The latest entry in the Zelda franchise, Legend Of Zelda: Breath Of The Wild, was truly a revitalizing experience for both the franchise and its fans. Its varied and lush landscapes, its quests, its battles all worked to induce fun, creativity, and excitement in players. It certainly worked its magic, getting top reviews across many publications and earning the title of Game Of The Year multiple times. Many praised its scope, its design, its graphics and many more. The map is one of the largest ones that we have seen in a video game to date, and that is not even getting started on what you can do in the game.
From sidequests to exploring to getting to know villagers, there is so much to do in Breath Of The Wild that it is hard to list it all out. Items, locations, and people are easy to miss in a world so large and beautiful. With so much to see and do in Breath Of The Wild, there are bound to be some commonly missed spots or details. Only a true explorer or completionist can find and do every single thing in a game like this; it takes hours of patience, skill, and determination to find every last detail. Luckily there are a few hardcore completionists who were up to the task. What are some of the most commonly missed bits in this latest Zelda game? Here's a list of just some of the things players often miss out on in Breath Of The Wild.
25 Those Ruins Look Familiar...
Zelda games always have some little references hidden away for fans to find. Some are obvious enough, while some take a little extra work. If you look closely at the Ranch Ruins, you may notice that they look familiar. Fans of Ocarina Of Time may have noticed that the Ranch Ruins are laid out exactly like Lon Lon Ranch. It feels fitting that here is where you can find a Stalhorse at night. These ruins are a tad scaled down and on the other side of the field, however.
24 A Brotherly Connection
One of the most infamous characters from the Zelda series is Tingle. He first appeared in The Legend Of Zelda: Majora's Mask and has appeared in almost every iteration since then except Twilight Princess. It turns out that Tingle is so loved that he managed to get an entire island named after him and his brothers. Four islands, Tingel, Ankel, Knuckel, and Davdi all have misspelled versions of the brothers' names. There is even a shrine on Tingel Island so you can visit any time you like.
23 You're A Little Different Than I Remember
Just like previous entries in the franchise, Breath Of The Wild is jam-packed with references for fans to uncover and enjoy. Some are pretty obvious while others are more obscure. Most of the references are places named after characters from other iterations of Zelda games. However, Breath Of The Wild takes it another step further and makes sure that the names are misspelled. Looking at the map of Hyrule feels like one big tribute to Zelda's legacy.
22 Rest In Peace
Nestled between Hyrule Fields and The Gerudo Highlands lies a very special mountain. Lying next to the Tamio River is Satori Mountain. The reason that Satori Mountain is so special is that it is a monument to Satoru Iwata, who was the CEO and president of Nintendo. Unfortunately, Iwata passed in 2015 during Breath Of The Wild's production. On Satori Mountain you can find a large cherry blossom tree hanging over a small lake. There is hardly a more peaceful or beautiful spot in Hyrule.
21 Ruined Over Time
Another reference can be found within minutes of starting the game for the first time. Once Link has awoken and left the Shrine Of Resurrection, you are directed to head southeast towards the Temple Of Time ruins. These ruins are heavily implied to be the ruins of Castle Town and the Temple Of Time from Ocarina Of Time. The layout of the front and the Temple itself match Castle Town and the Temple of Time very closely. It makes you wonder at the size of BOTW's Hyrule Castle in comparison.
20 A Holy Castle
In connection to the Temple Of Time, it is theorized that the Eastern Abbey on the Great Plateau is actually Hyrule Castle from Ocarina Of Time. Comparing the layout of Eastern Abbey to Hyrule Castle shows you that the layout of both structures is very similar and it is heavily implied that they are the same building. While it is not officially confirmed, it is mentioned by Impa the first time you talk to her. Similarities like this cannot be ignored.
19 Mountains Of Similarity
This is a weird one. As you may have spotted from the recent announcement, Nintendo is bringing Link's Awakening to the Switch with an all-new look. Link's Awakening is, from what I can tell, an underrated entry in the Zelda franchise. It takes place on an island far from Hyrule and is referenced in Breath Of The Wild in the Peak of Awakening. The problem is that the mountain featured in Link's Awakening is nowhere near Hyrule so this placement does not make sense, but the gesture is sweet.
18 Turn Up The Remix
There are not just references in the world; Zelda's music is often remixed or ripped straight from previous games. For example, the Dragon Roost Theme was featured in both the original and HD versions of The Legend Of Zelda: Wind Waker. It was then remixed into a wonderful new version for Breath Of The Wild to become the Rito Village theme. This makes sense as Dragon Roost Island was home to the Rito in Wind Waker. Also, both Rito Village and Dragon Roost Island's themes are arguably the best of their respective games.
