Highlights
- The Sky Islands in The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom provide a variety of new mechanics and a tranquil setting for players to explore and uncover the mysteries of the Zonai tribe.
- Reaching the Sky Islands requires the use of Skyview Towers and the Recall ability, providing creative ways for players to navigate between the floating landmasses and the surface.
- The score in Tears of the Kingdom adds a mysteriously ethereal vibe to the Sky Islands, distinguishing it from the main game and creating a calming atmosphere despite occasional enemy encounters.
Link's ascension into the skies above Hyrule is the central point of The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, and the Sky Islands do not disappoint. While they may not be as extensive as some fans hoped, there's a lot to keep players busy as they unravel the mysteries surrounding the Zonai tribe.
The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom is hooked around this ever-reaching archipelago of Sky Islands and their many secrets, and how they relate to what's happening on Hyrule's surface following the dreaded Upheaval. The Sky Islands have provided a variety of new mechanics for the game. Still, some things about these floating landmasses stand out above the rest.
7 The Great Sky Island
In The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, the Great Plateau was a tutorial area for players. Tears of the Kingdom follows a similar premise but has moved the tutorial area skywards with The Great Sky Island. This tranquil setting provides players with everything they need to know about the lands of the ancient Zonai, from how to glide to meeting the Zonai Constructs for the first time.
The Great Sky Island is the biggest of the Sky Islands and is home to four Shrines that provide Link with the base Zonai abilities given to him from Rauru. The spirit of Raruru guides Link after he's given his magical arm, much like King Rhoam shepherds Link around the Great Plateau.
6 Reaching the Sky Islands
Once on the surface, after spending several hours exploring the Great Sky Island, players may wonder how exactly they can get back up there - it's not like Link has the sudden ability to fly in Tears of the Kingdom. Eventually, they'll realize that the Skyview Towers dotted around Hyrule will get them from A to B, as Purah's technological know-how can propel Link skywards so he can scan the land below and transfer it to the Purah Pad.
Another creative way to reach these islands is using the Recall ability on falling sections. Where these pieces fall is hard to predict, but they're usually accompanied by a sound as they fall and hit the ground. Recall only works for a certain amount of time, but it's plenty to get Link back up in the sky so he can glide to his intended destination.
5 Soundtrack
There was something magical about the score in The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, which has continued in Tears of the Kingdom. The same music can be heard on the surface, but a new score has been added for the Sky Islands. As the area is a brand new experience for Link and the player, the score adds a mysteriously ethereal vibe to the tranquil landscape.
Aside from sometimes being attacked by Soldier Constructs (which can't be helped, they're only doing their job), the Sky Islands score is so calming. It also reminds players that it's separate from Breath of the Wild, making the difference to Hyrule's surface even more apparent.
4 Sky Dungeons
While there are only two sky dungeons in Tears of the Kingdom, they're uniquely designed to both fit around the lore of each tribe and provide the player with a sense of build-up. They're not traditional dungeons in a sense until players reach the very end. The Water Temple, for example, features two dungeons when the Ancient Waterworks are considered. Then there's the upward progression of the Wind Temple, where Link and Tulin must climb up and around a neverending blizzard to reach the Legendary Stormwind Ark.
Thunderhead Isle in the skies of Faron also counts as a sky dungeon in that Link has to contend with the constant threat of lightning, among other obstacles, as part of finding the Fifth Sage.
3 Zonai Lore
The Sky Islands may give an insight into how the Zonai civilization used to live. However, there's still a lot of mystery surrounding them as they're not there to tell their story. Instead, players learn more about them through Zelda's flashbacks and her interactions with Rauru and Mineru, the last of their kind.
The Zonai tribe has left many things behind in Hyrule about their past, including architecture, Constructs, slabs describing the royal family's history, and Zonai script etched on buildings. These can all be found in the Sky Islands and the surface - particularly in the Faron region where they once lived. The stone Zonai ruins often depict dragons, owls, and boars, representing the power, wisdom, and courage of the Triforce.
2 Constructs
There are a variety of enemy constructs in Tears of the Kingdom, the first of which Link encounters on the Great Sky Island. These enemies get progressively harder to beat as the game progresses, particularly when faced with Captain and Flux Constructs. But Steward and Ranger Constructs also help Link on his journey once he awakens on the Great Sky Island.
Non-hostile Constructs differ in design, with long necks, large hands, and lotus bud decorations on their body. They have different jobs and purposes throughout Hyrule, having once served the Zonai tribe with various chores like mining and processing Zoanite, cooking, and making tools. These Constructs are very kind and are a joy to speak to whenever Link comes across one.
1 Puzzles
Shrines are just some of the things to solve in the Sky Islands. Plenty of puzzles are dotted around each region's sky archipelagos with helpful rewards like chests containing Sage's Wills and old maps alongside finding Korok Seeds. These puzzles are unique in that most of them rely on Link manipulating particular parts of the islands, whether precariously cutting the ropes of chests or using Zonai devices for transportation.
Three islands host a particular challenge involving Link skydiving through spiral structures during a time limit. Having completed the necessary task on Courage, Valor, and Bravery Island, Link is rewarded with the Glide Armor set, increasing his mobility as he glides through the sky.
The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom is available now on Nintendo Switch.