Top 5 Games on my Wishlist for e3 2017

In only three weeks it's once again time for hype, exaggerated expectations and lots and lots of CGI-Trailer, which don't show anything about the actual game. That's right, it's this time of the year again. As a gaming fan e3 is your Christmas. Except for Christmas, which is also Christmas. But I digress.

After a e3 2016 showing that was good, but rather limited, Nintendo seems to intend to come back with a vengeance this year. It all starts on Tuesday with the Nintendo Spotlight, which most likely is just a new name for the Digital Events of the last couple of years. And after that for the entire duration of e3 we will be treated to hours upon hours of livestreams from the Treehouse Team as well as an ARMS and Splatoon tournament.

So far Nintendo has done everything right with the Switch and it doesn't like they plan to slow down.

But what can we as Fans truly expect from their e3 showing? Super Mario Odyssey will be the star of the show, that is for sure. And certainly Xenoblade 2 and Fire Emblem Warriors will be at the show too. But what unannounced games can and should we expect? Well I can't give you a definitive answer to that question, but I can give you my Top 5 announcement wishes for e3 2017. If even one of these games will be announced I probably considered this e3 a success regardless of the rest.

5: F-Zero:

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We start with a pretty easy pick. It has been fourteen years since the release of F-Zero GX for the Nintendo Gamecube. This is a damn shame because the game was one of the best futuristic racers of all time. It was also hard as fuck, but that only added to its charme. The abstinence of Captain Falcon has left a pretty huge hole for futuristic racing, which nowadays is filled by the capable hands of Shin'en with Fast RMX, but there is still room for more. Especially if it's the original that returns.

Something that has always been special about the F-Zero Franchise was the fact that it told an intriguing story. Nowadays you're lucky if your racing game contains a mission mode or any other form of single player content. That's why I think a proper F-Zero return is long overdue.

And of course there is the unprecedented feeling of speed and intensity that I associate with that franchise. No other future racer manages to catch it quite like F-Zero. When you race through an active volcano with 800kmh and know that one wrong bump can destroy your vehicle and all your hopes and dreams... it's just incredibly intense. And that's why F-Zero should return. Even only as a smaller Download Title would be ok.

4: Mario Maker

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Now to make something clear from the get got. I'm not talking about a simple port like the 3DS Version. I'm talking about a new game or at the very least a greatly enhanced port. Mario Maker has been one of the most genius ideas Nintendo has ever had. They gave us the tools to create our ideal Mario experience and also helped us find out that Level Design is fucking hard. They truly created a game which can provide endless fun (and frustration.)

But even though Mario Maker was great it was also lacking in just as many departments. While I was pretty happy with the selection of graphical styles I missed things like Winter, Desert, Beach or Forest Themes. As well as level elements like slopes lava or water pits and other similar obstacles. Of course Mario Maker already contains loads of ways to create your ultimate level, and the community has proven that the only limit is your imagination, but I can't help but feel curious about what could be possible with even more.

3: Bayonetta 3

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Make it happen Nintendo. Pay Platinum Games whatever they need and make the next installment in one of the best action series to ever grace the face of this planet.

Sorry got a little bit of track here. But honestly Nintendo truly should work together with Platinum to create a new Bayonetta game. While the second one hasn't been a huge financial success it was still a high profile title for the Wii-U and got a lot of attention. And of course it was a very good game winning multiple game of the year awards.

Nintendo has always struggled to unite Casual and Hardcore Fans behind their product. The Wii burned a lot of bridges with the Hardcore Crowd and the Wii-U tried to please both fanbases and utterly failed. But with the Switch I think it's possible. The appeal of the console speaks to both kind of gamers and with a diverse and unique game line-up it could become THE console to have. No matter what playstyle you prefer. Bayonetta 3 would be a strong incense to buy the system for any hardcore gamer.

2: Donkey Kong

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Now I will admit this a completely selfish wish by me, but hey it's my list. It is no secret that my favorite Wii-U Game apart from Breath of the Wild is without a doubt Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze. While many moaned that Retro didn't develop a Metroid game, but instead opted to do this, I was completely overjoyed. The original Trilogy on the SNES is amongst my favorite games of all time, especially the second one. And the return to from on the Wii was an amazing game too. So when the familiar drums where sounded during e3 2013 I had a smile from ear to ear.

And the end product was simply amazing. Tropical Freeze is the best 2D Plattformer I have ever played. The worlds and levels overflow with character and love for details. Retro managed to make these levels truly feel alive. They are not just segmented plattforming challenges, but feel like they're part of a much larger world. To me Tropical Freeze reached heights in level and world design that not even Mario could. It took me for a ride from Mangrove forests, through the Swiss Alps and the Savannah, across a fruity jungle and finally into a beautiful, but deadly frozen world. I can't help but feel excited thinking about what Retro would create on the Switch. What amazing adventure would be possible.

