Look, I'm reviewing the Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom trailer and it gets an Essential

That Saxophone!

Guys, I’ve seen Trailer 3 so many times. I hear YouTubers boast they’ve watched it more than 10 times and laugh at their rookie numbers. It got to a point where I thought – unironically, straight-faced – that maybe I’d seen it more than anyone else in the world, but I took a break last Monday because it was getting silly. I’ve watched a film trilogy’s worth. Several podcasts’ worth (I know this because on the way to work I’ve been listening to a trailer music rip instead of vulnerable chats broken by mattress sponsorship). I’ve made at least two non-gaming cousins politely watch it in my car before being dropped off home, but one said it was ‘phenomenal’ so it’s okay. I’ve pored over its many musical references, watched all the reaction compilations and quiet-cried at them crying. Maybe I’d even cry at videos of them crying at their own crying, like that Bo Burnham thing (make the video guys and let’s see!).

Confession: I even downloaded and re-edited (!) the trailer in Premiere because I was Very Concerned that the visual cut to Link on the glider before music eruption was too early and scuffed the drop. Turns out it’s so badass it doesn’t really matter.

My point is I like it. I’m so glad it’s so good. I’m not exaggerating when I say that I was as excited for the prospect of The Big Trailer as I am for the game proper.

I’m one of those slightly torn Breath of the Wild admirers, a game I adored, then burned out on a bit. And I’ve spent way too much of my life obsessing over the felt, textural differences to the OG 3D Zelda formula ( Does its open-air quiet and lack of area music lose some sense of otherness and myth?!).