This game is the second single player video game my mom has played since the 80s, and the first one with combat. She had no idea what LoZ was going in. She ended up 100% completing this game on her first playthrough and it kept her engaged for months. She's disabled, and unable to work, and housework takes a lot out of her, so I suggested video games as a hobby to keep her occupied, as its one I enjoy as well. I think this game changed how she sees video games as a whole. She would talk so excitedly about all the new discoveries she made, showing me her progress when I came home from work and school. This game is so special to her, and myself by extention. From the combat to the puzzles to the exploration and story, my mom explored every inch of this game and adored every second of it. All 120 shrines, all 900 koroks, every single side quest in the game, every single miniboss. Everything. I love her. And this game Edit: mom has now been playing totk all day every day for about 3 days now. She's currently in Hebra, after completing the Wind Temple. She absolutely loves it, though she is nervous about fighting Gleeoks lol
This is adorable! Such a treat to read. I love how video games and especially Zelda can bring people together. Animal Crossing was that game for me to connect really well to my Mom. But I love that Zelda could be that for you ❤
A cool thing about the Plateau that I rarely see mentioned: Your first objective, marked on your map, is to activate the tower. But visually and through the old man, you're directed to the Temple of Time, which is not associated with any goals at all. That means that the very first experience most players will have is setting aside a clearly stated goal for later and exploring something else.
So true story: I first played it in fall 2017 and completely missed the indication of where to go, and then got lost around the plateau before even activating the towers & shrines, thus leaving me to die a few times getting lost in the mountains of the plateau and think it was stupid that it didn't help you figure out where to go. I then proceeded to play about 1000 hours of the only other game I'd bought (my roomie and I split a switch at the time so we shared): splatoon 2. Fast forward to May 2020 (yup) and I finally went back to be like "okay it can't be that bad if everyone loves it I must have missed something" and then proceeded to realize what I'd missed and feel like the biggest idiot ever because I'd managed to ADHD my way out of playing the most ADHD friendly game ever made
I’ll never forget the first time I spotted one of the dragons. It was midnight, real world time and I was crossing the long bridge and I said “oh shit, is that a dragon” and I got tingles. Truly a breathtaking game.
I hadn’t done any of the Divine Beast quests yet, I was just derping around trying to find memories with like 4 hearts and 1 1/2 stamina wheels, somehow found my way to the top of Mount Lanayru, found corrupted Naydra and scared the crap out of myself because I didn’t even know there were dragons in the game and she was purple and soaked in Ganon goop at the time. It was horrifying and magical at the same time. (I ended up fighting for my life to free her with only 4 hearts)
To be honest, when I found the Lord of the Mountain and put two and two together, I cried. It's honestly one of the sweetest, most respectful send-offs I've ever seen in any media.
Just watching the gameplay demo video that Zeltik made the other day had me wanting to open a portal in time to two weeks from now, I can't wait for it man
The first time I did Eventide, right after completely clearing most of the island's enemies and specifically the top camp shown at 1:27:16... I got a Blood Moon. Luckily, I managed to not die but there was about 8 minutes of the high-level strat of "run for your life while dropping bombs behind you." Good times, seriously.
After some attempts, I eventually figured out that you can bring a raft to Eventide Island, and if you drop some weapons on that raft before stepping foot on land, you can pick them back up after the cutscene. Clearly not intended, but it's cool that it works.
@@gnolfo First playthrough: "I finally have enough stamina to paraglide to that island!" Second playthrough: "I'mma blow myself up to get there faster."
My favorite part of my various playthroughs was my first time on the Gerudo Highlands. I left the Great Plateau on the West side on a whim, and ended up going straight to the Gerudo Desert, and doing the quests there. After completing the Yiga hideout, I climbed up to the Highlands and started exploring. At that point though, I had never visited the Rito and gotten cold weather equipment. All I had was the Warm Doublet and the ruby circlet I had taken as reward for the Jeweler's quest in Gerudo town. I also only had around 6 heart containers. Everything there could one-shot me. It was an absolute blast. The most fun I've had playing the game. I explored EVERY inch of the Highlands, taking a picture of the Eighth Heroine's sword at the top, getting zapped by Farosh, finding the Yiga camp, encountering an invisible wall at the end of the world... And I didn't find the tower until much later, too, so I was flying blind. It was just incredible. I wish I could experience it again. One of my biggest problems with Breath of the Wild is that, once you've gotten good at the game, you will never experience the same level of wide-eyed wonder you had at the beginning again...
@@Draezeth BotW is one of a number of games/movies/TV shows/books/whatever I wish I could write a note to myself saying, "Ay, yo, this is you. You'll like this, trust me!" and then completely obliterating every bit of knowledge of that thing from my mind. I wanna say "get on it, science" but uh.... I don't think that tech would end up doing as much good as bad, sadly.
I didn't play Breath of the Wild until April 2020. I was trapped in a foreign country due to covid travel restrictions, away from my wife and kids, and was in the process of recovering from emergency dental surgery due to an infection that developed while I was recovering from Covid itself. Once I started getting to the point of feeling human again, a friend I was visiting lent me Breath of the Wild to play. It was the first Zelda game I had touched since Windwaker. Wandering that world, listening to the soundtrack, it got me through some of the worst my depression has ever been.
i wasn't able to afford a switch until january 2023, and i am planning to finish the sword trials and face ganon within the next few days. i finally took the leap to buy the switch because my partner was gone on an extended, many months long trip, and i've been slowly becoming more and more lonely. this game has really, really helped to make the empty apartment easier to bare. it doesn't sound nearly as bad as what you went through, and i certainly hope you're doing alrighr now, but i can really relate to how this game helped get us through tough periods in our lives. it is truly the most immersive video game i've had yet to experience, and i'm sure that feeling is only going to double if not triple with the upcoming sequel. i hope you get to enjoy totk as well, mate, and also hopefully under better circumstances!
Liam, your journey has meant more to me than you realize. Two years ago my son was diagnosed with Pre B-Cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia right after turning three and it was a dark and uncertain time. Your content has done a lot some days to really uplift my spirits and give me a different outlook. Now my son only has one more lumbar puncture as long as all goes well so I can see the light at the end of the tunnel. Keep doing what you do man, thank you.
The fact we are at a point we can have a retrospective of botw is startling. ... It feels like just yesterday people were running around the starting area for the first time.
@@HealyHQ I'm not concerned with what time I have left. Only where I go once that time is up. I believe in God and Heaven and Hell. And I believe Jesus is my Lord and Savior. So I very much plan on going to heaven. Eternity in peace and paradise. It will make all this on Earth not really matter so much. Even if you don't believe the same as I do. You have to admit if it is true it's a very peaceful thing to look forward to.
"Eventide island forces you to work with no equipment" meanwhile I just dropped my gear on the raft and magnesis it over to the beach before I jump ashore, so I can pick it all up.
I am probably speaking for the entire community when I say that the dedication that you have to your craft, the time that you put into your thorough retrospections, and the passion that you have for games, art and life is adored by so many people. Thank you for all that you do and who you are. You’re incredible. I cannot imagine the time this video took, but I was giddy like a child when when I saw it was posted. Here’s to Tears of Kingdom, and the new adventure that’s about to unfold.
1:32:33 In 2 years, I found 744 seeds on my own (630 unassisted, 114 with korok mask). I was determined to find them all without a guide before a sequel came out. I gave up in 2019. Once I found out there would be Koroks in TotK, I swallowed my pride, found an interactive map, turned on my WiiU, and got exploring. Totk is 11 days away and I have roughly 49 seeds left. Wait for me, Hestu. Edit: just got my golden poop pile! Ready to look for them in totk in the sky, sea, land, and underground.
I liked ghost of Tsushimas mechanics for leading you towards stuff but i dunno if it did anything particularly new otherwise tbf it was overall a forgettable game
@@TROBassGuitarHmmm... Yes true it didn't really have an emotional Impact on me. I only remember i was super salty that i had no choice and poison them even tho I played the whole playthrough as a honorbal samurai. Overall i would say it's a great game i had so much fun and finished the whole map
Breath of the wild was the game that launched my sister into playing ALL the zelda games. She saw this game and fell in love with the adventure and dove right in. Breath of the wild was incredible in every sense of the word and was the first game that truly felt like I was on an adventure, not the character. I’ll always hold it near and dear to my heart
Can we all agree that Liam’s retrospectives are awesome and always well timed? Thanks for your complete badassness, Liam Triforce. You make our days worthwhile whenever you pop-up in our notifications!
