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One of the most divisive aspects of Tears of the Kingdom and its predecessor, Breath of the Wild, is the Korok Seed system found in both games. While some view the finding of each of Tears of the Kingdom’s Korok Seed puzzle and location as a fun challenge to keep them interested in the game, others find the repetitive and overwhelming nature of the Korok Seeds to be too much. Whether you enjoy the current Korok Seed system or not, to make the system more universally enjoyable, some improvements could be made. Hopefully, when a new Zelda game includes a collectible system will improve based on the criticism that Zelda games have had in the past, especially that of Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom’s Korok Seed system.
For players who are unfamiliar with Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom, Korok Seeds are collectibles that are hidden throughout Link’s adventures. Generally, to get the Korok Seeds, Link will have to complete puzzles, explore hidden locations, leave an offering, or do many other small tasks that usually don’t take much time at all. In total, Breath of the Wild contains 900 Korok Seeds, while Tears of the Kingdom contains 1,000. In each game, players can use the seeds to increase Link’s inventory size.
Tears of the Kingdom’s Korok Seeds Are Tedious
This reward for collecting the Korok Seeds already presents one of its biggest problems. Having a large inventory feels like it is a necessity in both Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom, and both games can feel tedious at times without it. Locking inventory size behind something smaller and more hidden than a side quest feels like a recipe for disaster. Unobservant players or those who couldn’t be bothered to stop for each seed will have to deal with the small inventory size throughout their entire playthrough.
Additionally, finding each of these Korok Seed puzzles and locations in Tears of the Kingdom is just as tedious as it was in Breath of the Wild. With over 1,000 of these seeds scattered around the map, players have their work cut out for them if they want to complete the game 100%. Some players have even given up on their dreams of finding every Korok Seed in Tears of the Kingdom due to the repetitive nature of each task that uncovers a seed. For example, Link can find a Korok Seed by lifting a rock. While it is easy to do, most players don’t want to spend their time in Tears of the Kingdom lifting every suspicious rock.
Korok Seed Collection Should Be Fewer And Farther Between
To fix this issue, in a new Zelda game, Nintendo needs to focus on fewer collectibles with greater and more engaging challenges. Having something in between a Shrine and the current Korok Seed system would probably be perfect. By including something more entertaining than just picking up a rock, players should be more keen to work through each of the challenges. Additionally, by including fewer Korok Seed puzzles and locations, players won’t feel as overwhelmed when trying to start the task. For example, Ocarina of Time has 100 Skulltella Medallions and feels like a much more manageable task.
Tears of the Kingdom’s Korok Seeds Need Better Rewards
On top of this, to fix Tears of the Kingdom’s Korok Seeds, Nintendo should both change and increase the number of rewards given for collecting the seeds. For a new Zelda game, inventory management shouldn’t be tied to Korok Seeds and would be much better off connected to a specific side quest or quest chain. Instead, Tears of the Kingdom’s Korok Seeds should reward Link with various cosmetics items that can show off your dedication to the game. Locking some of Legend of Zelda’s most iconic armors behind Korok Seeds would be the perfect way to keep fans coming back to it.
Finally, the reward for finding all the Korok Seeds, called Hestu’s Gift, remains the same between Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom. Originally, many dedicated players were disappointed when they received the reward in-game, expecting something much grander for finding 900 unique seeds. Now, a player needs to find 100 more seeds for the same joke reward. A much better option would have been to give a unique but funny collectible piece of armor for Link to wear. While it would still be amusing to receive, players will still have a use for it besides having it clutter their inventory.
