. You will also see some play styles that are fun and interesting because of the play structure. We are not planning on putting any restrictions in terms of requiring developers to leverage HD in a particular ways. Even if you are using a simpler visual style it will still look very beautiful.|[[Interview:Kotaku June 22nd 2011|Miyamoto, Kotaku]]}}


The E3 2014 trailer for Breath of the Wild revealed the graphics style to be advanced cel-shading, similar to the cel-shading of ''The Wind Waker'', only with more realistic and detailed textures, lighting, and models. At the time, little else was known about the graphics, as the actual cinematic shown was extremely short and only 4 native-resolution screenshots were released.
The E3 2014 trailer for ''Breath of the Wild'' revealed the graphics style to be advanced cel-shading, similar to the cel-shading of ''The Wind Waker'', only with more realistic and detailed textures, lighting, and models. At the time, little else was known about the graphics, as the actual cinematic shown was extremely short and only 4 native-resolution screenshots were released.
 
==Release==
In an edition of Iwata Asks in November of 2011, Nintendo president Satoru Iwata stated that the five year development of Skyward Sword was quite long. In response to this, Skyward Sword director Hidemaro Fujibayashi set the following goal:
 
{{Quote|I'll think of something that can happen in three years!|[[Interview:Iwata Asks: Skyward Sword (Volume Eight: Those Who Played The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword for Hundreds of Hours)|Fujibayashi, Iwata Asks]]}}
 
Because of this statement, many people believed that the game would be released in 2014, which was three years after 2011.
 
In the E3 2014 trailer for the game, the release date was officially given as 2015, but with no month or day given. Aonuma stated on Miiverse that he believes that Zelda Wii U will be playable at E3 2015 in June, {{Ref|source=[https://translate.google.com/translate?sl=ja&tl=en&js=y&prev=_t&hl=en&ie=UTF-8&u=https%3A%2F%2Fmiiverse.nintendo.net%2Fposts%2FAYMHAAACAABnUYn2C7g4HQ&edit-text=&act=url Eiji Aonuma's Miiverse post about Zelda Wii U (translated)]}} implying a release date after this event.
 
The game was eventually delayed until 2016, and was later announced in a Miiverse post by Eiji Aonuma {{Ref|source=[https://miiverse.nintendo.net/replies/AYMHAAACAAADVHjTtXsOfA Eiji Aonuma's Miiverse post about E3 2015's lack of Zelda Wii U]}} to not be shown at E3 2015. In an interview with IGN, Shigeru Miyamoto confirmed that Nintendo did have "some great Zelda footage" that would be shown at a later time. {{Ref|source=[http://m.ign.com/articles/2015/06/16/e3-2015-the-legend-of-zelda-still-coming-to-wii-u Shigeru Miyamoto's confirmation of footage for Zelda Wii U]}}
 
On April 27th 2016, the game was further delayed to 2017, and it was not only confirmed that the game would release both on the Wii U and the Codename NX (Nintendo Switch), but also that it would be the entire focus of E3 2016 for Nintendo. {{Ref|source=[http://zeldauniverse.net/2016/04/27/zelda-u-will-launch-in-2017-on-both-wii-u-and-nx/ Zelda U will launch in 2017 on both Wii U and NX, playable at E3 2016 (Updated)]}}
 
At the Treehouse Live Nintendo Switch event on January 13th, 2017, a new trailer was released which revealed the release date of the game to be March 3rd, 2017, the same day as The Switch launch making it a confirmed launch title for the new system. {{Ref|source=[http://www.gamespot.com/articles/the-legend-of-zelda-breath-of-the-wild-released-da/1100-6446886/ The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild Released Date Confirmed]}}
 
At launch on March 3rd, 2017, Special and Master Edition packages were released in limited quantities. Both packages included the game itself, however additional items included an audio CD containing 24 musical selections from the game, the Sheikah Eye coin which was first given away to E3 2016 attendees, the Relic of Hyrule: Calamity Ganon tapestry and weather worn map, and a unique Sheikah Slate Switch console carrying case. The Master Edition also included a statuette of the Master Resurrection Sword.{{Ref|source=[https://mic.com/articles/169451/zelda-breath-of-the-wild-limited-edition-what-comes-with-each-special-edition-release Zelda: Breath of the Wild Limited Edition - What comes with each release?]}}