They aren't. He is far too cheesy in some moments, and I get irritated that he can't even say "I am" at the closing of his long retrospective videos. They're enjoyable to watch, and I will admit he changed my mind a couple times - especially with how botw is a zelda game. But he isn't perfect and has his issues. Like all of us, I suppose.
I haven't heard anyone say this but I like how OOT and Botw are the only ones in the collection that say "another (title here) retrospective Just something funny
It’s been three years since my girlfriend died because of COVID, and it still hurts every day. Knowing that you suffered with a life threatening illness for that same amount of time broke my heart, and I’m very grateful that you’re here with us.
Hearing that someone passed from COVID an entire 3 years ago is so mind boggling, that is so long ago time is flying... Anyways sorry for your loss king 👑 🙏
1:54:19 Urbosa wasn't caring for her like a sister. Urbosa was caring for her lil her child. She was a close friend of Zelda's mother so it would make sense for Urbosa to be like a second mother to Zelda.
The music of this game is unbelievably underrated. It’s gorgeous. I love the subdued music that plays in the wild, but when you do find towns, the music is gorgeous. Hateno village has one of my favorite Zelda themes. The new version of zoras domain is so good
the intro already has resonated more deeply and evoked more emotion than any video i’ve seen in recent memory. cant wait to dig into this over the next weeks or so. thanks for putting your heart into these!
Interesting that you didn't mention the bomb method for defeating Moldugas, which I always thought was the classic way to fight them (if you throw a bomb on the ground while they're looking for you they'll think the bomb is you and pop out of the ground to eat it. Then you activate the bomb while it's in their mouth and it does some good damage and stuns them for you to get in close with your sword). No knock against you, it just goes to show how many different ways there are for overcoming any challenges in the game.
It feels cathartic to finally hear Liam go into this as I'm sure it was to create it. This was absolutely beautiful and I couldn't have asked for more after all this time.
I listen to these videos while I make artwork and I've got to say you're my favorite youtuber when it comes to long-form content. Not only is your voice incredibly calming, you articulate each point with the perfect balance of objective observation and personal insight. There's always multiple times in each video where I think "I wonder if he'll mention this?" Only for you to say something about it less than a minute later. And lastly, the way you describe the different stories told through these games is so heartfelt and sincere that they make me tear up a bit. Thank you for your work, and I look forward to more of your videos.
This was an emotional video for me Liam. This game came out when I was in my last year of college and it was so magical. I recently lost my grandmother a few months prior and left a serious relationship with an ex. It really did bring me back to when I first played Ocarina of Time with my mother when I was just a child. Just the whole idea of summarizing one of the games themes with "Life goes on" left me speechless. It's so true, just having hope is enough to make me persevere through almost anything. Also the music was a bit controversial to me but hearing you go into so much depth with it changed my impression on it completely. I almost shed a tear hearing the themes and you explaining the emotional impact it has with each song. As a die hard Zelda fan for over 25 years, thank you so much for this video and all the others you have done in the past. This is seriously making my hype for Tears of the Kingdom that much more intense.
I love how each champion gift is truly a special and cultivated thing. They all capture the character's most defining aspects, their strongest strengths, and inevitably, the things they weren't able to provide for Hyrule in the end. Link being bestowed these gifts kept the champions in a way. I think my favorite is Revali's gale in that sense, because although Revali always loved holding his ability to fly over Link, he was willing to swallow his pride in the end to allow Link to take flight for the better of Hyrule.
as someone who didnt care for the game on release, this video still made me really emotional. everytime you talk about a game you make it feel like so much more than one. the experience, the feeling, the emotion, and the music come together so well, this was so impactful. your work paid off
I got this game on the Wii U in a time where I was going thru probably the worst moment of my life, physically and mentally. It became my escape and holds a special place in my heart. Thanks for the great video.
What a beautiful send off for such a special game that changed not only Zelda, but the gaming world as a whole. It was amazing to witness it first hand and I love your entire video. All you said rang true, and you made with such respect and I appreciate it, thank you so much!
This video is a masterpiece. I just finished watching it, and seeing this video brings back memories of not only me playing botw, but also a lot of other games that I have nostalgia for. You should really be proud of what you did with this video. Working on it for a full year is tough, but it really did pay off. Thank you Liam, for not only making this video but for also making my day.
I remember vividly the experience of seeing one of the dragons for the first time. I was crossing Hyrule bridge, when I happened to see Farosh. My heart literally stopped. I was immediately filled with such a sense of terror and awe. It's a moment I don't think I'll forget ever.
I think my favorite experience in this game was on a replay. I was heading to Vah Ruta, but was attempting to find a lot of koroks along the way, and I eventually found my way to the Zora’s Domain without ever meeting Sidon. The cutscene plays, but it’s different. Sidon looks surprised and delighted to see a hylian here to help, and introduced himself. The fact that I could truly do anything I wanted was so cool.
Amazing video. As a fellow survivor of pediatric cancer, what you said about always being afraid of the world turning upside down again really got to me. We just have to push on and look to brighter days, while appreciating that there is so much good in life. Thank you for making these retrospectives, they're one of a kind, insightful, and heartfelt 😊
This video exactly depicts how I feel like toward this game. My favorite thing about it is every time I feel like I know the map by heart, a new thing appear to me suddenly and I am like "how was I able to not see it before ?" and I feel like I discover the game again.
The quality is here in this video from the editing, writing, personal connection, voice speaking knowledge sharing, and entertainment factor. One of the best videos I've seen in a while and with how much of a botw mood I've been in since getting close to the release of tears of the kingdom this was the perfect video to just sit down and enjoy and take in every aspect you analyzed. Bravo
I don't think I've heard a better encapsulation of why I love Breath of the Wild so much. For me it is the only game in my adult life that has truly brought back that sense of excitement, adventure, and wonder that I experienced playing games as a child. Many of my favourite moments playing it where wandering aimlessly on a rainy day, taking a new route to a known location and galloping along the path as the sun set over Death Mountain, or just staring across Hateno Village towards snowy Lanayru Peak. And above all else, those first moments of emerging and seeing the sweep of the camera across the vast landscape, knowing you can go to everywhere you see in that vast landscape.
just when i thought every retrospective on this game was overdone to death and seeing this video on my recommended feeling like i’ve seen it recommended to me months ago i gave it a chance and i loved it, i got so tired of every retrospective being so similar and just word salads for this game but you made it feel so fresh and unique
I replayed BOTW recently after three of my grandparents passed away pretty close to eachother, and even though I loved it before, it definitely has a special place in my heart now. It helped me through a lot.
This just made my day. Love this game a lot. And while it’s not my favorite zelda I still hold it very dear because of how amazing that first time playing it was. It was a truly magical experience that I hope TOTK provides aswell.
It took me until my current playthrough of BotW in anticipation for TotK for me to fully appreciate and love it. As soon as I let myself relax and explore rather than get caught up in destinations, it all just clicked. This video sums up a lot of that feeling. And honestly, if I'm only now appreciating BotW, imagine how excited I am that TotK seems to be addressing everything I wish *was* in BotW like more active story, dungeons, enemy variety, and magic.
@@r3dsnow757 I did end up playing TotK right after and I really enjoyed it. I can't speak to your personal sense of whether or not you'll be burnt out or not. Take it at your own pace
I’ve seen a lot of introspective videos on BotW. Like an unhealthy amount. However, not a single on of them has compared to this in my eyes. The way you intertwined your own personal experiences with how you felt about the game was perfect. You were able to articulate perfectly not just why you loved the game, but why I loved it as well. I’ll definitely be rewatching this video for years to come. I’ve never watched one of your videos before, but this one just made me subscribe. Can’t wait to see what else you have in store.
Your intro really speaks to me. There were games that came into my life at some really terrible times... And somehow they lifted me up and made me strong enough to power through it. My family life was horrible when I discovered Majora's Mask and it'll always be my number one. It saved me. Nobody can ever take that away. It's the time in your life that it comes to you.
Beautiful analysis as always. Breath of the Wild is already so nostalgic for me and I love revisiting what makes it so special. No matter what Tears of the Kingdom brings, this game will always hold a special place in my heart.
I been listening to your retrospectives at work and well…… dude I love your stuff, your a good writer, your good at narrating I actually love your windwaker retrospective. Keep up the good work man.
This retrospective can do nothing more for my monkey brain than playing on my Zelda game nostalgia and getting me even more hyped for Tears of the Kingdom.
you’ve done it once again. I couldn’t have conveyed my feelings about the game better myself. what a wonderfully thorough, nuanced, inspiring, and entertaining video. thanks so much liam, this is perhaps my favorite youtube channel.
