Zelda: Tears Of The Kingdom – no easy mode (pic: Nintendo)

The Wednesday letters page is upset about changing controller button names, as one reader looks forward to the Asus ROG Ally.

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Hold me
I’m playing through Zelda: Tears Of The Kingdom right now and I’m enjoying it but… I’m kind of embarrassed to say this but am I the only one that’s finding it really difficult? Maybe I’ve wandered into an area that I shouldn’t of but I’m having a lot of trouble with enemies, given I’ve got so few hearts, and I’ve now taken to just trying to avoid them and creep around their camps.

But I also have no real idea where I’m going or what I’m doing most of the time. I don’t know if I wasn’t paying attention properly or not, but I don’t understand what’s happened to Zelda. I don’t really understand what happened to Link’s arm and I certainly don’t understand the connection between Ganondorf and Ganon, and how that relates to the last game.

I realise you can’t answer some of those without spoilers but is it me being dim or is all this stuff not explained properly? I’m all for a lack of handholding but it seems to me this has gone too far in the opposite direction, compared to something like God Of War, and it’s just obscure and unhelpful for no reason. I’d almost think Nintendo had shares in YouTube for how often I’m having to check there to see how to do something.
Spookan

Chase the rabbit
Just like Zelda: Breath Of The Wild but much more so, you go down so many rabbit holes with Tears Of The Kingdom.

I didn’t read the dev talks but I got the gist from others that one advantage of using the same world was they could spend more time filling it with new stuff. They’ve been very busy by the looks of it, even from my short eight or so hours with it.

That time has been spent checking out whatever caught my eye or something non-quest related like visiting the Shrine of Resurrection, just to see what’s changed and playing about with the new mechanics. I decided today to add some structure and go to the first suggested main quest area and just explore that zone for now. Very impressed from early play though.
Simundo

Zelda: The Movie
Wondering what all the graphical complaints about the new Zelda game are about. It looks like an animated film to me, on the advertisement that shows on TV. If I wasn’t a non-fan, having tried several games previously, I’d certainly play it.

Forgot to send in at the weekend but I’d put in Sephiroth’s theme One Winged Angel. I have it on my MP3 Walkman and I always mistake it for a Dark Souls boss theme, it’s in that bracket for quality and it’s several years older. Great tune.
Bobwallett

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Random letters
What does GC think about the Asus ROG Ally? I assume you will be reviewing it once released. It has impressive specs and is competitively priced against the Steam Deck.

Considering how powerful processors are becoming in handheld devices (including phones) I’m kind of optimistic Switch 2 may be a significant step up from the original. I hope Nintendo put some extra processing capability in the docking system this time. I know we shouldn’t ever try to second guess Nintendo, but I’ve a feeling Switch 2 will be more powerful than some may expect.
Anon

GC: We’ll be reviewing it, but it’s already scored 0/10 for its name.

Following the market leader
Just a follow up to say I meant to say Nintendo have them in a different positioning, not that they changed them.

However, wasn’t it the Sega Dreamcast that initially changed it and Xbox just followed?

And PlayStation initially intending the circle to be the ‘A’ but games started using ‘X’ as the confirm button?

In any case, it’s what I am used too from many years of playing Xbox and PlayStation, so that in itself always throws me off.
Matt

GC: You’re right that Sega also reversed them, but Nintendo’s layout was the first one and it would’ve been very helpful if everyone had just stuck with that or simply used different letters or symbols. In Japan, the PlayStation circle and cross buttons did have their functions reversed until very recently; they changed them to the Western style with the PlayStation 5. Which must’ve been really annoying.

Muscle memory
RE: Matt’s letter. I can sort of relate to their gripe about customisable controls (or lack of) afforded in games.

I played the 2D Metroid games last year, with the exception of Samus Returns, as a warm-up to Dread (it had been so long since Fusion).

I remember the subtle change of button mapping between games being a little jarring at first. This may have been a problem with the more reaction-oriented Dread but that game eased the player in nicely enough to rewire the brain in good time. I’m sure Zelda: Tears Of The Kingdom will be similar in that respect.

