I agree with the OP, to me the moment I have to get creative on the spot and concoct a better strategy once my weapon breaks les to my best moment on a gameplay perspective.
Not only this, I did a challenge on one of my playthroughs where I could not gain more weapon, shield and bow slots than I already had at the start.
It actually led this part of the experience to be magnified because of this constant hussle for whatever I could get my hands from the enemies I defeated
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