Thanks for these retrospectives. Since the beginning of the year I have marathoned all the Zelda’s before Tears of the kingdom. Along the way I have watched your retrospectives and found them enjoyable and informative.
Your videos are so special. There's a million video essays on TH-cam, but your love and passion always shines through and makes every video you put out stand tall among the rest. Seriously amazing stuff man
Man I was so excited when I saw this in my subscription feed. I'm doing a playthrough right now on my channel of BoTW before ToTK comes out so this should be even more interesting for me with it fresh on my mind. I love your other retrospectives on the Zelda series and have watched them honestly... many times each lol. Thanks for such a long video, can't wait to sit down and watch it all (twice).
Amazing video as usual my friend. Honestly one of my favorite parts was how you integrated the music into the storytelling of this video so beautifully. I feel as if BOTW's music does a lot of storytelling itself, and you did great representing that with how you displayed it throughout this video.
I love how passionate you are about games. 2 hours and 28 minutes but I’ma watch the whole thing cause I know I’m going to appreciate this game 100x more
Regarding the Divine Beasts, I think they also suffer from the issue you point out would happen if all dungeons were like Hyrule Castle. If you took just one of them and stuck it into a game like Twilight Princess or Skyward Sword it would have been an instant hit, but when every dungeon is like this it easily get tiring and the cracks begin to show.
Liam, all of the effort you put into everything not only on this video but all of them is immeasurable. I came across your channel thanks to your Metroid Prime Trilogy retrospective and after seeing it I was hooked. All of the passion put into every video is amazing and this is no exception. I really have no idea how much time and effort is put into this retrospectives and analysis, but I can tell that all of the results are pure magic just as the games we all know and love. All I can say is: Congratulations and thank you for giving us this masterpiece. You are a TH-cam national treasure.
my main gripe is just it doesnt have the regular dungeons like forest, water temples and that the divine beast while cool all felt too samey inside them. but there design and way to get into each was amazing as well as the story behind each one being linked (ha) to one of the other heroes while i wish we got temples i still think this game is amazing from all the innovations it has and im still incredibly excited for tears. also loved this video
i dont know why but when it hit the part where you showed off the songs on horse it just hit different this game was truly amazing and this video is not just a love letter to this game but zelda as a whole. it got me all teary eyed for a second damn it lol
Beautiful video! You're retrospectives are always so insightful. From the game to life in general, they are always worth the watch. I found myself glued to the screen and I watched it all in one sitting. Thank you for taking the time to put this together.
Liam you’re always on point. I’m so glad you talked about the music with this one too. As a pianist it’s one of the many reasons BOTW is in my top 3 Zelda games!
The amount of passion, enthusiasm and emotion you put in these videos are unlike any I’ve seen on this platform. You truly are one of the best at what you do and it’s great to see your retrospective on my favourite game!
Tears of the Kingdom more like tears of me watching this video Didn't expect to get so emotional, but damn, what a journey. I love this game so much. Thank you Liam.
No Man's Sky also captures that sense of "do what want, go wherever you want". Although it's not as packed as some might like, the sense of endless exploration and discovery, building your own bases, nearly endless places to go, all make it something very special.
This is by far the best Breath of the Wild analysis on the internet. You managed to capture in this video all that makes this game so unique. You showed that many of the elements that are often seen as flaws are an integral part of the game's philosophy, something that I have always only thought but that you managed to put into video format. A game with soul, an analysis with soul. Thank you!
I cannot express how well-timed this video is for me (even though I just finished watching it the day after it was published). The English servers for a live-service game I absolutely loved ever since it was released a couple of years ago had announced its end of service about a month ago, slated for this past weekend. I, of course, was devastated by the sudden announcement, as it seemed like things were at the very least stable (introductory packs for new players, a very large update that had data on content for the next six months or so, and a very passionate fanbase both here and where it was first released). It also doesn't help that no reason for the EoS has been revealed at the time I'm writing this comment, but often times companies don't need a valid reason. I've come to terms with the fact that, like life itself, every live-service game will have to end for one reason or another, sometimes unexpectedly, and it always hurts when the plug is pulled. The personal story of yours, one that I've also heard in your Wind Waker retrospective video, showing how you've overcome that low point in your life is what I'm trying to relate to here. Of course, the shutting down of a live-service game's English server is nowhere near as harrowing as a debilitating illness taking several years away from you. Hell, that's the last thing I'm wanting to impart with this comment. The common point between these is that life keeps going. And while you have gotten back on your feet, the intro and outro have given me additional resolve to stand up and keep on going. Thank you, Liam.
I thought the same lol, I've just finished King K's video and am looking forward to starting this one. Plenty of material to keep me busy for the next 12 days until TOTK.
A delightful watch from start to finish. I struggle with articulation in normal conversation, so hearing friends tell me as matter of fact that BotW isn't a Zelda game because "there's no story and Ganon sucks", "shrines are boring", "puzzles are too easy" or "durability sucks" is incredibly disheartening as I agree with everything you had to say on the topics. The game was always about the journey for me. Following the king's advice, reaching Kakariko then Hateno. Deciding to scale the mountain to the north and stumbling into Naydra and its quest. Organically wandering into the mouth of the river flowing from Zora's domain and meeting Sidon. Stubbornly taking out the red lynel. Conquering Vah Ruta and crying at the tragedy of Mipha's death only for it to dawn on me that the same thing happened to all of the champions who I hadn't gotten to know yet. Gerudo Town, crossdressing link, Molduga, Yiga's stealth dungeon and all the fun side quests in that region made up the next leg of my journey. Urbosa acting like a foster mother figure to Zelda and her determination in protecting her was inspiring. Meeting Riju and helping her to fill those big shoes made the approach to Nabooris extremely memorable. Then I marched onto Rito Village to tackle Medoh. Revali comes across as overly confident and a bit of a jerk at first glance. But as we peel back that layer of his character we find a young man who wants nothing more than to prove himself. His pride over the power of flight is symbolic of his resolve to improve himself and flows well into our introduction to and flight with Teba. Vah Medoh serving as a vehicle for Revali to open up to Link, building up to receiving his blessing as a show of respect for his fellow warrior was a touching moment of character growth that really outshines the rest of the game for me. Fittingly, I saved Death Mountain for last. Throughout my first run I couldn't escape that feeling the game excels at evoking, pure exploration left in the hands of the player. The very element that made Zelda 1 the smash hit that it was and the core reason for the franchise's longevity. To me, Death Mountain was symbolic as the last stop on my road to Ganon. Darunia was my favourite Goron in the series, but Daruk quickly stole that title for good reason. Out of all the champions he was the most like a sibling to Link. Treating him like an equal in every interaction we see with them both while also showcasing his caring and protective nature. Yunobo was a harder sell than the other three successors for me as he was something of a polar opposite, but he was also young. Seeing him work up the nerve to march up to Rudania and even let you launch him at the beast full-force from a cannon showed that he was both brave and clever in how he makes use of his inherited gifts. The sendoff for Daruk at the end of the dungeon left me feeling hopeful in the future being left to these successors. Then I moved on to the Lost Woods, claimed the Master Sword and rode Epona straight to Hyrule Castle. I found the Hylian Shield and shrine. I made a point of killing all guardians I met along the way and then had a pretty even fight with Calamity Ganon as I puzzled out his attacks and how best to counter them. The fight didn't last very long and the victory lap of a final phase left me a little wanting. But I wasn't done with the game. Champion's Ballad and the Trials of the Master Sword were both exceptional DLC content. New features, challenges and that boss being the best fight in the game really sold me on Nintendo knowing how to implement good DLC content into their games without compromising the integrity of the core experience. Did you know you can get a free fake-out in said boss fight by dropping some bananas like with the Yiga clan? I randomly decided to try it in my first attempt and it worked. Crafty bugger doesn't fall for it twice though. To this day, I haven't found every shrine in any one playthrough. Because re-experiencing the entire game has been so much fun. But on the run-up to TotK, I think I'll do just that once I finish the recently released Future Redeemed DLC for Xenoblade 3. God knows I'll likely never get the fabled golden turd from Hestu, but I'd definitely like to be able to say I finished every shrine. But everything else aside, I can say with all confidence that BotW is most assuredly a Zelda game through and through. It's a departure for sure, but just look at Zelda 2. The series has always been about experimentation and that to me is why I still love it to bits. Thank you Liam, for whiling away a few of these tedious hours as we run down the clock to TotK's release in less than a fortnight.