==Downloadable Content==
==Downloadable Content==
On February 15th, 2017 it was announced that ''Breath of the Wild'' would be the first Zelda game in history to get downloadable content. Marketed as an 'Expansion Pass', two installments were identified with an additional expansion pack bonus available at time of purchase.
{{main|Breath of the Wild Expansion Pass}}
On February 15th, 2017 it was announced that ''Breath of the Wild'' would be the first console ''The Legend of Zelda'' game in history to get downloadable content. Marketed as an 'Expansion Pass', two installments were identified with an additional expansion pack bonus available at time of purchase. The DLC is currently priced at $19.99 USD.


'''Expansion Pack Bonus''' ''(Available starting March 3rd, 2017)''
'''Expansion Pass Bonus''' ''(Available starting March 3rd, 2017)''


Upon purchase of the Expansion Pass, consumers will immediately gain access to three new treasure chests in the Great Plateau region of the game. One will contain a Nintendo Switch shirt that Link can wear, and the other two will contain 'useful items'.
Upon purchase of the Expansion Pass, consumers will immediately gain access to three new treasure chests in the Great Plateau region of the game. One will contain a [[Nintendo Switch Shirt]] that Link can wear, and the other two contain [[Bomb Arrow]]s and a [[Ruby]].


'''DLC Pack 1''' ''(Available starting Summer 2017)''
'''DLC Pack 1: "The Master Trials"''' ''(Available starting June 30th, 2017)''


* Adds a new Cave of Trials challenge
* Trial of the Sword
* New Hard Mode
* Master Mode
* Additional Map Feature
* Hero's Path Map Feature
* Masks and Armor
* Travel Medallion


'''DLC Pack 2''' ''(Available starting Winter 2017)''
'''DLC Pack 2: "The Champions' Ballad"''' ''(Available starting December 8th, 2017)''


* New original story
* Divine Beast Tamer's Trial
* New dungeon
* Masks and Armor
* Additional challenges
* Horse Gear


==Amiibo Support==
==amiibo Support==
There are currently fifteen amiibo that give specific bonus items in ''Breath of the Wild'', some items which can be acquired normally in game, some that are only accessible by the amiibo. However, any other amiibo can be used with the game and will provide random items. {{Ref|source=[http://www.gamespot.com/gallery/zelda-breath-of-the-wild-amiibo-unlock-guide/2900-1137/ Zelda Breath of the Wild Amiibo Unlock Guide]}}
{{main|Breath of the Wild Amiibo}}
There are currently fifteen [[amiibo]] that give specific bonus items in ''Breath of the Wild'', some items that can be acquired normally in the game, some that are only accessible by the amiibo. However, any other amiibo can be used with the game and will provide random items.


* '''Link: The Legend of Zelda'''
==Media==
Potential Chest Items: A chance of one of the three pieces of the 'Hero's Outfit (original Legend of Zelda)', sword, assorted weapons
===Characters===
{{Gallery}}
{{Gallery/Box|file=WiiU_TheLegendofZeldaBreathoftheWild_E32016_char_01-1.png|link=Link#Breath of the Wild|caption=[[Link#Breath of the Wild|Link]]}}
{{Gallery/Box|file=Zelda-botw.png|link=Zelda#Breath of the Wild|Zelda|caption=[[Zelda#Breath of the Wild|Zelda]]}}
{{Gallery/Box|file=Revali.png|link=Revali|caption=[[Revali]]}}
{{Gallery/Box|file=Mipha.png|link=Mipha|caption=[[Mipha]]}}
{{Gallery/Box|file=Daruk.png|link=Daruk|caption=[[Daruk]]}}
{{Gallery/Box|file=Urbosa.png|link=Urbosa|caption=[[Urbosa]]}}
{{Gallery/Box|file=botw-zora-warrior.png|link=Sidon|caption=[[Sidon|Prince Sidon]]}}
{{Gallery/Box|file=botw-gerudo.jpg|link=Riju|caption=[[Riju]]}}


Non-Chest Items: Barrels with rupees and arrows
===Enemies===
* '''Link: Ocarina of Time'''
{{Gallery}}
Potential Chest Items: A chance of one of the three pieces of the 'Ocarina of Time Outfit', Biggoron's sword, assorted weapons
{{Gallery/Box|file=Chuchu.jpg|link=ChuChu|caption=[[ChuChu|Chuchu]]}}
 
