Unveiling Your Hyrulean Journey: A Comprehensive Guide to Checking Completion in Tears of the Kingdom
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So, you’ve embarked on a grand adventure across Hyrule in The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, and the burning question is: How do you actually know how much you’ve accomplished? The answer is straightforward, but the journey to unlock that information is part of the game’s magic.
To check your completion percentage in Tears of the Kingdom, you must first defeat the final boss and complete the Main Quest Walkthrough. Once you’ve rolled credits and seen the ending, you can load the last autosave created before the final boss fight. This save file will be marked with a star, indicating you’ve conquered the main story. Upon loading this starred save, open your map on the Sheikah Slate. In the bottom-left corner, alongside the time of day and temperature, you’ll now see a percentage out of 100% that represents your total completion progress.
Decoding the Completion Percentage: What Counts and What Doesn’t?
The completion percentage in Tears of the Kingdom isn’t as straightforward as simply doing everything. It focuses primarily on map-related milestones. Here’s a breakdown of what contributes to that coveted 100%:
- Shrines: Completing all 152 shrines is a significant chunk of progress.
- Locations Discovered: This includes towns, stables, landmarks, and other named locations across Hyrule’s surface, sky islands, and depths. This represents the vast majority of your completion percentage.
- Korok Seed Locations: Finding the locations where the 800 Korok puzzles are located.
Important Notes:
- Korok Seeds (Individual Collection): While crucial for inventory upgrades, the individual collection of all 1000 Korok Seeds does not count towards the overall completion percentage. You only need to locate the area where the Korok puzzle is in order for it to count.
- Side Quests and Adventures: Completing every side quest and side adventure doesn’t directly contribute to the percentage.
- Equipment and Inventory: Collecting every piece of armor, weapon, or material doesn’t factor into the calculation.
- Compendium Completion: Filling out your Hyrule Compendium does not impact your map completion percentage.
- Main Quests: Since you need to beat the game to unlock the percentage counter, all main quests are already completed. Replaying them won’t increase the percentage.
100% Completion: A Testament to Exploration and Dedication
Achieving 100% in Tears of the Kingdom is a monumental task, requiring countless hours of exploration and a keen eye for detail. As Twitch streamer SmallAnt demonstrated, it can take upwards of 139 hours or more to truly uncover every nook and cranny of Hyrule’s expansive world. While the percentage focuses on map discovery, the journey itself involves countless encounters, challenges, and unforgettable moments.
FAQs: Deep Diving into Tears of the Kingdom Completion
Here are some frequently asked questions to further illuminate the intricacies of completion in Tears of the Kingdom:
1. Can I Check My Completion Percentage Before Beating the Game?
No, the completion percentage is only unlocked after defeating the final boss and loading the starred save file.
2. Does Defeating Ganon Again Increase My Completion Percentage?
No, defeating Ganon multiple times does not further increase the completion percentage. The percentage is tied to map discovery and shrine completion, not repeated boss battles.
3. Do the Depths Count Towards the Completion Percentage?
Yes, locations and landmarks within the Depths are factored into the overall completion percentage. The Depths are a vast and integral part of the game world, and exploring them is crucial for reaching 100%.
4. How Many Hours Does It Take to 100% Complete Tears of the Kingdom?
On average, 100% completion can take over 200 hours, depending on your play style, exploration habits, and familiarity with the game mechanics. Some players may achieve it faster, while others may take significantly longer.
5. Is There a Post-Game After Defeating Ganondorf?
No, similar to Breath of the Wild, there is no true post-game in Tears of the Kingdom. After defeating the final boss, you’re returned to the save file before the battle, allowing you to continue exploring and completing unfinished tasks.
6. What Reward Do I Get for 100% Completing Tears of the Kingdom?
There is no specific in-game reward for reaching 100% completion. The satisfaction of fully exploring Hyrule and mastering the game is the primary reward. However, completing all 152 shrines unlocks the Ancient Hero’s Aspect, a unique armor set obtained at the Temple of Time.
7. Will There Be DLC for Tears of the Kingdom?
Nintendo has stated that there are currently no plans for DLC for Tears of the Kingdom, as they feel they’ve incorporated all the elements they desired into the base game.
8. Does Difficulty Mode Affect the Completion Percentage?
The difficulty setting does not affect the completion percentage. Whether you play on Normal or Hard mode, the same map locations and shrines contribute to the overall progress.
9. Do Shrine Quests Count Differently Than Regular Shrines?
No, all 152 shrines contribute equally to the completion percentage, regardless of whether they are accessed through shrine quests or discovered independently.
10. Does Reaching Skyview Towers Impact My Completion Percentage?
Yes, activating Skyview Towers and revealing portions of the map certainly contributes to your completion percentage. They are an integral part of discovering locations and landmarks.
11. Is There a True Ending in Tears of the Kingdom?
Yes, there is a true ending in Tears of the Kingdom. You’ll see the following: The final boss will explode. The spirits of Rauru and Sonia appear, and they’ll return Zelda back to her human form.
12. What Kind of Game is Tears of the Kingdom?
Tears of the Kingdom is an open world action-adventure game.
13. Does Completing the Hyrule Compendium Count?
Unfortunately, the Hyrule Compendium does not count towards your map completion percentage.
14. Does Getting all the Armor sets Count?
No, gathering all of the armor sets does not count towards the overall completion.
15. Can I Find all 120 Shrines Before Ganon?
Yes, you can beat and find all shrines before facing Ganon. There’s simply puzzles to them at times.
Embracing the Journey: More Than Just a Percentage
Ultimately, the completion percentage in Tears of the Kingdom is just a number. The true value lies in the journey itself – the countless hours spent exploring, solving puzzles, battling enemies, and immersing yourself in the rich and vibrant world of Hyrule. Whether you strive for 100% or simply enjoy the adventure at your own pace, Tears of the Kingdom offers an unforgettable experience.
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