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With a great looking HD Engine already in place and the Switch being easy to develop for, I'm sure Retro could manage to create a new Donkey Kong game with a small team, while the main studio works on another project. Speaking of...

1: Metroid

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Was there ever any doubt that this would take number 1. It has been far too long since the last time we saw Samus. And I mean saw her properly. While I never hated Federation Force like the rest of the internet, I also felt let down by it.

All the way through the Wii-Us lifespan I waited for a Metroid announcement, but looking back now I can see that the circumstances were never promising enough for Samus return. As much as some of you may think otherwise Metroid Games aren't System Sellers. Yes they are beloved and critically praised, but they never sold too much. Even Metroid Prime 3: Corruption, which was released on the Wii, only sold 1.79 Million Units worldwide.

But as far as publicity goes a return of Samus would probably garner as much interest as a new Zelda or Mario title. Because even though she may have never sold as much as the aforementioned two, whenever someone talks about the Big 3 of Nintendo Metroid is most certainly mentioned. Also from the three franchises Metroid is most certainly the most ''hardcore''.

Nintendos current goal with the Switch should be to get the Hardcore gaming crowd on board. Because after the 3^rd Party and general fail of the Wii-U many are still cautious. And if they want the Switch to have a long life they need Hardcore fans. Announcing a new Metroid Title would a sure way of showing these players that they too will have something to play on your system.

And I really want to see a new Metroid title. I mean it has been 7 years already... again.

What is on your wishlist for this years e3? Maybe a new Kid Icarus game or a successor to Mario RPG? Whatever it is let me know in the comments below.

And as always

thanks for reading

Top 5 Places to visit in Breath of the Wild

Warning: This Post will contain some Spoilers for Breath of the Wild.

The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild is a huge game. Exploring all of Hyrule easily takes more than 300 hours. It is a game full of breathtaking and beautiful sights. The sheer vastness of the land can easily overwhelm you and I happened more than once that I completely forgot my initial goal and simply got lost in the amazing land of Hyrule. Nintendo managed to craft a world where simply exploring the land is fun. You don't need hundreds of side objectives and collectibles. The World itself is the star of the game.

Just running around and exploring the land is enough to deliver countless hours of fun. And it doesn't get boring.

Of course this new land of Hyrule houses many familiar areas, which have been a mainstay in the series since the beginning. Death Mountain truly captures the hostile and threatening atmosphere of an active volcano and the Gerudo Desert is always a challenge to survive, but there are also some new sights to discover. Akkala on the northern edge of the land always draws me in with its rough and untamed beauty.

Breath of the Wild offers something for everybody. Old and new fans.

It shows us a Hyrule that is unique and varied (although with a little to many cold areas for my liking). And that's why today I'd like to show you my picks for the Top 5 Areas you should visit in Breath of the Wild.

5: Hebra Mountains

There are four cold areas in the game. The Ranelle Peak, Mr. Hylia, the Gerudo Highlands and the entire Hebra region. And the last one is the area I choose for this place on the list. Hiking through the Hebra Mountains is a great experience. You truly get the feeling of being lost at the end of the World. I had a similar feeling during Twilight Princess while you climb Snowpeak, but here it's on a much bigger scale. Exploring Hebra you truly get the feeling that you're the only human in this fast icy landscape. So imagine my surprise when I found a world renowned Shield Surfer near Hebra Peak. But my inability to beat even the simplest of her courses isn’t the topic of this list.

Hebra is my favourite cold area in the game also because it's full of secrets. Be it the extremely well hidden Giant Whale Fossil in the area or the countless hot springs.

Especially during the night the cold beauty of this frozen landscape always manages to leave me breathless. Turn off your Shiekah Sensor + use the Pro-HUD and just spend an afternoon exploring Hebra. I guarantee you that it's one of the best experiences you can have with Breath of the Wild.

4: Farm Ruin

There isn't much to say about this entry. It's simply here because of the intense nostalgia value.

For many of us Ocarina of Time was among the first Zelda Games we played. Even my little sister loved it, altough her ''playthrough'' consisted of riding Epona around Hyrule Field for hours. But little girl or not everyone loved Links Horse. Winning Epona and escaping LonLon Ranch with her is one of the Iconic Zelda Moments.

For many people LonLon Ranch has a special place in Zelda. It's the home of the lovely Malon and one of the most peaceful places in all of Hyrule. Also there is the music.