There's so much about this game that I didn't know, like the Divine Beast music holding a constant SOS signal. Releasing this two weeks before TotK was brilliant, thank you!
I am 10 hours into Totk. My favorite game used to be Botw. This game has had me distracted for 10 hours and I still haven't started the main quest. It makes Botw look like a demo. PS this vid is great. Can't wait for your Totk video.
What I love about your videos is that you're not just going through the features and explaining the themes like a Wikipedia article, but you're explaining the emotional weight in a personal way. Love it!
Thank you Liam for yet another beautiful retrospective, the way in which you described your experience made me want to go back and play it again, maybe I'll even complete it before TOTK comes out, thank you!!
Tests of strength would’ve been fine if they had different enemies with different attacks or are different from ones you encounter in Hyrule that force you to create new strategies, maybe a lynel that can grab you or a gold bokoblin that doesn’t take damage from melee attacks or an underwater battle with a a big lizalfos or a hinox that has an eye patch but can detect you through sound. A spin on these enemies would’ve helped them.
After playing TOTK, I think the Proving Grounds go a long way in solving this problem. Each one of these shrines has a different theme to it, and ask the player to take out a group of enemies in unique ways.
This was an amazing retrospective, and I love how personal you made it. While game mechanics were mentioned, the focus was the feelings that Breath of the Wild evoked. It is more than a well crafted game, it is a well crafted experience with a relevant message for all. It seems to have impacted you greatly, and has impacted many others who have played it. I was fairly late to start playing Breath of the Wild, and even after that I had to get older to start understanding how impactful Breath of the Wild is and was. (Probably the closest I have gotten to this experience is when I played Tunic this past year.) Though it has flaws, it is a masterpiece, and will stay that way I matter what came before and what will come after.
This is an amazing video, I havent finished watching it yet but there was so much detail and effort put in to every part of it. Thank you for your hard work!
I finished the rest of your Zelda retrospectives about a month ago and i was just waiting for the perfect moment to watch this one. I'm very busy and I really wanted to watch this all in one go and at a good time where I could stay focused. I chose today because I had to pack for a vacation and figured this would be the best day or I wouldn't get another chance for two weeks. Anyways, I really appreciate this retrospective. It's long and completely worth it. After watching the rest of your Zelda retrospectives, I've come to expect a bit of a formula from you (funny considering a part of that is your discussion of the Zelda formula). This video covered everything I expected and more. I love the way you discuss every element of a Zelda game, relate it to other things (previous Zelda games, other games, personal experiences), discuss the communities opinions, and your own opinions. It makes for a well rounded video essay. I have never played a Zelda game and, in all honesty, your video essays are probably the most prominent way I've consumed the series. They have no doubt influenced the way I think about Zelda. I've also taken note of your respect towards other people's perspectives on the games, even when you may disagree. I also recall you mentioning that you hope people who watch your retrospectives form their own opinions on Zelda. Your videos have made me hope to play the Zelda games one day so that I can form my own thoughts on the game. Thank you for such amazing videos and I'm excitedly and patiently awaiting your Tears of the Kingdom retrospective!
I managed to go through the WHOLE video and enjoyed every piece of it, the love for the game and franchise, the analysis of the music and me, being a musician who loves the way people can express things through music, think is just perfect This deserves a sub, a like and a man, I want to see more of your stuff!
I do think you and I have different ideas on an ideal Zelda. You say that a Zelda game where there is no set order was the game you always wanted, yet I find the lack of story structure that comes from a linear story (even if there are some open aspects to it) to create a subpar experience. I do think that having an open Hyrule field, with exploration of the world with various side quests as a possibility is a great design choice, but there needs to be enough heart to the story that goes beyond exposition dumps (and BotW's story is essentially all exposition dumps). Think of Twilight Princess and Wind Waker, and the heart that goes into the story as it unfolds. You cannot get that without linearity being enforced in the main quest. Link's growth, the change to the characters around you, etc. all can be written in a way that truly pulls the emotions when you allows linearity in story telling. Side Quests that allow exploration of the world should take inspiration from Majora's Mask and dial it up to 11 while allowing a more open world, as some of those side quests had just as much heart to them as some Zelda games' main stories. Contrast that with BotW's side quests, which felt lacking in depth, heart, etc. Imagine a Zelda game that takes the side questing from Majora's Mask, the main story structure from Twilight Princess (though maybe a little less linear), and creates a large enough world to allow feelings of exploration from BotW (though where there is always more to explore, even in places you already visited, when you get dungeon items from the main story and side quest items). That would be a great game.
Absolutely amazing once again. Hearing your feelings echo so much of my own on Zelda and life is so reassuring. I cannot wait for Tears of the Kingdom to knock our socks off. Thank you, Liam.
I don't know what else to say other than how incredible it is that you're always making me feel so emotional. This is peak TH-cam. Great work. Now I'm going to wait for the eventual video about Tears of the Kingdom that is released TODAY. HYPE.
This game is the second single player video game my mom has played since the 80s, and the first one with combat. She had no idea what LoZ was going in. She ended up 100% completing this game on her first playthrough and it kept her engaged for months.
She's disabled, and unable to work, and housework takes a lot out of her, so I suggested video games as a hobby to keep her occupied, as its one I enjoy as well. I think this game changed how she sees video games as a whole. She would talk so excitedly about all the new discoveries she made, showing me her progress when I came home from work and school.
This game is so special to her, and myself by extention. From the combat to the puzzles to the exploration and story, my mom explored every inch of this game and adored every second of it. All 120 shrines, all 900 koroks, every single side quest in the game, every single miniboss. Everything.
I love her. And this game
Edit: mom has now been playing totk all day every day for about 3 days now. She's currently in Hebra, after completing the Wind Temple. She absolutely loves it, though she is nervous about fighting Gleeoks lol
maaan I've had the game since 2017 and only have 500 Korok seeds and barely 110 shrines I am so jealous of her lmao
@@thezonaiarchitect to be fair, she has a LOT of free time lol
Your mom is SO awesome i feel so jealous 🥲🥲
This is adorable! Such a treat to read. I love how video games and especially Zelda can bring people together. Animal Crossing was that game for me to connect really well to my Mom. But I love that Zelda could be that for you ❤
@@PiePiePie07 funnily enough, ACNH was the game she started out with, but I think she got bored of it eventually
A cool thing about the Plateau that I rarely see mentioned: Your first objective, marked on your map, is to activate the tower. But visually and through the old man, you're directed to the Temple of Time, which is not associated with any goals at all. That means that the very first experience most players will have is setting aside a clearly stated goal for later and exploring something else.
Great observation! As if it wasn't already cemented enough that BotW has the best tutorial.😅
This a tutorial on how to ignore instructions
My first experience was running right up to the castle and then discovering that this was a bad idea.
I mean it's a big ass steucture and anyone who's played OoT will immediately recognize it and want to go there lol
So true story: I first played it in fall 2017 and completely missed the indication of where to go, and then got lost around the plateau before even activating the towers & shrines, thus leaving me to die a few times getting lost in the mountains of the plateau and think it was stupid that it didn't help you figure out where to go. I then proceeded to play about 1000 hours of the only other game I'd bought (my roomie and I split a switch at the time so we shared): splatoon 2. Fast forward to May 2020 (yup) and I finally went back to be like "okay it can't be that bad if everyone loves it I must have missed something" and then proceeded to realize what I'd missed and feel like the biggest idiot ever because I'd managed to ADHD my way out of playing the most ADHD friendly game ever made
I’ll never forget the first time I spotted one of the dragons. It was midnight, real world time and I was crossing the long bridge and I said “oh shit, is that a dragon” and I got tingles. Truly a breathtaking game.
I hadn’t done any of the Divine Beast quests yet, I was just derping around trying to find memories with like 4 hearts and 1 1/2 stamina wheels, somehow found my way to the top of Mount Lanayru, found corrupted Naydra and scared the crap out of myself because I didn’t even know there were dragons in the game and she was purple and soaked in Ganon goop at the time. It was horrifying and magical at the same time. (I ended up fighting for my life to free her with only 4 hearts)
It’s bland
I saw one when I was still on the plateau and immediately thought « How on earth am I ever gonna defeat that thing?! »
@@zacatkinson3926its insane how bland it is. I just cant for the life of me find any reason to keep playing. This isnt Zelda.
