The latest main installments of The Legend of Zelda, Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom, have been two of the most important titles Nintendo has had in the last generation. Breath of the Wild won the Game of the Year (GOTY) award, while Tears of the Kingdom was also nominated for the same award. And while its detractors often point out details such as the lack of a more structured story or certain technical problems, they lose sight of the most important aspect: exploration.
With the arrival of the Nintendo Switch 2, both titles received improved versions, which not only brought a considerable visual improvement, but also introduced a new companion app: Zelda Notes. This application allows you to keep a more detailed control of the adventure, with useful information, interactive maps, a medal system, and in the case of Tears of the Kingdom, the option to share our creations from the Autobuild system.
In addition, the app includes the possibility of reviewing Princess Zelda’s logs, which allows you to expand the lore of the world and learn more about the important places in Hyrule. However, despite the good intentions, Zelda Notes could affect one of the fundamental pillars of the experience: exploration.
Is it a good idea to use Zelda Notes?
Exploration is one of the greatest rewards offered by these games, so the use of this app should be entirely up to each player. There are items, such as Koroks, that after many hours might warrant a little help in locating them. On the other hand, other chance encounters are an essential part of the charm of exploring with total freedom.
If I had to recommend the best time to use Zelda Notes, I would say it’s after finishing the main story. That moment when you’ve already saved Hyrule and you only have to go through it completely, discover secrets or collect pending items. At that point, the app works as a modern guide, in the style of those printed ones we used to consult in the past.
Is it a must-have? No. But for collectors looking to complete the game 100%, an extra helping hand is never a bad thing. And since it is an optional service, its use is solely up to each player’s decision.
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