The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild

THE LEGEND OF ZELDA: BREATH OF THE WILD

Alright, here we go! Breath of the Wild. Everyone’s favorite open-world Nintendo game for good reason. Lots of content, a lot of it difficult to categorize, but we can do it. Breath of the Wild is set way into the future of . . . one of the timelines, with a new Link waking up from a hundred-year sleep with no memory of how he got there, only the voice of Zelda telling him he needs to stop the Calamity.

Our Link is more or less an adult Link, but with abilities and mechanics distinct enough from other games to be its own thing, and a distinctive look that would justify it. He uses a lot of standard items like a sword, a shield, a sledgehammer, a bow and arrows, and so on, but he also is equipped with the Sheikah Slate, a special “iPad”-like item with four major functions: Magnesis, Cryonis (freezing things), Bombs coming in spherical and cube shapes, and Stasis that locks objects in place for a short time. He also has a paraglider, can climb really well, can perform a timed flurry rush, and uses special “ancient weapons” with more power.

The Princess Zelda of this game appears mostly in flashbacks, a curious researcher type who struggles to unlock the magical abilities of her predecessors. When she does unlock them though, she casts powerful enough light energy to keep the Calamity at bay for a hundred years and can use light arrows. Her father, King Rhoam Bosphoramus Hyrule appears to Link in the form of an old man, carrying around a water pail, starting a fire, using a woodcutter’s axe and glider, disappearing, and revealing his true form.

Our most important supporting characters are the four champions, four companions of Link and Zelda who were killed in battle a hundred years before, appearing mostly in flashbacks, alongside their four descendants in the modern day. Mipha is the Zora champion, and she and her younger brother Sidon can swim fast, climb waterfalls, wield a trident, throw a spear, and use healing magic. Daruk is the Goron champion, and he and his descendant Yunobo can project a shield around themselves, punch hard, demolish boulders, and fire themselves from cannons. Revali is the arrogant and self-assured Rito champion, and he and his descendant Teba can fly, use bows and arrows as weapons, and summon a powerful wind from the ground. Urbosa is the Gerudo champion, and she and her descendant Riju can call down lightning to strike, wield a staff, ride a walrus, and cast a barrier of protection from lightning.

Other major figures include the elderly Impa, the two researchers Purah and Robbie, Hestu the friendly giant Korok, Kass the wandering musician, Beedle now carrying around a giant pack, the Great Fairies, and the monks that reside in the Sheikah shrines throughout the game.

Calamity Ganon is our primary villain, having lost nearly all physical form, human or pig, over the centuries, and now exists as a giant angry wildfire made of toxic goop. In his boss battle, he breathes dark fire, fires a laser blast, covers the world in goop, takes on a giant spider form, takes on a giant beast form, and fires laser breath. Each Divine Beast also features a mini-boss that is part of Ganon, called the Blights, that take on the elements of the champions. Waterblight Ganon carries a spear, summons ice blocks, and raises the water; Windblight creates tornadoes, controls drones, and fires laser blasts; Fireblight wields a fire axe and shield and shoots fireballs; and Thunderblight creates lightning spikes, throws lightning balls, and electrifies things.

As for our major enemies, we see the return of the Bokoblin (with staffs, clubs, bombs, and bows and arrows at their disposal), Chuchu, Stalfos, Lizalfos (now more like chameleons that can camouflage themselves and attack with their tongues), Octoroks, Keese, Moblins, and Wizzrobes. I want to give a special shoutouts to Lynels and Hinoxes, as both are technically returning but, oh boy, did someone give them steroids laced with LSD and Monster energy drink. Lynels are now terrifying roided-up monsters with shields, broadswords, and lightning arrows, that can charge, warp around the battlefield, and breathe fire, while Hinoxes are gigantic cyclopes that can yank a tree out of the ground, butt bash the ground, roll logs at you, throw boulders, and toss bomb barrels.

Our newcomers are no slouches either. We have the Ancient Guardians, which are practically Armos mixed with Beamos and given spider-legs, that can fire lasers, wield lightning swords, carries spears, shields, and axes, and even have helicopter drone variants. Then we have Taluses, giant stone monsters that pretend to be boulders. And finally we have the Yiga Clan, ninjas that have the audacity to pretend to be harmless NPCs before revealing themselves, throwing darts at you, attacking with a circular blade, teleporting, wielding torches, and going bananas for bananas for some reason. Their chief, Master Kohga, also acts as a minor boss in the games, summoning barriers, throwing bombs, zipping around really fast, hovering, rolling on a big bomb, and using magnesis.

