Five tips for surviving latest 'Legend of Zelda'
In case you haven't heard, Nintendo's fantasy epic The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild is incredible.
The video game for Nintendo Switch and the Wii U represents a huge leap for the 31-year-old franchise, offering players beautiful landscapes to explore and countless dangers to escape.
Survival is a key theme. No longer do you break vases or cut through grass in hopes of restoring your health or finding rupees — the game's currency. Breath of the Wild is also huge. Hours will be spent exploring every inch of the game's world.
To help make your visit to Hyrule pleasant, here are some tips:
1. Cook as much as possible. See all those apples, herbs and mushrooms you're finding? You can cook them all! Yes, you can eat them raw, but the real benefits come from cooking. Once you find a pot to cook, experiment with ingredients. In most cases, mix together a meat, fruit or vegetable, and herbs and you'll get a solid dish. Benefits vary depending on the combination. Some dishes provide you resistance to cold or heat. One dish I made not only refilled my health, but gave me four extra temporary hearts that disappear if I take damage. Music cues tell you right away whether you made a masterpiece or a clunker (like Dubious Food). You can also mix parts from monsters and creatures like frogs to make elixirs. Also, pay attention to the properties of each item. It will give you a sense of what benefits you might get from cooking.
2. Stickers are your friend. Use often. When players view the map, they can pin specific locations, like a Shrine off in the distance. There are also a lot of Stickers players can place to save key points, such as special characters, pots to cook food and other important locations. Don't be afraid to use these frequently. It will really help navigating Hyrule.
3. Toss weapons about to break. There are some really great weapons in this game, from spears to giant axes you wield with two hands. They all have one thing in common: use them too much and they shatter. One fun trick to get a little extra damage is toss the weapon at a target. This applies to swords and similar weapons, but not bows. Plus, it's really fun.
4. Shrines make great travel hubs. Whether you solve the puzzle within the Shrine or not, simply entering will unlock it as a fast-travel spot. This is especially great if you get stuck and want to break away to do something else. Because the world is so big, the more Shrines and towers you can unlock, the better.
5. Know when to make the leap. Climbing is one of the most interesting parts of Zelda, as you manage your stamina attempting to zip up a mountain or other structure. Jumping takes a lot out of you, so knowing when to use it is important. Sometimes, you'll need to slowly climb to preserve stamina, or you make need to make that final leap to get over the top. It can be the difference between reaching the top or taking a really nasty spill.
Follow Brett Molina on Twitter: @brettmolina23.