497 Words About: The Korok on Top of Hyrule Castle
When I found out that there were Koroks hiding in and around Hyrule Castle in Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, I groaned painfully, thinking about how I would have to navigate the maze of Guardians. When I found out that there was a Korok at the very top of the tallest tower of the castle I believe I began suffering an existential crisis and lit up a cigarette.
The last part was confusing to me because I don’t smoke.
Though my friend TJ makes fun of me for it, I mean it when I say I have every intention of finding all 900 Koroks in Breath of the Wild, and all 1000 in Tears of the Kingdom. When approaching any open-world videogame these days, I find it becomes necessary to create a list of priorities. I can either focus exclusively on the main quest, I can prioritize side-quests, I can explore random spaces simply relishing in the discovery, I can fight enemies, or I can collect trinkets. Breath of the Wild offers its players all of these options, and while many have groused about the Korok challenges, I find them rather charming.
I played Legend of Zelda: Windwaker on my Gamecube when it was released in 2003 and became obsessed with the Koroks, even trying to complete the sidequest of helping them plant and grow new Deku trees. Their little sprites with the leaf-masks were cute and iconic and I loved them. Literally decades later in Breath of the Wild when I encountered Hestu, waiting by the side of the road and mourning the loss of his maracas, I was reminded of the Koroks and began the now infamous quest of finding all 900 seeds.
By the time I reached the top of Hyrule Castle, I was actually at number 489; I hadn’t even found all of the Koroks in Hyrule Castle. But by then Tears of the Kingdom was on its way and I knew I was about to disappear into Hyrule all over again.
I scaled the tower, stopping occasionally to refresh my stamina with some mushroom skewers.
I spotted the flower petals., there was a pop, and then the familiar giggle. The sun was setting and I rested there, on top of the world, staring at a spite hovering in the air. The only sound was the wind and the gentle knocking of his umbrella.
I had anticipated a sense of relief, anger , or frustration at this moment. Instead, Breath of the Wild surprised me with one of a number of quiet moments where any intellectual and emotional response would merge into pure mindfulness. I became aware, in the moment, of where I was physically, how I felt emotionally, and how this moment, like all moments, would pass.
This wasn’t tragic or exciting, it just…was.
It was lovely existing, and enjoying a beautiful moment.
Few videogames I’ve played have inspired such a unique moment, and even fewer have provided multiple comparable moments.
Joshua “Jammer” Smith
6.17.2024
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***UPDATE***
I’ve uploaded a video on YouTube of myself reading this essay. You can listen to me read it by following the link below:
497 Words About: The Korok on Top of Hyrule Castle - YouTube