Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom’s building is a game-changer, but Nintendo set the bar too high.
Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom's building is a game-changer, but Nintendo set the bar too high.
Tears of the Kingdom: Building a Solid Foundation for Competition
I’ve just crossed the 40-hour mark in The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, and let me tell you, this game has got me hooked! The building mechanics in this game are nothing short of amazing. It’s fascinating to think about how these mechanics might shape the future of open-world games. Not just Zelda, but games across the board!
We’re in a time where open-world sandbox games are all the rage. It reminds me of the battle royale craze from 2017, and how it spawned a wave of copycats like PUBG Battlegrounds and Fortnite. If other open-world games start incorporating building mechanics like Tears of the Kingdom, they’ll definitely draw inspiration from Link’s latest adventure. And honestly, I’m a bit worried that Nintendo has set the bar too high for any reasonable competition!
But let’s give credit where it’s due. Tears of the Kingdom’s building mechanics, especially with the new Ultrahand ability, are simply mind-blowing. They’re so inventive and intuitive that it’s hard to imagine replicating them in new and interesting ways. Building in games is not a new concept, Fortnite has its own unique spin on it. However, when we look at the origins of the battle royale genre, it’s clear that it started as PC mods. PUBG was once an Arma 3 mod and Fortnite Battle Royale was an unexpected off-shoot. These earlier projects were rough around the edges, but they paved the way for the incredible games we have today.
On the other hand, Tears of the Kingdom has nailed it right from the start. Games like Garry’s Mod, Scrap Mechanic, and various survival games have explored building mechanics to varying degrees of success. But none have achieved the level of refinement and scale that Tears of the Kingdom offers. The only game that comes close in terms of building mechanics is Minecraft, and even then, Tears of the Kingdom simplifies it to just two or three buttons. You’ll be a pro after just one or two tries!
In fact, the only game that I believe comes close to Tears of the Kingdom’s building mechanics is Minecraft. And even then, Tears of the Kingdom’s building mechanics operate with just two or three buttons, making it much easier to learn.
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The upcoming game, Everywhere, by Build a Rocket Boy, may not have drawn inspiration from Tears of the Kingdom due to its long development timeline. However, I’m willing to bet that Nintendo’s approach to building mechanics has been discussed behind the scenes. Although Everywhere aims for a different space in the open-world building spectrum as a live-service game, the simplicity of Tears of the Kingdom’s Ultrahand justifies a comparison.
Even more intriguing is the possibility of more open-world action-RPGs introducing building mechanics. We’ve already seen games like GTA Online and Call of Duty adapt to new trends, like battle royale modes. Could we be on the cusp of a wave of open-world building games? Only time will tell. Tears of the Kingdom has laid a solid foundation for competition, and it’s now up to other developers to see if they have what it takes to match the heights Zelda has reached.
So, if you’re diving into the world of Tears of the Kingdom, be sure to check out our guides on the Zelda Tears of the Kingdom fusions and fuse ability, Zelda Tears of the Kingdom vehicles, and Zelda Tears of the Kingdom abilities. Get ready to embark on an epic adventure!