Highlights
- Tears of the Kingdom is praised as a worthy successor to Breath of the Wild, but even great games are not safe from memes and ridicule in good humor.
- The climbing feature in the game continues from the previous installment, taking a comically long time for Link to reach the top of a cliff.
- Students prioritize playing Zelda over studying for exams, emphasizing their passion for the series, while puzzles in the game range from too simple to abstract and confusing.
The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom has been released, and fans have spoken. Many are relieved to report that it's a worthy successor to Breath of the Wild and a strong entry in the Legend of Zelda series. No matter how accomplished it is, however, no game is safe from ridicule.
Tears of the Kingdom has naturally spawned a slew of memes. This goes with the territory of being such a cultural phenomenon. Few of these are malicious, though, as players make them in good humor. They love to poke fun at sillier aspects or point out various nitpicks. Not only does this amuse them in the moment, but they know that legions of like-minded fans will get the joke and laugh along with them.
6 Climbing
It's no secret that climbing was a prominent part of Breath of the Wild. Cliffs and mountains made up most of its vast landscape. As such, exploration involved Link clambering up by hand. The folks at Nintendo decided to incorporate that into the marketing, with the promo image showing the hero scaling a cliff face. Whether intentional or not, they followed up on that visual with Tears of the Kingdom.
The sequel shows Link perched at the top of a cliff. Given his similar clothing, fans have taken it as a continuation of the previous game's artwork. Yep, Link's finally made it...after five years. That's oddly appropriate given how slow the climbing was. Scaling a mountain seemed to take at least that long. If anything, it's surprising that he had the stamina.
5 Student Studies
For better or worse, the release of a new Zelda game is a momentous event with effects well outside the gaming realm. The assumption is that everyone will put their lives on hold to play it right away, even when the logical option is to do the opposite.
One of those situations is school. Whether in grade school or college, students have exams. The smart choice would be to use their free time to study for those exams. Then again, Zelda gives them infinitely more enjoyment. Their passion for the series is likely stronger and goes back further than any class. Sure, they may flunk the test, but they'll clear a really tough dungeon. Priorities are important, after all.
4 The Real Man's Game
No matter how hyped a game is, there will always be people who prefer another. What's more, those people have no problem degrading the mainstream title instead of the one they like. Such is the case here, but the meme presents a hilarious irony in its choice of game.
In this case, the "real man's" title is Pikmin 4. Not only is it another cartoonish adventure, but the box art doesn't do it any favors. Zelda is beautiful and majestic while Pikmin looks like a bunch of silly rainbow creatures hanging out in a garden. To say that it's counterintuitive would be an understatement. Then again, some of the most challenging games have the most innocent aesthetics.
3 Perplexing Puzzles
Puzzles were a common complaint in Breath of the Wild. They were too simple. Many felt like the shape puzzles that toddlers play with. The fact that they involved pushing blocks and other objects didn't help. Tears of the Kingdom seeks to remedy that, but it goes to the opposite end of the spectrum.
Some of the puzzles here are abstract to the point of confusion. It's hard to know where to start. Tackling them after the previous entry is like going from kindergarten to high school. Players will be wishing for a guide, as they'll be just as perplexed as these construction workers.
2 Fusion Fiasco
The fusion system in Tears of the Kingdom is among its most engaging aspects. The game sports countless combinations for players to craft, and they can go toward either combat or navigation. This approach rewards creativity and ensures that no two playthroughs are the same. However, such freedom also has an inevitable side effect.
Some of these creations are just plain weird. For instance, Link can walk into battle with onion arrows and a literal meat shield. They may be useful, but they don't change the fact that he's battling the forces of evil with food. Any sane person would react similarly to Barbie here. Maybe Zelda should rely on a different hero, preferably one with actual weapons. This isn't the only meme making fun of this mechanic, though.
1 Darker Than Majora's Mask?
At the outset, Tears of the Kingdom seemed to be one of the darker Zelda entries. Fans wondered if it would be the next Majora's Mask in tone. It even has the eponymous mask as an unlockable item. Unfortunately, that's not the case.
While the game definitely has dark moments throughout, that sinister atmosphere goes out the window thanks to the fusion system. It's hard to maintain a foreboding mood when Link shows up with a mushroom on his shield. That said, this image makes for a hilarious contrast with the scarier stuff. It's even more amusing in hindsight, as people truly thought that the game would be more intense than it is.
The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom is currently available on Nintendo Switch.