@@StillWeRide I know its not I hope the next one is better but it might not be
To be honest, when I found the Lord of the Mountain and put two and two together, I cried. It's honestly one of the sweetest, most respectful send-offs I've ever seen in any media.
Wait what?
@@voltron77 the late and great satoru iwata
oh my god i never noticed, rip itawa🫡
I was just looking for something to kill time, waiting for TOTK, without TOTK gameplay spoilers, you're a blessing dude
finally, another person is trying their hardest to avoid spoilers
@@stormhought i havent seen any footage since the first footage with the “glider” 🫡
@@noahsabadish3812 wish I was you dude
Just watching the gameplay demo video that Zeltik made the other day had me wanting to open a portal in time to two weeks from now, I can't wait for it man
@@stormhought There’s no spoilers. :((
The first time I did Eventide, right after completely clearing most of the island's enemies and specifically the top camp shown at 1:27:16... I got a Blood Moon. Luckily, I managed to not die but there was about 8 minutes of the high-level strat of "run for your life while dropping bombs behind you." Good times, seriously.
😂😂😂
After some attempts, I eventually figured out that you can bring a raft to Eventide Island, and if you drop some weapons on that raft before stepping foot on land, you can pick them back up after the cutscene.
Clearly not intended, but it's cool that it works.
@@gnolfo First playthrough: "I finally have enough stamina to paraglide to that island!"
Second playthrough: "I'mma blow myself up to get there faster."
My favorite part of my various playthroughs was my first time on the Gerudo Highlands. I left the Great Plateau on the West side on a whim, and ended up going straight to the Gerudo Desert, and doing the quests there. After completing the Yiga hideout, I climbed up to the Highlands and started exploring.
At that point though, I had never visited the Rito and gotten cold weather equipment. All I had was the Warm Doublet and the ruby circlet I had taken as reward for the Jeweler's quest in Gerudo town. I also only had around 6 heart containers. Everything there could one-shot me.
It was an absolute blast. The most fun I've had playing the game. I explored EVERY inch of the Highlands, taking a picture of the Eighth Heroine's sword at the top, getting zapped by Farosh, finding the Yiga camp, encountering an invisible wall at the end of the world... And I didn't find the tower until much later, too, so I was flying blind. It was just incredible.
I wish I could experience it again. One of my biggest problems with Breath of the Wild is that, once you've gotten good at the game, you will never experience the same level of wide-eyed wonder you had at the beginning again...
@@Draezeth BotW is one of a number of games/movies/TV shows/books/whatever I wish I could write a note to myself saying, "Ay, yo, this is you. You'll like this, trust me!" and then completely obliterating every bit of knowledge of that thing from my mind. I wanna say "get on it, science" but uh.... I don't think that tech would end up doing as much good as bad, sadly.
i will never ever get over the music in the divine beasts having sos signals in them, it’s so heartbreaking yet beautiful
I didn't play Breath of the Wild until April 2020. I was trapped in a foreign country due to covid travel restrictions, away from my wife and kids, and was in the process of recovering from emergency dental surgery due to an infection that developed while I was recovering from Covid itself. Once I started getting to the point of feeling human again, a friend I was visiting lent me Breath of the Wild to play. It was the first Zelda game I had touched since Windwaker. Wandering that world, listening to the soundtrack, it got me through some of the worst my depression has ever been.
Your story was actually beautiful😊. I hope everything’s right again
That sounds rough. Glad breath of the wild helped you go through that.
i wasn't able to afford a switch until january 2023, and i am planning to finish the sword trials and face ganon within the next few days. i finally took the leap to buy the switch because my partner was gone on an extended, many months long trip, and i've been slowly becoming more and more lonely. this game has really, really helped to make the empty apartment easier to bare.
it doesn't sound nearly as bad as what you went through, and i certainly hope you're doing alrighr now, but i can really relate to how this game helped get us through tough periods in our lives. it is truly the most immersive video game i've had yet to experience, and i'm sure that feeling is only going to double if not triple with the upcoming sequel. i hope you get to enjoy totk as well, mate, and also hopefully under better circumstances!
I'm glad you're okay!
Everything has been much better now. I'll be able to enjoy Tears of the Kingdom safe and sound at home this time.
Liam, your journey has meant more to me than you realize. Two years ago my son was diagnosed with Pre B-Cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia right after turning three and it was a dark and uncertain time. Your content has done a lot some days to really uplift my spirits and give me a different outlook. Now my son only has one more lumbar puncture as long as all goes well so I can see the light at the end of the tunnel. Keep doing what you do man, thank you.
Your boy has got this 💪 all the best my man
Bruh and I’m out here worrying about my grades
Stay strong king
And also remember hardships build character
Sending positive thoughts and prayers all goes well with your son's treatment ❤
The fact we are at a point we can have a retrospective of botw is startling. ... It feels like just yesterday people were running around the starting area for the first time.
It feels like just yesterday I saw a new video about things I hadn't discovered yet in BOTW. Oh wait...that was yesterday.
The last few years have just flown by. It's a little scary. How much time do we have left...?
@@HealyHQ I'm not concerned with what time I have left. Only where I go once that time is up. I believe in God and Heaven and Hell. And I believe Jesus is my Lord and Savior. So I very much plan on going to heaven. Eternity in peace and paradise. It will make all this on Earth not really matter so much. Even if you don't believe the same as I do. You have to admit if it is true it's a very peaceful thing to look forward to.
what do you mean? I started playing BOTW 1 week ago in 2023 on CEMU in 5K HDR ultra graphics. Its an awesome game in 2023!
started BOTW yesterday for the first time. It's been a magical experience so far
"Eventide island forces you to work with no equipment" meanwhile I just dropped my gear on the raft and magnesis it over to the beach before I jump ashore, so I can pick it all up.
Bastard!! Why didn’t I think of that!
Creative solutions are what this game is all about
Lock this man up
Diabolical lol
I am probably speaking for the entire community when I say that the dedication that you have to your craft, the time that you put into your thorough retrospections, and the passion that you have for games, art and life is adored by so many people. Thank you for all that you do and who you are. You’re incredible. I cannot imagine the time this video took, but I was giddy like a child when when I saw it was posted. Here’s to Tears of Kingdom, and the new adventure that’s about to unfold.
I just finished watching the part about BotW's pre-release and I just realized I'm in Liam's position then, but with TotK.
1:32:33 In 2 years, I found 744 seeds on my own (630 unassisted, 114 with korok mask). I was determined to find them all without a guide before a sequel came out. I gave up in 2019. Once I found out there would be Koroks in TotK, I swallowed my pride, found an interactive map, turned on my WiiU, and got exploring. Totk is 11 days away and I have roughly 49 seeds left. Wait for me, Hestu.
Edit: just got my golden poop pile! Ready to look for them in totk in the sky, sea, land, and underground.
A month later and Liam casually returned with a +2 hour analysis, the dedication is respectable
You're here too? How can one individual have such good taste in content?
Was literally thinking this. I had to double take the video length
How does one "casually" upload a video of size? This video probably took him forever to play, write, edit, and upload.
@@stormhought whoosh
@@calebpeters3378 or he's everywhere and you only see him in comment section of good content
I think that Ghost of Tsushima, Breath of the Wild, and Elden Ring have set a new standard for the open world genre. True exploration and wonder
I liked ghost of Tsushimas mechanics for leading you towards stuff but i dunno if it did anything particularly new otherwise tbf it was overall a forgettable game
@@TROBassGuitarHmmm... Yes true it didn't really have an emotional Impact on me. I only remember i was super salty that i had no choice and poison them even tho I played the whole playthrough as a honorbal samurai. Overall i would say it's a great game i had so much fun and finished the whole map
@@liriosogno6762 I missed like 4 things and and didn't feel like get a few haikus and a fox the combat was good though
definitely botw and elden ring. i like ghost of tsushima but i don’t think it’s as revolutionary as the other two.
@@WCM0211 Elden Ring pretty much took what Breath of the Wild did and expanded upon it in its own way.
I guess it’s time for me to sit down with some popcorn, and listen to somebody talk about my favorite game for two hours and thirty minutes.
Popcorn? I Prefer Bread
My nigga 🤜🏽
I got more, if yer interested...
yeah lmao
😊
Breath of the wild was the game that launched my sister into playing ALL the zelda games. She saw this game and fell in love with the adventure and dove right in. Breath of the wild was incredible in every sense of the word and was the first game that truly felt like I was on an adventure, not the character. I’ll always hold it near and dear to my heart
Can we all agree that Liam’s retrospectives are awesome and always well timed? Thanks for your complete badassness, Liam Triforce. You make our days worthwhile whenever you pop-up in our notifications!
