Board 8 > Altimadark plays Nintendo's "The Last of Us" [BotW/MM] [SPOILERS]

(+) Yeah! (+)

Ah, the Legend of Zelda. Really, the series needs no introduction, and there's no way I could do it proper justice, anyway. For my part, I've been enjoying this series since LttP, though I've mostly only played the 2D games--I only got around to OoT and MM after their 3DS re-releases (and for those who care, I think MM was better)

That said, Breath of the Wild seems to be something of a big deal, and it (along with the expansion pack) was included with my Switch bundle, so here we are. Doing this in Master Mode because hey, I paid for it, so why not? If nothing else, it should be entertaining for others to see/read about.

I've already cleared the Great Plateau (twice -- thanks, Nintendo 9_9); I should have a follow-up posted later this evening.
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So, quick rundown of the great plateau... via the train-of-thought cliff-notes version. Clearly this is the best option.

- First time running them game, it skips the title screen and just starts up the game. Had to do the opening again just to start up in Master Mode, but it's short enough that it's not really a problem.
- So what's the first thing Link does when waking up? Grab a Nintendo Switch. -_-
- What's the first thing I (as a player), do as soon as I exit the Shrine of Resurrection? Walk off a cliff and die. 9_9
- Oh hey, an old hermit. I'm getting a Sahasralah/King of Red Lions vibe from him. Gives some friendly advice, then it's on to the first quest point.
- Woo, my first enemies! Time for some classic combat!
- First harsh rule of combat: don't engage in combat unless you are prepared.
- And I swear, I keep forgetting this rule despite the game telling me not to rush in every time I die because of it. :p
- Second harsh rule of combat: don't use tools as weapons. And certainly don't throw them at enemies. Gog, I missed that first axe soooo much.
- Hermit of Red Lions offers me his paraglider for getting a treasure out of a shrine. I just know where this is going, especially when the "treasure" is immaterial.
- Yep, now I have to find three more shrine treasures. 9_9
- Sure are a lot of mushrooms around here. And robot parts. And I'm going to be doing a lot of resource gathering before I'm through, aren't I?
- Put a bunch of monster parts into the pot. Results are... regrettably edible.
- Ooo, a DLC chest! ...and it's a Nintendo Switch shirt. Meh.
- Bokoblin skeletons are surprisingly good sources of spare weapons.
- I notice my big dumb fingers keep accidentally pressing down on the L button, which is kind of inconvenient when the Sheikah Switch is set to one of the bombs.
- Hermit of Red Lions wants some spicy stir-fry, and will even trade his coat for some. Well, good luck with that; I'ma head up the mountain.
- Deathly cold up there. Looks like I'ma have to whip up some of that stir-fry.
- HUNTING FOR WILD BOAR IS BOLLOCKS
- And he didn't even want the stir-fry, just the recipe. Ah well, more for me.
- Didn't notice this on the first run-thru, but for some reason Hermit of Red Lions is taking in the view atop the tallest, coldest, dankest peak of Hyrule.
- Yeah, I imagine gurus in the world of Zelda would meditate while making triangle hand signs. I like how there's one for each triangle in the triforce, including the empty one in the middle.
- Couldn't figure out how to climb up to the time-stop shrine until I'd already cleared it. Oh well.
- Final shrine cleared, and it seems the Hemit of Red Lions is actually a ghooooost!
- On a more serious note, is that a poe's lantern he's carrying on his staff? Nice touch.
- I like that Hermit of Red Lions tells you to go where the X is, which just so happens to be the Temple of Time -- feels like a good way to guide newbies without annoying veteran players who'd know exactly where to go.
- Turns out the Hermit of Red Lions really is a ghost -- the ghost of King Hyrule! Who somehow had a material body and hunts and cooks and eats and how is he a ghost?
- Also, good on the designers outlining the overall goal of the game only after you've familiarized yourself enough with the game system. It was actually kinda fun running around the Great Plateau just exploring and getting used to the controls and nuances and GOG I STILL HATED HUNTING WILD BOARS NO GAME I DON'T WANT BOMBS WHY AM I STILL TRYING TO FIGHT ELITE BOKOBLINS I JUST BROKE MY HAMMER FIGHTING IT AAAAAAAARGH

Well that was fun. Time to cast off into the world below.

More later.
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