By nature of open world games, it’s a little difficult to differentiate all the different regions of the game, but there are a few distinct locations. You start on the Great Plateau, activate large Shiekah Towers all over the map, explore Shiekah Shrines that supply you with tests, you can visit the Temple of Time, Kakariko Village, Hateno Village, Zora’s Domain, Gerudo Town, the Yiga Clan Hideout, Rito Village, Eldin Volcano, the Great Hyrule Forest, and Hyrule Castle, as well as the four Divine Beasts, which is the closest the game comes to a dungeon, Vah Ruta, Vah Rudania, Vah Medoh, and Vah Naboris.

As for items, there are lots of different types of those mostly listed above, most notoriously known for their breakability factor. Food also becomes a factor in the game, helping you maintain your health.

Here's what we've got so far:

Characters:

Link: Master Sword, Hylian Shield, Epona, Iron Boots, Megaton Hammer, Pegasus Boots, bombs, fire arrows, ice arrows, light arrows, hookshot, boomerang, bombchu, lens of truth, climb, slingshot, fish, falcon, Wind Boomerang, Magnet Boots, Fish Bomb, Clawshot, Spinner, Ball and Chain, Dominion Rod, fatal blow, sail cloth, vents, slingshot, beetle, bug net, gust bellows, harp, dragon scale, whip, claw shots, Loftwing

Young Link: jumping, rolling, crawling, Kokiri Sword, Deku shield, Epona, slingshot, Deku stick, bomb flowers, hookshot, boomerang, bombchu, Navi, lens of truth, mirror shield, travel back in time three days, slow time, song of soaring, song of storms, song of awakening, bunny hood, camera, heartless soldier, masks, Fierce Deity Mask

Toon Link: sword, shield, horizontal and vertical slices, thrust, spin attack, telescope, bag for spoils, bombs, grappling hook, Deku Leaf, boomerang, skull hammer, fire and ice arrows, iron boots, power bracelets, mirror shield, hide in barrels, wind waker, change winds, tornado

Wolf Link: growl, dig, bite, warp, rage, stick torch, howl, Kargarok

Wild Link: sword, shield, sledgehammer, bow and arrows, Sheikah Slate, Magnesis, Cryonis, Bombs, Stasis, paraglider, climb, flurry rush, ancient weapons, champion abilities

Princess Zelda: Zelda's Lullaby, jewel, light arrows, remove bars, spell of light, seal Ganon, sword, heal, Triforce blast, float, tennis match, harp, sail cloth, seal herself, Loftwing

Sheik: Zelda's Lullaby, Sun Song, Song of Storms, Song of Time, Epona's Song, Saria's Song, warp songs, disappear, leap, harp

Tetra: cutlass, blunderbuss, cannonballs, raising platforms, rope swinging, spoils bag, catapult, bombs, arrows of light.

Wild Zelda: light magic, light arrows

King Daphnes Nohansen Hyrule: boat form, sail, cannon, grappling anchor, tornado warp.

King Rhoam Bosphoramus Hyrule: water pail, fire, woodcutter’s axe, glider, disappear, true form

Impa: disappear, Zelda's lullaby, Lens of Truth, magic shield, old and young

Midna: leap, cast energy balls, teleport, grab things, warp, float, shapeshift, shadow, warp objects, Kargarok, stab, monstrous form, Twili form, tear

Hero’s Shade: finishing blow, shield attack, back slice, helm splitter, mortal draw, jump strike, great spin, wolf form

Fi: skyward strike, dowsing, float, dance, sacred flames, tablet, other sword abilities

Groose: Loftwings, sailcloth, pumpkins, slingshot, Groosinator

Saria/Kokiri: Deku Sticks, Deku Nuts, Deku Sprouts, Great Deku Tree, Saria's song, slingshot, Mido

Darunia/Darmani/Darbus/Goron: rolling, defensive curl, strength, bomb flowers, hammer, dance, punch, ground pound, roll, drums, powder keg