They aren't. He is far too cheesy in some moments, and I get irritated that he can't even say "I am" at the closing of his long retrospective videos.
They're enjoyable to watch, and I will admit he changed my mind a couple times - especially with how botw is a zelda game. But he isn't perfect and has his issues. Like all of us, I suppose.
@@leargamma4912 he didn't say Liam's videos were perfect, just that they were really good, and well timed
@@leargamma4912 bruh what? Nobody said he's perfect. And what exactly are you even going on about? Cheesy? Okay and
@@leargamma4912 and your issue with him not saying "i am" is a little weird
@anthonyryan6208 improper english. "I have been liam triforce..." BRO YOU STILL ARE. WTF. MAKE SENSE!!! More of a personal gripe than anything else.
In six years and 8 days well be watching Liam make Another Tears of the Kingdom Retrospective. 🥹
Looking forward to that!
I haven't heard anyone say this but I like how OOT and Botw are the only ones in the collection that say "another (title here) retrospective
Just something funny
God willing!
It’s been three years since my girlfriend died because of COVID, and it still hurts every day. Knowing that you suffered with a life threatening illness for that same amount of time broke my heart, and I’m very grateful that you’re here with us.
I'm sorry for your loss 😔
Sorry for your loss 🙏❤️🕸️💐🕊️
I’m so sorry for your loss and am rooting for you in life, you’re important
Hearing that someone passed from COVID an entire 3 years ago is so mind boggling, that is so long ago time is flying... Anyways sorry for your loss king 👑 🙏
🫡 sorry for your loss
1:54:19 Urbosa wasn't caring for her like a sister. Urbosa was caring for her lil her child. She was a close friend of Zelda's mother so it would make sense for Urbosa to be like a second mother to Zelda.
The music of this game is unbelievably underrated. It’s gorgeous. I love the subdued music that plays in the wild, but when you do find towns, the music is gorgeous. Hateno village has one of my favorite Zelda themes. The new version of zoras domain is so good
the intro already has resonated more deeply and evoked more emotion than any video i’ve seen in recent memory. cant wait to dig into this over the next weeks or so.
thanks for putting your heart into these!
do you know where the background music is from?
Interesting that you didn't mention the bomb method for defeating Moldugas, which I always thought was the classic way to fight them (if you throw a bomb on the ground while they're looking for you they'll think the bomb is you and pop out of the ground to eat it. Then you activate the bomb while it's in their mouth and it does some good damage and stuns them for you to get in close with your sword). No knock against you, it just goes to show how many different ways there are for overcoming any challenges in the game.
I honestly thought this was the only way to defeat them
Continuing one of the best retrospective series is always a highlight of my week
It feels cathartic to finally hear Liam go into this as I'm sure it was to create it. This was absolutely beautiful and I couldn't have asked for more after all this time.
I listen to these videos while I make artwork and I've got to say you're my favorite youtuber when it comes to long-form content. Not only is your voice incredibly calming, you articulate each point with the perfect balance of objective observation and personal insight. There's always multiple times in each video where I think "I wonder if he'll mention this?" Only for you to say something about it less than a minute later. And lastly, the way you describe the different stories told through these games is so heartfelt and sincere that they make me tear up a bit. Thank you for your work, and I look forward to more of your videos.
This was an emotional video for me Liam. This game came out when I was in my last year of college and it was so magical. I recently lost my grandmother a few months prior and left a serious relationship with an ex. It really did bring me back to when I first played Ocarina of Time with my mother when I was just a child. Just the whole idea of summarizing one of the games themes with "Life goes on" left me speechless. It's so true, just having hope is enough to make me persevere through almost anything. Also the music was a bit controversial to me but hearing you go into so much depth with it changed my impression on it completely. I almost shed a tear hearing the themes and you explaining the emotional impact it has with each song. As a die hard Zelda fan for over 25 years, thank you so much for this video and all the others you have done in the past. This is seriously making my hype for Tears of the Kingdom that much more intense.
Dropping this retrospective just before the launch of TOTK is just perfection
I love how each champion gift is truly a special and cultivated thing. They all capture the character's most defining aspects, their strongest strengths, and inevitably, the things they weren't able to provide for Hyrule in the end. Link being bestowed these gifts kept the champions in a way.
I think my favorite is Revali's gale in that sense, because although Revali always loved holding his ability to fly over Link, he was willing to swallow his pride in the end to allow Link to take flight for the better of Hyrule.
And when they needed him most, the king returned.
as someone who didnt care for the game on release, this video still made me really emotional. everytime you talk about a game you make it feel like so much more than one. the experience, the feeling, the emotion, and the music come together so well, this was so impactful. your work paid off
Ah now THIS I've been looking forward to! Rushing to go make a cup of tea to enjoy this retrospective with ❤
🗿☕️
@@NovaJR9 if my calculations r correct your halfway through
I got this game on the Wii U in a time where I was going thru probably the worst moment of my life, physically and mentally. It became my escape and holds a special place in my heart. Thanks for the great video.
It’s finally here! So excited to dive in. Thank you for the dedication to this series, always a joy to see a new upload
What a beautiful send off for such a special game that changed not only Zelda, but the gaming world as a whole. It was amazing to witness it first hand and I love your entire video. All you said rang true, and you made with such respect and I appreciate it, thank you so much!
This video is a masterpiece. I just finished watching it, and seeing this video brings back memories of not only me playing botw, but also a lot of other games that I have nostalgia for. You should really be proud of what you did with this video. Working on it for a full year is tough, but it really did pay off. Thank you Liam, for not only making this video but for also making my day.
For whatever reason, your reflection on the horse riding themes with the overlays was the most impactful part for me. Really beautiful.
I remember vividly the experience of seeing one of the dragons for the first time. I was crossing Hyrule bridge, when I happened to see Farosh. My heart literally stopped. I was immediately filled with such a sense of terror and awe. It's a moment I don't think I'll forget ever.
I think my favorite experience in this game was on a replay. I was heading to Vah Ruta, but was attempting to find a lot of koroks along the way, and I eventually found my way to the Zora’s Domain without ever meeting Sidon. The cutscene plays, but it’s different. Sidon looks surprised and delighted to see a hylian here to help, and introduced himself. The fact that I could truly do anything I wanted was so cool.
Amazing video. As a fellow survivor of pediatric cancer, what you said about always being afraid of the world turning upside down again really got to me. We just have to push on and look to brighter days, while appreciating that there is so much good in life. Thank you for making these retrospectives, they're one of a kind, insightful, and heartfelt 😊
This video exactly depicts how I feel like toward this game. My favorite thing about it is every time I feel like I know the map by heart, a new thing appear to me suddenly and I am like "how was I able to not see it before ?" and I feel like I discover the game again.
The quality is here in this video from the editing, writing, personal connection, voice speaking knowledge sharing, and entertainment factor. One of the best videos I've seen in a while and with how much of a botw mood I've been in since getting close to the release of tears of the kingdom this was the perfect video to just sit down and enjoy and take in every aspect you analyzed. Bravo
I don't think I've heard a better encapsulation of why I love Breath of the Wild so much. For me it is the only game in my adult life that has truly brought back that sense of excitement, adventure, and wonder that I experienced playing games as a child. Many of my favourite moments playing it where wandering aimlessly on a rainy day, taking a new route to a known location and galloping along the path as the sun set over Death Mountain, or just staring across Hateno Village towards snowy Lanayru Peak. And above all else, those first moments of emerging and seeing the sweep of the camera across the vast landscape, knowing you can go to everywhere you see in that vast landscape.
just when i thought every retrospective on this game was overdone to death and seeing this video on my recommended feeling like i’ve seen it recommended to me months ago i gave it a chance and i loved it, i got so tired of every retrospective being so similar and just word salads for this game but you made it feel so fresh and unique
I replayed BOTW recently after three of my grandparents passed away pretty close to eachother, and even though I loved it before, it definitely has a special place in my heart now. It helped me through a lot.
This just made my day. Love this game a lot. And while it’s not my favorite zelda I still hold it very dear because of how amazing that first time playing it was. It was a truly magical experience that I hope TOTK provides aswell.
Firstly, this video is beautiful. I was brought to tears at least 4 times throughout its running. Secondly…
“Thigh flow ruins” is diabolical.
