With The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom set to return fans to the land of Hyrule, previously underused locations are the perfect place to expand upon the incredible worldbuilding of Breath of the Wild. Although BOTW’s Hyrule is home to many settlements, not all have much to offer in-game. TOTK, therefore, provides both the opportunity and impetus to add new activities to these areas, in order to keep the kingdom feeling fresh.
Perhaps because of its size, Breath of the Wild contains many locations that feel underutilized. Hyrule contains many small but thriving communities, the few settlements which survived the emergence of Calamity Ganon 100 years prior. These towns and villages are home to some of Breath of the Wild’s various minigames, while others can be found deep in the wilderness. However, some locations have remarkably little to offer in-game despite their incredible potential, even when ing for said minigames and side-quests. One village, in particular, is a perfect example of this, offering Tears of the Kingdom a chance to improve upon BOTW in multiple areas.
Lurelin Village Could Allow Link To Fish In TOTK
One of the more notable absences in Breath of the Wild was Link’s inability to use a fishing rod. A staple of the Zelda franchise, the exclusion of a fishing minigame is particularly notable given BOTW’s emphasis on foraging for items. However, as a fishing settlement, Lurelin Village (home to a gambling minigame) is an ideal setting for the return of this beloved feature in Tears of the Kingdom. Giving Link a fishing rod in BOTW's sequel would provide the player with an excellent way to relax between quests. Fishing could be exclusive to Lurelin, or simply enabled there by selling fishing equipment; either way though, Lurelin’s profile would rise dramatically.
Lurelin Village Is The Perfect Port For Sea Travel
Lurelin Village’s importance could also grow by letting Link take control of one of the local ships. In Breath of the Wild, Link is able to control simple sailing rafts with the help of a Korok Leaf. This allows him to more easily reach locations such as Eventide Island without stamina-intensive swimming or paragliding. However, BOTW’s rafts are decidedly slow, and an proper ships would be more than welcome for many players. This hypothetical method of traveling the ocean in Tears of the Kingdom could even be controlled similarly to the ships in The Wind Waker or Phantom Hourglass, making the entire experience feel very nostalgic.
With the world of BOTW already being so large, TOTK will need to be just as expansive to satisfy players when it releases. Moreover, with fans already familiar with the landscape of Hyrule, developing existing locations alongside the new floating areas glimpsed in promotional material will be essential. Lurelin Village is the perfect example of a location that has much to offer in this regard. Its association with the sea makes it well-suited to adding ocean-related features and improving exploration options that were lacking in BOTW. This would help ensure that The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom becomes the best game it can be.
Source: Nintendo of America/YouTube
