BOTW 2 Can Improve The First Game’s Exploration

The exploration and traversal in The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild are arguably the best part of the game, and BOTW 2 has the opportunity to make them even better. While there are any number of high points to the generally excellent exploration of the first game, there remains some room for improvement. There were quite a few missed opportunities in the first game, and some elements weren’t done as well as they could have been, so the next game can take the opportunity to improve what the first game already did so well.

In BOTW, players are free to explore a vast open world using a variety of traversal options. They can glide high with a paraglider, ride on a swift horse, climb up the side of a mountain, or simply run across the fields and valleys of Hyrule. BOTW is worth replaying before starting BOTW 2 for its environments alone. There are towering mountains, arid deserts, freezing tundra, and tropical islands to explore, so players are spoiled for choice in terms of biomes. The stunning environment means that exploration never gets old, but there are some ways that it can be improved.

One thing that BOTW lacked was proper cave exploration, so adding caves would be a great way to improve on the original formula. Expanding the traversal options in BOTW 2 and adding new ones could also make an already-stunning world even better. Better graphics and visuals, at least to a degree, are likely a given, but developer familiarity and improved use of the Switch hardware will undoubtedly expand the ways in which the environment can be engaged with. BOTW 2 can improve Skyward Sword‘s Sky World and also one-up its own first iteration at the same time.

BOTW 2 Has Options For Improving Exploration

Since BOTW‘s environment is already of quite a high standard and the hardware is a bit more limited, the ceiling for improvement may be lower, so it may be best if BOTW 2 looks more toward expanding. The trailers so far have shown far more aerial traversal than in BOTW, but that doesn’t mean that it should be afraid to go downward. Caves were a geological feature lacking in the first game, so including some in the second could open up an entirely new world for players to explore. Flying high in the sky and delving deep below the ground could make BOTW 2 feel fresh and substantively different from its predecessor.

Another option would be to improve how players cross the world. Paragliding is one of the best parts of the game, and trailers promise more high-flying action, but giving players more control when gliding could add a new layer. BOTW 2 should fix BOTW‘s biggest problems, but it will also need to be sure to improve on beloved features like the paraglider. Shield surfing and horses were also compelling features of BOTW, but could offer more options for mounted combat, stunts, or speed.

Wholly new traversal options are also likely. Since aerial traversal seems to be a major theme, there’s the possibility of some form of the Hookshot that’s been used in past games. A grappling hook, whether it’s based on the Hookshot or not, could be a fantastic and exciting mechanic for players to use as they explore Hyrule, and make BOTW’s frustrating rainy weather less of a nuisance. The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild‘s sequel has every opportunity to be a true exploration experience.

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