I don't have enough experience in open world games to compare to anything else, but I'd agree that this is definitely a hard Zelda game, particularly early. If by hard you mean are not sufficiently equipped to be reasonably expected to take on even low level enemy challenges fairly early.

I'm buffed enough now (13 hearts, armor with upgrades) that it takes a pretty hard creature to give me a tough time, but in the beginning you can't just walk into a group of bokoblins and start waving your weapon around like in most Zelda titles. Well, you can, but you gonna die.

And even buffed I've triggered the healing reward from Mipha. Granted, one of those times was because I miss clicked the button on my controller and rolled down a cliff, but still.

I tend to suck at combat (regardless of game - it just takes me longer than usual to get timing patterns down) so you could plausibly argue I just need to stop sucking, but I've never not been able to wade into a small group of bokoblins and take them all out early with minimal damage in any other Zelda game. Most Zelda games don't throw hard enough enemies at you early, either in type or number, where you can die easily. This one be like, figure it out, sucker. And that's not a bad thing.

True and slightly shameful admission - I was having so much trouble with Waterblight Gannon that I just quit trying and started ignoring the main quest. Then I was having so much fun I forgot I never finished the fight. It wasn't until I was about to start my next divine beast portion that I remembered I needed to go finish that. Took one try with increased stats/armor. I still suck, though.

Finally, I have engaged in neither of the primary listed rupee farming methods and have like 10k rupees. I think if you spend a lot of time just wandering around you pick up enough stuff you can make the money you need without too much problem. Although I know how much I'm going to need to give to the fourth fairy and goddamn that's steep.

I have a couple horses but almost never use them because it's a pita to get on and off the horse all the time

ime they're only useful when you need to go a longish distance by road, e.g. going to Robbie's lab for the first time

Just shield parried two guardians in a row

the barbarian armor has really low defense

upgrading armor also unlocks set bonuses (2+ upgrades and you have to wear all 3 pieces)

reloading takes forever though

talus farming and mining are faster

the fastest method though is

Before work I spent a ridiculous amount of time climbing these cliffs to get to the desert area, and I'm at work right now and all I can think about is how I probably ****ed up and don't have the right gear to walk around in the desert

you'll be fine

worst case you travel only at night

if you can make a cooling meal or elixir it will be easy

try to find a shrine for a warp point

Lol so many obvious solutions like that that are so intuitive that I never think of them. I havent seen a game this realistic in a while.

Yeah, just wait for nightfall worst case. Kind of sucks to have to wait but you can speed that up if you build a campfire.

It took me a while to realize that the roads are actually there. I'd just see something in the distance and head there in the most direct way possible. Then I had to back track and use the roads to actually find all the stables and accompanying shrines.

If you have a ton of apples you can do some more minor rupee farming with them:



Up to a full second stamina wheel. Now to track down some more korok seeds so I can keep upgrading my weapons slots. I swear it's never enough. I don't want to ditch an ice spear to pick up something new.

Where is that guy after you meet him twice?

For the korok seeds?

Balls. I went there once and didn't make it through. Thanks for the tip tho!

Reminds me of when I randomly went into that area without having the map unlocked (therefore the mini map was fuzzy), and still accidentally made it to Gerudo.

I just finished up the last regular beast since I am definitely not calling them dungeons last night. Now it's time to grind 16 more shrines since I only have 9 hearts and then get my gear and head to the castle.

Finished the main dungeons. Started wandering around and completing side quests and came across:

There's apparently a way to get infinite sprint, not sure if you guys want to know it or not

Discovered that electric arrows are the best way to go fishing. Spam a few into the water and your catch floats to the top.

Bro,

How to fish:

I just swim around and grab the fish!

this

Yeah I'm a myself.

zeldamaps.com is an amazing resource if youre having trouble finding stuff like shrines.

I finished my first beast on Thursday and was disappointed because it seemed small for a dungeon.

Today I was very happy to stumble on the

taking a page from the awesome games done quick, any time I get a spirit orb, the wife has taken to shouting "SHRINE GET!"

those are kind of cool but I still don't consider them real dungeons

Got camel and eagle done today, plus master sword. **** that camel final boss. Arrows did me well in my first two boss fights but they were a huge detriment this time. Make shield work extra hard.