I find a palate cleanser can help. I played Deadly Premonition 2 between Fusion and Dread and this gave my subconscious memory time to reset somewhat. This also helped with the difference in controls between the two Deadly Premonition games, coincidentally. I had played the first entry prior to my sojourn down Metroid lane and racked up enough hours to find the sequel’s buttons counter intuitive at first. I had all but forgotten this on returning after a break.

Having said all this though: the one thing that I cannot get along with is the inability to invert the Y-axis. This is hardwired into me now. Non-inversion is like changing the pedals on a car around.
D Dubya

No secrets
So if theory is Nintendo might have some minor new games or remasters to reveal this year, what does anyone think they might be? Could F-Zero GX Remastered be a reality? Are we finally going to get another Wave Race? Would Nintendo dare to make another Chib-Robo? Are we just doomed to see the nth re-release of Zelda: Twilight Princess and The Wind Waker?

I’m not sure it’ll be any of these, as I can see Zelda doing so well that Nintendo don’t need anything else until the Switch 2 next year. In fact, that sounds like a classic Nintendo plan to me. I can’t say it’s one I’m excited about but that’s my prediction.
Lambert

25 hours of gaming
I do get that ‘I’ve seen this all before’ kind of feeling when wandering around the Zelda: Tears Of The Kingdom map. If there were people moaning about it just being a copy and paste of the last game’s geography, I do understand why they could feel like that. I don’t believe Nintendo would just throw out the same map without good reason. It’s a sequel after all, set a few years on so it makes sense. The more hours I’ve put in to Tears Of The Kingdom the less I’ve cared that it’s the same map.

I’ve broken away from doing any missions and I’m just exploring the game world. I’m purposely going to my favourite areas from Breath Of The Wild to see exactly what has changed in each locale. It’s made me realise, yes, I’m wandering around to the same songs playing for the best part and, yes, it does look very much the same as before, but is that really a bad thing considering it’s a direct sequel?

I’ve unlocked the complete map by accessing every sky tower. That was a delight in itself and now I can see the full map. The little puzzles at each one was great. I’ve suddenly developed an inability to walk past a well without jumping down it.

I decided that I’ll only improve my stamina for the time being and have died a lot for making that choice. But I can get around the game world faster by doing this. The new enemies have caused me problems. What kind of world do we live in when I can’t even trust an apple tree anymore? I won’t say anymore than that.

I do think you have an advantage if you have put hours into Breath Of The Wild. The small tricks still work, such as whistling the fish out of the water, and I have a stable full of my horses from the old game that have transferred from my Breath Of The Wild save.

I could go on and on all day about this game. It really is that good. I wish I had more hours in my days to play more of it right now.
Nick The Greek

Inbox also-rans
The excellent Beyond Good and Evil HD is £2.02 currently on Xbox Store. It is backward compatible with Xbox Series X and S. Just got it myself, as my physical version is for PlayStation 2. I highly recommend it, hopefully the sequel will be good too.
Andrew J.

As someone who enjoyed Assassin’s Creed Valhalla I can exclusively confirm that having another 11 sequels is not what I want at all. Heck, 11 Zelda games would be too much, within the sort of time frame they’re implying.
Gorgy

This week’s Hot Topic
The subject for this weekend’s Inbox was suggested by reader Damon, who asks what’s the longest you’ve ever spent looking forward to a game?

Although it’s becoming common for new games not to be announced until close to release even then they can often get delayed, leaving you waiting months and even years after their initial reveal. So which game have you waited the longest for and was it a disappointment – if it’s actually out yet.

What do you feel is the optimum time to announce a game, ahead of its released date and how upset do you get about delays, versus launching with bugs and other problems?

E-mail your comments to: [email protected]

The small print
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You can also submit your own 500 to 600-word Reader’s Feature at any time via email or our Submit Stuff page, which if used will be shown in the next available weekend slot.

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MORE : Games Inbox: Tears Of The Kingdom reusing its open world, Diablo 4 beta praise, and Zelda frame rate

MORE : Zelda: Tears Of The Kingdom launch sales are double Hogwarts Legacy and Breath Of The Wild

MORE : Weekend Hot Topic: Favourite video game music track

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The Wednesday letters page is upset about changing controller button names, as one reader looks forward to the Asus ROG Ally.