Destructoid: Breaking down why Breath of the Wild is highly overrated

[Zarkho]

I agree with what the OP quoted yet I have to disagree with my agreement. IE: it's true that most (in fact, an insane majority due to their number) of the "rewards" for exploring are just Korok Seeds and Shrines. But the truth is that many (in fact, most) of the other rewards of exploration and progression are overshadowed by these. I mean... yes, what I clearly recall from my over-200-hours in BoTW, in terms of findings, is discovering a Shrine at the top of a mountain, or in a cave, or as the "final reward" for completing a sidequest. But if I think a little deeper I also notice that finding the 3 Lomi Labyrinths was also a reward itself. And completing them (finding my path to their end) was a reward on its own too. And the armor pieces I found in there were also nice rewards. And also, finding the Akkala Laboratory and the chance to forge my own ancient weapons was also extremely rewarding. Even finding a new Lynel location was rewarding, as was defeating them (and getting their equipment and parts as "rewards"). First time I encountered (and helped) a dragon was incredibly rewarding too. As was finding a new Fairy Fountain and getting for it the hability to upgrade my gear (or to revive my horse). Speaking of horses, the horse gear from completing that "horseback archery" minigame I discovered while exploring the south of Hyrule was an extremely cool reward (althoug some stats increasing attached to it would have been nice too). I could go on with the rewarding feeling of finding a new race or village, or a new sidequest, or the Monster Shop, but i think I've already make it clear that the authors perspective here is a little reductionist.

What I mean... Is that by any means is BoTW an "empty" game, or one that only gives monotonous rewards for the time you invest in it. I often found myself thinking how cool would have been to have this or that here and there, and wishing they include many new things in the DLC (more varied enemies, better bosses, more resistant and unique weapons and equipement, etc.), but that didn't make the base game less of a masterpiece, because what it offers is already way more than what many other games, both open and linear, offer. And I've come to see that, yes, other games throw dozens of "material" rewards at you for completing this or that* but, where BoTW sets, again, the difference with any other previos games is that the reward is not the item itself but, as someone mentioned here, the experience. The rewarding feeling of having conquered a summit, a bottom or the end of a maze while giving your best (in terms of orientation, deductive/inductive thinking, puzzle solving, combat skills, etc.) to complete the challenge they throw at you. The Shrine at the top of the peak is not the reward. Having been able to get there is. The Orb for solving the puzzle inside the Shrine is not the reward; having solved it is. And, during that time, all the weapons, monster parts, etc. you've find, add to it.

So... After my initial agreement, I have to disagree with the author of the article for I've seen that his conclusions are based in a very simple and superficial analysis of the game.

P.S.: There is one thing where I strongly agree with the article, and it is in the need of area-specific minibosses and enemies. I loved every enemy and miniboss (specially Lynels), but it would have been better to find beach/mountain/forest/desert specific creatures rather than have colour/elemental-based variations of the same Bokos, Molblins, Lizalfos and Wizzrobes.

* In fact, in some cases, WAY too many; I'm now playing The Witcher 3 and I've spent the last 20 ours with the same Griffin/Feline set, not caring anymore about the hundreds of "special" weapons and armors I found everywhere, as happes with other RPG like Skyrim, Fallout, Dragon's Dogma, etc. because, at some point, new "material" rewards just became pointless.