Nintendo Switch --OT-- - Retro & Other Gaming Forum - Page 352

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I hear that argument a lot for BOTW, but it feels to me like it borrowed far more than it inspired. Witcher 3, Dying Light, Far Cry, Assassin's Creed all existed before BOTW, and you can see BOTW borrow heavily from all of these to name but just a few. Again, it is not lost on me why BOTW was really special to existing Zelda fans, kinda like how Pokemon Scarlet to me is a super jank video game but awe inspiring in seeing those series I've been with for decades brought into the modern times (kinda). But I do think that awe meant a lot of people buried genuine problems with BOTW. And like, it is fine to think that way, but I feel like people like that are probably not the best ones to review a title for a professional publication, because a review is meant to not just be an entire opinion piece (when written professionally anyway).

I will say, I do think time has allowed for more room for people to be critical of design choices in BOTW, and I do think the conversation around that game is now more open, and healthier, than it was a few years ago. But it still remains to me a game that would probably have got a 7, maybe a low 8, if it was called Assassin's Creed Breath of the Wild.

@Pizzamorg Sorry, but I'm going to push back on this.

Breath of the Wild exploded open world game design conventions. In fact, I maintain that's why it's so controversial with some people, since it wasn't in line with games like Skyrim, The Witcher, Assassin's Creed, etc. With many of these distinguishing features being pointed to as flaws by people who wanted something more in line with those experiences.

You don't have to think it's a masterpiece, or even a particularly good game. Many don't, and that's a valid perspective to have. But it takes