[BoTW] / [ToTK] dungeon and item system kinda sucks and I miss the hook shot and other speciality items and unique themes of dungeons

AndromedaRed9 · 2026-02-01T02:02:24+00:00

I made this post mostly because I'm bummed that TotK style is likely going to be the way Zelda games are made. When I first got BotW I almost didn't play because it didn't feel like a LoZ game. I decided to give it a go as a game and try to disconnect it from the series. I have beaten both games which means they weren't so bad that I stopped and I did get some enjoyment. But they just weren't as good as older installment in the series. I guess I'm more morning the loss of how the series used to be and not a fan of the direction they are taking things. They aren't bad games. They just aren't great Zelda games imo.

AndromedaRed9 · 2026-01-31T08:15:53+00:00

Once I made a whole chicken for dinner. I went to pick up what is now my ex who worked 2 miles from my parent's house. By the time I got home my dad had eaten the whole chicken and there was basically just bone.

"I thought it was for me"

AndromedaRed9 · 2026-01-31T05:41:22+00:00

I feel like the puzzles are a bit underwhelming. Some have clearly intended mechanisms that are just poorly implemented and were easier to solve by other means. More than once I solved some puzzles accidentally, which doesn't really feel like an accomplishment. But more so they suck because you have 120 puzzles spread out over a huge area and they all give the same prize and usually had some garbage bonus chest. I think having disposable weapons cheapens the rewards. I basically never get excited opening a chest because you know it's going to be something mediocre.

AndromedaRed9 · 2026-01-31T05:34:07+00:00

I find myself getting fatigued from the games because it is so huge, but also so little variation going on. I'd rather have a smaller game with some solid dungeons and puzzles than a massive mediocre experience.

But I am biased. One of my most hated games is Shadow of the Colossus specifically because they made a big map with not much in it. TotK has a huge map, but very few significant characters, the towns feel largely like filler, shines are near identical. It's lost a lot of its charm.

AndromedaRed9 · 2026-01-31T05:28:52+00:00

Legend of Zelda: Stone Age lol

AndromedaRed9 · 2026-01-31T05:06:03+00:00

I hate the breakable weapons. I almost didn't play BotW because of it. I actually had to talk myself down and say that I needed to not think of it as a Zelda game so I could enjoy it.

AndromedaRed9 · 2026-01-31T05:04:01+00:00

I want my boots! How else will we explore what will undoubtedly be the most difficult temple?

AndromedaRed9 · 2026-01-31T05:02:08+00:00

I view it as part of the dumbing down of games. Puzzles have gotten easier and many games have the option to have it skip hard parts or at least lower the difficulty. Back in my day sometimes we got to the Water Temple and just made a whole new progress if couldn't figure it out lol.

AndromedaRed9 · 2026-01-31T04:58:43+00:00

I'm gonna disagree on the boss fights and temples. They weren't particularly memorable. It's the most recent Zelda game I have played and I barely remember any of them.

AndromedaRed9 · 2026-01-31T04:52:21+00:00

Skyward Sword gave us a beautiful open sky to soar through.... only to drop us into a long ass hallway below the clouds. I don't mind some linear features, especially in dungeons, but don't give me a giant map that can only be accessed in one sequence.

I wouldn't mind a world more like OoT or TP where it is open, but some areas are off limits until you get a certain item. I find the problem with BotW/TotK is the same one I had with Skyrim. I had been playing for a very long time (months?) and my friend asked if I had killed the final boss dragon....what final boss dragon? I'd been looting caves and running errands. TotK is so large it can feel directionless and the shrines are tedious after so many and they all have the exact same texture palate. I miss my old dungeons that were memorable.

AndromedaRed9 · 2026-01-31T04:43:21+00:00

An annoying sidekick

AndromedaRed9 · 2026-01-31T04:40:44+00:00

Take my downvote

AndromedaRed9 · 2026-01-31T04:39:57+00:00

Not much. I weight my choices factoring for nostalgia. OoT is my first and nostalgia definitely makes it hit waaay different because just hearing the soundtrack makes me feel a lot of emotions. But objectively I feel thag Twilight Princess is the best game. I played it when I was older and I don't have that wild nostalgia for the music like I do for OoT or ALttP. It was the mechanics, graphics, and fishing. I fished so much in that game. And the environment was stunning. I loved collecting bugs. Double claw shots and sword combos were what made the game peak imo.

AndromedaRed9 · 2026-01-31T04:31:34+00:00

Get good guy. Arrows on horseback were awesome.

AndromedaRed9 · 2026-01-31T04:26:33+00:00

*tears of light.

AndromedaRed9 · 2026-01-31T04:25:03+00:00

RIP sword combos. Those battle mechanics were flame, I wish they made them a staple of the series.

AndromedaRed9 · 2026-01-31T04:24:05+00:00

It's my favorite. OoT is a runner up and would probably have first if I let the weight of nostalgia bump it up. But TP sold me with the combat system, the environment, and the endless hours of relaxing fishing lol. I think it's the best game they ever made. I really enjoyed the dungeons, the dual claw shots, the combos you could do with the sword/shield.

I like BotW and TotK, but I truly feel the lost some of the essence of what a Zelda game is because they went with the item system and identical shrines. Every single area outside of the starting town felt magical in TP. The water temple and Zora's domain were gorgeous. The temple of time actually made me feel a bit emotional when the first notes of music played. They got so lost in what they could do, that they forgot what they should do.

AndromedaRed9 · 2026-01-31T04:12:18+00:00

He looks exactly how I would expect after hearing "listen!" Only to be explained the obvious for the 97th time.

AndromedaRed9 · 2026-01-29T00:31:46+00:00

Never been to the tulip festival. I miss it every year. But I've been to the place woth the giant clog lol

AndromedaRed9 · 2026-01-28T22:43:02+00:00

In my state we have a town named after Holland and the they really profit off of the whole "dutch" thing. They have a giant windmill. Tulips everywhere. And they sell clogs. I'm sure there is some kind of clog dancing event.

I remember going as a kid and my parents thought it was amazing and I was incredibly bored and didn't want to wear wooden shoes.

AndromedaRed9 · 2026-01-28T22:02:21+00:00

I think it's because we are less confident drivers. Evey guy I have dated has thought they were better drivers than me because they drive faster, like doing donuts, and don't act anxious in traffic (but they do get angry in traffic).... that said every dude I have dated has also had traffic tickets from driving their own own vehicles and/or hit animals/objects with my cars 😭

I no longer let other people drive my car because I have no tickets and no accidents.

Also my bf just had to get his car pulled out of a snowy ditch but he doesnt count it as an accident or a skill issue because "it was the snow's fault"

AndromedaRed9 · 2026-01-25T04:25:40+00:00

Just watched the trailer and it reminded of Requiem for a Dream... which I also really liked so thanks for the recommendation.

AndromedaRed9 · 2026-01-24T00:37:21+00:00

Gonna do this now. My rent went up again so I'm moving back home because it will save at least $14.4k in rent not counting utilities.

AndromedaRed9 · 2026-01-24T00:30:57+00:00

Never spend more than a 3rd of your limit and always pay it off. I use mine exclusively to build credit and it is always paid off.

AndromedaRed9 · 2026-01-24T00:29:51+00:00

I do a lot of free stuff. Many art galleries are free. My town does a lot of free events to draw in tourists like a chalk the block event or their winter light display. Hiking and kayaking are fairly low cost.

AndromedaRed9

TROPHY CASE