
If you are anything like us (and since you are reading this article, we assume that you probably are) then you will have been thinking about the release day of The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom for a good long while now. It took a little while for the marketing campaign to get into full swing, we'll admit, but over the past few weeks it has been impossible to look anywhere without seeing Link's crouched silhouette gawping off the edge of a Sky Island, accompanied by that awesome theme.
Today (12th May) the game is out and we're quickly realising that we have been so busy getting excited to try out Link's new abilities, explore new areas and fight new enemies, that we haven't spent the necessary hours thinking about what it is that we want to do first.
The obvious answer is 'just play the game, duh', but we now know that this is a title to rival the size of Breath of the Wild, and if there is anything that the former game taught us, it's that there is a lot to do and a lot of different orders to do it in.
Now, we're not deep diving into spoiler territory here, but we will be discussing some of the things that pop up in the game as have been mentioned in our review. If you are hoping to head into TOTK completely blind, then it's probably best to stop reading now and come back when you have a good few hours of exploring under your belt. But as we say, there's nothing in here that hasn't been mentioned in our review, so you are safe otherwise.
There are a few different options that immediately spring to mind when we think about how to tackle this beast of a game. With BOTW, for example, there were some who set out to roll credits as quickly as they could on their first playthrough and then save the adventuring for later. Conversely, there were others who wanted to feel as if they had thoroughly explored every corner of the world before heading into the final boss fight, perhaps setting an achievement along the lines of "I'm going to find all 120 Shrines" or (if they were having a particularly bad day) "I'm going to collect every Korok Seed first". And then there are those who have never tackled the final boss and are quite content to explore Hyrule for all eternity, knowing full well that Princess Zelda is fighting for her life in the Castle while Link spends his days collecting lizards.
Our point is that Tears of the Kingdom, much like its predecessor, gives us a lot of options from the get-go and it is up to us individuals to decide what we want to do first.
So, what will it be? Below, we have assembled a poll with a couple of different options for what to do first in TOTK, but we are sure that there will be many, many more depending on your personal preferences. You can input your game plan below and then why not leave us a comment to let us know your primary objective in more detail?
What's your game plan for Tears of the Kingdom? (2,235 votes)
- Roll credits as quickly as possible
- A good few hours of general exploring, then onto the main story
- Unlock every Shrine first
- Find every Korok Seed first0.5%
- Visit every region first
- I'm never letting this game end
- Other (comment below)
Ah, a new Zelda game! It's a beautiful thing. Happy exploring!
Comments 86
I have played BotW for six years, so I don't see this one coming to a close anytime soon. I'm having a blast, and I hope you guys are too.
Hours away from starting my adventure! I’ll do a little exploring and then try to beat the game. And when I need a break…? I still have Final Fantasy 2 and 3 to get through!
Wait until a reasonable price drop.
I'm slowly exploring each region/island/chasm, I wan't to do every shrine and side quest in each region but I'm not too bothered about collecting all the korok seeds. Not sure in what order to do the story areas in though.
Probably how I played BOTW, which means actively avoiding the ending and ignoring every character trying to convince me there are urgent matters afoot, until somewhere around hour 257 I decide it's time for some closure.
I’m going to explore everything slowly and take my time.. sprinkle in main missions here and there and after I’ve done all shrines and collected all things that matter (idc if it takes 150hrs) maybe THEN I’ll do the last mission.. but very begrudgingly
I am going to collect everything. All koroks, all collectibles, all side quests, everything completed. We probably aren’t going to be getting another mainline Zelda title for several years, so I’m definitely in no hurry to finish this one.
Like many games, mostly: I'm here for the journey, not the destination. Sure, I'm going for main quest objectives, but I'm also taking my time exploring, experimenting, doing side quests, and going for all the shrines. Rushing to the end in games like this just stresses me out.
Four hours in so far and loving it. Well worth taking the day off work for. I do hope everyone is having as much fun as I am.
Pretty much try to do everything it has to offer like in botw. Altho I'm not sure whether to rush it before FF16 comes out or just play at a leisurely pace and continue after I'm done with 16
I'll probably try collect everything... but probably will lose patience some point and go forward
(Also if any Finns here and still not bought the game, Gigantti offers 40€ discount if your phone plan is outdated and you update it or switch providers. idk is is this weekend or some general discount for certain period. But discount applies also to the game.)
