While it is built off the same framework as Breath of the Wild, The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom includes many additions to the formula that has further improved this adventure through Hyrule.
From the ability to build constructs to use against enemies to the inclusion of the skies and depths of Hyrule as maps to explore, Tears of the Kingdom never ceases to keep things fresh. With that in mind, let us look through some of the new features in this adventure and how they have changed this quest to face off against Ganondorf and save Hyrule.
7 Ultrahand: Craft Your Adventure
One of the most prominent features in Tears of the Kingdom is Link's Ultrahand, which he obtains after a brush with death at the hands of the gloom. With this new arm, the hero of the wilds can accomplish numerous impressive feats. One of these is the ability to lift and combine multiple objects.
This is something players have taken advantage of. Whether it be something as simple as building a car for fast travel or an attack drone to destroy a Moblin camp, the new Ultrahand feature has allowed for even more creativity than Breath of the Wild. The Ultrahand shares similar functions to the Magnesis Rune from Breath of the Wild, though since it can be used on non-metallic objects, far more options are available.
6 Ascend: Reaching New Heights
When playing through Tears of the Kingdom, one thing you'll spend many hours doing is climbing. Scaling huge mountains as you explore Hyrule is part of the charm of this Open-World Game. However, reaching that elusive shrine high above can be difficult without enough stamina. This is where the new Ascend feature comes in.
With the press of a button, Link can fly through to the top of any location with a ceiling and come out on top of it. This makes puzzles in the game have an all-new dynamic when trying to solve them. Escaping from caves is simple as well with this feature.
5 The Skies: Head In The Clouds
Similar to The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword, Tears of the Kingdom sees Link explore the skies above Hyrule as a new feature for exploration. These islands act as the tutorial area at the beginning of the game and hold several secrets for players to explore as they navigate each island.
There are several shines that can only be reached through the sky islands, and with the help of the Skyview towers, exploring this expanded area is simple. This addition adds a healthy dose of new content for players to mess around with on this map and draws you in with the mysterious Zonai technology and history of the land of Hyrule.
4 Recall: Time In The Palm Of Your Hands
The manipulation of time is nothing new to the Legend of Zelda franchise. Ocarina of Time had the titular instrument allowing Link to travel between two eras. Breath of the Wild has the Stasus Rune, which Link could use to stop the flow of time on a specific object or enemy.
Tears of the Kingdom introduces the Recall ability, which allows Link to rewind the momentum of something. This new feature can be used to stunning effect throughout the several puzzles in this game. Its use isn't limited to puzzle-solving, as the recall ability can also be used to reach certain sky islands.
3 Fuse: Anything Is A Weapon
One of the notable criticisms Breath of the Wild faced was the durability of weapons. You would often have your weapon break far too quickly. Tears of the Kingdom remedies this with the new Fuse mechanic. While using this ability, you can fuse nearly any object to your tool and shield.
This not only strengthens the durability of your current object but grants the weapon unique properties. With Fuse, you can create elemental arrows with any material dropped from enemies or turn a weak traveler's sword into a threat with fusion. Everything picked up throughout your adventure now has far more value with a new way to fight.
2 The Depths: The Darkness Of Hyrule
The fields of Hyrule aren't the only location you'll be exploring in Tears of the Kingdom. Along with the skies come the Depths, the underground caves that rest below the Kingdom of Hyrule. This new overworld to explore expands on what made Breath of the Wild great while offering a completely different atmosphere.
Rather than the open plains calling you to adventure, The Depths is dark, isolated, and filled with gloom-powered monsters. Combine this with a substance that will decrease your number of available hearts if you remain in it for too long, and you have a terrifying vista to explore.
1 Autobuild: Relive Your Greatest Creations
Along with Link's ability to craft constructs with the Zonai technology is the auto-build feature. With this, you can save any creation and re-construct it if the available materials are nearby. This cuts down on the time you'd spend recreating your devices and allows practical use for these in combat through near-instant creation.
Throughout Hyrule also rests several schematics for constructs that you have added to your auto-build portfolio, so even if you aren't building a lot throughout your adventure, you can still get plenty of use out of this feature.