The LonLon Ranch has always been close to Castle Town, so when Calamity Ganon destroyed Hyrule one hundred years ago, there is no way the LonLon Ranch was spared. Right? Right! If you explore Hyrule Field just southeast of Castle Town you may stumble upon an old Farm Ruin. And if you take your time to compare the layout of this ruin to the original LonLon Ranch in Ocarina of Time you'll see that this is the same place.

Breath of the Wild often has a melancholic atmosphere. After all the World is in ruin after the catastrophe 100 years ago. But seeing the LonLon Ranch reduced to nothing but rubble hit me especially hard. This was always one of the most peaceful places in the land. For anyone who has played Ocarina of Time this place, better than any other, shows the terror of Calamity Ganon.

3: Satori Mountain

When I first heard the legend of Satori Mountain ingame I didn't pay too much attention to it. A wanderer told me about his encounter with a monster on the top of said mountain. I simply thought the monster would be another Hinox. Boy was I wrong.

Through different encounters I learned more about the legendary mountain and found out that the Beast is the so called Lord of the Mountain. A protector of all wildlife in Hyrule. Now this intrigued me and I decided to find the legendary mountain. Luckily it was just around the corner from Outskirt Stable.

The mountain itself doesn't seem to be anything special at first sight. Halfway up I did find a grove full of apple trees and around the peak a Shrine awaited me, but nothing out of the ordinary so far. This changed when I arrived at the small pond near the peak. There a sight, unlike any other found in Hyrule, was presented to my eyes.

This sight became even more impressive at night, when I was finally able to spot the Lord of the Mountain and well... tame it.

Now, just like with the Farm Ruin, the backstory is what makes Satori Mountain special. But this time it's outside of the game.
I'm sure you've heard it by now, but let me tell the story eitherway. The legend of Satori Mountain is told by Botrick, an NPC who bears a striking resemblance to late Nintendo President Satoru Iwata. During Interviews the developers often told the story that they had the feeling that Iwata watchted over their work, just like the Lord of the Mountain, which name is Satori by the way, watches over Hyrules Wildlife.

2: Zoras Domain

Breath of the Wild succeeded in creating a new Hyrule for a new generation. Instead of focusing on Ocarina of Time and trying to surpass it, they managed to create something new. Twilight Princess often suffered from the fact that it was intended as a bigger Ocarina of Time.

It's funny that Breath of the Wild succeed in many areas where Twilight Princess failed exactly because it didn't try to do that. Zoras Domain in Twilight Princess felt rather lackluster, but with Breath of the Wild they truly managed to create the ''bigger'' and ''better'' version they have always dreamed off.

I strongly recommend taking the story intended route along the Zora River, instead of finding another way across the mountains. (Even though the different Cut Scene when entering the Throne Room is pretty great.)

The constant down pouring rain and strong enemies along the way build up the final reveal of Zoras Domain perfectly.

After visiting the rather modest villages of Hateno and Kakariko seeing this huge structure came as kind of a culture shock. And to be honest no other settlement in Hyrule managed to leave me in awe like Zoras Domain. Also here the threat of the Divine Beast seems the strongest. The constant down pouring rain really creates a brooding atmosphere and the realization that soon all of Hyrule could be flooded is quite dire.

Zoras Domain manages to break away from the blueprint set for Zora villages in the past and create a new and grand design for the race. It's a sight you can't afford to miss when playing Breath of the Wild.

1: Lost Woods

When hearing about the Lost Woods in Breath of the Wild for the first time I wondered how they would incorporate them into an open world game. Would I be able to skip the Woods and head directly to the Deku Tree? Or would they be instanced in some way and mandatory. How would Nintendo handle the idea of getting lost in a magical Forrest if you don't follow the right path? Luckily all my concerns where unfounded and Nintendo perfectly managed to capture the spirit of the Lost Woods. Oh and by they way you can skip them and just fly directly to the Deku Tree with your sailcloth.

But actually venturing through the woods is a one of a kind feeling. Nintendo perfectly managed to create a balance between a calm and serene and a creepy atmosphere. The music and the Koroks in the distance blend perfectly together.

For me this incarnation of the Lost Woods is the best by far. And instead listening to me telling you how good it it is, it is best experienced in person.

So what are your favorite places in Breath of the Wild. Which sight did leave you... breathless. Let me know in the comments.

And as always

thanks for reading.  

The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Sequel

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Warning: This Post will contain some Spoilers for Breath of the Wild.

