@DrFinkelstein
@Hero_Of_Hyrule

There was a quest giver in the Mines you pass through on the way in. You just have to collect 5 or 10 lizards for him and he gives you a piece of armor.

@Hero_Of_Hyrule Yeah, I didn't find that either until after buying it. This quest is still within the danger zone though, so you can't get it without going through somehow.

@TheBigG753

Never even saw that area. lol. I just followed the road in, things started getting unsavory for me, and I just brute forced it, lol. I was walking along the ridge with the Forgotten Memory that's there.

If I have the armor, I wonder if the quest just gives more armor or if it switches to rupees. Now that I can, I'm going to explore this place like mad tomorrow. Find me a tower too and get the final piece of the map I need.

@DrFinkelstein

I think most people would find it pretty obvious that your spoiler is referring to Goron City, haha. You should black out more of it!

@Secret_Tunnel

With so many towns and everything, I wouldn't think it's a spoiler for that. If someone guesses it, they probably already know it exists. But I fixed it in my own way, just, for, you.

Now will you do the same? lol

For as much as this game is definitely about "go anywhere, any direction, any time", there have definitely been perks to sticking to the main roads, at least in the lead-ups to main story areas. This is at least the second or third thing I've read about in this thread where I found something rather helpful on the way to a major settlement, that would be easily missable otherwise.

@DrFinkelstein

Waaaaat, the next area is just called "Gerudo City"????

So I just had my first moment of the game really funneling me towards a specific thing (when you go into the Zora area and try to just explore you run into a LOT of different Zoras who all have a different way of telling you to go speak to the prince) and despite the fact that this is how most games, including most recent Zelda games, operate... it felt sort of weird and out of place here. And also, to be honest, a bit unnecessary, since there is a Zora at the top of the tower than points you to the prince, and people are obviously going to climb to the top of the tower and run into that one so why all of the others?

I mean it's no huge deal, and it certainly isn't as hand-holdy as Navi / Fi / etc. But it did kind of make the game feel less "go anywhere do anything" and a little bit more "GO DO THIS THING" at that point. Which breaks the illusion a bit.

@Zero but there was at least a story reason for that. They needed a hylian to take down the divine beast and they sent out a search party to find a hylian. That is why there are several zoras pointing you to the prince

Yeah, I mean you can always come up with a story reason to funnel someone down a certain path, but game design wise it just felt at odds with everything before it.

And from a game design perspective I'd say you have to take into account the psychology behind certain things as well. For instance, despite the fact that I wasn't ready to go do that thing, being constantly hit up by NPCs pushing me that way made me feel WRONG about ignoring them / continuing to do my own exploring. You don't want players to feel bad about exploring in an exploration game though...

I think you're stretching. Partly because, when I saw what you're talking about, I f'd off and did other things for another 5 hours before going back to that bridge.

@kriswright

I did the same thing.

Oh some fishhead asshole wants me to go talk to his boss? HE'S NOT MY DAD!

@kriswright Yeah but how many NPCs did you run into telling you to go back there? I swear I ran into at least 5. It's not a huge deal but it felt very different from the "figure it out on your own" feeling of the game up to that point. It's like it was being rammed into my head.

I thought it made sense that they'd send out a whole search party rather than just one NPC. And yeah, I totally left and did my own thing for several hours after getting to that part, though I do think it's obvious that the way you leave Kakariko Village is meant to kinda funnel you that way.

@Secret_Tunnel I didn't get funneled that way when first leaving though. I ended up going there much, much later while randomly exploring.

Not so random though. Nintendo is smart.

I can't help but keep wishing this game had co-op. Of course, I wish that about a lot of games...

@Zero I thought that area was great, one of the best places in the game.

I found the Zora funneling thing hilarious, and it gets more so when you meet the guy on the bridge. Part of me thinks Nintendo's poking fun at itself in that whole sequence. Even if it's not, it's no great sin to have NPCs trying to keep you on the critical path for a bit.

Anyway I've played for probably 40 hours now and have not done any of the four things or even come all that close to doing so. I'm mostly just faffing about and having a wonderful time doing so. I think I'm gonna gather up all the memories (I have like five) then make a run at Hyrule Castle with this sick new Bow I just paid 1k rupees and some rare components for. Just as soon as I check out this suspicious-looking hill over here...and that forest...and maybe do another sidequest or two...ooh hey a shrine....

Mop it up said:

I can't help but keep wishing this game had co-op.

@nate38

lol, story of my game.

I found out this morning that I've apparently clocked up 65 hours so far. With one dungeon done and the entire western edge of the map to still be revealed. This is nuts.

Yep. I'd love co-op as an option in this game. Exploring Hyrule with my bro(s) would be incredible.

What was that about Aonuma saying "playing alone" being a convention they were debating?!?!

@nate38
Holy fuck. There are weapons that cost 1000 rupees in this game? Is this the Akkala region I keep hearing about?

Most expensive purchase I made so far was in Hateno. 3000 rupees...

I currently have about 5000 rupees though. I feel it's too much.

I keep worrying about the balance in this game.

Scrawnton said:

@Zero They said it will have a new story so I am kid of expecting it to be a larger dungeon that is a throw back to some old games.

PlzplzplzplzplzplzplzPLEASE be this.

I mean, I loved the first DB I did and look forward to the others, but man do I have a classic dungeon itch that needs to be scratched.

Make it tough as NAILS. Make it incredibly cryptic. Make it use alllll the mechanics in the game in an awesome way.

DOOOOOOOO ITTTTTTTT.

Nintendo needs to just make another 4 Swords Adventures. Thus solving the problem once and for all.

ONCE AND FOR ALL.

@carlosrox You'll need those rupees eventually for certain things. My biggest single use of rupees in the game so far is 10,000 (some of you will know what for). It's the first Zelda where I don't mind buying things like arrows at merchants either from time to time! Also, yes, The Akalla purchases.