Nintendo recently invited us to their European headquarters in Frankfurt to try out The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, a game that has been generating a lot of hype. We got to play for 70 minutes, which felt like no more than ten due to the sheer amount of content we wanted to explore.
We started on a Sky Island to get a feel for the controls and mechanics. We played around with the Ultrahand and helped a Korok with a backpack, gaining Korok Seeds in the process. We also discovered the Fuse ability, which allows you to attach different materials to weapons for added effects. The variety of materials available is now more substantial than in previous games, with new materials like Muddlebuds and Dazzlefruit.
Our second session had us storming an enemy camp. We tried fusing a Keese Wing to an arrow, which gave it more flight. We also tried out a new system that allows you to throw any material in your inventory. The physics engine is impressive, allowing for a range of vehicle creations using parts found in the world or obtained from gacha machines. The game also offers a variety of puzzles in the overworld, making the world feel more like a functioning ancient civilization.
The game’s expanded resources make everything more important. Previously insignificant items, like Bokoblin Fangs, can now be part of something greater. The Ultrahand is also more versatile than it first appears, acting as a Magnesis for everything.
Performance is generally solid, though there were instances where using the Ultrahand caused frame rate drops. Despite this, we are excited about the potential for creativity with the Ultrahand and vehicle creation. We are looking forward to spending more time with The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom and exploring all of its new mechanics and expanded resources.
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