When Breath of the Wild launched to probably the best critics of any video game in the last decade, it was pretty certain that from now on this game would serve as the blueprint fro the Zelda series moving forward. Just like with Ocarina of Time nineteen years ago. And just with Ocarina of Time I hope they use the engine to create an immediate successor, which, while using the same blueprint, goes into a different direction.

It's a well known story by now, but after the release of Ocarina of Time Eiji Aonuma wanted to create a new kind of Zelda game. Shigeru Miyamoto and Nintendo green lit the project, but only if Aonuma could deliver the new installment in the span of one year. Even during the N64 days this was a ridiculously short time to develop a game. They only managed this by using many assets from Ocarina of Time and creating a dense and focused game world. The result was Majoras Mask, which is lauded as one of the best Zelda titles today.

You may already have guessed in which direction todays Thoughtpiece will go. Yes I'd like to talk about a Breath of the Wild sequel. The Game was a huge project. The biggest development team Nintendo has ever had. And I'm sure with over five years of development it wasn't cheap to make either. It's not a wild guess to say that Nintendo is already hard at work and a new Zelda title is at least in the concept stage. They already have a working physics and graphics engine. Under this premisses a sequel to Breath of the Wild would be not to expensive to make and probably won't take five years either.

So as customers we now have to ask ourselves what do we want from a sequel? Should Nintendo try something different or build on the foundation of Breath of the Wild?

Familiar but different: 

A direct sequel to Breath of the Wild would, in my opinion, the weakest way to create a new Zelda game. Exploring the same (maybe rebuild) Hyrule with different threats would be much better suited for a DLC to the original game. In Breath of the Wild the World was the star of the game. I think using it again, even though slightly changed, would lead to a huge fatigue factor with the player. In Breath of the Wild you had the feeling that you could discover something around every corner. A direct sequel couldn't offer the same, if the landscape wouldn't drastically change by some apocalyptic event. So a rebuild Hyrule is out of question, but what about another form of direct sequel. One that only takes the characters and moves them to a new location. Yes I'm talking about Breath of the Wilds Majoras Mask. Just like after Ocarina of Time Link got thrown into this new world Termina, the same could work for Breath of the Wild. Let me give you a quick overview of my idea.

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After their victory over Calamity Ganon Link and Zelda are hard at work to rebuild Hyrule. But their progress is slow and riddled with setbacks. The land is still infested with Monsters and different races are scattered and low in numbers. The knowledge of the past is mostly lost. But one day a strange traveler arrives and he tells the two about a Mask that can grant wishes. This Happy Mask Salesman tells the Story of the Mask hidden away in an island nation off the coast of Hyrule. Now Link and maybe even Zelda head out to find this Mask to grant their wish of a rebuild Hyrule.

Yes it's exactly what it sounds like, I would love to have a modern Majoras Mask. The genius idea of the three day cycle that repeats itself every time is still responsible for one of the most alive feeling video game worlds of all time. And I would like to see that repeated in the modern age. Just think of the possibilities such a game would create nowadays.

Just like Termin this Island could work as a sort of Mirror to Hyrule, which would allow them to re-use several assets from Breath of the Wild. It, of course, wouldn't need to be so vast and huge like it's predecessors game world, but could make up for this fact by re-introducing the time travel mechanic. It would increase the loop to five or seven days however. The possibilities created by this system are endless. Of course it's a lot of work, but with a big and experienced team I think it's possible. And the game wouldn't need to be done in one year. Instead they should take their time and maybe release the new Zelda during holiday 2019.

The three day loop in Majoras Mask really made the inhabitants of Termina feel alive. Even today. Just think of the possibilities with todays technology. It would also fix the problem of Breath of the Wilds side quest feeling very lackluster. Majoras Mask was a game nearly completely made up of memorable side quests. The dynamic of NPCs having not only their own daily routine, but this being influenced by your actions or non-actions, is what made Termina such a ''realistic'' world. In Breath of the Wild we already have a very realistic world. In my review I said this is because every action creates a logical reaction. Everything has weight. People seek shelter when it rains or are startled when you draw your sword. If Nintendo would take this foundation and combine it with the daily routines from Majoras Mask they could create the most realistic Open World so far.

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Just like Majoras Mask was a smaller, but more focused version of Ocarina of Time, the Breath of the Wild sequel could do the same. And seventeen years after the release of Marjoras Mask I think it's time to try the concept once more.

Into the Unknown:

Another possibility would for them to try something completely new. Just a new land with the same environments wouldn't do it. After all Hyrule pretty much covers everything already. Mountains (hot and cold), Forests, Jungle and Desert. You have it all. So why not go into a completely new direction. Breath of the Wild already introduced technology to the series. Why not make the next installment go full Steampunk? Instead of a natural Hyrule create a mechanical one. Give us something we truly have never seen before in a Zelda game.