Other: I don't like Zelda, but I like polls.
I think I’ll just take my time with this one
I'll be honest. The opening stretch was a bit of a slog until I got the Ultrahand power, then it really started to pop off.
I hit the surface about an hour or so ago. Found a well thats usually filled with dirt that now leads to an underground area, and I've just been hopping from one thing to the next.
I plan to visit Hateno Village, then make my way to Kakariko. I've got my eyes set on Tarrey Town on my way to check out the Akkalla lab, but given how easily distracted I am with every single destination, Im probably not going to get myself over that way for a good week or two from now.
When I see the green and blue streams of air spiralling off in the distance…. I have to pursue, can’t help it 😅. Shrine after shrine for me, until I decide to pursue the main story.
I just see where the game takes me, really.
Spend a bunch of time exploring every nook and cranny, complete every puzzle, avoid big boss fights until I’m over prepared/equipped. Bring it to a close after 150 hours or so. Probably not even start the story until 50-60 hours in, similar to how I approached BOTW (at least after initial training/walkthrough area).
Oh, you want me to go that way? No thanks
I’ll do a good chunk of the side content with bits of the main story sprinkled in. I want to do a lot of what the game has to offer but I still want to beat it.
I'm gonna let the game take me. Not worried about doing exactly this or that first. Whatever I feel like doing when it comes up
First time I drop into TOTK, I'm doing a no-map no-warp run. I've been planning and anticipating this for a while. If I get lost, it's just part of the adventure
I just hope that when the main story does end, it pops you back into the world like the main story has ended, not like right before you beat the last boss.
Don't really have a plan. I'm certainly not focusing on the story though for a while, i've got as far as getting the Paraglider and now i'm just exploring, doing side quests and seeing what i come across. This isn't a game i plan on rushing and like BotW i expect i will be playing this for years even after the credits roll.
@Beaucine I accidentally went into Ganon's room at about hour 170.
@Desrever Hateno is amazing in TotK, i won't reveal anything but i've spent most of the day there doing quests, visiting old haughts and seeing all the new stuff added to it.
I'm an explorer by nature. That map WILL be completed.
@Cashews
Think you’ll be waiting for some considerable time with that one.
Nintendo first party games take blooming ages to have any discount and even then it’s not much.
With BOTW, I wanted to see the whole map right away. So once I left the Great Plateau, I went to every tower first. I don't know (since it's essentially the same map), if the towers will be a thing this time around. I will probably just make my way and wander the lands like I did after uncovering the map in BOTW. Write my legend and have the story unravel as I go. (Hurry up FedEx!!!!)
Still need to finish BOTW and will then crack open the CE of TOTK and maybe by that point the UK Nintendo Store will find out where the Amiibo they posted me is as it wasn't in the oversized box with the ropey coin and luggage tag.
I'm doing the same thing I did in my first complete playthrough of BOtW, I'm going to take my sweet time, the bad guys can wait, I'm going to have fun!
@Hurblyburbly Not sure. NL was posting all sorts of EU discounts this morning. It depends on the true pace of sales and how many they printed. We'll see. I have the patience of a glacier.
I'll try to find as much as I can by myself and then head to the final boss after doing so. Then, on a second playthrough, I'll aim for 100%.
@Cashews
Well good luck in your quest Sir/Ma’am.
Hope you’re having fun with the game soon enough
@Diogmites here's hoping your future self has a ball and continues to inspire joy-joy feelings in all those around you
I'm taking my sweet time and enjoying it. Still on the island, unlocked the three hand powers, just exploring and playing around with fusion.
I can't even imagine how much stuff will be available once I begin the main adventure.
Explore, explore, do stuff, get some good weapons, do some shrines, unlock towers, talk to people.
All what I have been doing today. I won't be completing this for months to come, I play slowly.
I shall take the shrink wrap off the box, take out the game cart, put the game in my Switch, perform any updates etc... then play the game.
I will be going wherever the wind takes me
@WallyWest nice! I should head that way now that I've got some of my basic gear and tricks.
@Hurblyburbly back at you - i hope you have fun with the game right now.
I intend to learn my lesson from past experience and let my heart/gut lead me. No more inflexible goals derived from my mind. I'll just take it as it comes and see where the spirit leads.
