Comparisons with Skyrim could also be made with the lush landscape just asking to be explored, along with the addition of well a stamina meter and a sound meter indicating how much noise you are making when sneaking up on someone. For E3 Nintendo have restricted access to just one plateau, just a fraction of the overall game world, however that section can be explored at will, and it appears that the player should be able to can go anywhere they see, although we're sure that some of the mechanics above will work as Metroid-vania style barriers of entry to certain areas until you have the right equipment.

Hit : A Whole New World

There may have been some indifference to new art styles in past Zelda games but it's hard to imagine anyone finding fault with Breath of the Wild's visuals and world. While this is recognizably a Zelda game it has the feel of Studio Ghibli movie. Fighting mechanical guardians almost looks like scenes from Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind and the soundtrack bears hints of Miyizaki's Spirited Away.
The changes aren't just in the style with the proceedings given a technological edge. Link wakes from a hibernation chamber of some sort at the beginning of the game and uses a "Sheikah Slate" (an Hylian Tablet device of some sort) to interact with parts of the world around him. It's a very interesting departure for a Zelda game.

Hit: SHIELD SURFING!

As the Treehouse presenters delighted in showing viewers, whenever Link was above any sufficiently sloped surface he could use his shield as a surfboard and slide downhill. This looks like amazing fun.

Miss: Shield Surfing Damage

Shield Surfing degrades your shield? Aw man!

Miss: Little Miss Link

While it's not really a surprise that Link is a guy in the latest Zelda game fans had hoped for a female playable character. While it's Nintendo's prerogative to keep Link as Link, some of Zelda series producer Eiji Aonuma's comment on this were a little tone deaf. Telling reporters that " If we made Link a female we thought that would mess with the balance of the Triforce. That’s why we decided not to do it.” and "...if we have princess Zelda as the main character who fights, then what is Link going to do?" seems a little short sighted when the team has just created a whole new world form almost nothing. We're sure the they could come up with various creative solutions to these problems or at least explain them better.

Miss: Is that it ?

With just Zelda, new 3DS RPG and town builder Ever Oasis, a sequel to Boxboy and Pokémon (in Sun, Moon and Pokemon GO versions) at the show, along with the announcement of more Mario and Donkey Kong Amiibos, including Waluigi, for a company heading into a console transition this seemed lightweight for E3.
Even some off-hand comments about a possible new approach to Mario from Shigeru Miyamoto was vague and didn't garner much excitement. This year stream also missed some of the fun of last year's Nintendo Direct with the puppet versions of the sadly departed Satoru Iwata, Shigeru Miyamoto and Reggie announcing games and turning into Star Fox characters. Hopefully when Nintendo launches the NX in 2017 this sense of fun and excitement will return.
Iain goes by the name of @mcnastyprime on Twitter and talks about pretty much everything pop culture for IGN SEA. You can also find him as one-third of the Tri-force on IGN SEA's very own Game of Thrones show, After the Watch.