"You've probably seen them in Zelda." Lessons from Tears of the Kingdom; Fall Damage
Jun 11, 2023
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The podcast discusses fall damage mechanics in Legend of Zelda and other games, lessons learned from Tears of the Kingdom, personal experiences with COVID-19 and antiviral medication, TV shows and documentaries, analyzing the efficiency of Tears of the Kingdom, the role and importance of fall damage in video games.
Tears of the Kingdom efficiently prioritizes important elements while not overlooking minor flaws.
Fall damage in video games serves a purpose by providing a sense of consequence and challenge in gameplay.
Breath of the Wild and Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom embrace a design that encourages freedom, creativity, and minimal guidance.
Deep dives
The Efficiency of Tears of the Kingdom
Tears of the Kingdom is praised for its efficiency and ability to prioritize important elements while not overlooking minor flaws.
Tips and Tricks for Playing Zelda
Prioritize stamina over hearts, recognize the game's major flaws that are overlooked, such as lack of accessibility and regressive portrayals of gender, appreciate the game's efficient approach to design.
Understanding the Purpose of Fall Damage
Fall damage serves a purpose in video games, despite being disliked by some players, and it can provide a sense of consequence and challenge in gameplay.
The importance of fall damage in games
Fall damage serves as a spatial navigation challenge and enhances the sense of scale and danger in open world games like Fortnite and Breath of the Wild, where it can also be used creatively as a method of dealing damage to enemies. However, in games like Super Mario Odyssey, the absence of fall damage can create frustration and lead to time wasted when falling from high places. Fall damage should be used strategically to enhance gameplay and create meaningful challenges.
The value of exploration and experimenting in games
Both Breath of the Wild and Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom embrace a design that allows players to explore and experiment, with minimal guidance and without fear of losing progress. This approach creates a sense of freedom and encourages players to think creatively. The games make use of confidence in their mechanics and do not over-explain or justify their choices, allowing players to enjoy the experience without feeling constrained. This approach can be seen as a unique triumph and sets these games apart from others in the genre.
Your nice hosts recorded separately again this week, as Mark has been isolating at home. Stephen rants about examines fall damage mechanics in Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild and other games. Is fall damage overrated? Well, Stephen has OPINIONS. Mark talks about all of the things he's been doing to occupy his mind while he's been stuck in his apartment by himself—including some deep thinking about Tears of the Kingdom. Ellen rides her bike.