Discover the Unseen Wonders of Hateno Village in Zelda: Breath of the Wild's Tearful Kingdom

In The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, numerous locations in Hyrule have undergone changes. However, Hateno Village, which played a significant role in The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, has undergone substantial transformations over the years. In the aftermath of Calamity Ganon's uprising, Hateno Village remained one of the few remaining civilized areas and served as an important stop on Link's journey. Given that Tears of the Kingdom is a direct sequel, there was much speculation about the changes that might have occurred in Hyrule after Calamity Ganon's defeat.

While some places in Hateno Village remained relatively the same and others were barely recognizable, the village still retains a sense of familiarity with its familiar buildings and residents. However, the village's newfound obsession with mushrooms and its thriving population cannot be ignored. Delving deeper into the village's affairs reveals that there is much more happening in Hateno Village and among its inhabitants compared to the events of Breath of the Wild. From mushroom enthusiasts and fashion-forward individuals to the presence of artisanal cheeses and pumpkins, The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom has breathed new life into Hateno Village.

Hateno Village Only Has So Much Room For Mushrooms

Before players even arrive at Hateno Village, they may have already encountered some peculiar new characters in Tears of the Kingdom. These individuals can be easily recognized by their attire, which is inspired by mushrooms. This subtle detail serves as a hint that Hateno Village is at the forefront of a fashion revolution. Once players reach Hateno Village, they will be greeted by an abundance of mushroom-themed decorations. It is here that they will discover the Ventest Clothing boutique, which is now under the management of Cece. Cece expresses her grand aspirations for the farming community, but not everyone, like Villager Chief Reece, is impressed.

Upon Link's arrival, tensions quickly rise between these two characters, setting off a questline filled with drama. This questline revolves around the mayoral election of Hateno Village, with Link being tasked to distribute mushrooms, engage in political espionage, and ultimately reconcile both factions, thus restoring harmony between fashion and farming. Throughout this Side Adventure, players will be rewarded with various benefits, including new food ingredients like Hateno Cheese and Sun Pumpkins. Additionally, they will have the opportunity to obtain a stunning hat that has been exclusively designed by Cece herself. Moreover, given that the mushroom-themed NPCs are known for their fashion-forward mindset, interacting with them may offer insights into the location of hidden armor.

Hateno Village has New and Improved Shops and Services

In Tears of the Kingdom, Hateno Village has become Hyrule's fashion capital, thanks to the presence of the Kochi Dye Shop. This shop, which was a popular spot in Breath of the Wild, allows players to dye Link's armor. However, in Tears of the Kingdom, the shop offers an additional service for the customizable Paraglider. Sayge, the shopkeeper, not only changes the fabric of Link's Paraglider but also creates new designs for it.

Aside from the Kochi Dye Shop, many of Hateno Village's other shops and services remain unchanged from Breath of the Wild. The East Wind General Store and Great Ton Pu Inn are still open for business, while the Sheikah Shrine has been replaced with a new Zonai Shrine. Additionally, there are new buildings and facilities to explore, such as the Hateno School led by Symin. Tear of the Kingdom players who assist with Symin's lessons can even have their own farm and grow crops, including the new Sun Pumpkin, which can be advantageous in the early stages of the game.

Link Has Been Evicted From His House Again

In Breath of the Wild, players will remember encountering a home on the verge of being demolished in Hateno Village. However, Tears of the Kingdom fails to replicate the same level of intrigue with Link's house in its sequel. Although Link is provided a new home by Bolson Construction and his Ultrahand ability, it seems that he has once again lost his own house.

While this may appear tragic, it is possible that Link willingly left his house to Princess Zelda, who was left homeless after the events of Breath of the Wild. In Tears of the Kingdom, Zelda's belongings, including her diary, can be found in the house. Her diary details her efforts to restore Hateno Village, such as the construction of the school mentioned earlier. Additionally, the Horned Statue is no longer present outside, but players can explore Zelda's secret study by descending into the well. In this secret study, players can not only discover the updated Champion's Tunic in Tears of the Kingdom, but also find a chest containing the Well-Worn Hair Band, allowing Link to sport his iconic hairstyle from Breath of the Wild.

Returning To Hateno Ancient Tech Lab Is Still Important

Players may be surprised to encounter characters like Purah and Robbie early on at Lookout Landing in Breath of the Wild. Typically, these characters make their appearance later in the game. As part of the Main Quest, players will be directed by Impa to travel to the Ancient Tech Lab early on, where Purah will restore some of the Sheikah Slate's key functions. In order to unlock the Hateno Research Lab for Tears of the Kingdom, players will need to complete additional tasks, which also introduces them to the new Depths of TotK. However, once players gain access to the lab, they will find that Robbie is the only one there.

However, returning to Hateno Village and the Ancient Tech Lab is not without its rewards. While it may take players on a different journey, they will still receive an equally important reward. Instead of granting players the use of the Sheikah Slate's camera, Tears of the Kingdom upgrades the Purah Pad with its own Shrine Sensor. By completing quests for Robbie, Link will unlock the Travel Medallion, Hero Path Mode, and Sensor+. Despite the lab's shift away from Sheikah technology, its closure remains just as significant as it was in Breath of the Wild.

The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom is available now on Nintendo Switch.