Daruk/Yunobo/Goron?: shield, punch, boulder buster, cannons

Ruto/Mikau/Ralis/Zora: swim, dive, high speed swim, punch, fin blades, guitar, blue shield

Mipha/Sidon/Zora?: swim fast, climb waterfalls, trident, spear, healing magic

Nabooru/Gerudo: twin blades, guard, spear, Iron Knuckle

Urbosa/Riju/Gerudo?: lightning, staff, walrus surf, lightning barrier

Deku Scrub: launch from flower, fly with flowers, shoot bubbles, Deku Nut, spin dance, pipes

Medli/Rito: fly, lyre, reflect light, grappling hook, Valoo

Revali/Teba/Rito?: fly, bow and arrow, Revali's gale.

Makar/Korok: violin, spinning leaf, plant a tree, spitting flowers, Deku Leaves, Deku Nuts

Mogma: burrow, bomb flowers, steam vent, mole mitts, iron mitts

Ancient Robot: Timeshift Stones, digging claws, minecarts, propellers, boats, cannons, time shift orbs, upgrade

Happy Mask Salesman: draw in fairies, make chicks follow, milk bar, past Garos, Stalchildren, past Gibdos and ReDeads, become a giant, see hearts, detect smells, lead frogs, summon a Keaton, song of healing, shake

Ilia/Colin/Rusl/Malo/Talo/Beth/Bo: bow, slingshot, falcon, epona, sumo wrestling, cuccos

Agitha

Tingle: balloon, maps, magic dust, Tingle Tracker

Beedle: ship, flying ship, trapdoor, giant pack

Purah

Robbie

Hestu

Kass

Aryll: telescope

Great Fairy: Din's Fire, Farore's Wind, Nayru's Love, magical power, sword, spin attack, heal, expand pouch

Malon: Epona, Epona's song, Cuccos, Lon Lon Milk, bow

Dampe: dig, float, fire

Kafei: push

Yeto/Yeta: punch, sled, cannons, stew, rise, icy wind, ice chunks

Monkeys: clear smoke, climbing, swinging their companions, give a boost, forming chains, dark boomerang, pillars

Ganondorf: horse, blast of light, waves of darkness, ground pound, ball of lightning, horse, lightning, elbow strike

Toon Ganondorf: twin swords, slash, multi-attack, block, lunge, swoop forward, punch, dodge

Phantom Ganon: ride horse, float, lightning tennis

Beast Ganon: two giant swords, barrier of fire, charge, teleport, body slam

Calamity Ganon: dark fire, laser blast, Malice, spider form, beast form, laser breath, Blights, spear, ice blocks, raise water, tornadoes, drones, fire axe, shield, fireballs, lightning spikes, lightning balls, electrify.

Skull Kid: dance, steal, float, curses, call down the moon, Tatl and Tael, warp, puppets

Majora: spins, tentacles, summon masks, laser beam, weird dance, long tentacles, top

Zant: wave of light, ball of red energy, telekinesis, shadow stone, twilight sword, Zant Heads, create portals, twilight bats, giant hands, phantom form, teleport, shadow balls, spin, fly, alter the world, twin blades

Ghirahim: sword, teleports, two finger block, darts, charge, slash downward, downward strike, barriers, summon enemies, platform, block, lightning hands, circle of fire, spell to resurrect

Demise: Imprisoned, sword, wind, dark portal, block, lightning, disc of lightning.

Pirate captain: electric rod, hook

King Bulblin: Lord Bulbo, horns, axe, summon twilight, horn, other Bulblins

Master Kohga: barriers, bombs, zip fast, hover, giant bomb, magnesis

Gohma: climbs, drops eggs, lava, bite, lasers, baby Gohmas

Dodongo: dig, leap, breathe fire, roll around, swallow bombs

Kotake and Koume/Twinrova: quicksand, fly around on brooms, fire and ice magic, combine.

