Summary
- Hateno Village from Tears of the Kingdom is a beloved location due to its cozy, rustic feel.
- Hateno Village could become a staple like Kakariko, boasting charming visuals, vibrant community life, and memorable characters.
- The village’s potential return in future Zelda titles could reintroduce fan-favorite characters like Purah and enrich the series’ legacy.
The Legend of Zelda series is no stranger to recurring elements, as it has persistently included some of the same characters, narrative tropes, and locations in multiple installments over the last few decades. One of those recurring elements is Kakariko Village, which typically serves as a peaceful settlement that plays a key role in Link’s adventure. While its design and role have changed throughout the series, Kakariko Village is nonetheless one of the most iconic recurring features of The Legend of Zelda, and its continued use makes a strong case for a brand-new village first introduced in Zelda: Breath of the Wild and later revived in Tears of the Kingdom to get the same treatment.
The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom‘s Hateno Village is by far one of its, and its predecessor’s, most popular locations. Its warm, calming, and cozy feel, its unique emphasis on agriculture, and the memorable characters it has introduced are all great reasons why Hateno Village should appear in future Zelda games, just as Kakariko Village has been given the privilege of doing before it.
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Tears of the Kingdom’s Hateno Village Deserves a Comeback
Hateno’s Warm, Calming, and Cozy Feel Makes It Unlike Any Other Village to Date
While the Legend of Zelda series featured plenty of pleasant locations in its almost 40-year run, Hateno Village is arguably one of its best in that regard. Throughout the entire series, rarely has there been a more charming town than Hateno Village. Much of this is due to its rolling green hills, its scenic coastal view, and its farm-like architecture, but it’s one of the first villages in the series that actually feels inhabited, with its residents going about their daily routines, farming, and engaging in local traditions. Presumably, future iterations of Hateno Village would do their best to retain this part of the town that makes it so unique.
Hateno Village also arguably has one of the best theme songs of any location in the Legend of Zelda series to date, perfectly encapsulating its warmth and charm.
Hateno Is One of the Few Villages That Focuses on Agriculture
Something else that sets Hateno Village apart from other locations in The Legend of Zelda is its strong focus on agriculture. Various towns throughout the series have certainly featured agriculture as an element of their design, but none of them have emphasized it quite to the degree that Hateno Village does. Hateno’s wheat and vegetables are its pride and joy, as well as the Kochi Dye Shop, where Sayge presumably uses the village’s agricultural resources and other local plants to make said dyes. Clearly, this is a big contributor to its warm and cozy feel, so any future iterations of Hateno Village would need to implement these elements to honor Hateno’s legacy.
Hateno’s Recurrance Would Be a Great Excuse for Purah to Return
Finally, if Hateno Village were to receive the Kakariko Village treatment and begin recurring in the series, it would be a great excuse for characters like Purah to return. Purah began in Zelda: Breath of the Wild as the overseer of the Hateno Ancient Tech Lab, but grew up and became the head of the Zonai tech research effort at Lookout Landing in Tears of the Kingdom. Her “glow up” in TotK quickly made her a fan favorite, and the possibility of Hateno returning in a later game would increase her chances of returning as well.
Hateno Village has already proven itself to be one of The Legend of Zelda‘s most beloved locations, and its return in future titles would only strengthen its place in the series’ legacy. Like Kakariko before it, Hateno stands out not just as a visually striking setting, but also as a place that feels genuinely lived-in, with its agricultural roots and memorable characters adding to its appeal. Whether through its farming culture, a continuation of its cozy village life, or the potential return of fan-favorite characters like Purah, Hateno Village has all the makings of a Zelda staple.
- Released
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May 12, 2023
- ESRB
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Rated E for Everyone 10+ for Fantasy Violence and Mild Suggestive Themes
- Developer(s)
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Nintendo
- Publisher(s)
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Nintendo