The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild

"Open your eyes. Open your eyes! Wake up Link!"

~Princess Zelda

I have to admit Nintendo has a hit coming with The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild. Finally we have an adult link game which means there will be some hardcore action going down for our protagonist Link.

From the trailer, looks like there will be a lot of opportunity to take advantage of the open world environment to slay enemies such as dropping rocks, setting grasslands on fire and hang gliding to new areas.  I also so a mysterious stone called the Sheikah Slate on Link's side that looks like it has magical properties to create blocks and entrances.  In the past, Link made use of words and magic but this time the developer wanted to add a new wrinkle in the Zelda franchise with the use of technology.

The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild is really a change in pace from what the franchise was known for, but I feel this time around Nintendo is really trying to adapt to the new expectations gamers have for top performing games.

Features:

• Explore the wilds of Hyrule any way you like - Climb up towers and mountain peaks in search of new destinations, then set your own path to get there and plunge into the wilderness. Along the way, you'll battle towering enemies, hunt wild beasts and gather ingredients for the food and elixirs you'll need to sustain you on your journey.
• More than 100 Shrines of Trials to discover and explore - Shrines dot the landscape, waiting to be discovered in any order you want. Search for them in various ways, and solve a variety of puzzles inside. Work your way through the traps and devices inside to earn special items and other rewards that will help you on your adventure.
• Be prepared and properly equipped - With an entire world waiting to be explored, you'll need a variety of outfits and gear to reach every corner. You may need to bundle up with warmer clothes or change into something better suited to the desert heat. Some clothing even has special effects that, for example, can make you faster and stealthier.
• Battling enemies requires strategy - The world is inhabited with enemies of all shapes and sizes. Each one has its own attack method and weaponry, so you must think quickly and develop the right strategies to defeat them.
• amiibo compatibility - Tap the Wolf Link amiibo (sold separately) to make Wolf Link appear in game. Wolf Link will attack enemies on his own and help you find items you're searching for. We will also introduce new The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild series of amiibo at E3 this year.

Linkle- a female version of Link?

This has not been released to the United States market and only available in Japan.  With all the controversy of who Linkle is not, such as Link's sister, there is a theory about who Linkle may become.  Some experts are predicting she will be an alternate female version of Link that will be featured in a solo game. 

Linkle is a young woman who lives in a small village in Hyrule where she takes care of Cuccos as a shepherd.^[1] Since she was little, she believes herself to be the reincarnated hero.^[2] She believes that the symbol that proves it is the Compass given to her by her grandmother, which has been passed down for generations.^[3] After hearing that Hyrule Castle is under attack by a demon, she sets out on a journey to save the kingdom, donning a green outfit.^[4] She enters a mysterious forest, only to become lost and suddenly have her Compass stolen by Skull Kid, forcing her to retrieve it from him.^[5] Twili Midnaaccompanies her on her travels at some point.^[6]

Her story is described as a side story separate from the rest of the game's plot.^[7]

Development

During the development of Hyrule Warriors, Linkle was originally designed as a female version of Link.^[8] She was also proposed to be Link's little sister, but the idea was scrapped due to Eiji Aonuma not wanting her to conflict with Aryll, Link's sister in The Wind Waker.^[9] Sketches of her were included in the Hyrule Warriors art book from the Japanese limited editions of the game. Thanks to this, Linkle grew in popularity among fans, convincing the developers to include her in the game.^[10]

She was announced for Hyrule Warriors Legends during the Nintendo Direct web stream on November 12, 2015, where she was revealed with a slightly different design and two Crossbows, as opposed to the one shown in her early concept sketches.^[11]

Linkle was the last character that former Nintendo writer, Chris Pranger, wrote for before leaving Nintendo. He said that she is his favorite Nintendo character to have written for.^[12]

Trivia

• Prior to her announcement, her Crossbow was hidden among the game's artwork, hinting at her inclusion.^[13]
• Like Link in Link's Crossbow Training, Linkle's Crossbows glow when certain moves are performed, glowing red when charging a Bomb Arrow and glowing green when rapid-firing.
• Eiji Aonuma stated that due to her popularity, he is going to keep in mind the possibility of including her in a future Zelda game.^[14]
• Her Compass is available as a clock in the Japanese and European limited editions of Hyrule Warriors Legends.