Or create a world where Ganon won. A kind of apocalyptic version of Hyrule with Link roaming the wasteland as a lone wanderer. A kind of Apocalypse/Western mix.

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The problem with such a proposal for a sequel is that it would take a lot of work creating new art assets and models. While a Majoras Mask 2 could justify re-using a lot from Breath of the Wild this couldn't work here. If Nintendo has streamlined and optimized their development process I'm sure they could create such a game in around three years, if they used the same engine as Breath of the Wild.

With Breath of the Wild Nintendo gave us the most complete and definitive Hyrule for a long time to come. That's why now would be a great time to experiment with the Zelda series and step out of the High Fantasy comfort Zone they used as framework for so long. With Breath of the Wild they have already proven that they are willing to question some of the foundations of the series, so why not go even further with the next installment. But what they shouldn't do is trying to recreate Breath of the Wild in any way, shape or form. They did that with Ocarina of Time for a long time. And while there was never a bad Zelda games, one can only wonder what could have been if they stepped out of their comfort zone earlier.

Of course I know it's funny for me to suggest them trying something new and wanting a Majoras Mask sequel only several paragraphs before, but that is because Majoras Mask approach to an Open World is still unique even after seventeen years. At least I can't think of a game that tried something similar.

To new realms:

If a Breath of the Wild sequel happens, and I have no doubt it will, and no matter how they approach it, they should not cling to closely to the predecessor. Instead I hope they boldly try something new (or old) to create a experience that may use the blueprint, but doesn't feel anything like Breath of the Wild.  

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So what are your hopes and/or wishes for a Zelda sequel? Would you like something completely new? Or are your still enthralled by the wilderness of Hyrule? If you have any cool ideas let me hear them in the comments below.

And as always

thanks for reading

Top 5 Hidden Shrine Quests in Breath of the Wild

Warning: This Post will contain some Gameplay Spoilers for Breath of the Wild.

Breath of the Wild is an amazing game full of things to discover. Hardly anything tops the feeling of facing off against your first Lynel (and then running for your life after he nearly kills you with one hit). Some of my most favorite activities in the vast reaches of Hyrule was hunting for the 120 Shiekah Shrines hidden throughout the world. And while you will stumble across most of them by accident, some are hidden behind specific Quests. 42 of those hidden Shrine Quests can be found in the game. Sometimes a Traveller will tell you an old legend about the area or maybe you'll find some abandoned notes on the top of a snowy mountain.

These Shrine Quests are naturally woven into the world and never feel superficial. For some of them you'll need your wits and intelligence to solve the riddle, while other rely more on your strength. But nearly all of them are a enjoyable experience to solve. They breath just as much life into the world as the inhabitants themselves. And that's why I choose my Top 5 Hidden Shrine Quests as return topic for this weeks toplist. 

And of course let me say once more that this post contains spoilers.

5: The Spring of Wisdom

After Mt. Hylia the Ranelle Peak is probably the next cold area you'll encounter in the game. It can be seen from Hateno and Kakariko at all times and several people tell you about it. So it was only natural that I wanted to explore it a little. The crystal like structures covering the top intrigued me. Of course early in the game I was hardly equipped for this challenge. But with enough spicy food to warm my body and by avoiding the Lynel next to Purifier Lake I was able to reach the snowy peak. And when you finally arrive there you're greeted by an impressive and frightening sight. A huge dragon covered by Malice and overcome by Ganons corruption. It was the first time seeing one of the three Dragons, and it was an shocking discovery. Especially when the Beast starts to fly away after shooting down one of the Malice Eyeballs covering its body. At that time I didn't knew that the Dragons are mostly docile and don't attack directly.

After this the Voice of the Goddess asks you to save Naydra, the Dragon of Wisdom and then present it's scale to the Spring. This leads to a cool airbourne battle, where you follow Naydra down the mountain using your Sailcloth and updrafts created by the Dragon. It's not hard, but certainly impressive and a lot of fun. After you've released the Incarnation of Wisdom from Ganons Curse you return to the Spring and fulfill the Goddess request by dropping a Scale into the holy waters. This opens the way to the Shrine inside the Sprin, which contains a simple blessing. But the means of unlocking this Shrine are certainly among the more impressive ones.

To me this Shrine quest was especially cool because it was my first interaction with the Dragons and I was a little bit disappointed that the other two simple fly around the Land without any Quests associated.

