In Defense of Koroks: Embracing the Little Guardians of Nature in Hyrule's Lore
by Jess Shaw, MA
The Koroks, introduced in The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker and expanded upon in Breath of the Wild (BotW), brought a new task to the open world map feature. The Koroks are sentient beings that embody the essence of nature. With leaf-like appearances and tiny wooden bodies, they are camouflaged against the backdrop of Hyrule and its forests - making them the perfect players of the game Hide and Seek. They use their deku leaves to fly and obtained their seeds from a celebration where the deku tree gave them all a korok seed. Led by their charismatic leader, Makar, the Koroks have a close bond with the Great Deku Tree and are sworn to protect the balance of the natural world.
The Koroks from Wind Waker, Makar, Aldo, Drona, Elma, Hollo, Irch, Linder, Oakin, Olivio, & Rown, live in Forest Haven and are under the protection of The Great Deku Tree. The Deku Tree blesses them, protects them, and gives them seeds. The Korok are seen dilligently carrying the deku seeds where you find them. They are a primitive, tribal group said to be the descendants of the Kokiri (You know, Saria, Mido, and Fado… those brothers…).
Koroks become part of Link's journey: they offer the player Korok Seeds, in return for finding them throughout the land of Hyrule. You can exchance these seeds for expanding Link's inventory space, allowing him to carry more weapons, shields, and bows. The quest to find these seeds becomes an adventure, encouraging players to explore every nook and cranny of the expansive world. Sometimes it takes a little yellow flower to make us climb that crazy mountain, but how many times have you seen the world from another view - or found the answer to your main game or side quest after chasing a giggling wooden leaf boy for his seeds?
Lift up a rock, touch the pinwheel, solve the puzzle, or chase the flower - shoot the balloons, and complete the circle of stones - and poof! “Ya-Ha-HA!” The Korok love when you solve their simple puzzle or play their games - mini-tricksters.
Despite the adorable appearance of Koroks, they have not been immune to criticism and have received occasional backlash from some corners of the fanbase. Let's address the hate that they sometimes encounter. And, yes, I am biased - I do have a Korok tattoo afterall.
BotW boasts a total of 900 + Korok Seeds and you will need about 400 + or so to max out all your inventory slots for weapons. So, why are there another 400 + or so and what do you receive when you find all 900? Well, the reward is rather shitty and bears no real use toward the completion of the game. Many players think that Hetsu’s poop is not worth the time spent collecting seeds. I started BotW excited to see these little bugs, but by the end of my play through, I was more excited for a Rushroom find/climb than to find a Korok. Playing TotK now, ait’s all coming back to me - and no, I do not regret my tattoo - why are you asking?
The Korok puzzles evoke this past and collective trauma - it is like they are always following you, always making noise, and they always have something to say. Reminiscent of a blue glowy figure we all loved to hate or hated to love, the Koroks do not help you solve mysteries, help you complete a temple, or give you clues for the surrounding area — mostly. I can sympathize with players who see these puzzles and long journeys as a distraction from open-world game play and maybe they have a piont. Maybe. But, I also loved Navi, so what can I say?
Embracing Diversity within Hyrule: The Legend of Zelda franchise holds a diverse cast of characters, ranging from heroic warriors to quirky and endearing individuals. [spoiler ahead:] When we learn that Zelda is Sheik - and… Well, Tetra was always my favorite of Zelda’s disguises. Is it because Tetra’s outward expression looks non-binary? Wishful thinking?
This diversity is one of the series' strengths, allowing for a layered world; the Koroks contribute to this diversity. Collecting Korok seeds and checking out Hetsu’s sweet dance moves to upgrade your weapons slots and carry one more item was an interesting way to incorporate the tiny cuties into the game.
Preserving the Spirit of Adventure: I know, I know… the Korok Seeds can feel like an unnecessary task that detracts from the core gameplay experience. I love to collect those lizards, go bowling, or fish on my favorite island. It is essential to remember that not all players are completionists and will find all 900 Korok seeds - and you don’t have to. If you play the game without the intent of searching for seeds, you will still find enough to expand your weapon slots. Let’s say that the inclusion of Korok Seeds, in the Breath of the Wild game, is a testament to the game's commitment to providing a diverse range of activities to suit different players' preferences, ensuring that everyone can find their own sense of adventure within Hyrule.