{{Gallery/Box|file=Keese-botw.jpg|link=Keese|caption=[[Keese]]}}
Non-Chest Items: Raw Meat
{{Gallery/Box|file=Forest_Octorok.png|link=Octorok|caption=[[Forest Octorok|Octorok]]}}
* '''Smash Bros Toon Link''' & '''Toon Link: The Wind Waker'''
{{Gallery/Box|file=Fire-wizzrobe.jpg|link=Fire Wizzrobe|caption=[[Fire Wizzrobe|Wizzrobe]]}}
Potential Chest Items: A chance of one of the three pieces of the 'Wind Waker Outfit', Sea-Breeze Boomerang, assorted weapons, elemental arrows
{{Gallery/Box|file=Bokoblin.jpg|link=Bokoblin#Breath of the Wild|caption=[[Bokoblin#Breath of the Wild|Bokoblin]]}}
 
{{Gallery/Box|file=Lizalfos-botw.jpg|link=Lizalfos#Breath of the Wild|caption=[[Lizalfos#Breath of the Wild|Lizalfos]]}}
Non-Chest Items: Fish
{{Gallery/Box|file=Moblin.jpg|link=Moblin#Breath of the Wild|caption=[[Moblin#Breath of the Wild|Moblin]]}}
* '''Smash Bros Link'''
{{Gallery/Box|file=Lynel.jpg|link=Lynel#Breath of the Wild|caption=[[Lynel#Breath of the Wild|Lynel]]}}
Chest Items: One time summon of Epona (the only way you can get her in the game, register immediately), a chance of one of the three pieces of the 'Twilight Outfit', potentially any of an assortment of swords, shields, and elemental arrows
{{Gallery/Box|file=Guardian-stalker.jpg|link=Guardian (Breath of the Wild)|caption=[[Guardian (Breath of the Wild)|Guardian]]}}
 
{{Gallery/Bottom}}
Non-Chest Items: Assorted fruits and cooking materials
* '''Wolf Link: Twilight Princess'''
Wolf Link will appear in your game as a companion with the same stats as was saved on it from the ''Twilight Princess HD'' Cave of Trials. He will attack enemies on his own and help you find hidden items.
* '''Link (Rider): Breath of the Wild'''
Potential Chest Items: Traveler's bridle, Traveler's saddle, assorted weapons, elemental arrows
 
Non-Chest Items: Mushrooms
* '''Link (Archer): Breath of the Wild'''
Potential Chest Items: Assorted bows, elemental arrows
 
Non-Chest Items: Fish, raw meat, and arrows
* '''Zelda: The Wind Waker'''
Potential Chest Items: Hero's shield, gems, assorted shields
 
Non-Chest Items: Herbs, flowers, and vegetables
* '''Smash Bros Zelda'''
Potential Chest Items: Twilight Bow, various bows, various gems
 
Non-Chest Items: Herbs, flowers, vegetables
* '''Zelda: Breath of the Wild'''
Potential Chest Items: Hylian Shield (can be found in game without amiibo), star fragments, gems, assorted shields
 
Non-Chest Items: Herbs, flowers, vegetables
* '''Smash Bros Sheik'''
Chest Items: Sheik's Mask, various Sheikah weapons, elemental arrows
 
Non-Chest Items: Mushrooms
* '''Smash Bros Ganon'''
Potential Chest Items: Sword of the Six Sages, Gems, Monster Parts
 
Non-Chest Items: Barrels that are either explosive or contain rupees and arrows
* '''Bokoblin: Breath of the Wild'''
Potential Chest Items: Assorted Bokoblin weapons and shields, elixers
 
Non-Chest Items: Raw meat and monster parts
* '''Guardian: Breath of the Wild'''
Potential Chest Items: Assorted Guardian weapons and shields, guardian arrows, ancient cores
 
Non-Chest Items: It will spawn metal chests which have valuable gems, arrows, and machine parts


