It felt bizarre coming again to Tears of the Kingdom, considered one of my favorite gaming experiences evz, so quickly after I had wrapped it up for the primary time. Time has sped by unfathomably shortly, and I wasn’t certain whether or not a efficiency enhance and a further cell app could be sufficient to let the Nintendo Change 2 Version get its hooks in me to fairly the identical extent as its predecessor did again in 2023.
Nonetheless, I could not name myself a real Zelda fan if I did not no less than have a gander at this new package deal. I began a brand new save file (as a result of that is an choice now), blinked, and immediately realised that 5 hours had handed.
The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom – Nintendo Change 2 Version is perhaps one of many more durable titles to get your tongue round, however falling again into this elegant sequel was as simple as pie. These diving into the journey for the primary time can relaxation simple understanding that they are getting the sport in its mightiest kind; those that have already poured lots of of hours into Hyperlink’s newest can really feel secure within the data {that a} efficiency enhance and cell extras are properly value making the return journey, even when a bit of the magic is misplaced alongside the best way.
I am certain that you have already got an honest grasp of TOTK’s story and options, so I will not waste any time on a recap right here (and I like to recommend studying our Change 1 assessment first in the event you’ve by no means performed the sport). Relaxation assured, the efficiency enhance hasn’t taken something away from the sport’s scope. This Hyrule remains to be huge and full to the brim with quest-giving NPCs, attention-snatching factors of curiosity, and, sure, ya-haha-ing Koroks.
The distinction is that each one of this feels a bit extra manageable now. I am going to get to the sport’s beautiful facelift in only a second, however I might wish to briefly spotlight Zelda Notes first.
This elective cell add-on has levelled its fair proportion of criticism (even we Nintendo Life writers are break up on it). The audio steering voice is painfully grating and as repetitive as they arrive — on that we are able to all agree — whereas the very precept of an exterior information dictating your each transfer is not nice for the immersion ranges. For Breath of the Wild and its tighter world, I, too, could be extra hesitant in regards to the Zelda Notes inclusion. However returning to my previous save file on TOTK, and the *checks notes* 66% of the sport I nonetheless hadn’t accomplished after wrapping up the story, it felt like a welcome bonus.
One among TOTK’s best strengths is its near-endless sense of surprise — you may by no means spend an excessive amount of time on one goal earlier than being distracted by 12 others — however, significantly within the late sport, it will probably begin to really feel like a bit an excessive amount of. I, for instance, adore the Addison facet quests, the place you must help a nervous little Hylian on his sign-balancing missions. I might like to finish extra of them, and the Zelda Notes addition can assist me to try this.
In latest days, I’ve hopped on for a couple of minutes to tick off a few Koroks, beat a Shrine, or hearken to the brand new fully-voiced Voice Recollections from Zelda, Rauru, and Grasp Kohga — inessential bits of ‘lore’ however completely innocent. You can nonetheless play with out the app, and let TOTK throw each distraction it will probably muster your manner (and also you completely ought to), however taken as an additional that will likely be used predominantly by individuals who have already seen the journey to the top, its inclusion makes Hyrule that bit much less intimidating.
However let’s not get slowed down in bonuses. TOTK – NS2 Ed.’s best power remains to be the bottom sport, and good heavens, is that sport an utter pleasure to play with this boosted efficiency.
On Change 1, this was a marvel. This can be a sport the place you may mix any two objects to create one thing new, swim by means of mountains to shortly attain greater floor, and strategy fight encounters in any manner conceivable — mechs, meat shields, you identify it. The Change might do all of this with out immediately bursting into flames (like I say, a marvel!), however it wasn’t with out its technical hiccups. Taking a stroll by means of the Korok Forest would nonetheless tank the body fee, issues would get crunchy when attempting to manoeuvre a big construct, and so on.
Expectedly, all of this can be a factor of the previous this time round. From my expertise, the sport runs at a buttery easy 60fps on a regular basis. And I imply all the time. I’ve sprinted by means of the Korok Forest with out a lot as a stutter, dived from Sky Island to depths with no slowdown, and fast-travelled with essentially the most minimal of load screens. It doesn’t matter what I threw at it, the Change 2 saved issues regular.
And I can’t emphasise sufficient simply how fairly every little thing seems when working with out restraint. Be it within the wind flowing by means of Hyperlink’s hair or the glowing power of a cowering Zonai assemble, taking part in with such buttery smoothness means you’ll not wish to return to the unique in a rush. Imagine me, I attempted.
The decision enhance has labored wonders for the world, too. Textures are rather more outlined, even from afar, and the improved draw distance makes it simpler than ever to scout out a ground-level locale from a faraway Sky Island.
It is true that the 4K goodness (in docked mode) highlights a handful of visible blemishes that I do not keep in mind catching my eye within the authentic — have these mountains at all times seemed so… grainy? — however with out a full overhaul of the artwork, this was certain to occur. And let’s be clear, I am nitpicking small blemishes right here. It seems beautiful general.
If there’s one factor to remember earlier than diving again into Tears, it is that your playthrough is unlikely to be fairly as magical because it was the primary time round. The sport remains to be filled with magnificence however, exterior of Zelda Notes, there’s nothing new right here. Kirby and the Forgotten Land will pack in bonus challenges on Change 2, Mario Get together Jamboree is getting new rulesets, however TOTK has been left as it’s.
Positive, £7.99 / $10.99 is a small worth to pay to see the visible and efficiency improve in motion (even smaller to these with a Nintendo Change On-line + Growth Pack membership, who get it for ‘free’), however do not anticipate to come back again and really feel the magic in fairly the identical manner as you may with a further Grasp Mode or Facet Quest.
Conclusion
When all’s stated and executed, Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom – Nintendo Change 2 Version is a incredible revamp of maybe Nintendo’s most elegant sequel. What was as soon as a technical marvel on aged {hardware} now has an opportunity to actually shine, with visible and efficiency boosts undoubtedly making it the definitive strategy to play.
Nothing will ever match the sensation of taking part in it for the primary time, after all, and a few bonus content material would have been welcome, however armed with Zelda Notes and the promise of buttery easy upgrades, I might problem anybody to dip again in with out dropping hours to its unrivalled surprise.