The Legend Of Zelda: Breath Of The Wild is being advertised as a premiere NX launch window game, so many Nintendo fans are choosing to play it there. Last week we told you five reasons to play the Wii U version, but, for the sake of devil’s advocate, we thought we’d turn the tables. Here’s what’s so alluring about the next-gen build!
1) Possible Hybrid Features: While we don’t officially know what the NX will be, the industry assumption is that it’s probably a handheld with the ability to connect to TVs. With that in mind, Breath Of The Wild on NX has the potential to offer an experience that the franchise has never truly seen before.
With hybrid features, Link’s NX quest never has to stop. It can literally be taken anywhere. Especially with the new divide between smaller shrines and larger dungeons, this game is built for those different play styles. Why be mostly tethered to a TV when you don’t have to be?
2) Higher Specs Could Mean Better Performance: As an “indirect” successor to the Wii U, it’s expected that the NX will feature some sort of hardware-based improvement over the 2012 system. We discussed in our Wii U feature that power doesn’t always equate to increased quality, but a lot of times it does.
If ported correctly, Breath Of The Wild should theoretically run best on NX. Depending on the graphics hardware, it might also look a tad bit nicer too. Nintendo has said that both versions will be identical, but that doesn’t rule out offering smoother framerates and slightly better textures on the high-tier option. We’ll obviously know more when we see both builds in action.
3) Better Chance For Future Updates And Perks: It’s time to face the facts. The only reason this game is releasing on Wii U is because Nintendo made a promise to do so when the title was first introduced in 2014. Especially now, the hardware maker has shown that it’s essentially finished with all things GamePad.
That being said, if this game turns out to be a product that grows with time through DLC offerings, there’s a much better chance the NX build will have access to that content. Stopping add-on support for last-gen console games is a precedent that’s already been set by the likes of Grand Theft Auto V and Destiny. It wouldn’t be unfathomable for Nintendo to take a similar path with Zelda if the Wii U sales numbers don’t warrant the cost of work.
4) The Game Seems More Built For NX: Breath Of The Wild began production as a Wii U game, but its finished release seems far more suited for NX. We already talked about how dungeons and shrines adapt to console and handheld play styles, but the tailoring doesn’t stop there.
The Wii U GamePad also seems like it could be practically useless for this experience beyond the luxury of in-home streaming. During Breath Of The Wild’s E3 2016 demo, the large tablet worked as a control fact sheet that had nothing to do with inventory management or maps like one might expect. There are light motion controls for shooting arrows, but those can very easily find their way into a handheld NX too. This is a launch window game for NX. It should be played on the system it’s truly built for.
5) The NX Version Is A Zeitgeist Item: This last bullet may not impact every gamer, but it’s worth pointing out. When Breath Of The Wild does finally release, the NX build will most assuredly be the version that everyone’s talking about. If you’re playing on NX, that means you bought the new hardware. That new purchase will spawn all kinds of intrigue and respect from family and friends.
When journalists and influencers talk about their time with Link next year, you can also bet they’ll have left the Wii U behind as well. If you want to be playing with the same level of power and earn hardcore gamer and Nintendo fan cred, NX is where it’s at.
The Legend Of Zelda: Breath Of The Wild comes to Wii U and NX in 2017.
Do you think NX is the best place to play Breath Of The Wild? Are you settling for Wii U? Tell us in the comments section!