==[[Breath of the Wild Enemies|Enemies]]==
===Overworld Bosses===
{{Gallery}}
{{Gallery}}
{{Gallery/Box|file=BotW-Guardian.png|link=Guardian (Breath of the Wild)|caption=[[Guardian (Breath of the Wild)|Guardian]]}}
{{Gallery/Box|file=Stone-talus.jpeg|link=Stone Talus|caption=[[Stone Talus]]}}
{{Gallery/Box|file=BotW_Bokoblin.png|link=Bokoblin (Breath of the Wild)|caption=[[Bokoblin]]}}
{{Gallery/Box|file=Hinox-botw.jpg|link=Hinox#Breath of the Wild|caption=[[Hinox#Breath of the Wild|Hinox]]}}
{{Gallery/Box|file=BotW_Blue_Chuchu.png|link=ChuChu (Breath of the Wild)|caption=[[ChuChu]]}}
{{Gallery/Box|file=Molduga.jpg|link=Molduga|caption=[[Molduga]]}}
{{Gallery/Box|file=BotW_Ice_Chuchu.png|link=White ChuChu|caption=[[White ChuChu]]}}
{{Gallery/Box|file=BotW_Keese.png|link=Keese (Breath of the Wild)|caption=[[Keese]]}}
{{Gallery/Box|file=BotW_Ice_Keese.png|link=Ice Keese (Breath of the Wild)|caption=[[Ice Keese]]}}
{{Gallery/Box|file=BotW_Moblin.jpeg|link=Moblin (Breath of the Wild)|caption=[[Moblin]]}}
{{Gallery/Bottom}}
{{Gallery/Bottom}}


==[[:Category:Breath of the Wild Characters|Characters]]==
===Trailer Screenshots===
{{Gallery}}
{{Gallery/Box|file=WiiU_TheLegendofZeldaBreathoftheWild_E32016_char_01-1.png|link=File:WiiU_TheLegendofZeldaBreathoftheWild_E32016_char_01-1.png|caption=Link}}
{{Gallery/Box|file=botw-zelda.jpg|link=File:botw-zelda.jpg|caption=Zelda}}
{{Gallery/Box|file=botw-goron.png|link=File:botw-goron.png|caption=Daruk}}
{{Gallery/Box|file=botw-zora-girl.png|link=File:botw-zora-girl.png|caption=Mipha}}
{{Gallery/Box|file=botw-old-man.jpg|link=File:botw-old-man.jpg|caption=Old Man}}
{{Gallery/Box|file=botw-zora-warrior.png|link=File:botw-zora-warrior.png|caption=Prince Sidon}}
{{Gallery/Box|file=botw-gerudo.jpg|link=File:botw-gerudo.jpg|caption=Riju}}
{{Gallery/Box|file=botw-bird.jpg|link=File:botw-bird.jpg|caption=Revali}}
{{Gallery/Box|file=botw-great-fairy.jpg|link=File:botw-great-fairy.jpg|caption=Great Fairy}}
 
== Trailer Screenshots==
<onlyinclude>{{TabSettings|Items}}<div class="tab">
<onlyinclude>{{TabSettings|Items}}<div class="tab">
{{Tab|1|Wii U Tech Demo}}
{{Tab|1|Wii U Tech Demo}}
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</div></onlyinclude>
</div></onlyinclude>


==Videos==
===Videos===
{{Youtube|y9uYCU8jFiU|270|Zelda HD Full Tech Demo E3 2011}}
{{Youtube|y9uYCU8jFiU|270|Zelda HD Full Tech Demo E3 2011}}
{{Youtube|1-wCfutj9JU|270|Eiji Aonuma Talk about the Zelda HD Experience at E3 2011}}
{{Youtube|1-wCfutj9JU|270|Eiji Aonuma Talk about the Zelda HD Experience at E3 2011}}
Line 329: Line 241:
{{Youtube|D1gs-vHV48w|270|9 Minutes of The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild - Treehouse Live}}
{{Youtube|D1gs-vHV48w|270|9 Minutes of The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild - Treehouse Live}}
{{Youtube|c2jKceEsj2E|270|The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild – Nintendo Treehouse: Live with Nintendo Switch}}
{{Youtube|c2jKceEsj2E|270|The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild – Nintendo Treehouse: Live with Nintendo Switch}}
{{Youtube|h1GakpHZFpg|270|The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild - Expansion Pass - Nintendo E3 2017}}
{{Clear}}
{{Clear}}


