Summary
- The Switch 2 enhances Zelda: BotW with improved resolution, clearer textures, and a stronger framerate.
- The game now runs natively at 1080p in handheld mode and delivers faster loading times.
- The Switch 2 adds a new save slot, allowing players to start fresh and experience the game's features anew.
Mario Kart World is the big launch game that most Switch 2 fans bought. It’s Nintendo’s only big first-party game until July, and there are other good Switch 2 titles at launch, like Bravely Default: Flying Fairy HD Remaster. Beyond new games, there are also enhanced games from the last generation, like The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild.
The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild is still one of the greatest Nintendo launch games of all time, and now it’s improved on Switch 2. How has it been improved? Let’s go through the ways that the Switch 2 has improved Breath of the Wild, a game that was already a masterpiece, and why it will be hard to go back to either the Switch or Wii U versions ever again.
6 The Improved Resolution
Going Full HD
The original Switch output was 720p in both handheld and TV modes. The Switch 2 has various system upgrades, including a difference between the handheld and TV modes. Games like The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild run natively at 1080p in handheld mode, and then there is a possibility to hit 4K while playing on the TV, as the dock will enhance the game's visuals.
While The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild doesn’t quite hit those 4K resolutions while docked, the game still looks remarkably better in either mode than it did on the Switch. It’s like getting a remaster of the game on the cheap, as it’s only a $10 upgrade, or free for Nintendo Switch Online subscribers who have the right model. A proper remaster with more bonuses, including the DLC, could have won more fans over, but this Switch 2 enhanced edition is still pretty stunning visually.
5 Clearer Textures
Just Look At That Water
Better visuals are one thing, but there are more minor details that not everyone will notice. For example, one of the best moments in Breath of the Wild happens right after Link awakens in his chamber. When he exits, the game pans across a giant valley. On the Switch and Wii U versions, the draw distance wasn’t particularly impressive, resulting in some blurry textures.
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The draw distance is much better on Switch 2, even though the textures can still be blurry in some parts. Lighting has also been improved, and fans can notice it early while standing in the church on the Great Plateau and admiring sunlight coming through the windows. Finally, the water is clearer, allowing Link to see below the surface. Larger bodies of water are still murky, as players aren’t meant to dive deep, but overall, it’s these little texture details that make the game more impressive on Switch 2.
4 A Stronger Framerate
Those Explosions Never Stutter
The open-world setting was a big deal when The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild launched, as it changed the way players interacted with Hyrule. Besides the tutorial on the Great Plateau, players could do anything and go anywhere they liked. Playing with the physics was one of the most enjoyable elements, from setting grass on fire to causing a massive explosion in an enemy camp and watching those bodies fly high.
The more creative players were, the more the game's framerate chugged, no matter if players got into it on the Wii U or the Switch. The Switch 2 now achieves a solid 60fps framerate, an upgrade from 30fps, regardless of the mode players are in. It’s impressive to see explosions clearer than ever before or to tilt the camera and have it be a smooth experience.
3 A New Save Slot
Start Fresh On The Switch 2
Jumping into an old save file to check out DLC or to continue a game long after finishing it can be daunting. What was the point of this quest? How do these controls work? What's this inventory full of? Those are some thoughts that can go through a player's head, years after walking away from a game, when it might be better to start anew. With most games, it’s possible to do that with a new save file.
Unfortunately, Nintendo only allowed one save file per account on the Switch, which was a weird choice. That is, until this Switch 2 release, as Nintendo has added one extra save slot. Twenty, ten, or even three save slots would have been better, but at least fans can still keep their original save file for The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild while loading up a new one to see the Switch 2’s features with a fresh start.
2 Faster Loading
Game Over Isn’t As Punishing
The Wii U version of Breath of the Wild was slightly slower than the Switch version, but loading times for both could range from thirty seconds to a minute. The Switch 2 improves loading for most backward-compatible games, but especially with The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild. The Switch 2 doesn’t have PS5-levels of fast loading, but it is much better than before.
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Fast traveling or returning from a Game Over screen can take approximately three to six seconds. The one thing that still takes a bit of time is exiting a Shrine, for whatever reason, and it can reach up to ten seconds of loading. Still, that is much better than the previous two versions of the game, which makes the wait between activities less frustrating.
1 Zelda Notes
Plenty Of Random Content To Play With
Instead of implementing a bevvy of new features into The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, Nintendo decided to put most of the new bells and whistles on their Nintendo App. With a linked Nintendo account between the app and the Switch 2, players can engage with Zelda Notes. While exploring the map, an icon will pop up on the corresponding app signaling players about Voice Memories, which go into some of the world’s history. The map can also help with navigation, similar to Google Maps, but it’s not as intuitive as using the in-game map and markers.
Players can view various data markers on their progress, along with how the rest of the world is playing the game. They can get daily bonuses via a lottery wheel similar to the Amiibo support, except that the prizes are less substantial. There is also an item-sharing function, which can help other players progress, and it's quite neat, along with the photo editor. There’s not one thing in the Zelda Notes that makes it a must-download, but players can at least make their own fun with it, especially if their friends are also replaying The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild.
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OpenCritic Reviews
- Top Critic Avg: 96 /100 Critics Rec: 96%
- Released
- March 3, 2017
- ESRB
- E for Everyone: Fantasy Violence, Use of Alcohol, Mild Suggestive Themes
- Developer(s)
- Nintendo EPD
- Publisher(s)
- Nintendo
- Engine
- Havok
- Cross-Platform Play
- no
- Cross Save
- no
WHERE TO PLAY