4: The Test of Wood

Breath of the Wilds incarnation of the Lost Woods ranks among my favorites. The managed to perfectly incorporate the conceptt of an enchanted Forest, which works as a labyrinth, into an open World Game. Also the atmosphere is just great. Inside the Lost Woods you'll find not only the Deku Tree and the Master Sword, but also the Home of the Krogs. And the Forest Spirits also want to help Link stop Ganon. That's why they offer you several Tests to increase your strength. At the end of each of those tests you'll find a Shiekah Shrine. Among those tests the Test of Wood stands out for two reasons. Intensity and Difficulty.

While the other two only want you to find a way through the Woods and following a Krog without being seen respectively, this Test is a true challenge. The task is simple. You only have to manage to reach the Shrine at the end of the Path without loosing your equipment. But of course there is a catch. During the Trial Link is allowed to use only the Forest equipment, which is made out of Wood of course. And the path to the shrine is full with Fire Wielding foes. So you can see that this may cause a slight problem.

You may choose to fight your way through, which means you'll need to approach the task very carefully and planned, or you try to dash past all the obstacles, which is also a viable strategy. Seeing the forest go up in flames around you and having explosions go on left and right is certainly a very intense experience.

The Test may not be a deep story or mystery, but it's action packed, a lot of fun and you can redo it even after you beat it.

3: The Stolen Heirloom

This is probably one of the tougher Shrine Quests to find, even though you can spot the trigger from the moment you step into Impas house. Impas granddaughter Paya is always tending to an Orb. It's an old Shiekah Heirloom. Of course from our travels throughout Hyrule we know that these Orbs are often used to unlock Hidden Shrines. But even Link isn't allowed to touch the Heirloom.

To trigger the actual Shrine Quest you first have to help all the People in Kakariko, which means completing all side quests in the town. If your return to Impas house afterward you'll find the two guards outside upset. During the Night someone sneaked inside the House and stole the Heirloom. Paya is devastated and after spending the Night at her side to calm her, Link is tasked with finding the thief. It's a really cool shrine Quest. You have to talk to people and narrow down the culprits, as it could have only been an inhabitant of the village. After searching for clues and tailing two culprits, who turn out to be innocent, you're finally led to the real thief. And to my surprise he had quite the good reason for his actions when I faced him. It's a rather tragic story and gives new weight to some of the Characters in Kakariko. But of course this isn't the end because you end up getting attacked by the Yiga Clan. After a cool fight against a Yiga Blademaster you then finally can enter the Shrine having solved the case.

This Shrine Quest is great simply because it tells a compelling Story. For me it ranks among the best Side Quests, even though it isn't one. The solution is surprising and learning the history of Dorian and his family is quite sad. It would have been great if Breath of the Wild told more stories like this.

2: Shrouded Shrine

This area is, without a doubt, the most visually impressing to me. Not because of countless effects and such, but because the darkness really adds to the atmosphere. Makes me wish that all of Hyrule would look like this during nighttime. It probably would be quite impractical and make traveling at night a pain in the ass, but damn it would be atmospheric. I heard about these strange ruins that are covered by pitch black darkness even during the day from several people already before I arrived at the place just north of the Lost Woods. This served to only further increase the mystery surrounding this place.

After entering the ruins a voice tells you to find your way through the darkness. Equipped with only a torch I started to delve deeper into the area. The eerie music coupled with the darkness creates an incredible atmosphere. On one hand you feel like a true explorer heading of into the unknown. But on the other hand you also feel extremely vulnerable. If you're attacked you can't fight back with a torch and drawing your sword would mean to abandon your only source of light. I tell you fighting without having any clue of your surroundings isn't a nice experience.

And to top this all off you find a sleeping Hinox in the middle of the ruins. And of course he has the Orb used to unlock the Shrine around his neck. So in the end you have to battle in the darkness after all.

This shrine is probably the most atmospheric experience in Breath of the Wild. Darkness is a simple but effective tool and here it is used perfectly.

1: Stranded on Eventide

I think this Hidden Shrine is among the most well known by now. But when I came across Eventide Island I had now idea what would await me. I haven't even met any character who told me about it. It just wanted to check out this big Island on the southeast corner of the map. Little did I know that what awaited me would be one of the most memorable parts of Breath of the Wild.

The Moment you set foot on Eventide Island Link is stripped of all of his equipment and belongings. No food, no weapons and no armor. You're naked with only your Shiekah Slate still left. The task is to bring three Orbs to their respective pedestals. And so begins a Quest that is the Quintessential Breath of the Wild experience. On this Island you'll find everything you need to survive and succeed. Weapons, food and even shelter during harsh weather.

