To keep this review concise is a disservice to Breath of the Wild, but I don't have the writing prowess to give you an essay on the game without repeating myself tirelessly. Breath of the Wild is one of the most impactful games the industry has seen in decades, and has set a new gold standard for 'Open World' titles that follow.

It's rich and expansive combat sandbox allows for complete player freedom in how they approach any given enemy encounter, be it a slow and stealthy approach, using nearby cleverly placed world pieces that allow you to avoid cutting down a single enemy directly, or to simply come out bows blazing. These combat encounters are so expertly crafted, they are able to guide the player towards the most fun route without pulling a Rockstar by still allowing them to find their own way through the fight. While the durability system is definitely contentious, I personally found it to bring an otherwise absent risk to a given encounter, while also giving you an interesting resource to manage during and between fights. While the actual weapon based combat and enemy variety could leave some wanting more, in my eyes the pure freedom the game grants the player more than makes up for it.

tbc

Outer Wilds is the best video game I have ever played. It's breath-taking visuals, brilliant world building, and a soundtrack that I still listen to regularly years after finishing it, all come together to create a profound and unforgettable experience. It's a game that can really only be experienced once, and I can do nothing more than insist that you play it entirely blind, as there is not a single game out there that can truly capture the feeling of all-consuming and profound ecstasy that is derived from playing Outer Wilds. This is a must play, and my favourite video game of all time.