A few disclaimers before we move forward:
- Traveling Thoughts is a means of putting down my thoughts in a bit-by-bit process that will eventually lead up to a formal review of the overall subject. These posts will be more personal than objective, though one should expect a good amount of both as is my personality of habit.
- These posts will absolutely contain spoilers. Read at your own risk.
This one will be quick as I can see the light at the end of the tunnel and I’m sprinting.
One thing that makes itself known almost upfront in Breath of the Wild is a player customization menu. This includes equipping armor, weapons, shields, and stat-boosting effects. In the beginning, all one has is a dirty pair of pants and a shirt. Link runs along in what is essentially pajamas while trying to survive out in the dangerous wilderness. As the game expands and the areas become more familiar to the player, more items will become available for Link to make fashion-friendly.
In a purely cosmetic sense, there isn’t too much for Link to wear, but all armor has a certain purpose, whether it be general defensive quality or a boost to certain capabilities. Some armor can increase a resistance to elemental damage, some make Link swim faster, climb faster, or less likely to be noticed when being stealthy. These armor sets can be as blatant as a suit of armor to puny earrings. It’s distinguished by head, torso, and leg items. As for weapons, Link can equip a one-handed weapon with a shield, a two-handed weapon, and a bow and arrow for both combinations. What weapons can do aren’t much different than with clothing—a certain amount of damage, with occasional effects that increase things such as durability or damage against specific enemies.
Speaking of durability, weapons can break. All weapons. Even shields. The only thing that can’t be lost forever is the Master Sword, but even that will become unusable for a limited time if used too frequently. Most weapons are pretty fragile, especially early on. A lot of the frantic association with my early playthrough of this game was just trying to secure a weapon at all times (bombs work wonders when unarmed). Personally, this is a really annoying thing because I enjoy having powerful weapons at all times, but I understand the logic behind implementing this practice. Keeps one on their toes.
Link can cook food/potions to heal himself, increase stamina, or boost certain resistances (usually aversion to heat/cold). Cooking probably should’ve gotten its own post. Oh well. I’m slightly off topic.
To add to the customization flavor, Great Fairies are sprinkled throughout that will increase the value of Link’s armor for a certain amount of various material found from defeating enemies. It’s a really nice motivation to get every piece of armor one can so that they can pick and choose armor for every occasion without the threat of serious damage. And for those who like colors, there is a dye shop in Hateno Village that charges practically nothing to dye individual armor pieces different colors. I always liked this addition because not only am I a fashionista, but it provides better motivation to experiment with different sets of armor and, well, I just like more player choice. It’s a nice little thing to add.
Okay, that’s it! After fourteen months, I’ve finally finished my Traveling Thoughts series on The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild! Thanks so much to everyone who followed along. A formal review shall follow at some point, likely not for some months, but that’s to be determined. Until the next topic!
(All gameplay screenshots courtesy of, once again, MKIceAndFire.)
The Visualist's Veranda 
Congrats on finally getting to the end of this very lengthy, but enjoyable, in depth series!
It’s amazing how you managed to stick with it for so long. As someone who’s still playing (I only have the final dungeon left to beat, done everything else) it’s been a very enjoyable read all throughout!
Looking forward to the next project, whatever it may be.