LogFAQs > #876142242

ParanoidObsessive posted...

Basically, the game could almost be more accurately be described as "Breadth of the Wild". Nearly all of the aspects people are praising revolve around exploration and the sheer size of the map as core gameplay. Even weapon breaking ties into that, because it forces you to experiment with new items and new methods of play rather than simply finding the most powerful sword you can and just spam the most effective attack strategies. The game wants you to explore and discover everything on your own, and wants to force you out of your comfort zone in order to make sure you're actually doing that. In some ways, it's more true to the original Legend of Zelda on the NES than anything that's come after.

The bulk of the durability complaints comes from breaking weapons too easily rather than the durability mechanic. Which is a fair enough complaint, although people seem generally unaware that lower-tier weapons break much more easily against tougher monster. That said, plenty of people (like Yatzee) have (rightfully) complained of games in the past giving you many weapons/skills/magic options, only to also include a handful that are so good that they outshine and outclass the others, breaking the entire point of having a bunch of weapons to choose from.

Thus, it was very wise for BotW to make every weapon, no matter how good, breakable. The lone exception is the Master Sword, which you can't get until late in the, and which actually can "break" from overuse, in a way-it will become dull and unusable from too much use, but it slowly heals itself back to full power over time of non-use.
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PotD's resident Film Expert.