I received it today with the amiibo but the case is somewhere in shipping and I did not get the piece of wood either. I may wait to play it since it’s technically a birthday gift. At least that is what I was told. lol
I'll do what I did in both my BotW playthroughs, do almost everything, shrines, main story dungeons of course.. And get distracted by everything while doing them. Just not collect all Korok seeds.
Just finished Hogwarts Legacy❤️ a beautiful game. Ready to explore 100 percent this master piece!
in between the story getting all the shrines and exploring as much as possible before finally finishing with the castle and it's new resident.
@Cashews yes you have to wait some years!
I'm not a completionist but I want to complete all the important or story related content before I roll the credits. Like how in BOTW, getting the master sword and finding all the memories was "optional" but necessary for the full story.
I’m gonna try to do most everything in the game.
I will be playing this game for years. And years. And years. No panic. Just going to enjoy it.
@Cashews Costco is selling it for $60 if that helps
Everything that comes along my way. Just gonna walk in a direction and see what happens.
Waiting for it to be delivered today (it better get here soon)! I’ll probably just pick a direction and just explore. Same approach w/ BotW. No real sense of urgency to beat it, I just want maximum enjoyment out of it.
My plan is to spend 150+ hours in Hyrule and finish the main story.
Sidenote, Ive literally played BotW twice or more a month ever since it released. The odds are high I will do the same with TotK.
i will try to explore everything Tears of the Kingdom have, before going to the main quest, just like i did in Breath of the Wild, i will not care if will take 2 years to fully explore everything the game have.
Nothing, because I don't plan on buying it.
Very frustrating so far but then botw was at the start too for me. I want to be able to go everywhere straight away but you have to do certain things to progress
What matters to me is doing all shrines and dungeons. I didn't care a stitch for sidequests in BotW. We'll see if that changes for TotK, but I doubt it. Majora's Mask has forever spoiled me in terms of what enjoyable sidequests are. Pretty much every Zelda since has been a disappointment in that department.
It's always the same with me and games like this.
Be it Zelder scrolls, elder scrolls, or fallout, my plan is always the same.
1. Ask the question, "Hey, what's that over there!?"
2. Run over there.
3. Never finish the story.
The same as with BOTW, do absolutely everything before the credits roll except for the Koroks.
You guys didn't create a poll option for my particular plan:
1. Play Breath of the Wild
2. Play Tears of the Kingdom
I just got into Hyrule and head directly to kakariko village just to realize that The person i went to look at was not there, what im trying to say here is, i will take my time before ending the game, Nintendo's good at side quest so i know i will enjoy em'
1: decide on an objective and try to get there
2: get immediately distracted by stuff for several hours like a toddler in a room full of toys
3: realise l'm on the other side of the map
4: repeat until I get somewhere
Anyone who thought there were too may shrines in BOTW has a rude awakening here 😄 As with its prequel, my primary goal is to seek out all the towers to uncover the full maps, before taking as long as I need to soak it all in and just enjoy it.
Visiting the main towns to see what has altered has been a fascinating ride thus far.
With so much quality content clearly in evidence, it would be a shame to rush through and not fully appreciate the time and effort put into this by Nintendo.
@Cashews Good luck with that
Too busy with BOTW, and the many ways I can replay it under different rulesets for example:
1) 13 hearts only with Master Sword.
2) Same as above but in Master Mode.
3) 13 Hearts with Master Sword (But don't challenge Divine Beasts)
4) Same as above but in Master Mode
5) 3 Hearts only playthrough (Max Stamina)
6) Same as above but in Master Mode.
7) Stay on Horse unless story wise, if there is a shrine near by in close proximity of Horse trail (Some people don't know but a trained horse will automaticlly follow a trail path), then it's cool to go into it.
8) Same as above but in Master Mode.
9) Link in Birthday Suit Run.
10) Same as above but in Master Mode.
11) Hunger Games Link (Only Arrows)
12) Same as above but in Master Mode.
13) If you die, game over.
14) Same as above, but in Master Mode.
15) Duel Wielding (SAO Sword only style).
16) No teleporting Mode (Can work with Horse in playthrough)
17) "Realistic Approach Mode" (No teleporting, only 1 sword, 1 shield, and 1 bow in inventory, only a very few material items, example: 5 apples in your pockets at a time, something like that.) Most of inventory will be empty to be more realistic if you were in that world no way you would hold on to that many stuff. (Can't use Bombs, and other pad funtions, unless in shrines, and story progress circumstances).
The list goes on, and on dude...BOTW is great.
