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No, and I don't even like BotW.
I don't think multiplayer-focused games are comparable to singleplayer ones like Zelda in this regard, especially when talking about something relatively iterative like Smash. In particular the assumption that a game will be better due to being bigger and further developing in mechanics isn't really true, take Mario Galaxy 1 and 2 for example where the fanbase is mostly 50/50 in terms of which game they prefer despite 2 being basically a more refined take on the concept.I see a lot of people guffawing at this idea, but this happens for tons and tons of games with sequels. One example is the Super Smash Bros franchise. Barely anyone plays Brawl anymore, because Ultimate does almost everything it does but better. However, Melee is still extremely popular, because it offers a type of competitive gameplay that is unmatched today.
I actually do think that BotW will still become obsolete to a lot of people who enjoyed it, because a lot of people liked aspects of the game that are simply going to be bigger and better in TotK. A ton of people loved BotW because of the exploration, and TotK is going to have more things to explore. Some people loved the combat, physics, and movement: TotK is going to have more weapons, more things to interact with, and lots more movement abilities.
On the other hand, some people really enjoyed things like the shrines, overworld puzzles, divine beasts, towns, music, etc. To these people, BotW will still be worth going back to like any other Zelda game.
As someone who found barely any of BotW's content to be compelling, I really doubt I will ever play the game again if TotK is has superior dungeons, side quests, puzzles, items, shrines, combat, story, enemy variety, and more. Apart from the world being reused and potentially being less interesting to explore, I can't think of a single aspect of TotK that could possibly be worse then BotW (to me).
BotW was an astonishingly great gaming experience the first playthrough. Easily the best I have ever experienced.
BotW was also an astonishingly ordinary and boring gaming experience the second playthrough. I abandoned it very quickly.
It's a very strange thing... but all the things I loved from BotW were the sense of adventure and exploration. None of that existed the second time... and let's be honest. The exploration was rarely rewarded.
I don't think TotK will be the same. I think Nintendo will apply the same core gameplay, sure, but they will layer in all the reasons to play the game again, on top of that. At least that's what I would do, and hope they are doing!
So my answer to OP is a no in terms of TotK rendering BotW pointless - because BotW already rendered itself pointless - but I'm voting yes because I have high hopes that TotK will be the one that gets a revisit in the future.
I don't think multiplayer-focused games are comparable to singleplayer ones like Zelda in this regard, especially when talking about something relatively iterative like Smash. In particular the assumption that a game will be better due to being bigger and further developing in mechanics isn't really true, take Mario Galaxy 1 and 2 for example where the fanbase is mostly 50/50 in terms of which game they prefer despite 2 being basically a more refined take on the concept.
It's possible that TOTK will be content-filled and with much deeper combat and a more touching storyline and some mind-bending mechanics and I bet you in that case a lot of people would still prefer the relative simplicity of BOTW over it, it's just how sequels go.
Mario Galaxy 1 and 2 have totally different levels, and levels are the main appeal of platformers. TotK is going to be a much more iterative sequel then most singleplayer games because it reuses the same overworld, and tons of players enjoyed BotW primarily because of the overworld. Again, I'm not saying that everyone will feel like BotW is obsolete, but it'll be a lot more people then normal for a Zelda game.I don't think multiplayer-focused games are comparable to singleplayer ones like Zelda in this regard, especially when talking about something relatively iterative like Smash. In particular the assumption that a game will be better due to being bigger and further developing in mechanics isn't really true, take Mario Galaxy 1 and 2 for example where the fanbase is mostly 50/50 in terms of which game they prefer despite 2 being basically a more refined take on the concept.
It's possible that TOTK will be content-filled and with much deeper combat and a more touching storyline and some mind-bending mechanics and I bet you in that case a lot of people would still prefer the relative simplicity of BOTW over it, it's just how sequels go.
More iterative than most single player games? I don't think reusing the same general overworld means that in the slightest, especially when they'll be adding on a lot to it and likely changing things up. Never mind that I don't see Nintendo just going with BotW but better when it's taking 6 years to make and Zelda games are generally not as iterative as other single player seriesMario Galaxy 1 and 2 have totally different levels, and levels are the main appeal of platformers. TotK is going to be a much more iterative sequel then most singleplayer games because it reuses the same overworld, and tons of players enjoyed BotW primarily because of the overworld. Again, I'm not saying that everyone will feel like BotW is obsolete, but it'll be a lot more people then normal for a Zelda game.
From what we sow many places in the overworld changed and the shrines are missing. It looks way more different than the changes between ALttP and ALBW for exemple. Of course this one is a 3D game and not a bird view game, but still.Mario Galaxy 1 and 2 have totally different levels, and levels are the main appeal of platformers. TotK is going to be a much more iterative sequel then most singleplayer games because it reuses the same overworld, and tons of players enjoyed BotW primarily because of the overworld. Again, I'm not saying that everyone will feel like BotW is obsolete, but it'll be a lot more people then normal for a Zelda game.
the game is still beloved as hell. The reality is that folks who don't love/like it as much are pretty much whats left because they didn't have a Zelda game they enjoyed for the last few years compared to the people who have if you get what I mean.This is my fear for its legacy. There is clearly an emerging group splitting off from the vast majority who loved the game who have turned against it. And I understand it to an extent. The magic of the first playthrough is particularly impactful in this case. I'd be curious to see a poll of those who consider the game great asking how much they've replayed it. I've replayed and consider it great, but I appreciate the game in ways others don't.
Still, I don't think the game should be dismissed completely because of it. That first experience happened and wasn't illusory. And Zelda often tries to teach us the importance of recognising that things can't last forever.
I think it comes down to a reductive view that games are nothing more than an assemblage of plug and play components rather than crafted wholes. Just adding more components on its own changes the whole.
It's almost like mixing paints. Gee, this yellow sure is nice. But if I add a touch of blue it'll be better because there will be that great yellow plus some awesome blue. In fact, what you get is yellowy green. And that might be an awesome yellowy green. You might even like it more than yellow. But it's no longer yellow and so only yellow can be appreciated for its yellowness.
exactlyBotW is a modern classic, there is nothing that can devalue the game.
Its the other way around, people will want to go back to BotW because of TotK. Especially if Nintendo updates the game for Drake and have it run 4k/60 or something on Drake.
Maybe…yes...
maybe? idk
I would like to quote Aonuma:I feel like if this game is going to focus more on the story/lore and dungeons like we expect then it won’t offer the absolute freedom that Breath of the Wild does. That freedom is so integral to entire game design of BotW that the two games might end up completely different if TotK is de-emphasising that.
seriously tho you are right. it won't.Maybe…
If I have to choice what game to play again, I’d choose ALTTP before, so I hope -expect- this new game has more content than BOTW.Did Link Between Worlds make Link to the Past unnecessary, just because it’s based on the same map? No.