Especially in later stages of the game, when your equipment allows you to simply mow down most of the enemies, these Quest is a refreshing experience. You have to return to your roots and plan out each enemy encounter instead of simply jumping in.

Maybe it's better to wait until the enemies go to sleep and try sneaking to get the Orb? Or maybe you should try to take them out one by one. Oh and to top it all off there is of course a Hinox sleeping on the Island. And of course he carries one of the Orbs around with him.

Eventide Island is the best shrine quest simply because it is Breath of the Wild in a nutshell. Survival gameplay by its finest. Oh and it also helps that the Island is a great homage to one of my favorite Zelda titles, Links Awakening. From the layout of the Island with one huge mountain with the final goal (Windfish Egg/Shrine) waiting at the top, to the aspect of being stranded on an unknown island.

For me surviving Eventide Island was the most memorable Shrine experience in all of Breath of the Wild.

So what are your favorites? What Shrine Quests did surprise you? Let me know in the comments.

And as always

thanks for reading

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The Breath of the DLC Dilemma

Warning: This Post will contain some Gameplay Spoilers for Breath of the Wild and its upcoming DLC.

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Breath of the Wild does a lot to break the conventions of the Zelda series. It is a complete new approach to the storied franchise and a sharp contrast to previous entries. Most of this convention breaks appear in the Gameplay department, but some are more outside of the game. Shortly before the game finally launched Eiji Aonuma announced the Breath of the Wild expansion pass. This DLC will include two packs, which would launch during Summer 2017 and during Winter 2017 respectively. It also included an expansion pass Bonus, which included three Treasure Chests found on the Great Plateau, where one of them included a Nintend Switch Shirt for Link to wear.

And while most of the convention breaks in Breath of the Wild were applauded by the fans this one was taken with mixed feelings. Maybe it was because it cam out of the blue and was announced only vaguely.

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Nintendo is always pretty secretive with information to their upcoming games. Well at least until the go into overdrive shortly before release and spoil pretty much everything. Here it was similar. We only got these vague announcements about the DLC, but were expected to pay 20€ upfront for something we can't fully enjoy till nearly one year later. It left a pretty sour taste in the mouths of many people. Generally it's always bad form when a expansion is announced before the game even launched. Even if it is not true it gives of the picture of Content being cut out to be sold to us separately. And now that we have the full overview about what the first DLC will offer, I have to say that this seems to hold true with Breath of the Wild. Everything announced for the first pack is something that could and should've been in the actual game from the beginning. So how about we first dissect the DLC and then talk about its problems afterwards.

A Trial for your Wallet:

The first DLC for Breath of the Wild offers exactly what was announced earlier. A Cave of Trials, a new Map feature and a Hard Mode. As well as some ingame Items. For one half of a 20€ DLC Pack this isn't much.

Trial of the Sword:

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The biggest and most important part of this content pack is surely the Trial of the Sword Challenge ''Dungeon.'' It can be entered by putting your Master Sword back in it's socket. You'll then be stripped of all your equipment, similar to the Eventide Island Shrine Quest. You then have to battle through 45 Rooms full of enemies, adapting and gathering equipment as you progress. The reward is the Awakened Master Sword, which now will deal 60 Damage all of the Time.

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It's a nice idea and the mixed visual of the Shiekah Shrine with outdoor content looks cool, but in essence it is just another Challenge Cave, which many Zeldas offered before as a part of the base game.

Hard Mode:

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The new Hard Mode is simply that. A Hard Mode. Enemies will now regenerate their Health, so you have to finish them off quickly. Also all monsters will move up on tier. This means the red variants will be replaced by blue ones from the get got and a new tier of enemy will be included. So if silver Lynels give you a a hard time, you can look forward to fighting gold ones. And lastly all monsters will be much more observant of their surroundings, so sneaking up on them should become more challenging as well. But the mode won't change any Shrine Locations or Puzzles. So if you hoped for anything like the original Zeldas 2^nd Quest or Master Quest then you'll be disappointed. So basically this is this games Hero Mode, which in older titles was also part of the game from the get go.

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Oh yeah also some platforms will float in the air carrying enemies and treasure to the skies above Hyurle.

Hero's Path: 

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And now for the last big feature of the DLC. The Hero's Path.

It will record all your movements across Hyrule for up to 200 hours. This makes it easier to spot areas of the world which you haven't visited so far and maybe allow you to hunt down those last remaining Korok Seeds or Shrines. Overall it's a great feature, but for the love of Miyamoto why is it paid DLC? Why do I have to pay for a feature that, by all means, should have been part of the game from the get go. A full priced game should never offer any paid extra content which makes it easier. Even if it's just single player. Which brings me to the next point.

