The highly anticipated game, The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, has been receiving rave reviews since its release. However, one glaring flaw in the game has been noted by this reporter and other players; the inability to pet the dogs found throughout the game.
Man’s Best Friend
In Tears of the Kingdom, dogs can be found near stables scattered throughout the game’s vast world of Hyrule. These furry companions serve a purpose, as feeding them will make them happy and, in turn, will direct players to buried treasure.
Lost Opportunity
While the treasure hunt is an exciting feature, the inability to interact with the dogs beyond their treasure-seeking abilities has frustrated many players. The lack of a petting animation or any acknowledgement of the player’s attempts to interact with the dogs has left players feeling unfulfilled and disappointed.
The Importance of Interactivity
Interactivity with non-playable characters (NPCs) in video games has become increasingly important to players. Games like Red Dead Redemption 2 and Ghost of Tsushima are praised for their attention to detail, which includes allowing players to pet and care for their horse companions.
The Petting Phenomenon
The desire to pet animals in video games even gave rise to a Twitter account, @CanYouPetTheDog, which rates games based on their petting options. The account has amassed almost 700k followers, showcasing the importance of petting to gamers.
The Petition
Unhappy with the lack of petting options in Tears of the Kingdom, a petition has been created on Change.org, calling on the game’s developers, Nintendo, to add the ability to pet dogs in future updates or DLC.
Reactions
The petition has garnered over 20,000 signatures and counting, with fans expressing their disappointment and frustration with the lack of petting options in the game. Some fans have even taken to social media to express their discontent, using hashtags such as #LetUsPetTheDogs and #PetTheDogsInBOTW2 to voice their desire for change.
Developer Response
With the petition gaining traction, many fans are curious to know if Nintendo will respond. As of now, the company has not released an official statement regarding the lack of petting options in Tears of the Kingdom. However, in previous games, such as Nintendogs, petting and caring for dogs was a central feature.
The Future of Petting in Zelda
As the gaming industry continues to place a greater emphasis on interactivity, it is possible that Nintendo will take notice of the demand for petting options in video games. Perhaps future titles in the Zelda franchise will include the ability to pet dogs, or maybe a patch will be released for Tears of the Kingdom.
Conclusion
The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom has been a game that fans have been eagerly anticipating. Yet, the lack of petting options has left many feeling unfulfilled. As the petition gains momentum, only time will tell if Nintendo will listen to the demands of its fans and add the ability to pet dogs in their beloved games.
