The expectations forThe Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdomare high, as its predecessor has a firm legacy as one of the best open-world games ever made. Uncovering all of Hyrule’s curiosities can take dozens of hours, and becoming one with the wilderness feels entirely natural, as the game rewards those who take advantage of its physics to forge a unique experience. It’s less story-heavy than previous entries, with Memories providing insight into the world and its characters. As Link builds up tobattling Ganonin Hyrule Castle, it feels like he’s fighting not just for the future of the kingdom, but the influences of the past, too, and his journey is littered with personalities who help him towards his goal.
Settlements are small, and dialogue is minimal compared to other open-world games, but the characters are always charming. FromBotrick, who resembles Satoru Iwata, to more impactful characters like Prince Sidon, the people that are scattered around the land show thatBreath of the Wildis sparsely populated but never lonely. Kass is another character who helps the game to achieve this feat. A wayfaring stranger, Kass pops up all over and though he isn’t a fountain of information, he’s a friendly face in trying times. The nextZeldagame should bring him back, giving him more to do to have a bigger impact on the story or world-building.
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Kass is Cryptic Enough to Warrant More Development
While Kass is always friendly to Link, he exists in a game that rarely gives players the answers in a direct way. Kass' story is no different. He’s a traveling troubadour who can be found playing tunes at the many stables and is intent in searching for the ancient songs,making his way around Hyruleto achieve this feat. Those ancient songs are pieces dedicated to the hero who banished Calamity Ganon thousands of years ago, and Kass wants to fulfill the final wish of his teacher, the Court Poet, to find them all.
It’s a sufficient backstory and motivation to make him worth talking to, but the game doesn’t give players much more than that, meaning his tale can be extended inThe Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom. It already seems apparent from promotional material that the 2023 release will place more emphasis on story thanBreath of the Wild, and though this seems evident in the main campaign, fleshing out side characters could, and should, also be a priority. Kass is one of the most interesting there is, and while his friendship with Link is loose, it would be nice to see it explored more.
Tears of the Kingdom Needs a Familiar Face
Tears of the Kingdommay deploy a similar map to its predecessor, but there is a lot different this time. Thesky islands in the newZeldaproject look like they provoke a substantial change, and sending players to the clouds will hopefully make the adventure feel fresh. However, this can make a game feel like it isn’t connected to what came before, and having a layer of familiarity can make all the difference. Kass could be that, as he is recognizable because he can so frequently be found at stables around Hyrule. A friendly face, no matter how fleeting, can help the journey feel less solitary, and Kass fits the mold well.
If only for the musical theme that accompanies his presence, being in Kass' company is comfortable, as the tune is joyful and has traces of the iconicZeldatheme. Because of this being around him not only bringsBreath of the Wildcloser to the rest of the series, but it also gives players a small amount of familiarity in a world that is constantly hostile, and never lets players rest on their laurels for too long. Kass is an interesting character who has more to give. IfTears of the Kingdomis going to harness the same magic of its predecessorthen it needs to not only bring new ideas, but also develop upon the ones that were introduced in the 2017 game. Kass should definitely be one of the components that carries over.
The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdomlaunches July 30, 2025 on Nintendo Switch.
