While many familiars locations throughout Hyrule have changed in The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, Hateno Village held a particular prominence back in The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild and a great deal has changed during the games' intervening years. In a world still scarred from Calamity Ganon's uprising, Hateno Village was among the few pockets of civilization left and served as a key location along Link's journey. Knowing that Tears of the Kingdom would be a direct sequel, there was broad speculation about how Breath of the Wild's Hyrule might have changed following Calamity Ganon's defeat.
While some places seemed fairly unchanged and others were almost unrecognizable, Hateno Village does carry some familiarity with many of the same buildings and people, but it would be impossible to ignore the village's new mushroom craze and its thriving population. Digging deeper beyond the mushroom decor, however, will soon reveal that there is much more going on with Hateno Village and its people than before in Breath of the Wild. From fungi fanatics and fashionistas to artisanal cheeses and pumpkins, The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom has made Hateno Village feel so much more alive.
Hateno Village Only Has So Much Room For Mushrooms
Before players even arrive at Hateno Village, there's a good chance they'll have bumped into one of the odd new NPCs in Tears of the Kingdom. Easily identified by their mushroom-themed outfits, these characters are the first hints that Hateno Village has become the epicenter of a fashion revolution. Upon arriving at Hateno Village and being met with an abundance of mushroom decor, players will soon learn that the Ventest Clothing boutique from Breath of the Wild is now under new management with Cece in charge. She talks of big dreams for the farming community, but others like Villager Chief Reece aren't impressed.
Both characters will quickly come to blows upon Link's arrival, sparking a drama-riddled questline for Hateno Village's mayoral election which has Link handing out mushrooms, engaging in political espionage, and ultimately bringing both sides back together in fashion-farming harmony. Both during and after this Side Adventure there are several beneficial rewards for the player, such as new food ingredients like Hateno Cheese and Sun Pumpkins, and not to mention an objectively fabulous hat designed by Cece herself. Additionally, with the knowledge that mushroom-styled NPCs are fashion-forward, interacting with them can potentially reveal where to find hidden armor.
Hateno Village has New and Improved Shops and Services
Despite the surrealism of Cece's fungal fashion, it makes sense that Hateno Village would become Hyrule's fashion capital as it is also home to the Kochi Dye Shop. The dye shop was one of Breath of the Wild's key stores for letting players dye Link's armor; it returns almost unchanged in Tears of the Kingdom. Beyond small details like Sayge and Senna wearing Cece's mushroom outfits, Kochi Dye Shop offers a new service for Tears of the Kingdom's customizable Paraglider. Not only will Sayge change Link's Paraglider fabric by swapping a dunk tank dye for a chimney cannon, but he will also create new designs altogether.
Many of Hateno Village's other shops and services are still available in Tears of the Kingdom too, with most barely any different to their appearances in Breath of the Wild. The East Wind General Store and Great Ton Pu Inn are still in operation, while the old Sheikah Shrine has been switched to a new Zonai one. There are new buildings and facilities that are worth visiting, such as the Hateno School led by Symin. As a reward for assisting with his lessons, Tears of the Kingdom players can grow crops on their own farm, like the new Sun Pumpkin, which could be helpful early into the game.
Link Has Been Evicted From His House Again
Perhaps one of Hateno Village's most memorable landmarks, players will remember coming across a home as it's about to be demolished in Breath of the Wild. But since Tears of the Kingdom couldn't replicate the same kind of intrigue of a century-old home left mysteriously vacant, there had been hopes that it would do more with Link's house as its sequel. However, while Tears of the Kingdom did build Link a new home, courtesy of Bolson Construction and his Ultrahand ability, it still meant he apparently lost his own home yet again.
Though tragic at face value, it could be that Link left willingly due to Princess Zelda being left homeless after Breath of the Wild, so Link's house is now hers in Tears of the Kingdom. Among Zelda's belongings is her diary, which outlines her efforts to restore Hateno Village, like building the aforementioned school. Meanwhile, players won't find the Horned Statue outside anymore, but they can descend the well into Zelda's secret study which not only points them towards Tears of the Kingdom's updated Champion's Tunic, but a chest holds the Well-Worn Hair Band for Link to rock his Breath of the Wild hairstyle.
Returning To Hateno Ancient Tech Lab Is Still Important
Players might be surprised to meet the likes of Purah and Robbie so soon at Lookout Landing as they usually appear much later during Breath of the Wild. As part of Breath of the Wild's Main Quest, players will travel to the Ancient Tech Lab fairly early under the direction of Impa, with Purah restoring some of the Sheikah Slate's key functions. For Tears of the Kingdom, the Hateno Research Lab requires a little more work to unlock, part of which actually helps introduce players to TotK's new Depths. However, though the player does eventually gain access to the lab, Robbie is its only occupant.
It isn't all for nothing though, as returning to Hateno Village and to its Ancient Tech Lab might take the player on a different journey it still gives just as important a reward. Unlike Breath of the Wild granting players the use of the Sheikah Slate's camera, Tears of the Kingdom instead upgrades the Purah Pad with its very own Shrine Sensor, and by completing quests for Robbie, Link unlocks the Travel Medallion, Hero Path Mode, and Sensor+. Though the lab's closure reflects Tears of the Kingdom's shift away from Sheikah technology, it's still just as important as it was in Breath of the Wild.
The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom is available now on Nintendo Switch.
