Thanks to Nintendo, we recently had the chance to go hands-on with a preview build of The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom. As the follow-up and direct sequel to one of the best games of all time - and something new in the Zela series, no less - it's no wonder it's one of the most anticipated releases for 2023.

And with that, even just a few hours in a reimagined Hyrule with islands in the sky to explore was more than a little overwhelming. In a good way.

It’s not unusual for a developer to describe an open-world environment as a “go anywhere, do anything” playspace that houses a player-choice-driven cinematic tale. What is unusual is for a developer and game to deliver on that promise. A lot is riding on The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, and hype will do that. After spending a few hours in its reimagined world full of sky islands, it's difficult to form a fully-realized opinion of the game.

It was chock-full of so many memorable and stand-out moments that it’s hard not to feel humbled and overwhelmed by what’s in store. In a good way.

What is immediately apparent is that even as a direct sequel, Tears of the Kingdom presents the familiar world of Hyrule and the rules and mechanics of Breath of the Wild in a new way. This is Nintendo amplifying the physics-based sandbox elements found in Breath of the Wild but in a way that feels integral and intrinsically tied to all aspects of the game.

As seen in the recent gameplay presentation from Nintendo, there is a focus on using objects both found and ancient in origin (called Zonai Devices) to overcome obstacles and even create vehicles ranging from makeshift cars to boats to rocket-powered balloons and aerial gliders.

Read Our Full The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom Hands-On Preview