The new gameplay footage revealed for The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom has revealed an innovative solution to Breath of the Wild’s weapon durability issues. The limited durability of weapons, although it furthered concepts such as exploration and resource management in the open-world game, also proved to be a source of frustration for many. However, the changes made for the sequel could ease such sentiments.
Nearly every obtainable weapon in BOTW has limited durability, with the only exceptions being the Master Sword and One-Hit Obliterator (the latter of which is only available for part of The Champion’s Ballad). This also extends to shields, which are damaged both through blocking attacks and shield surfing. Of course, some items have more durability than others, but ultimately they will always shatter, requiring Link to find replacements. This can lead the player to hoard weaponry, in order to preserve it for a larger battle as they avoid lesser foes, but paradoxically can also lead to these same weapons going perpetually unused.
Link’s New Fuse Ability Fixes The Role Of Durability In TOTK
Tears of the Kingdom has resolved the issues surrounding limited-durability weapons in a particularly inventive way. Although durability remains part of TOTK, the new Fuse ability allows Link to create new improvised weapons in an instant from various objects in his environment. This new crafting system for TOTK can also be used with collected items, environmental objects, and monster parts; with the implication being that there could easily be hundreds of combinations available. As a result, the breaking of a weapon has become less of a fear, and more of an opportunity. With one weapon gone, the player is free to experiment with new objects in order to replace it.
Fusing Weapons In TOTK Directly Benefits Durability
Another notable aspect of the Fuse ability is that it improves durability; as seen in the gameplay footage released by Nintendo, a wooden stick combined with a (shrunken) rock into a makeshift hammer has much greater durability and attack power than a wooden stick alone. This means that not only will players will be able to augment weapons in Tears of the Kingdom with additional properties via Fuse, but that the resulting weapon will also last longer as a result (with the exception of arrows, which evidently remain single-use when Fused). Although, with that being said, the potential for bows themselves being Fused for additional effects remains an intriguing possibility.
The sheer appeal of allowing players to mix and match weapons and other items cannot be understated. With so many potential combinations and effects to test, the Fuse mechanic will undoubtedly encourage extensive creative experimentation as a natural part of Tears of the Kingdom’s brilliant new crafting system. Because of this, durability will not simply be a source of frustration that drives players to conserve their weaponry and shields. Instead, every broken weapon will be an opportunity to try something different, to search the surrounding environment for new combinations with their own unique potential.
Durability was an inherent part of Breath of the Wild’s gameplay loop, but although the drive to acquire new weapons encouraged constant engagement, it also drastically limited the playstyles of more cautious players. However, the Fuse ability now allows durability to take on a new role in the next Zelda game. Players will be encouraged to experiment and innovate and be rewarded for doing so, with new effects and enhanced durability for otherwise ordinary weapons. Tears of the Kingdom is set to make weapon durability an asset rather than a deterrent, fixing one of the greatest problems with its predecessor.
Source: Nintendo of America/YouTube