Travel Medallion: 

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The Travel Rune is a new key item, which allows Link to mark any place in the World for Quick Travel. Firstly this isn't really needed. There are Shrines and Shiekah Towers all across Hyrule. 

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Still it is a helpful feature for some hidden Shrine Quests, where you have to perform an action at a specific time of the day. With the Travel Rune you can mark the place, adventure somewhere else and quickly return when needed. But why again is this paid DLC?

Masks and other Stuff: 

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Lastly the DLC will feature some new outfits for Link. This is expected and nice and actually the only part of the DLC, which I have not problem with. Well not entirely. While most of the Outfits look cool and are great Fanservice, but the Korok Mask is once again something that should have been implemented in the game from the get go.

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The Mask will simply shake when a hidden Korok is nearby. This is great and all, but once again Nintendo allows you to pay to make the game easier. 900 Koroks is a huge number and I have essentially given up on finding all of them (especially because the Reward is not worth it). But by making this Mask a DLC item Nintendo tells its customers. Do you have Trouble finding all hidden Koroks in our full price game? Well if you give us some more money we may be able to help you. It just leaves a bitter aftertaste in my mouth.

Hit or Miss:

So apart from the Trial of the Sword and the fanservice costumes this DLC includes only additions, which should have been part of the game from the get go. Gameplay wise it offers next to nothing. I don't think the Trial of the Sword will take more than one afternoon to complete and the new Hard Mode is hardly any incentive to start the game anew. And honestly selling the Map feature, the Travel Rune and the Korok Mask to us for real money is a pretty bad move by Nintendo. A someone, who hates scummy DLC practices I can't give Nintendo a pass, just because they are my favorite gaming company.

Nintendos DLC has always been kinda hit and miss and so far it seems like Breath of the Wild will fall into the miss category. Of course we don't know anything about the second DLC, which will launch later this year and include a new Dungeon and Story chapter, but honestly I don't think it will reach the magnitude of, for example, The Witcher 3 DLC.

So far the 20€ they want for this season pass haven't been worth it at all. In fact I would go as far as calling the current offering of DLC for Breath of the Wild lazy and uninspired. It's definitely not worthy of such a great game. But what could Nintendo have done better?

Well that always depends of what you expect from a DLC. Should it build on the core strengths of a title and merely expand on them, or should it try something new and work on the problems of the main game?

I would argue that Breath of the Wild is a strong game on it's own and there isn't a glraring flaw that could be fixed by a DLC. So Nintendo should instead focus on building on the titles core strengths. Here is an example:

Kiltons Monster Madness:

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Kilton is a strange merchant fascinated by monsters. After you found him for the first time in Akkala, he'll appear next to villages during the night. He sells you unique items in exchange for monster parts. He also offers kind of a side quest. For slaying all Molduga, Hinox and Talux Minibosses on the Overworld respectively you'll earn a medal. But what if he would ask more of you? Kiltons Monster Madness could be him asking you to delve into specific monster infested areas to help with his research. These could be new (Caves, Underground Ruins, etc.) or preexisting locations, which have been overrun by Monsters. Small side missions where you have to fight hordes of a specific enemy. As reward you could get special weapons or items, which help you in fights against those monsters and of course tons of materials.

Another Monster Madness idea would be Link having to find and hunt a specific strong monster. Kilton tells you about a powerful Moblin/Bokoblin/etc. Boss, but he can only tell you the general area, where you'll find the guy. There you'd have to clear out enemy camps to find clues until you gathered enough to make the Boss appear. Of course he would be a very though version of his Monster Type and should pose a serious challenge.

Another Idea for rewards would be that those Bosses drop special materials, which you then can use to upgrade the Monster Masks and Dark Link Set making them even more effective.

And lastly what if Kliton asks you to observe Monsters and their daily routines. Link would have to follow a group of wandering monsters without getting spotted for a specific amount of time. The reward would be a better understanding of this enemy type, which also makes him more effective while fighting them.

This would be an idea for the more of the same kind of DLC. It expands on an already established character and offers a new incentive to fight monsters and head out into the world. Of course a real second Quest kind of Hardmode would be also welcome. Or anything that is more than some very basic features, which should have been part of the basic game from the get go.

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But what is your take on this whole Breath of the DLC Story? Are you happy with the first expansion pack? Are you mad? Or do you withhold your judgement until the Story DLC is unveiled? Let me know in the comments and if you have ideas about Breath of the Wild DLC I would love to read them.

And as always

thanks for reading