Kinda short compared to other 3D Zelda titles. The general pacing is light, and the Ganon fight is really cool, but the Triforce pieces shenanigans was really unnecessary. Another dungeon (you have earth and wind, so why not a sea temple?) would've been much better.
The sea stuff felt really slow in general, you unlock fast travel practically in the midpoint of the playthrough and the fast sail, which is almost mandatory to not go insane, is bought at the auction house that I didn't even know it existed because the game doesn't give you any indication about it. So yeah, I prefer the Phantom Hourglass or Skyward Sword travelling systems over the one from this game.
A couple of other items (ghost ship chart and the cavana papers) are also very difficult to come by unless you were 100%ing the game. I don't mind to search the wiki if I want to look for concrete stuff like getting all bottles or bag upgrades, but being forced to do it to advance the story seems wild to me.
Also, WHY DID THEY WHITEWASH ZELDA WHEN SHE GETS THE DRESS?

k so listen

I may be one of yakuza's biggest SLOP eaters but even this pig has standards and this game does Not clear it LMFAOOOO my least favourite entry in the series BY FAR

WHAT WAS THAT ENDING

I remember being flabbergasted as the credits rolled and it wasn't for any good reasons either

Complicated feelings about this game, so I won't give it a star rating.

I more than enjoyed the narrative at the time and have yet to experience Part 2, but the inspiration behind the sequel's narrative has retroactively soured my perception about this game.

Regardless, I'm a sucker for the "gruff/stoic dude adopts a child and becomes better for it" trope (Yakuza is one of my favourite game series, after all) so Joel and Ellie's arc was fantastic. The scenes where he saves her still make me emotional to this day...

environmental storytelling goes crazy

fun little game with really satisfying sound design. A common criticism is that it's too expensive for what it is. I disagree because this game is very lovingly crafted and there's so much detail crammed into every inch of this game. Perhaps it isn't a very wide puddle, or even a particularly deep one, but it's a sight nonetheless. It gives you pause; it has you tilting your head this way and that way as you observe your reflection.

Something something I'm willing to pay more for games that are shorter and made in sustainable timeframes something someting