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The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild review scores are in and they are stonkingly good, meaning interest in the Nintendo Switch has increased by a Louis Walsh-certified 1000%.
VideoGamer  — 9/10
The review that matters, of course. Alice has played it within an inch of its life and loved the sense of adventure in the game.
‘You know when you were a kid, in the summer, you used to have huge pretend adventures in the back garden with all your mates? Where the shed was a castle and the hedge was a jungle? And it was like really having an adventure? This is sort of like that.’
IGN — 10/10
IGN loved it, heralding the unique stories the game presents to you, as well as the fascinating moments within it.
‘The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild is a masterclass in open-world design and a watershed game that reinvents a 30-year-old franchise. It presents a wonderful sandbox full of mystery, dangling dozens upon dozens of tantalizing things in front of you that just beg to be explored.’
GameSpot — 10/10
GameSpot applauded Breath of the Wild’s ability to surprise you around every turn as its most valuable quality.
‘It’s a game that allows you to feel gradually more and more empowered yet simultaneously manages to retain a sense of challenge and mystery–which, together, creates a steady, consistent feeling of gratification throughout the entire experience. Breath of the Wild is a defining moment for The Legend of Zelda series, and the most impressive game Nintendo has ever created.’
Polygon — 10/10
Polygon claimed this is a new dawning for the long-standing series, yet while there are a lot of big changes on show, it always feels like a Zelda game.
‘I guess, in the end, it’s not just that Breath of the Wild signals that Zelda has finally evolved and moved beyond the structure it’s leaned on for so long. It’s that the evolution in question has required Nintendo to finally treat its audience like intelligent people.’
God is a Geek  — 10/10
God is a Geek bestowed the game with the moniker of a masterpiece, saying it may be the best Zelda game ever made.
‘Having grown up playing those first games as a child on a system I remember fondly, it feels extra special to be playing a new Zelda on a new console; that I can’t deny, and there are flaws (it’s not perfect), but otherwise, this is everything I wanted it to be and more.’ Â
The Sixth Axis — 9/10
The Sixth Axis called it one of the greatest launch titles, and the sweetest swan songs any console could ever wish for.
‘The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild dramatically updates this venerable and beloved series, bringing new ideas into the fold which, while seemingly taking inspiration from others, seamlessly adapts them to fit and never loses its own identity.’
EuroGamer — Essential
EuroGamer said the risk that Nintendo has taken with Breath of the Wild cannot be overstated.
‘Breath of the Wild isn’t just the most radical departure from the Zelda tradition in its 30-year history, it’s the first Nintendo game that feels like it was made in a world where Half-Life 2, Halo, Grand Theft Auto 3 and Skyrim happened. It’s inspired by those greats and others, but it doesn’t ape them any more than it rests on its own laurels.’
The Telegraph — 5/5
The Telegraph concluded that the imagination on show in the game’s dungeons is exceptional, as is the game’s constant sparks of invention.
‘You will visit the different races and species of Hyrule and venture inside clanking mechanical beasts stuffed with ever more elaborate puzzles and bosses to fight. The kind of architectural creativity that makes you laugh out loud at the sheer audacity of it.’
The Guardian — 5/5
The Guardian lauded Nintendo for tricking everyone into thinking it was content to to make well-received updates to its own franchises, without caring about what the wider industry was doing.
‘[The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild is] a game that marries the best bits of the franchise’s long history with the best bits of the rest of the gaming world, and produces something even greater than the sum of its parts.’
Trusted Reviews — 5/5
TrustedReviews was praiseworthy of The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild’s beautifully realised, and huge open-world. Stating the game was tough, but always fair with the player.
‘If there’s a better game out there than Breath of the Wild, I haven’t played it. Nintendo has created, for me, the greatest game of all time. It’s everything I want from a game and one of the most rewarding experiences I’ve ever had.’
Giant Bomb — 5/5
Giant Bomb said the sense of wonder in Breath of the Wild is akin to AÂ Link to the Past, and Ocarina of Time.
‘Nintendo may have changed so many long-standing traditions of the Zelda franchise, but the spirit of discovery is as strong as it’s ever been no matter your age. I didn’t think I’d feel the Zelda magic this strongly ever again, but I couldn’t be happier to be proven wrong.’