Dark Link

Iron Knuckle/Darknut: giant axe, slam, collapsing pillars, broadswords, shields, spears, punch, sword, second sword, mace

Stalfos: stalchildren, kick, sword, shield, dust breath, floating head, mace, multiple arms

Poe: disappearing, throwing flames, spinning with lanterns, paintings, puzzle blocks, illusions, curse, Jalhalla, scythe, blue fire

Armos: Beamos, lasers, sentrobes, maybe Dominion Rod

Octoroks: Big Octo, spit rocks, projectiles, tentacles, whirlpools, fly

Moblins: charge with spears, clubs shockwaves, spears, Helmarocs, giant shields

Deku Baba: crawl, hang upside down, Mini Baba, Boko Baba, Big Baba, Baba Serpent, Diababa

Deku Scrub: hide, shoot Deku Nuts, merchants

Wolfos

Lizalfos/Dinolfos/Aeralfos: jump, swords, breathe fire, fly, arm guard, club tail, camouflage, tongue

Gibdo

Wizzrobe: teleport, spell of ice, staff, fireballs, fire spell, summon ally

Stalchildren

Chuchu: hopping, dropping from the ceiling, sparking with electricity, turning to stone

Gekko: punch, hop, ride a Snapper, Mad Jelly

Garo: hop, attack with swords, pop out of ground, barrier of fire, flaming swords, leap high

Bokoblins: clubs, swords, shields, broadswords, Helmarocs, burst from pots, cleaver, mace, boulder, technoblins, staffs, bows and arrows, bombs, exploding barrels

Helmaroc

Helmasaur

Bulblins: hogs, arrows, clubs, set fires, Kargaroks (maybe King Bulbin and regular Bulblin as echoes?)

Shadow Beasts: grab, claw

Kargarok

Lynel: shields, broadswords, lightning arrows, charge, warp, breathe fire

Hinox: yank a tree, butt bash, roll logs, throw boulders, bomb barrels

Ancient Guardian: fire lasers, lightning swords, spears, shields, axes, helicopter drones

Talus

Yiga Clan Member: disguise, throwing darts, circular blade, teleporting, torches, bananas, blade masters.

Bosses:

Gohma

Dodongo

Barinade

Phantom Ganon

Volvagia

Morpha

Bongo Bongo

Twinrova

Beast Ganon

Odolwa

Goht

Gyorg

Twinmold

Helmaroc King

Kalle Demos

Gohdan

Jalhalla

Molgera

Diababa

Fyrus

Morpheel

Stallord

Argorok

The Imprisoned

Scaldera

Moldarach

Koloktos

Tentalus

Bilocyte

Waterblight Ganon

Windblight Ganon

Fireblight Ganon

Thunderblight Ganon

Calamity Ganon

Stages:

Lost Woods

Kokiri Village

Hyrule Field

Lon Lon Ranch

Hyrule Castle

Castle Town

Temple of Time

Kakariko Village

Death Mountain

Zora's Domain

Lake Hylia

Gerudo Valley

Great Deku Tree

Dodongo's Cavern

Lord Jabu-Jabu's Belly

Forest Temple

Fire Temple

Water Temple

Shadow Temple

Spirit Temple

Ganon's Castle

Clock Town

Termina Field

Woodfall

Snowhead

Great Bay

Ikana

Inside the Moon

Great Sea

Outset Island

Pirate Ship

Forsaken Fortress

Windfall Island

Dragon Roost Island

Forest Haven

Great Fish Island

Tower of the Gods

Earth Temple

Wind Temple

Kingdom of Hyrule

Ganon’s Tower

Faron Woods

Eldin Volcano

Lanayru Desert

Ordon Village

Bridge of Eldin

Goron Mines

Arbiter’s Grounds

Snowpeak Ruins

Hidden Village

City in the Sky

Palace of Twilight

Twilight Realm

Skyloft

Lumpy Pumpkin

Thunderhead

Sky Keep

Sealed Grounds

Skyview Temple

Lake Floria

Ancient Cistern

Earth Temple

Fire Sanctuary

Lanayru Mining Facility

Lanayru Sand Sea

Sand Ship

Silent Realm

Great Plateau

Shiekah Tower

Shiekah Shrine

Hateno Village

Yiga Clan Hideout

Rito Village

Hyrule Castle

Vah Ruta

Vah Rudania

Vah Medoh

Vah Naboris

Thanks for reading! Now, let's start our character sheets, first with a . . . somewhat new thing that will attempt to cover all pre-existing roster members and update them without wasting several weeks at a time!