Let us begin by admitting that we think we’re funny. That is, we think our blog posts are funny; we are probably funny in person as well, but we’re almost certain our writing is funny. And yet, Dear Reader, there is nothing funny about memory loss for an elder. Hence, it is with some trepidation that today we tackle the topic of Link’s lost-and-recovered memories in Breath of the Wild.
Early in the game, it becomes clear that Link hasn’t fared all that well in the cryotank from which he emerged after 100 years of, as it were, solitude. One side effect of that long sleep, he learns from Impa during a visit to Kakariko Village, is memory loss. Twelve memories captured in photographs must be restored in order for Link to fully understand the complicated backstory of how Calamity Ganon rose to power, the Guardians went bad, and blah blah blah. Folks, this is all just one more thing – 12 more things, really – for poor Link to do because of Zelda and her half-arsed attempts to save the kingdom and whatnot.
Finding the 12 captured memories is, for a Zelder, a lot like locating your car keys or eyeglasses. You know they’re out there somewhere, you’re just not sure where. Impa, at least, clues you into the memory to be found at East Lanayru Gate, so you know what you’re looking for: each location is marked by a shining light and, you guessed it, you need only run toward the light (cue Poltergeist movie joke) and the memory will suddenly return to Link’s cryo-addled brain. Oh, how we wish it worked that way in real life!
In addition, Impa rewards you with the Champion’s Tunic when you return with the first memory intact, making the search a valuable two-fer.
For the remaining memories, we suggest, naturally, that you consult the long-suffering Interactive Map. You’ll find the memories marked on almost any version of such a map, with some exceptionally fine step-by-step guides on how to identify the 12 locations in the singularly unhelpful photo album left by Zelda and provided to you by Impa. There’s also the painter Pikango (remember him?) who apparently will review your vacation pics and gently nudge you in the nearest memory’s direction. Off you go!
All of the memories provide some backstory, but we choose for example the one aptly named Zelda’s Resentment. Now, in our opinion (and it’s our post, so we’re entitled), she’s got a bit of cheek, being resentful. What has Link ever done but answer calls for help? But get a load of these screenshots from the cutscene that ensues when Link walks into the light:
Once you’ve found all 12 memories – and you can take as long as you wish – return to Impa. She’ll show you a photograph in her house that unlocks a thirteenth secret memory. (NOTE: We have no memory, hardee-har-har, of unlocking this final memory the first time we played the game.) It’s easy enough to find, in a rubble of old Guardians we mined early in the game for ancient parts.
In addition to the dozen memories you’re tasked with finding by Impa – which turns out to be a baker’s dozen, see above – there are other memories that surface during play when you free Divine Beasts and obtain the Master Sword. But really, isn’t it a trifle confusing, keeping all these types of memories straight? The original 12, plus the bonus memory, then the five that emerge during play? Why not tell us from the start that we’re looking not for 12 memories, but 18? And why do we have to distinguish between Captured Memories and Recovered Memories when we’re still dealing with Lost Memories!! Wouldn’t that be more straightforward? Less confusing? We’re Zelders, here, dammit!
Now, for all your hard work – indeed, during all your hard work – we recommend a cocktail fittingly made with elderflower liqueur. Get it, Dear Reader? Elderflower? Try our recipe for the Elderflower Cranberry Cocktail. A couple of these and you won’t remember you’d forgotten a thing.