As The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom rapidly approaches its May 12 release date, fans have been salivating over each new morsel of information that Nintendo has thrown their way. However, one major piece of information that has been at the forefront of many fans' minds is the possible inclusion of the classic Zelda staple: Dungeons.
Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom bears an enormous weight as the sequel to 2017's Breath of the Wild. Although it was beloved by many, Breath of the Wild left behind a number of iconic features of the Zelda franchise. Alongside the exclusion of several classic enemies and unique key items, the most prominent absence came from the standard Zelda dungeon.
The Legend of Zelda Needs Its Classic Dungeons
An open-world Legend of Zelda game was a dream come true with Breath of the Wild, but its lack of sprawling, immersive dungeons was felt by players everywhere. As a series, The Legend of Zelda relies on these dungeons to keep bringing the magic its fans love so much. This latest portrayal of Hyrule was populated with Ancient Shrines and Divine Beasts to explore and decipher, but the depth and extent to which players could engage with Breath of the Wild's puzzles felt shallow compared to past entries in the series. Many fans felt they lacked the individual personality and charm possessed by dungeons of previous games. This criticism is often cited by fans as one of the game's largest flaws, one they hope is corrected in the upcoming sequel.
Through a number of leaks, fans may now have the answer to the burning question on everyone's minds. Although there is no official confirmation from Nintendo, the latest information seems to indicate that yes, players will excitedly witness the return of classic dungeons in Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom. The extent to which these dungeons reflect the reliable Zelda formula remains to be seen. However, fans less concerned with POSSIBLE SPOILERS can continue reading to learn what information has been dug up so far.
WARNING: SPOILERS AHEADFans will be pleased to learn that not only are classic dungeons returning to the series in Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, but they will also return to classic style as opposed to the repetitive ancient architecture of the Divine Beasts. Datamining and leaks for Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom indicate over 150 new Ancient Shrines and the existence of several dungeons or temples with their own unique theme.
In no particular order (if there even is an order), the themes found by dataminers appear to include the classic Hyrule Castle as well as motifs of fire, water, wind, electricity, spirit, and possibly more. Additionally, several players who received Tears of the Kingdom early have excitedly made it known that these dungeons far exceed the size of the Divine Beasts from Breath of the Wild. If accurate, players that were left longing for that classic Zelda experience are likely to be pleased by their upcoming adventure.
Tears of the Kingdom's Dungeons: Return to Form or Simple Paint Job
While the aesthetic of a dungeon is important to many, it's not the only aspect that makes it feel like classic Zelda. With the introduction of Breath of the Wild's weapon durability system, the days of unique dungeon items came to an end. Bomb Bags were absorbed into the Sheikah Slate, and interesting tools like the Hookshot and the Spinner were relegated to the sidelines. This came as the byproduct of Nintendo allowing players to approach the game with nonlinear freedom, no longer requiring certain items to progress the campaign. It's a trade-off that's rather divisive among new and long-time fans of the series alike.
In lieu of these items, players that successfully freed a Divine Beast were rewarded with access to the powers of Link's old allies. Breath of the Wild's Champion Abilities had their own unique perks, but didn't provide much in the aid of puzzle-solving. According to current leaks, this trend seems to continue in Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, forgoing any found key items found and instead earning new powers from the temple's sage. However, it appears that players will gain access to the abilities part-way through the dungeon to assist in puzzle solving, only able to take them out into the rest of Hyrule upon defeating the dungeon's boss.
Speaking of bosses, another important facet of Zelda's classic dungeons is their iconic boss fights. The Blight Ganons were certainly an interesting experiment, but even the most dedicated of fans can find it stale when every dungeon boss in the game is a variation of the same character. Players were able to stumble upon a few of Zelda: Breath of the Wild's most powerful bosses roaming the overworld, providing a bit more variety. However, the closest the game got to a truly unique dungeon boss came in The Champions' Ballad DLC against the Sheikah monk Maz Koshia.
Luckily for all fans, those unique boss fights are making their return in Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom. Recent leaks have confirmed the existence of grand boss fights in each of the dungeons. These bosses should be a welcome challenge to players that have been missing having a wider array of monsters to fight. Furthermore, in a style similar to most enemies in Breath of the Wild, data mining has revealed the possibility of finding stronger variations of these bosses in some areas of Hyrule, presumably after first defeating them in their respective dungeons. Players will likely find numerous creative ways to use Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom's new gameplay mechanics to fight each of these new bosses.
After waiting several years, players will likely be satisfied with their patience. It looks as though Nintendo has heard the constructive criticism from its fans, and this much-anticipated sequel is shaping up to be one of the greats, though it's worth noting nothing has been officially confirmed yet. With an apparent return to classic Legend of Zelda form, Tears of the Kingdom is sure to be enjoyed by players for years to come.
The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom releases May 12 exclusively for the Nintendo Switch.