Finding Joy in the Unexpected: It's important to recognize that criticism often stems from personal preferences and expectations. While some fans might not resonate with the Koroks' design or purpose, others find immense joy in their presence. The world of gaming is diverse, and what resonates with one player might not resonate with another. The existence of the Koroks provides an opportunity for players of all backgrounds to find different aspects of the game that bring them happiness and satisfaction.
Yes, I have spent hours on end climbing that snowy mountain in Hebra - and no it was not worth it. But, you know what, I had fun! Is that not what side quests and collecting 50 Rushrooms is all about?
Honoring the Hylian Legacy: The Legend of Zelda series has always managed to strike a balance between epic storytelling and lighthearted moments. From Tingle to the quirky townsfolk in various games, these unique characters have contributed to the series' charm and identity. The Koroks, with their connection to nature and the magical world of Hyrule, pay homage to Zelda's long-standing legacy.
Now that we are past 90 + or so days since Tears of the Kingdom dropped, the hate for Koroks has been amplified. In the past, the characters had names, personalities, and there was a limited numbed of them. Wind Waker brought to life, what BotW multiplied, and now, TotK has made rather sentient - or at lease, now, players can pick them up and fuse them to other materials.
It is interesting to find that there are players, who hate these little creatures and will go to lengths to harm (/s) them in their game play. Then, there are those of us who feel bad for the bullying the Koroks are receiving. Remember: the characters are not sentient even if they appear sentient in the game - or at lease to Link. Yet, I still scolded my father for dropping one down a pit. I still cannot harm them - intentionally. Players of games like Knights of the Old Republic (KotOR) and other games with the choice to be good, bad, or in between (Gray Jedi and so on) will remember what led them to take the Dark Jedi path and while people like me tried and always ended up becoming a Light Jedi. Dark Jedi, are you the ones crucifying Koroks; Light Jedi are you the ones who empathize with a lost friend needing help?
When BotW was huge, I remember some people liking Koroks and others being okay with them. In 2020, when many more players found the 200+ hours to complete the game or tackle the DLC - I still did not hear much about my little cuties. Now that we are seeing a different game mechanic involving the Koroks in Tears of the Kingdom, the hate is louder, more creative, and reminiscent of everyone’s guilty pleasure band - Nickelback, but “Trying not to love you. Only makes me love you more.”
I saw memes where players used the fuse mechanic to create a crucifix and attach the tired Korok to the cross like Jesus H. Christ once was. Yes, I am here to talk to you about my mini lords and saviors - the Koroks. *knock knock* After getting my father into Zelda games, finally, I loved chatting with him about his BotW obsession. For Christmas, ‘22, I spent real money pre-ordering two copies of The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom to play long-distance with my dad. I rethought that choice when I called him and he replied, “I hate this lazy Korok. Go find your own friend!” But “He’s not lazy, Dad - he’s tired.” Their game is the mechanic that developers used to teach players to think outside the pot and interact with the open map. I will always love hearing a sharp, “Ya-ha-ha!” and the “Ooof” you get when you drop a rock on their head. I love Koroks and you don’t have to.
Hey, listen! If you must crucify the little guys to enjoy them - sigh - I am glad you are at least enjoying them. We can choose to embrace the diversity of characters and experiences that the series offers, with or without recognizing that the presence of the Koroks adds to the sense of adventure that has always defined The Legend of Zelda. If that isn’t enough, just know that no one in the game can see the Koroks like you can. The only ones who know your crimes are you, the Korok, and whatever god you answer to. I for one thank each and every Korok for sacrificing their life for my sins.
*All pictures are not mine *All characters belong to The Legend of Zelda and Nintendo, not me… *Any art, drawing, or otherwise is not mine, but from a google search. This blog or my silly rant is in no way making me money or allowing me to receieve ad revenue - I just wanted to have fun. *If you know an artist or who a picture belongs to, let me know, I will credit and link them!
