Today was just about finishing up any odds and ends on the Great Plateau. I know it may not seem like it, but I DO want to see the rest of the world. And even though I played for several hours today, this entry won’t be that long because I didn’t really do all that much.
The first thing I’d like to point out is that I really appreciate that Link carries his gear on his back. It reminds me of this old picture of Link...
...and I have to think it’s intentional because Zelda is known for referencing its old art. Here’s the Breath of the Wild cover next to some manual art from the original game...
...and here’s Skyward Sword’s Skyloft next to A Link to the Past’s manual depiction of the Golden Realm (courtesy of Did You Know Gaming?).
Anyhow, as I continued exploring Mount Hylia, I discovered a raft in the middle of the River of the Dead. I also discovered a ramshackle shack with a lot of wood and s Korok leaf. The Korok leaf, which is basically a Deku leaf in all but name, can be used to blow gusts of air. That’s perfect for sailing a raft, even if the sail does have holes in it. The raft was tough to get to, though, because the dock leading to it had mostly been destroyed. But using Cryonis ice blocks and some careful jumping helped me get there. After a few tries. The Warm Doublet doesn’t save you from icy water, it turns out.
I didn’t take the raft very far, only to the other side of the river (not really sure how to steer it yet). But on the other side of the river, I found a cave behind the waterfall that had a Soldier’s Broadsword in it (the strongest sword I’ve seen yet) and three chests filled with arrows an a bow (a spiked Boko Bow, the strongest bow I’ve seen yet). It’s at this point I should tell you that, even though I’m still in the starter area, I already have fire arrows, ice arrows, AND bomb arrows. I should also mention that my brother hadn’t been to this cave yet, so when he went, he got a better bow than I did. Which means the game changes based on your skill level. That’s really cool.
Shortly after this I learned that holding Y will charge your attack, and there seems to be different categories within melee weapons. Most of them do a simple spin attack. But pointed items - my pitchfork for sure and probably spears - do a bunch of stabs in a row, and what we’ll call “heavy weapons” (woodcutter’s axe, sledgehammer, etc) do a series of slow spins followed by slamming the ground. The Korok leaf does a giant gust of wind. I’m curious to see what a torch would do.
Once I finished exploring Mount Hylia, I decided to go around to all the bodies of water to find any submerged chests because my brother told me you can Magnesis them out. I knew they were down there, but I figured you had to scuba to them. In doing so, I discovered a weird metal rock chained to a stump, and long story short, it’s a ball-in-cup game that’ll make a Korok appear.
I also explored a lake by the Temple of Time that I had somehow overlooked. No chests in it, but their was a rusty broadsword in a stone on an island in the middle of it. There was also a ring of lily pads that warrants a Korok if you jump into it, and a bombable wall! I’ve been looking over this whole damn area for a wall to bomb, and I finally found one (with my brother’s help). Makes me wonder how many others I’ve missed. Behind the wall was a chest with a treasure inside.
My brother also informed me that all the boxes and barrels are breakable if you know how (they often have stuff inside). And logs are choppable. I’m definitely going to have to play around with objects more than I have been.
Another thing I learned is that it’s dangerous to have a metal weapon equipped when you’re in a thunderstorm. My axe started sparking and I didn’t know what was going on. I thought maybe being in the storm had charged it. Then it started sparking more. And then suddenly I was struck by lightning and dead. I won’t be making that mistake again.
The last thing I did tonight was try to explore the outcropping on the south side of the Plateau. I failed. Twice. The first time, I went to one end of it and discovered this weird black slab resting on a stone. I couldn’t Magnesis it, but I could Stasis it. Unfortunately, I Stasised it right into a wall, and then it ricocheted into me and knocked me off the Plateau to my death.
This out me back at the Cryonis shrine on the other side of the Plateau. Instead of doing the same thing I did last time, I decided to explore the other end of the outcropping instead. Unfortunately, as I was trying to make my way down there, I slipped and fell to Hyrule Kingdom below. I didn’t die, but as I started to climb back up to the ledge (because apparently that’s a thing I’m allowed to do), my Switch did. That’s a double whammy that definitely says “stop playing for tonight.”
So I thought I’d finish Great Plateau today, but looks like it’ll take some of Day 4 as well. But I’ll also be getting to new stuff! I can’t wait.
One more thing before I go: at the top of Mount Hylia, there’s a strange formation of stones. It looked important, but nothing I tried on it did anything. My brother looked online and someone had found in the code that it’s called “King’s Tomb”. This is a location in Zelda II: The Adventure of Link, but more importantly, it’s 100% where King Rhoam is buried. That’s why it’s one of the places he can appear! (And I’m pretty sure it’s where he paraglides from when you first meet him.) someone else suggested the formation is meant to mimic the Hylia statue. You be the judge:
King’s Tomb:
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