I can't describe with words how happy this video makes me 😍
It took me until my current playthrough of BotW in anticipation for TotK for me to fully appreciate and love it. As soon as I let myself relax and explore rather than get caught up in destinations, it all just clicked. This video sums up a lot of that feeling.
And honestly, if I'm only now appreciating BotW, imagine how excited I am that TotK seems to be addressing everything I wish *was* in BotW like more active story, dungeons, enemy variety, and magic.
Did you end up playing TOTK right after ? I currently got back into BOTW and while I love the game I'm worried i'll be burnt out for TOTK.
@@r3dsnow757 I did end up playing TotK right after and I really enjoyed it. I can't speak to your personal sense of whether or not you'll be burnt out or not. Take it at your own pace
This is going to be incredible! I can’t imagine how much hard work this was!!
Thank you ❤️ that intro was a huge boost I didn’t know I needed
I’ve seen a lot of introspective videos on BotW. Like an unhealthy amount. However, not a single on of them has compared to this in my eyes. The way you intertwined your own personal experiences with how you felt about the game was perfect. You were able to articulate perfectly not just why you loved the game, but why I loved it as well. I’ll definitely be rewatching this video for years to come. I’ve never watched one of your videos before, but this one just made me subscribe. Can’t wait to see what else you have in store.
Your intro really speaks to me. There were games that came into my life at some really terrible times... And somehow they lifted me up and made me strong enough to power through it. My family life was horrible when I discovered Majora's Mask and it'll always be my number one. It saved me. Nobody can ever take that away. It's the time in your life that it comes to you.
Beautiful analysis as always. Breath of the Wild is already so nostalgic for me and I love revisiting what makes it so special. No matter what Tears of the Kingdom brings, this game will always hold a special place in my heart.
I been listening to your retrospectives at work and well…… dude I love your stuff, your a good writer, your good at narrating I actually love your windwaker retrospective. Keep up the good work man.
This retrospective can do nothing more for my monkey brain than playing on my Zelda game nostalgia and getting me even more hyped for Tears of the Kingdom.
you’ve done it once again. I couldn’t have conveyed my feelings about the game better myself. what a wonderfully thorough, nuanced, inspiring, and entertaining video. thanks so much liam, this is perhaps my favorite youtube channel.
Thanks for these retrospectives.
Since the beginning of the year I have marathoned all the Zelda’s before Tears of the kingdom.
Along the way I have watched your retrospectives and found them enjoyable and informative.
Your videos are so special. There's a million video essays on TH-cam, but your love and passion always shines through and makes every video you put out stand tall among the rest. Seriously amazing stuff man
this came at a perfect time, i just finished breath of the wild for the first time today!
Man I was so excited when I saw this in my subscription feed. I'm doing a playthrough right now on my channel of BoTW before ToTK comes out so this should be even more interesting for me with it fresh on my mind. I love your other retrospectives on the Zelda series and have watched them honestly... many times each lol. Thanks for such a long video, can't wait to sit down and watch it all (twice).
Amazing video as usual my friend. Honestly one of my favorite parts was how you integrated the music into the storytelling of this video so beautifully. I feel as if BOTW's music does a lot of storytelling itself, and you did great representing that with how you displayed it throughout this video.
I love how passionate you are about games. 2 hours and 28 minutes but I’ma watch the whole thing cause I know I’m going to appreciate this game 100x more
Took me 6 days to watch your video. Little by little but I did. I was right. I appreciate the game way more now than before.
Regarding the Divine Beasts, I think they also suffer from the issue you point out would happen if all dungeons were like Hyrule Castle.
If you took just one of them and stuck it into a game like Twilight Princess or Skyward Sword it would have been an instant hit, but when every dungeon is like this it easily get tiring and the cracks begin to show.
Liam, all of the effort you put into everything not only on this video but all of them is immeasurable.
I came across your channel thanks to your Metroid Prime Trilogy retrospective and after seeing it I was hooked. All of the passion put into every video is amazing and this is no exception.
I really have no idea how much time and effort is put into this retrospectives and analysis, but I can tell that all of the results are pure magic just as the games we all know and love.
All I can say is: Congratulations and thank you for giving us this masterpiece. You are a TH-cam national treasure.
my main gripe is just it doesnt have the regular dungeons like forest, water temples and that the divine beast while cool all felt too samey inside them. but there design and way to get into each was amazing as well as the story behind each one being linked (ha) to one of the other heroes while i wish we got temples i still think this game is amazing from all the innovations it has and im still incredibly excited for tears. also loved this video
i dont know why but when it hit the part where you showed off the songs on horse it just hit different this game was truly amazing and this video is not just a love letter to this game but zelda as a whole. it got me all teary eyed for a second damn it lol
Beautiful video! You're retrospectives are always so insightful. From the game to life in general, they are always worth the watch. I found myself glued to the screen and I watched it all in one sitting. Thank you for taking the time to put this together.
Liam you’re always on point. I’m so glad you talked about the music with this one too. As a pianist it’s one of the many reasons BOTW is in my top 3 Zelda games!
The amount of passion, enthusiasm and emotion you put in these videos are unlike any I’ve seen on this platform. You truly are one of the best at what you do and it’s great to see your retrospective on my favourite game!
How are your video essays so good at capturing the vibes of the games themselves. Such high quality
You're quickly becoming one of my favorite game essayists. This one was quite touching; well done!
Tears of the Kingdom more like tears of me watching this video
Didn't expect to get so emotional, but damn, what a journey. I love this game so much. Thank you Liam.
No Man's Sky also captures that sense of "do what want, go wherever you want". Although it's not as packed as some might like, the sense of endless exploration and discovery, building your own bases, nearly endless places to go, all make it something very special.
This is by far the best Breath of the Wild analysis on the internet. You managed to capture in this video all that makes this game so unique. You showed that many of the elements that are often seen as flaws are an integral part of the game's philosophy, something that I have always only thought but that you managed to put into video format. A game with soul, an analysis with soul. Thank you!
I cannot express how well-timed this video is for me (even though I just finished watching it the day after it was published). The English servers for a live-service game I absolutely loved ever since it was released a couple of years ago had announced its end of service about a month ago, slated for this past weekend. I, of course, was devastated by the sudden announcement, as it seemed like things were at the very least stable (introductory packs for new players, a very large update that had data on content for the next six months or so, and a very passionate fanbase both here and where it was first released). It also doesn't help that no reason for the EoS has been revealed at the time I'm writing this comment, but often times companies don't need a valid reason. I've come to terms with the fact that, like life itself, every live-service game will have to end for one reason or another, sometimes unexpectedly, and it always hurts when the plug is pulled.
The personal story of yours, one that I've also heard in your Wind Waker retrospective video, showing how you've overcome that low point in your life is what I'm trying to relate to here. Of course, the shutting down of a live-service game's English server is nowhere near as harrowing as a debilitating illness taking several years away from you. Hell, that's the last thing I'm wanting to impart with this comment. The common point between these is that life keeps going. And while you have gotten back on your feet, the intro and outro have given me additional resolve to stand up and keep on going.
Thank you, Liam.
Did you and KingK plan this? I’m now slammed with about 6 hours of Zelda content. I hope y’all are proud of yourselves.
I was just about to comment the same thing! They were smart to release them before TOTK comes out and consumes all our free time.
I thought the same lol, I've just finished King K's video and am looking forward to starting this one. Plenty of material to keep me busy for the next 12 days until TOTK.
TYSM I JUST ADDED HIS TO MY WATCH LATER GEHEHE
A delightful watch from start to finish. I struggle with articulation in normal conversation, so hearing friends tell me as matter of fact that BotW isn't a Zelda game because "there's no story and Ganon sucks", "shrines are boring", "puzzles are too easy" or "durability sucks" is incredibly disheartening as I agree with everything you had to say on the topics.
The game was always about the journey for me. Following the king's advice, reaching Kakariko then Hateno. Deciding to scale the mountain to the north and stumbling into Naydra and its quest. Organically wandering into the mouth of the river flowing from Zora's domain and meeting Sidon. Stubbornly taking out the red lynel. Conquering Vah Ruta and crying at the tragedy of Mipha's death only for it to dawn on me that the same thing happened to all of the champions who I hadn't gotten to know yet.
Gerudo Town, crossdressing link, Molduga, Yiga's stealth dungeon and all the fun side quests in that region made up the next leg of my journey. Urbosa acting like a foster mother figure to Zelda and her determination in protecting her was inspiring. Meeting Riju and helping her to fill those big shoes made the approach to Nabooris extremely memorable.
