The Return of Dungeons
Shrines were absolutely a standout feature of Breath of the Wild. Each was a bite-sized puzzle that made excellent use of the Runes within Link’s Sheikah Slate, encouraging players to experiment with all manner of physics-based solutions. With over 120 in the game, Breath of the Wild felt as though it was honoring the puzzle-roots of traditional Zelda gameplay. Dungeons, though, took a backseat, with only four major dungeon-like sections in the game in the form of the Divine Beasts. Each of these mechanical titans certainly made for an interesting spin on the conventional dungeons we’ve seen in games gone-by, as players entered their interior and contorted their bodies to gain access to new paths, ultimately in a mission to face-off with one of Ganon’s many forms.
Yet, as inventive as Divine Beasts are, we can’t pretend as though we didn’t miss the typical dungeon experiences that have been at the core of previous Zelda games. For the next Zelda game, we’re looking forward to whatever unique spin Aonuma and his team put on dungeon gameplay, but equally, crossing our fingers that they’re as substantial, haunting, and compelling as the best dungeons from games like Ocarina of Time and Wind Waker.