17 As Above So Below
When Skyward Sword came out, it shook up the Zelda formula in a lot of ways, but one of the most notable ones was its location. Link's home was in the air high above the earth and Hyrule did not even exist yet. In terms of the official Zelda timeline, Skyward Sword tells the story of the creation of Hyrule and contains the first iterations of Link, Zelda, and Ganon. Looking at the Forgotten Temple had people theorizing that the Temple was the ruins of Skyloft after it fell to earth.
16 Something Fishy About This
Zora's Domain in Breath Of The Wild is one of the most beautiful areas in the entirety of Hyrule. Its rushing rivers, blue lakes, and lush grasses make it a wonderful place to waste time and explore. If you have a peek at a map of the area, you may spot some familiar but misspelled names. Vah Ruta is one letter from Ruto, the Zora princess from Ocarina Of Time. She also has a lake and a mountain named after her near the area. There are more names that can't be detailed here – let us know what you find.
15 The Perfect Island Getaway
Continuing the theme of naming islands after beloved characters, Linebeck Island is also a reference. It is named after Captain Linebeck, the captain of a steamboat that Link uses to get around in The Legend Of Zelda: The Phantom Hourglass. It makes sense that a small island in the Lanayru Wetlands would be named after a sailor and steamboat captain. There is even a shrine nearby with treasure inside; talk about a perfect spot.
14 Horwell Is Back, Baby
In Skyward Sword, there is a character named Horwell, an instructor at the Knight Academy. Horwell is considered to be an expert on all kinds of animals and beings and tries to care for a Remlit named Mia. It is interesting that a bridge nestled between Hyrule Fields and West Necluda would be named after him; he did bridge gaps in his students' knowledge, after all.
13 Statues of...Who?
Deep within the Gerudo Desert lie statues of the seven heroines – there are supposed to be eight but one is missing. These statues represent important figures in Gerudo culture, the divine protectors, but they may not be who the lore says they are. The only divine protectors in Zelda lore are the Seven Sages, so perhaps the statues represent them. As for the eighth heroine, there is a theory going around that it represents Ganon's original Gerudo incarnation.
12 Out With The Old
On the fringes of Hyrule there exist giant animal skeletons. While they are tragically not excavated dinosaur bones, they are something even cooler. Leviathans are ancient flying or sea-bound whales and fish often considered to be great deities. These enormous creatures have been referenced or even appeared in many previous Zelda titles. There are theories that the Leviathan bones could be of Lord Jabu-Jabu, Lord Jabun, Levias, or the great Tentalus from other games.
11 The Creepiest God Ever
When riding horses in games, are you the type to carefully trot along pathways or do you just power straight to your destination, uncaring of mountains and cliffs? If you have ever accidentally dropped your horse over a very large cliff and ended its life, there is a sneaky way to revive your horse. Head to Malanya Spring southeast of Faron Lake to find what appears to be a fairy fountain. However, what lurks in the fountain is the Horse God Malanya with the power to resurrect your horse.
10 Tufts Of Lore
The Legend Of Zelda: Tri Force Heroes game has a pretty weird story. There's a princess that has been cursed to wear a tacky outfit, there are witches, and somehow a king rules over it all. King Tuft of the Drablands has a magnificent set of hair that looks almost like a mountain, so it makes sense that he has a mountain named after him. However, that is not the only thing the mountain is famous for. The large mountain is also home to Lover's Pond, making it a popular spot.
9 Shielded Reference
There are a lot of cool kits available in this game that comes in all kinds of cool shapes and designs. One of the most familiar items at Link's disposal is the Hylian Shield, thanks to its nostalgic design. The Hylian Shield is designed after the shield of the same name wielded by the Hero of Time in The Legend Of Zelda: Ocarina Of Time. While it is not the exact same one and more of a replica, it is pretty awesome to see the tribute in your inventory.
8 Shielded From Sight
Speaking of the Hylian Shield, there is a way to find the exact same shield that the Hero Of Time used back in the day. Simply head to Hyrule Castle and down to the Lockup, which is guarded by a Stalnox. Defeat the Stalnox and help yourself to the most powerful and durable shield in the entirety of Breath Of The Wild. After obtaining the Hylian Shield, it is possible to buy another from Tarrey Town should it break.
7 The Best Companion In The Great Sea
Everyone has their favorite Zelda companion; Epona, Zelda, Midna, even Navi has some fans out there. However, one often overlooked companion is Makaar from The Legend Of Zelda: The Wind Waker, who actually helps you through dungeons. Makaar did get some love in Breath Of The Wild, as he has an island and a lake named after him surrounding the Korok Forest.
6 Princess Studies
Exploring Breath Of The Wild's Hyrule Castle is stressful. There are guardians, moblins, and the odd Lynel waiting around every corner to attack. Not only that, but the 3D map can be confusing to read. Because of this, it makes sense that Hyrule Castle is one of the lesser explored areas in Breath Of The Wild. It is worth heading to Princess Zelda's bedroom. Not only is it an intimate peek into how she lived, but it also leads to her study, which contains her diary.