Then I marched onto Rito Village to tackle Medoh. Revali comes across as overly confident and a bit of a jerk at first glance. But as we peel back that layer of his character we find a young man who wants nothing more than to prove himself. His pride over the power of flight is symbolic of his resolve to improve himself and flows well into our introduction to and flight with Teba. Vah Medoh serving as a vehicle for Revali to open up to Link, building up to receiving his blessing as a show of respect for his fellow warrior was a touching moment of character growth that really outshines the rest of the game for me.
Fittingly, I saved Death Mountain for last. Throughout my first run I couldn't escape that feeling the game excels at evoking, pure exploration left in the hands of the player. The very element that made Zelda 1 the smash hit that it was and the core reason for the franchise's longevity. To me, Death Mountain was symbolic as the last stop on my road to Ganon.
Darunia was my favourite Goron in the series, but Daruk quickly stole that title for good reason. Out of all the champions he was the most like a sibling to Link. Treating him like an equal in every interaction we see with them both while also showcasing his caring and protective nature. Yunobo was a harder sell than the other three successors for me as he was something of a polar opposite, but he was also young. Seeing him work up the nerve to march up to Rudania and even let you launch him at the beast full-force from a cannon showed that he was both brave and clever in how he makes use of his inherited gifts. The sendoff for Daruk at the end of the dungeon left me feeling hopeful in the future being left to these successors.
Then I moved on to the Lost Woods, claimed the Master Sword and rode Epona straight to Hyrule Castle. I found the Hylian Shield and shrine. I made a point of killing all guardians I met along the way and then had a pretty even fight with Calamity Ganon as I puzzled out his attacks and how best to counter them. The fight didn't last very long and the victory lap of a final phase left me a little wanting. But I wasn't done with the game.
Champion's Ballad and the Trials of the Master Sword were both exceptional DLC content. New features, challenges and that boss being the best fight in the game really sold me on Nintendo knowing how to implement good DLC content into their games without compromising the integrity of the core experience. Did you know you can get a free fake-out in said boss fight by dropping some bananas like with the Yiga clan? I randomly decided to try it in my first attempt and it worked. Crafty bugger doesn't fall for it twice though.
To this day, I haven't found every shrine in any one playthrough. Because re-experiencing the entire game has been so much fun. But on the run-up to TotK, I think I'll do just that once I finish the recently released Future Redeemed DLC for Xenoblade 3. God knows I'll likely never get the fabled golden turd from Hestu, but I'd definitely like to be able to say I finished every shrine.
But everything else aside, I can say with all confidence that BotW is most assuredly a Zelda game through and through. It's a departure for sure, but just look at Zelda 2. The series has always been about experimentation and that to me is why I still love it to bits. Thank you Liam, for whiling away a few of these tedious hours as we run down the clock to TotK's release in less than a fortnight.
AWWW Liam Triforce, thanks for all your hard work to doing these videos over the years ! You speak for us all ;)
One of the only long formats I've watched start to finish and enjoyed every bit. Well done Liam.
Thank you for making this Liam, your dedication to these reviews is inspiring.
There's so much about this game that I didn't know, like the Divine Beast music holding a constant SOS signal. Releasing this two weeks before TotK was brilliant, thank you!
I am 10 hours into Totk. My favorite game used to be Botw. This game has had me distracted for 10 hours and I still haven't started the main quest. It makes Botw look like a demo. PS this vid is great. Can't wait for your Totk video.
easily my favourite youtuber could watch these videos for the rest of time and i wouldn’t get bored
Peak. Absolutely peak. Amazing work man I’m so glad you were able to finish this video. And now we wait for Tears of the Kingdom!
What I love about your videos is that you're not just going through the features and explaining the themes like a Wikipedia article, but you're explaining the emotional weight in a personal way. Love it!
The way that I will click on literally every Zelda BOTW retrospective that comes out no matter how many years it's been and how long the video is 😭✋
Thank you Liam for yet another beautiful retrospective, the way in which you described your experience made me want to go back and play it again, maybe I'll even complete it before TOTK comes out, thank you!!
Tests of strength would’ve been fine if they had different enemies with different attacks or are different from ones you encounter in Hyrule that force you to create new strategies, maybe a lynel that can grab you or a gold bokoblin that doesn’t take damage from melee attacks or an underwater battle with a a big lizalfos or a hinox that has an eye patch but can detect you through sound. A spin on these enemies would’ve helped them.
After playing TOTK, I think the Proving Grounds go a long way in solving this problem. Each one of these shrines has a different theme to it, and ask the player to take out a group of enemies in unique ways.
This was an amazing retrospective, and I love how personal you made it. While game mechanics were mentioned, the focus was the feelings that Breath of the Wild evoked. It is more than a well crafted game, it is a well crafted experience with a relevant message for all. It seems to have impacted you greatly, and has impacted many others who have played it.
I was fairly late to start playing Breath of the Wild, and even after that I had to get older to start understanding how impactful Breath of the Wild is and was. (Probably the closest I have gotten to this experience is when I played Tunic this past year.) Though it has flaws, it is a masterpiece, and will stay that way I matter what came before and what will come after.
The beginning was really powerful. Great job Liam!
This is an amazing video, I havent finished watching it yet but there was so much detail and effort put in to every part of it. Thank you for your hard work!
This game helped me relax my mind while I went through school. Graduated because of the playing/meditation
I finished the rest of your Zelda retrospectives about a month ago and i was just waiting for the perfect moment to watch this one. I'm very busy and I really wanted to watch this all in one go and at a good time where I could stay focused. I chose today because I had to pack for a vacation and figured this would be the best day or I wouldn't get another chance for two weeks.
Anyways, I really appreciate this retrospective. It's long and completely worth it. After watching the rest of your Zelda retrospectives, I've come to expect a bit of a formula from you (funny considering a part of that is your discussion of the Zelda formula). This video covered everything I expected and more. I love the way you discuss every element of a Zelda game, relate it to other things (previous Zelda games, other games, personal experiences), discuss the communities opinions, and your own opinions. It makes for a well rounded video essay.
I have never played a Zelda game and, in all honesty, your video essays are probably the most prominent way I've consumed the series. They have no doubt influenced the way I think about Zelda. I've also taken note of your respect towards other people's perspectives on the games, even when you may disagree. I also recall you mentioning that you hope people who watch your retrospectives form their own opinions on Zelda. Your videos have made me hope to play the Zelda games one day so that I can form my own thoughts on the game.
Thank you for such amazing videos and I'm excitedly and patiently awaiting your Tears of the Kingdom retrospective!
All I want is to never find amber or opal in a treasure chest ever again.
I managed to go through the WHOLE video and enjoyed every piece of it, the love for the game and franchise, the analysis of the music and me, being a musician who loves the way people can express things through music, think is just perfect
This deserves a sub, a like and a man, I want to see more of your stuff!
I do think you and I have different ideas on an ideal Zelda. You say that a Zelda game where there is no set order was the game you always wanted, yet I find the lack of story structure that comes from a linear story (even if there are some open aspects to it) to create a subpar experience.
I do think that having an open Hyrule field, with exploration of the world with various side quests as a possibility is a great design choice, but there needs to be enough heart to the story that goes beyond exposition dumps (and BotW's story is essentially all exposition dumps). Think of Twilight Princess and Wind Waker, and the heart that goes into the story as it unfolds. You cannot get that without linearity being enforced in the main quest. Link's growth, the change to the characters around you, etc. all can be written in a way that truly pulls the emotions when you allows linearity in story telling.
Side Quests that allow exploration of the world should take inspiration from Majora's Mask and dial it up to 11 while allowing a more open world, as some of those side quests had just as much heart to them as some Zelda games' main stories. Contrast that with BotW's side quests, which felt lacking in depth, heart, etc.
Imagine a Zelda game that takes the side questing from Majora's Mask, the main story structure from Twilight Princess (though maybe a little less linear), and creates a large enough world to allow feelings of exploration from BotW (though where there is always more to explore, even in places you already visited, when you get dungeon items from the main story and side quest items). That would be a great game.
Absolutely amazing once again. Hearing your feelings echo so much of my own on Zelda and life is so reassuring. I cannot wait for Tears of the Kingdom to knock our socks off. Thank you, Liam.
The lost woods I just brute forced my way through until I started memorizing the path i didn't know it was the fire guiding you xD
I don't know what else to say other than how incredible it is that you're always making me feel so emotional. This is peak TH-cam. Great work. Now I'm going to wait for the eventual video about Tears of the Kingdom that is released TODAY. HYPE.