One of my resolutions for 2021 is to spend less time grinding multiplayer games and more time exploring single-player games. It’s partly to help me cut into my immense, and I mean immense, backlog of games and partly to give myself a break from the relentless presence of online teammates who expect perfection with every move.
Additionally, playing games like Slasher’s Keep and Subnautica: Below Zero for YouTube are both solitary experiences, but I’m playing them to create content. I’m focused on the game, sure, but I’m also focused on ensuring that everything I do has some entertainment value. Some episodes are more successful than others, but I do try my best to ensure that the way I do things in games provides an entertaining experience for the views.
So in 2021, I’m going to play a handful of single-player games, and no one is going to see me play them. And that’s OK.
I chose to play The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild first. I knew I wanted this resolution for a few weeks before New Year’s Day, so I planned ahead. After self-quarantining for a couple of weeks, I drove an hour across the state to stay with my family during the winter holidays. I left my PC behind, and only took my Switch. After knocking out my Christmas Day — I’m sorry, Toy Day — tasks in Animal Crossing, I shifted gears and cartridges and loaded into the world of Breath of the Wild…for the second time.
I originally dove into Breath of the Wild in 2017, a few months after its release. My decision to start playing came at a terrible time. The company I was working for experienced a huge financial setback and I was out of a job. That’s not really a fair state of mind to approach a game with. I was jaded and didn’t give the game a fair shot.
Now, four-ish years later, I’m back. And I’ve been loving it. Breath of the Wild is so relaxing to play. I really feels like the perfect game to unwind with. Exploring is peaceful, the user interface is pleasant, the sounds are lovely and even the combat is simple enough to not get too chaotic and stressful. I cruised through the first three (of four) Divine Beasts before I decided to slow down and enjoy the ride.
So lately I’ve been cruising around the countryside, taking photos for the in-game album, finding treasures, discovering new recipes to cook and of course, finding tons of little Korok creatures in all sorts of nooks and crannies. It’s been nice to disconnect.
Expect to see more writing on Breath of the Wild soon!
