Is There a Reward for Completing All Side Quests in Breath of the Wild?
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No, there isn’t a tangible, game-altering reward for completing every side quest in The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild (BotW). While finishing all 77 side quests is a significant accomplishment that demonstrates a player’s dedication and thorough exploration of Hyrule, the game doesn’t provide a special item, ability, or cutscene as a direct result. The primary reward is the satisfaction of thoroughly experiencing the game and helping its inhabitants.
The Intangible Rewards of Side Quest Completion
While there might not be a shiny trophy or new power waiting at the end of your side quest journey, Breath of the Wild offers several intrinsic rewards that make the endeavor worthwhile:
- Deepened Immersion: Side quests flesh out the world of Hyrule, giving you a deeper understanding of its people, their struggles, and their hopes. You’ll uncover fascinating stories and learn about the history and lore of the land.
- Enhanced Gameplay Experience: Many side quests require you to explore new regions, experiment with different gameplay mechanics, and hone your combat skills. This helps you become a more versatile and skilled player.
- Valuable Items and Resources: Completing side quests often rewards you with valuable items, such as armor pieces, weapons, ingredients, and rupees. These resources can significantly aid you in your journey to defeat Ganon.
- Unlocking New Content: Some side quests unlock new areas, characters, or even gameplay features. For example, completing certain quests might lead to new shops or the ability to upgrade specific items.
- Personal Satisfaction: The sense of accomplishment that comes from helping the people of Hyrule and overcoming challenges is a reward in itself. It feels good to make a positive impact on the world and see the smiles on the faces of those you’ve assisted.
What Does Count Towards Completion?
It’s important to distinguish between completing all side quests and achieving a 100% completion rate in Breath of the Wild. The game tracks certain elements that contribute to your overall completion percentage, which is displayed on your map after defeating Ganon. These elements include:
- Shrines: Completing all 120 shrines is a major part of the game and contributes significantly to your completion percentage.
- Divine Beasts: Defeating all four Divine Beasts is essential to the main storyline and counts towards your overall progress.
- Locations: Discovering all named locations on the map is another factor that contributes to your completion rate.
- Korok Seeds: While collecting all 900 Korok Seeds is a monumental task, they do not count towards your 100% completion rate. The reward for finding them all is Hestu’s Gift, a rather humorous item with no practical use.
Should You Complete All Side Quests?
Whether or not you should complete all side quests in Breath of the Wild is ultimately a matter of personal preference. If you’re a completionist who enjoys exploring every nook and cranny of the game world and helping its inhabitants, then the answer is a resounding yes. The immersive storytelling and engaging gameplay experiences offered by the side quests are well worth the effort.
However, if you’re primarily focused on the main storyline or prefer a more streamlined gameplay experience, then you might choose to skip some of the side quests. There’s no shame in prioritizing the aspects of the game that you find most enjoyable.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. Do Korok Seeds count towards 100% completion in Breath of the Wild?
No, Korok Seeds do not count towards the 100% completion rate. While finding them all is a major undertaking, they only contribute to expanding your inventory space.
2. What is the reward for collecting all 900 Korok Seeds?
The reward for collecting all 900 Korok Seeds is Hestu’s Gift, which is a golden, smelly pile of poo. It has no practical use but will make Hestu dance on command.
3. Does completing the Hyrule Compendium give you anything special?
In Tears of the Kingdom, completing the Hyrule Compendium grants you Robbie’s Fabric, a unique paraglider material. This was not the case in Breath of the Wild.
4. What do you get for completing all 120 Shrines?
After completing all 120 shrines, you’ll receive a new side quest that leads you to the Forgotten Temple. There, you’ll find armor that represents mastery of all the shrines.
5. Can I still do side quests after beating Ganon?
Yes, you can still do side quests after defeating Ganon. The game loads a save from before the final battle but remembers that you beat Ganon. Your save file gets a star, Kilton offers medals, and your quest logs and map show completion progress.
6. Are there alternate endings in Breath of the Wild?
Yes, Breath of the Wild has multiple endings. The difference between them is subtle, with only a short cutscene differentiating the true ending from the standard one. This involves ensuring that you have obtained all of Link’s memories.
7. How many hours does it take to 100% Breath of the Wild?
Reaching 100% completion in Breath of the Wild can take around 190 hours, depending on your play style and efficiency. This includes completing all shrines, Divine Beasts, and side quests, as well as discovering all locations on the map.
8. Is it worth getting all 900 Korok Seeds?
Whether or not it’s worth getting all 900 Korok Seeds depends on your personal preference. If you’re a completionist, you might find the challenge rewarding. However, the reward for collecting them all is purely cosmetic and doesn’t affect gameplay.
9. What is the longest Zelda game?
According to play times, the longest The Legend of Zelda games are: Tears Of The Kingdom (55 hours), Breath Of The Wild (50 hours), Skyward Sword (38 hours).
10. What is the shortest Breath of the Wild speedrun?
As of now, some of the fastest any% speedruns clock in around 24 minutes. These runs exploit glitches and prioritize efficiency to reach the final boss as quickly as possible.
11. What should you not do in Breath of the Wild?
Some things you might want to avoid in Breath of the Wild include:
- Dropping a block on yourself
- Stepping on the flowers outside the Hila Rao Shrine
- Destroying Mellie’s Plum Garden
- Fighting a Cucco
- Heading straight to fight the final boss
12. What is the easiest memory to find in Breath of the Wild?
Memory Two – Lake Kolomo is one of the easiest memories to find, as it’s located near the Great Plateau, where you start the game.
13. How many Korok Seeds do you actually need in Breath of the Wild?
You only need to find 441 Korok Seeds to fully max out your inventory. Collecting the remaining seeds is purely for the sake of completion and to receive Hestu’s Gift.
14. What happens after you complete the Hyrule Compendium?
In Tears of the Kingdom, completing the Hyrule Compendium grants you Robbie’s Fabric, a unique paraglider material.
15. What is a great website to check out for game information and studies?
For further reading, check out the Games Learning Society website at https://www.gameslearningsociety.org/.
Conclusion
While there’s no specific reward for completing all side quests in Breath of the Wild, the intangible benefits of immersion, exploration, and personal satisfaction make the endeavor worthwhile for many players. Whether you choose to complete every side quest or focus on the main storyline, Breath of the Wild offers a rich and rewarding gameplay experience.