Finding meaning in a world with no definite metaphysical truth to strive for is already hard but compound that with being in an era of war and all the characters in this world being AI just beginning to understand having humanity. Their attempts at constructing meaning set to fail, saying so much about us in the process. You end up with one of the most profoundly written stories of the modern era. Heartbreaking, philosophical, masterful medium utility, almost meditative as an experience. Just a masterpiece.

Humanity is destined to be in constant conflict with one another. Battling for dominance over political and economic power. With each new huge conflict comes a change in humanities senses when it comes to the political climate. What this gives birth to is key players in history never able to eternally be celebrated as heroes no matter their legacy. Yet these "heroes" are also needed. They sacrifice so much for only a brief moment of glory that ends up fading with time, if they are even rewarded that to begin with.

Often these key figures end up playing out roles that end up suppressing, dulling or even killing their humanity. Caught in the complicated fabric of the times and the backstabbing nature of the upper echelons of politics. Throughout all of this we get our almost innocent protagonist who we know will fall to darkness eventually. What ensues is one of the most emotional, tragic studies ever. With a cast that meshes perfectly with everything the story talks about, full of rich dynamics, charismatic personalities and beautifully realized internal struggles. Almost every conversation has 2 - 3 layers to it, its so masterful. I honestly think this game is a step above MGS2 and that is the highest praise I can give it. A contender for best video game story.

(This is a rating simply for the story. I beat the game once when I was younger but had to drop it during this last replay attempt due to reasons I will go over in my review)

Fujibayashi , Fujibayashi , Fujibayashi. While not his first game that he wrote for Zelda, this is his first console Zelda that he took the helm of and his most important work up to that point. He would go on to write BotW and Tears which I'm not a fan of. I'm unfortunately not a fan of this game either.

So why the dislike for this game? The main problem is, the story is so spread out that it boggles the mind how this is even the same series as the last 4 masterful 3D entries. The earlier entries were gameplay focused but filled the world with loads visual storytelling, cohesive setting-theme integrative locations and lore that make the whole package on the whole a lot more substantial. This game, you can unironically skip to the cutscenes and almost nothing is lost.

From a thematic stand point I'm disappointed aside from one particular element. What this game adds to the cosmology of Hyrule is brilliant. A thick additional layer of tragedy is added with the knowledge that Hyrule is literally cursed to always be in conflict with light and dark. No matter the era or set of our 3 central characters.

However, I think this game aside from that is not only a bit simplistic (fatalism and our relationship with our agency vs our given roles is not that layered at all in this game, especially considering how common this idea is in fiction) but also misses the point of the role of subtext in Zelda. Hyrule as a setting is forever cursed to be in constant conflict, in a constant state of shifting between peace and tragedy. Due to this, cycles of civilization are constantly being shifted forward, with the past lost to time. Texts are lost, history is lost, culture is lost. Only pieces of what was before remain, left for us to bask in their spiritual significance. In addition with this theme-setting integrative shell is the role of subtext. The meat of the story lies in the subtext because just as with the world, we have to dig into texts, piece together clues, symbols, details in order to arrive to concrete readings.

Skyward Sword (this applies to BotW and Tears) have abysmal dialogue. So blunt it hits you on the forehead harder than Mario jumping on a goomba. Giving this game an empty essence that when combined with the simplistic theming and sparse story, equals a direction I wish Zelda never went off to. But alas, BotW continues a lot of these patterns.

I dearly wish a return to the HoT saga storytelling one day. Because just like Ganondorf with Hyrule, I long for it.

I'll try to do this game justice but I honestly can't. To get this out of the way, one of the best stories ever written and a contender for best video game story absolutely no debate. To explain why this is the case for such a huge story is not an easy task but I'll try.

We get placed in a world with a rich history dating back hundreds of years. Where there are other worlds running parallel, no omnipotent entities, the scale of it all dwarfs human imagination. A variety of different races populate this world, each with their own culture, literature, art, religions, philosophies, values, politics and eventually prejudices. All with different ideas of what is just and vile. Witcher 3 through the sheer scale of the world, confirmation of no omnipotent entities and differences in the societies states that morality is malleable depending on circumstance and ultimately pointless.

Yet our protagonist tries to do good anyway. When his very identity has every reason for him not to act this way. We see a variety of different moral situations where the game takes advantage of the medium and forces you to make tough decisions. We see Geralt care for his companions deeply, trying his best to do good in a war-torn (caused by the differences in societal structures and human power lust) era of this pointless existence that constantly tests everyone's values. Worst part of it is, the magic of the setting shows the darkness humanity can lower (and are often forced to) to right back at themselves.

To aid this brilliant setting-theme integrative shell for the story is a deeply layered plot and one of the best casts ever. So many striking personalities, dynamics (backed by what is in my estimation the best dialogue in gaming) and tension filled drama involving these wonderful characters. The culmination of everything creates a story that says so much, does so much and teaches so much.

After a push to replay this game, I've grown an immense amount of respect for it. The gameplay EVENTUALLY gets incredible despite is starting off a bit too simple for me personally. However when it does get there it is top tier in that regard. However, what surprised me most is how much I cared about the story this time around. A fallen kingdom in a state of stagnation with only the tiniest bits of memories scattered around. A hero choosing to fight against it all despite its original function, past and dark origin. To create the change and end this stagnation. Not falling victim to the lack of will shown by its citizens that led to the fall in the first place, manipulated and needing a higher being to command them.

One of the best stories ever written, a look into the gaming medium's highest potential. A harrowing tale about humanities desire for knowledge beyond our comprehension, our desire to reach the cosmos. About corrupt, religious institutions of power abusing their status to further their selfish ends. And about so, so, so much more. It takes concepts from classic horror literature and uses them in such a unique way. This isn't even talking about the amazing gameplay, the best use of the medium in the business, the music, legendary bosses. A run in for the best video game ever made.