Free Write 21

I think I've talked about this before, but I tend not to like things that are popular. It's not a conscious decision, but often times I simply disagree with the popular decision. From new things that are coming out each day, to the big classics that help define their genre moving forward, I simply seem to view things differently from how most others do. Perhaps it is simply a measure of preference, a difference in values. Hard to say. But it's usually a safe bet that if most people enjoy something, I probably won't.

Most recently this has been true with the newest Zelda game. It has been receiving perfect scores across the board, and people have been calling it the best game in the series in years. And yet I was frustrated trying to play it nearly from the moment the game began, and the more I played it the less I was satisfied with the way the game had been designed. It is incredibly difficult in nearly unfair ways, the world is empty and movement is slow, inventory space is ridiculously small, and weapons break in moments - weapon durability is perhaps my most hated game mechanic of anything that I have ever experienced. The ways in which you can explore the world and interact with it are fantastic - but who cares when you can't stay alive long enough to get anywhere?

It probably doesn't help that I have been absolutely adoring Horizon Zero Dawn, which is a very similar game in concept, but better in virtually every way. With a very clear end goal, tight controls, balanced difficulty, incredible writing, and straight up fun combat with a resource management system that is tight but manageable, trying to switch from it to Zelda was a very distinct down grade. And yet I have not seen a single person who does not love Zelda, outside of a personal friend. I feel like I'm playing the game wrong - but it's an open world game that touts being free in your playing, so why should I feel so constantly restricted? Does that not defeat the purpose?

It's frustrating. In instances like these, I want to be able to enjoy that which is popular - I've been waiting for this game for years, just like everyone else, and I have been extremely excited for it, having ordered my copy before the game was even released. I want to be able to share the experience that other people are having. But I just don't find the game fun, and I don't feel a draw to go back to it when there are other games that are so much more fun to play.