We’re still unpacking all the latest details in Eiji Aonuma’s gameplay demonstration of Tears of the Kingdom, and it’s undoubtedly good stuff. We’ve learned that Link’s new hand has a lot of new abilities that range from building entire rafts and aircraft from scratch to swimming through mountains. But we’re also seeing new information about characters besides the Hero of the Wild. One of them is a familiar sight from previous Zelda games: an undeniably cute Korok!
The little woodland fella can be seen attached to a hilariously large backpack along the right side of the road as Link rides on his horse toward Dueling Peaks. The Korok seems to be calling for help and says, “I need to reach my friend!” Maybe the little buddy is stuck or lost, or even a combination of the two. But we probably won’t know until May 12th, because Eiji Aonuma has Link riding past the Korok in order to show us how the game looks.
Later in the gameplay demonstration, we see Link free falling from one of the Sky Islands. Mr. Aonuma explains how the player can decide where they want to go while they’re in the skies. But while Link is up there, we can’t help but gawk at an important change to the landscape from Breath of the Wild: the Great Hyrule Forest, which was north of Hyrule Castle, has now disappeared.
Yes, you saw that right. The entire Hyrule Forest is gone! Not a single tree is left in sight over the area.
What happened? Where did it go? Where is the Great Deku Tree? Does this mean the Korok are homeless? We’re hoping that the Forest (and the Deku Tree) moved up high to safety in one of the Sky Islands, much like Forest Haven was spared from the Great Flood in The Wind Waker. The alternative theory is rather dark otherwise. Ganon’s terrible Malice could have razed it all to the ground.
We’ll keep you posted at Zelda Universe as we get to the bottom of things with the Koroks in the upcoming Tears of the Kingdom!
