It isn't often a game like Breath of the Wild releases - one that makes such a substantial impact on the gaming industry. The title won Game of the Year at 2017's The Game Awards, ushering in Nintendo's new console with a bang. In the time since the game's launch, others have replicated Breath of the Wild's style, and some of the most popular games now are Breath of the Wild clones. Because of this, it's become more important than ever that The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild 2 adds fresh, new ideas to its gameplay, or else it will have to compete with its copycats.
When Breath of the Wild came out in 2017, many players fell in love with what was one of Nintendo's most inventive releases ever. Breath of the Wild's sprawling map was especially impressive, as it added more freedom than most other open-world games at the time could offer. The main mechanics that made Breath of the Wild so intoxicating to explore were its gliding and climbing, which made traversing Hyrule seamless.
If imitation is the highest form of flattery, then the developers of Breath of the Wild are likely patting their backs. Open-world games like Genshin Impact and Immortals Fenyx Rising have taken lots of inspiration from the most recent Zelda title. Both games feature massive open worlds with, crafting, gliding, climbing, and vivid, cartoony art styles that embody whimsicality. When placing these games next to Breath of the Wild, the similarities are so prominent and noticeable that it's no wonder they've drawn some controversy for copying Zelda.
Why Breath Of The Wild 2 Needs To Be Different
Regardless of how Nintendo feels about the gaming industry mimicking its game, it's happening, and it's going to keep happening. Players love these Breath of the Wild clones, but that fact could make them less interested in a Breath of the Wild sequel, since they've essentially been playing just that already. Breath of the Wild 2 needs to stand out, not just from the original game but also from all the recent copycats. Genshin Impact and Immortals Fenyx Rising made strong changes to the formula, such as double-jumps, revamped healing, and better enemy variety.
One way Nintendo could accomplish this is by making Breath of the Wild 2's Zelda playable and having her work alongside Link to solve puzzles and fight enemies. This has been rumored in the past, and similar concepts have ended up in Zelda games like The Wind Waker. Another idea is to create a new, innovative method of travel, since those are the aspects of Breath of the Wild most frequently copied. In the original game, there was no way to swim underwater and explore the depths of Hyrule's lakes, rivers, and oceans. Water areas have typically been considered lesser in gaming, but if Zelda added fast and precise swimming with underwater combat, it could make a huge impact. Nintendo is likely working hard on The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild 2, but, ultimately, if it doesn't add something new to the formula, the game is going to have a lot of fierce competition.