{{References}}
{{References}}
{{GamesFooter}}
{{GamesFooter}}
{{Cat|Games|Breath of the Wild}}
{{Cat|Breath of the Wild|Breath of the Wild}}

Revision as of 14:21, March 4, 2020

The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild
The Legend of Zelda Breath of the Wild logo.png
NintendoSwitch TLOZBreathoftheWild boxart.jpg
Release

Platform

Date

Japan March 3, 2017
United States March 3, 2017
Europe March 3, 2017
Australia March 3, 2017

Credits

Developer

Nintendo EPD

Publisher

Nintendo

Producer

Director

Guides

Walkthrough

ZeldaDungeon.net 

The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild is the latest installment in The Legend of Zelda series, taking place long after the events of Ocarina of Time.[1] It was released simultaneously on the Wii U and Nintendo Switch on March 3, 2017. As of December 31, 2018, 13.18 million copies of the game have been sold worldwide, of which 11.68 million units were Switch titles and 1.5 million Wii U titles.[2] A sequel was announced at E3 2019.

Development

Even before the release of Skyward Sword for the Wii, Zelda fans received a preview of what a new HD Zelda release might look like for the Wii U at E3 2011. The 2011 Zelda HD tech demo showcased the hardware capabilities of the then upcoming Wii U. [3][4]

In an edition of Iwata Asks in November of 2011, Nintendo president Satoru Iwata stated that the five year development of Skyward Sword was quite long. In response to this, Skyward Sword director Hidemaro Fujibayashi set the following goal:

"I'll think of something that can happen in three years!"

Because of this statement, many people believed that the game would be released in 2014, which was three years after 2011.

By late 2012, it had been confirmed that a new HD title for the Wii U was in development.

"We will announce the launch schedules for new 3D Zelda and Mario games in the future, but this is not the right opportunity for me to indicate when we will make such announcements.

...as we develop a new hardware platform, we ask ourselves such questions as, 'what kind of new Zelda and Mario games do the software creators hope to make on this?
"

A few months later in January of 2013, it was confirmed by producer Eiji Aonuma that a number of changes would be coming with the new game, which were brought on by the desire to "rethink the conventions of Zelda". Among these changes would be the ability to complete dungeons in any order the player desired. [6]

For E3 2014, the world was given its first real look into what the new Zelda would look like with a brief gameplay trailer. With this new footage came several full resolution screenshots and additional information about the game. With the ability to choose the order in which dungeons were completed came a massive open world, inspired by the feel of the original Legend of Zelda from 1986. It was also announced that the game was scheduled to be released in 2015. [7]

In Q1 of 2015, Nintendo announced that the new Zelda would be delayed until 2016 and would not be shown at E3 that year, owing to the desire to give the developers ample time to bring "all these ideas to life" and focus completely on their work. [8] Then, on April 27, 2016 an additional delay was announced pushing the game's release further out to 2017. It was also announced that the title would be released simultaneously on the Wii U and upcoming Switch (then known as the NX), and that the game would be Nintendo's focus of E3 2016. [9]

The long anticipated E3 2016 reveal unveiled the title of the new game as Breath of the Wild, and offered fans a chance to play the game for 30 minutes in an area known as the Great Plateau, which is only 1% the game's total area. Reception to the playable demo of the game was immediately and overwhelmingly positive with its art style and massive open world gameplay. Many notable changes to the franchise were noted as well, including the weapon and food collection system and associated survival mechanics, new combat techniques, and the presence of the Sheikah Slate as a technological aid to Link's quest. [10]

During the Nintendo Live Treehouse Switch event on January 13, 2017, it was announced via a new trailer that Breath of the Wild would be released simultaneously with the Nintendo Switch on March 3, 2017. [11]

Release

At launch on March 3rd, 2017, Special and Master Edition packages were released in limited quantities. Both packages included the game itself; however, additional items included an audio CD containing 24 musical selections from the game, the Sheikah Eye coin that was first given away to E3 2016 attendees, the Relic of Hyrule: Calamity Ganon tapestry and weather worn map, and a unique Sheikah Slate Switch console carrying case. The Master Edition also included a statuette of the Master Resurrection Sword.[12]

