When BOTW released and I got my switch for the release of that game, the hype was real. And I loved playing the game, even though I took breaks here and there and it took me a while to fully complete it. I loved playing the game a lot, but it didn't feel like the best game i've ever played. I saw all of it's strengths and it felt revolutionary in many ways, not because it invented many new things, but because it stripped the game of things that I expected in an open world game and it because it stitched aspects together so well, that made other similar games enjoyable.
The moment I started really diving into TOTK however, there was only one question popping up in my head over and over again: Is this the best game ever made?
After spending so many hours almost entirely completing all the game had to offer and almost the same amount of time spent in BOTW, I can say that I never felt as close to being sure I know the answer to that question.
I feel like i don't need to really say a lot more about the game. The Switch Zelda Games are a phenomenon talked about at length everywhere and unless you lived under a rock the last couple of years, you probably know all you need to know about the games. Instead, I rummaged through my notes and want to just leave a couple of bullet points here, that describe points in the game that pushed me more and more towards knowing the answer to the question, whether this is the best game ever made or not.

- That moment when you climb up to one of the highest points in the game and watch the sunset. The minimalist soundtrack and visuals are absolutely singular and the sense of freedom I felt right at that moment, is something i barely ever felt in a game.
- From a technical standpoint it's still unbelievable the game runs on the switch hardware. Somtetimes I wondered what the devs would be able to achieve with a much more capable machine, but I think the result would be something entirely different. I think the limitations actually led to the beauty of this game. it's timeless and unique and i'm sure it will feel the same way in 20 years.
- It's a game that makes you feel smart and gives you all the power you crave as a protagonist in an open world
- TOTK is testament to the devs understanding what the community loved about BOTW and why they kept on playing. The way they doubled down on the sandbox freedom and the glitch-culture by implementing that into the gameplay loop, is one of the best iterations on a videogame formula i've seen, period.

One of the best conclusions to one of the greatest trilogies of all time to end off a series. Not explaining any story stuff in this review because you should play it for yourself but one of the greatest ever cooked. This being a love letter and a goodbye letter to this series as whole, being a celebration of the journey Takahashi has taken us through. This DLC content is so damn good to add onto the base game as a whole as you can treat it alongside to base game as a dessert after the well-cooked meal.

This DLC helps show that in the series as it goes through a bunch of the themes it has gone through its three games, the culmination of this beautiful DLC. Matthew being one of the main characters alongside Noah to help push along the core themes of Xenoblade 3 along with what base games does and its cast of characters, Matthew approaches the future, takes the good parts of the past and accepts the bad, and keeps moving forward. Rex and Shulk are also there as well with their themes from Xenoblade 1 & 2 to show that all these come together such as the future may be unknown but we should always keep matching forward no matter what happens and how our past hurts but we shouldn’t let it drag us behind, we can learn from our pasts, get back up on our feet and get stronger to be able to keep moving forward. This speaks to the Xenoblade Series as whole, to be able to reflect on our past, don’t let it drag us down but to let it help us move forward in life. To face our trauma and to be our true selves rather than to run away from ourselves.

Takahashi up there with the greats on being able to make beautiful art and personal stories throughout video-games.

"Nevertheless, our intentions will live on, and one day coalesce again. Be it tomorrow... or in a thousand years... Surely, the time will eventually come. I can see it, clear as day."

Future Awaits