Time to make a Switch pun

[A Black Falcon]

We really do differ completely in what we want from a game. To me, those partners were one of the low points of the design of the series. I want to have to figure things out, so long as the clues are laid out in a sensible way. I believe this game has hit that goal, and I really love it.

The first thing you're missing here is that games must have a system in place to remind people of what they need to do next. The LttP style of "too bad, if you missed the hint once you will never be given it again" is absolutely unacceptable because it's too easy to miss or forget. Something like the helper characters or a good quest log with helper text or arrows to point you in the next direction to remind you of your next task is is absolutely essential! Of course on top of that I want clues to actually be helpful and not uselessly vague. Clues should be something that the average player can actually figure out, and many of those in older games like LttP are far too vague for their own good.

Oh, and on top of that, in OoT and MM the fairies were a great gameplay mechanic too, since they actually came up with a decent in-game explanation for how the Z-targeting system works. That's a great touch, most games wouldn't bother with that. And finally, again, Midna is awesome. Yeah. she's kind of the ONLY great character in TP's story in terms of writing and characterization and that is part of my complaints about the story, but still at least there is one good character in the game. Of the companion characters in 3d Zelda games, Midna's the best by far. That's part of why Fi was kind of disappointing, she's a lot less interesting than Midna was.

... On a related note though, from what little I hear, the story in Breath of the Wild isn't the best, though Zelda stories never are so that's not exactly a surprise...