By the end of the month, less than four weeks after release, it was announced that 3.84 million copies of the game had been sold worldwide. [13] By early September, Breath of the Wild had outsold Twilight Princess in Japan. [14]

Story

Main article: Breath of the Wild Story

Link awakens to the call of an unfamiliar voice after a long slumber, with no memory of his identity or whereabouts. Venturing outside the Shrine of Resurrection onto the Great Plateau, the strange voice gives Link instructions to make his way to the point on his map. Along the way, Link meets a mysterious Old Man, who seems to know more about Link and his past than he initially reveals. After completing a series of challenges tasked to him by the Old Man, Link embarks upon a journey to restore his memories, learn about the past, confront Calamity Ganon residing in Hyrule Castle and restore peace to Hyrule.

Gameplay

Breath of the Wild is the latest installment in the move toward more realistic and environmentally immersive game play in The Legend of Zelda series. While previous games have tip-toed carefully toward this from the limited ability to pick up enemy weapons in The Wind Waker to the extensive collection system, exhaustion meter, and shield degradation in Skyward Sword, Breath of the Wild has taken a giant leap forward down this avenue and relies heavily on survival mechanics.

Gone are the days of heart collecting to restore health. Link must now hunt, gather, and cook to survive in Hyrule. Different combinations of ingredients help in various ways from restoring health to adding additional hearts on the end of the health meter to providing extra warmth for a limited time to combat cold weather.

Scavenging does not just pertain to food that can be cooked, though. Link, like his The Wind Waker counterpart, can pick up enemy weapons and use them. While the Hero of Winds was confined to using those weapons on the same screen on which they were acquired, this Link can add any weapon he picks up to his inventory and use it until it breaks, otherwise he loses it. Tunics and armor can also be changed out for look or functionality. A quilted tunic, for instance, will stop Link from losing health to the cold in snowy areas.

Weapons are not everything, though. The new Sheikah Slate is an important part of Link's arsenal and allows Link – once the runes have been learned in Sheikah Shrines – to do things such as create columns of ice from water, build different types of bombs, and, with the Wolf Amiibo from Twilight Princess HD, summon a companion Wolf Link to fight alongside him. Stealth mechanics and a noise indicator also make interaction with the wilder elements of the game more involved. The level of noise Link is creating can alert enemies to his presence, scare off prey, and even spook a horse Link is trying to mount or tame.

A dynamic system of horses is one new addition. Any horse that you find in the wild can be mounted and tamed and brought to one of the many stables in the game, where it can be named. You can also summon your horses by whistling; however, they cannot hear you if you are too far away.

The land of Hyrule itself is full of exploration potential. Breath of the Wild is a truly open world game hearkening back to the original The Legend of Zelda, getting rid of the need to play the game in any sort of order. In fact, nearly the entire story can be skipped while still completing the game. The large terrain can be traversed using horses Link has tamed, or by using warp points at Sheikah Shrines and Towers, and there are many opportunities to use the environment and runes in the Sheikah Slate to open up ways to new areas. If you can see it, you can go there, and with the largest map of any The Legend of Zelda game, that is an adventure all in itself.

Controls

The Wii U controller's screen in the tech demo featured Link's inventory and map, or a copy of the game screen. Aonuma has other plans for it as well.

"I really think [having two screens is] one of the most exciting features of the system. Unlike the Nintendo DS, there's distance between the television and you and your other screen. That really allows for some different interactions, some of which you saw [at E3]. For example, imagine having the contents of Link's satchel available to you on the screen of your controller, and using elements of the pouch to interact with gameplay on the television.

With The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword, we had the Nunchuck and Wii Remote sort of stand in for the sword and shield that Link carries. But in a game for the Wii U, I can definitely see something like the controller itself becoming the different items that Link is using, allowing you to interact with the game world and with the game items in a very different way.
"

"I'd like to do things that are more surprising than [what was in the tech demo]."

However, it is still a possibility that we will see motion controls return. After all, after swinging your own sword to interact with the game, how could one go back to using a controller?

