The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom
“The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom” is a thrilling action-adventure game developed and published by Nintendo for the Nintendo Switch in 2023. The sequel to The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild (2017), Kingdom Tears retains the beloved open-world concept of Hyrule, now expanded to offer more opportunities for vertical exploration. Players take on the role of Link and embark on a mission to find Princess Zelda and thwart the Demon King’s destructive plans.
The game was born out of the creative scope of Breath of the Wild’s DLC. The project is being developed by the Third Production Team of Nintendo’s Entertainment Planning and Development (EPD) division, with director Hidemaru Fujibayashi and producer Eiji Aonuma once again working together.
A trailer was released at E3 2019 and will be fully revealed at E3 2021. Tears of the Kingdom was initially slated for release in 2022, but was later delayed to May 2023. It has been critically acclaimed for its enhanced features, rich open world, and encouragement of exploration and experimentation. The success of the game is obvious to all, with sales exceeding 10 million copies in the first three days and a staggering 18.5 million copies sold by June 2023.
Nintendo Switch Online subscribers get The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom free
Nintendo Switch Online subscribers are in for a treat, especially those who are avid subscribers to the Legend of Zelda series. Nintendo is excited to announce a new series of game-specific icons designed exclusively for subscribers, allowing them to personalize their profiles within the online service. The icons are themed after Tears of the Kingdom characters, giving players a chance to showcase their favorite characters.
While three icons are already available, Nintendo plans to add more in the coming weeks. This isn’t the first time Nintendo has offered this type of customization, having done so before in a variety of games, including past Zelda games. This time, the focus is on the game’s supporting characters, from Zelda and Ganondorf to Riju, Yuna, and Yunobo.
To get these delightful icons, players can easily navigate to the Missions & Rewards section of the Nintendo Switch Online app and select the character they want to represent. The first three icons are already up for grabs, with more exciting releases expected in the coming weeks. As fans eagerly await Kingdom Tears’ DLC, the game’s popularity continues to soar and sales are impressive.
In addition, the Nintendo Switch Online service enriches the classic Zelda game series, providing more options for fans keen to immerse themselves in the iconic series. Whether you’re a die-hard Zelda follower or just want to add a personal touch to your profile, these new icons will undoubtedly enhance the already exciting Nintendo Switch Online experience.
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The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom gameplay
Kingdom Tears retains the engaging open-world action-adventure gameplay introduced in its predecessor, Breath of the Wild (2017). As the heroic Link, players embark on an exciting journey to explore the vast expanses of Hyrule, as well as two new enchanting areas – Sky and Abyss, featuring floating islands. Throughout the mission, players search for weapons, resources, and complete various tasks by walking, riding a horse, climbing, or using a paraglider.
A notable addition to the game is the introduction of the Zonai device, which provides a variety of functions for combat, advancement, and exploration. The previous runes have been replaced by five new abilities: Ultrahand, Fuse, Ascend, Recall, and Autobuild. Ultrahand enables players to creatively manipulate and combine objects, while Fuse allows Link to enhance his weapons and shields by combining materials.
Autobuild can quickly recreate equipment, while Ascend provides the ability to move upward across solid surfaces. Recall enables the player to “rewind” the motion of an object. The temple and the Korok Seed return in triumph, and the temple rewards the player with a blessed light, which increases Link’s heart or stamina. Korok Seeds enhance Link’s inventory, allowing him to carry more melee weapons, shields, and bows.
Beyond the abyss, new challenges await. Here, a dangerous substance called Gloom poses a threat, temporarily reducing Link’s maximum heart when he encounters an enemy covered in it. Only returning to the surface or finding light-rooted plants can restore Link to full health.
The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom plot introduction
The story of “Tears of the Kingdom” takes place several years after the events of “Breath of the Wild”, in the Kingdom of Hyrule at the end of the Zelda timeline. Link and Zelda begin investigating the caves beneath Hyrule Castle, where the Dark Matter is a poisonous substance that has been causing illness. After further research, they discover a mural that tells the story of the founding of Hyrule and the ancient captivity war against the mysterious “Demon King.” The awakened mummies attack, Link is wounded, the Master Sword shatters, and Hyrule Castle rises into the sky.
Zelda disappeared with a mysterious artifact, and Link received a mysterious arm on the great Sky Island. Guided by the Zonai elf Rauru, Link ventures through the temple, encounters ancient sages, and learns Zelda’s fate. After fighting the imposter Ganondorf, defeating the demonic dragon, and reuniting with Zelda, they restore peace to Hyrule with the help of spirits from the past. Mineru bids farewell, and the sages vow to defend Hyrule.
The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom Development
Development of Kingdom Tears began in 2017 after the completion of Breath of the Wild. Originally conceived as downloadable content (DLC), it evolved into a standalone game as new ideas emerged. The game was announced at E3 2019 as a sequel to Breath of the Wild, with its trailer, gameplay, and storyline shown off at E3 2021, with an initial release window scheduled for 2022.
However, Nintendo later rescheduled the release to the second quarter of 2023. More details were revealed at a Nintendo Direct in September 2022, revealing the title of Kingdom Tears and confirming its release date as May 12, 2023. More gameplay elements were teased at the February 2023 Nintendo Direct. Nintendo faced it head-on. Notably, a playable version of the game leaked online in the form of a disk image two weeks before its official release.
“Tears of the Kingdom” is led by director Hidemaru Fujibayashi and producer Eiji Aonuma, who also helmed “Breath of the Wild.” The game was born out of the accumulation of unused concepts originally planned for Breath of the Wild DLC.
One of its standout features includes floating islands above Hyrule, allowing players to travel between them, similar to The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword (2011). Although The Legend of Zelda creator Shigeru Miyamoto was initially involved in early demos, his contribution was limited due to scheduling conflicts arising from his role as producer on The Super Mario Bros. Movie (2023). He received the honor of “Head Producer,” a position he has held on the show since the late 2000s.
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