Go hog wild and explore much as possible before forced to start the story gameplay.
I want to get to the parts that make it different from Breath of the Wild, then explore.
Gonna give this one a miss, since it’s essentially more botw and I didn’t really like that one.
I always try to do everything possible before putting the game away and moving on to something else but these last two zelda games wow! The amount of stuff to complete is staggering!
The joy of an open world game is the feeling of exploration. I enjoyed it so much in the first BOTW and I will here, as well.
That doesn't mean that I won't focus on the story, just that I will spend a lot of time in between each story chapter exploring.
Try to 100% the game is my plan. It just sucks that I have to work. I only get maybe a couple hours of game time in at best on a workday. And sometimes, I spend that game time playing Genshin Impact, especially if they have a limited-time event going on (which they always do).
It's gonna be tough divvying up my time between work, Genshin Impact and Tears of the Kingdom, that's for sure.
I will wait until it is 33% off 5 years from now. Do want to play it but have a humongous backlog of games on Switch and PS5 (including tons of PS4 games).
Try to do everything.
Well, in about 250 years between me being kind of a mediocre gamer and trying to catch up with every Zelda game (currently on Link NES after finishing Link to the Past SNES followed by original NES).
@AstroTheGamosian well, one of those requires constant labor and toiling while separated from the actual benefits of that work. Not to mention the insecurity of possibly starting from square one if a shinier replacement comes strutting by.
...quit Genshin Impact now, is what I am saying.
I played BOTW for six years, first the original game and then finished Master Mode last month, it’s my fave game of all time! Gonna explore every inch of this sequel to see what has changed in this new Hyrule and I can’t wait to see what DLC they have planned!
wait until its on sale then I MIGHT get it. bought botw and barely touched it.
@Axecon This is a very interesting approach, I don't have the patience, but would love to do that.
Towers and activating shrines, caves, wells and depths. Once the map is a map again i will pick a region and clear it out and slowly move on. BOTW was 300 hours but I have a feeling I am gonna surpass that.
I found my first 4-5 hours surprisingly hard 😳 The opening chapter covers a lot of mechanics that were gradually introduced in the previous game… I got lost and stuck a few times. Everything is quite unforgiving for a tutorial. Kinda wondering how they expect newcomers to do it.
Muck about, experiment, explore and enjoy is my answer.
I ruined BOTW for myself because I let it stay in my backlog for ages and by the time i got to it, I knew everything there was to know, so I wasn't letting that happen again.
Took me the best part of yesterday to do the tutorial, but my game didn't come till late, so the game proper opened when it was bedtime for me. I've just been wandering around, making things that don't work and having a blast xD
@LikelySatan Yeah, sorry, but I'm too invested in the world to back out now.
While some may criticize the game for similarities to Breath of the Wild (and now Tears of the Kingdom) or for the gacha mechanic (which isn't really necessary to begin with), for me, the world-building is what's most important.
I want to see the next chapter and where the Traveler's adventures take them. I especially want to know the mystery behind the Fall of Khaenri'ah and how the Traveler's Sibling came to become evil. I'm in it for the long run, for better or worse.
I'll go towards main story goals, but stop every time I find something that interests me at that particular moment.
In the end I'll most likely do every Shrine and most if not all quests like in Breath of the Wild, but one thing's for sure, there's practically no way I'm finding every Korok Seed!
To wait and see if its going to be rereleased on the switch pro/2 or run it on pc with a smooth framerate.
@JoeYabuki I had friends over on launch day. We played through the opening sequence and first few hours so I'm not totally missing out.
Get the full 90$ worth and do everything (except maybe the Koroks if the reward isn't worth it). But I'll wait until Master Mode comes out before actually playing it.
WOW And all the haters are coming in full force. If you don't like the game don't buy it. No one is forcing you so just sell the game. Comments like that is why they get disdain alot and called NintenDoomed fandom acting as Nintendo users.
None of the above
I'm certainly no completionist, so that rules out all the "do every this/that" choices.
But I'm also not sticking to the main story either. I'm just exploring, then doing some quests that interest me, when I feel like advancing the main story I will. Rinse and repeat.
In BotW, I ended up getting about 85% of the shrines and 50% of the Koroks. I imagine it'll be similar for Tears
I’ll obviously get to the end eventually, but I feel like every time I try to finish a quest, it gives me four more to do.
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