"Iwata: Now, can you talk about how this new controller works together with the Wii Remote that we have been using until now?
Miyamoto: Sure. Actually, as I was making it I didn't have a whole lot of doubts in my mind that the Wii Remote would still be used as it was. I feel like the Wii Remote has pretty much become its ideal form with the Wii Remote Plus.
Iwata: I see, you mean you can do just about everything you want to do with it.
Miyamoto: That's right. And when I thought whether we really needed to require the purchase of something completely new, I felt that we could continue with this way to play for another while. I feel that way even when I play The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword.
"

In an interview at E3 2012, Miyamoto hinted that the The Legend of Zelda game in development for Wii U may not include motion controls after all.

"With the last game, Skyward Sword, that was a game where you had motion control to use your weapons and a lot of different items, and I thought that was a lot of fun, but there were some people who weren't able to do that or didn't like it as much and stopped playing partway through it. So we're in the phase where we're looking back at what's worked very well and what has been missing and how can we evolve it further.."

Graphics

The beautiful tech demo has gotten a lot of attention, and this time Eiji Aonuma is careful to not set our expectations in stone. What was shown at E3 is merely a demonstration of the system's power, not a teaser for a new The Legend of Zelda game.

"You probably remember that when we introduced the GameCube, we showed a somewhat realistic Zelda demo, and what we actually created was the cel-shaded Wind Waker. So when we show a graphic demo, people think, 'Oh, this is what the next Zelda will look like,' but that's not necessarily the case."

"Well, one thing I want to emphasize here, when talking about the Wii U Zelda HD experience, is that we really built it specifically to be an experience. The idea is using Zelda as the backdrop for one of these HD experiences, what kind of representation Zelda can make there. But this is really just to show people what kind of things the console can do. And so, it's not necessarily the case that we would use that graphic style or depiction the same way we would in a new Zelda, when there is a new Zelda for the Wii U. Just like the map functionality that was also implemented in that experience - it's simply us giving an objective look at the kinds of things that can be done with the HD hardware. And Zelda happened to be the filter through which we view it in that experience. So nothing is defined right now as far as how we'll proceed."

Not only was the demo used to show us the graphical capabilities, but it was developed to help design the system.

"I'm on one of the committees that oversaw the general steering and direction [of the Wii U]. We talked to each other a lot about several elements, one of which was, 'How exactly will the HD graphics work?' In doing concepts for that ... we used Zelda assets quite often to examine, OK, how real will we make this look?"

Shigeru Miyamoto sheds some more light on what he would like this look to be.

"This is an HD system, our first HD system, and we want to create a real HD Zelda game for it. You will see a lot of these in-depth and deep experiences in terms of visual style. You will also see some play styles that are fun and interesting because of the play structure. We are not planning on putting any restrictions in terms of requiring developers to leverage HD in a particular ways. Even if you are using a simpler visual style it will still look very beautiful."

The E3 2014 trailer for Breath of the Wild revealed the graphics style to be advanced cel-shading, similar to the cel-shading of The Wind Waker, only with more realistic and detailed textures, lighting, and models. At the time, little else was known about the graphics, as the actual cinematic shown was extremely short and only 4 native-resolution screenshots were released.

Downloadable Content

Main article: Breath of the Wild Expansion Pass

On February 15th, 2017 it was announced that Breath of the Wild would be the first console The Legend of Zelda game in history to get downloadable content. Marketed as an 'Expansion Pass', two installments were identified with an additional expansion pack bonus available at time of purchase. The DLC is currently priced at $19.99 USD.

Expansion Pass Bonus (Available starting March 3rd, 2017)

Upon purchase of the Expansion Pass, consumers will immediately gain access to three new treasure chests in the Great Plateau region of the game. One will contain a Nintendo Switch Shirt that Link can wear, and the other two contain Bomb Arrows and a Ruby.

DLC Pack 1: "The Master Trials" (Available starting June 30th, 2017)

  • Trial of the Sword
  • Master Mode
  • Hero's Path Map Feature
  • Masks and Armor
  • Travel Medallion

DLC Pack 2: "The Champions' Ballad" (Available starting December 8th, 2017)

  • Divine Beast Tamer's Trial
  • Masks and Armor
  • Horse Gear

amiibo Support

Main article: Breath of the Wild Amiibo

There are currently fifteen amiibo that give specific bonus items in Breath of the Wild, some items that can be acquired normally in the game, some that are only accessible by the amiibo. However, any other amiibo can be used with the game and will provide random items.

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