Summary
WhileThe Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdomdoesn’t yet have plans of following its predecessor with Sheikah technology or DLC, the sequel has still managed to recapture the Master Cycle Zero concept thanks to player ingenuity and Zonai devices. The reveal ofTears of the Kingdom’s new Zonai vehiclesappeared to be initially promising for the Master Cycle Zero as fans speculated whether theBreath of the Wild’s DLC reward would make it into the sequel. However, the Master Cycle Zero and the majority of Sheikah technology were eventually shown to be absent fromTears of the Kingdom.
Despite this, the idea behind the Master Cycle Zero seems to have persisted within the mechanics ofTears of the Kingdom, as one particular Zonai vehiclestood out and became a must-have for all players. Dubbed the “Hover Bike” by players, its simple design, battery efficiency, and all-terrain capabilities ensured that this player-made vehicle was the most well-known and commonly used vehicle. Compared to the Master Cycle Zero, though the two vehicles have their differences, the concepts of freely roaming Hyrule and making the most out of an open world are difficult to ignore.
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The Missed Potential of Zelda: Breath of the Wild’s Master Cycle Zero
Though the Master Cycle Zero might have been a strange DLC reward forBreath of the Wild, it was ultimately revealed by the likes of Eiji Aonuma and Hidemaro Fujibayashi that early ideas had suggested Link could ride around Hyrule on a motorcycle. Given thatBreath of the Wildhad been a shift in traditional designfor theZeldaseries, the Master Cycle Zero would eventually prove to be ideal despite the team’s initial uncertainty on the idea. Combined with The Champions' Ballad’s overall success, the Master Cycle Zero has since become a fan-favorite part ofBreath of the Wild.
But while the Master Cycle Zero was an odd but well-liked addition toBreath of the Wildas it worked alongside Sheikah technologyand the open world, it never lived up to its full potential. AsBreath of the Wild’s DLC was released half a year after the official launch, most players had already made extensive in-game progress. So by the time players had completed The Champions' Ballad and gained access to the Master Cycle Zero, the bike no longer served any real purpose other than aimlessly driving around Hyrule, leaving players with the sentiment that it would have been more rewarding as part of the base game.
How Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom Channels the Master Cycle Zero
Due to various factors from its popularity among fans, connection to Sheikah technology, and status as DLC, it was unclear whether the Master Cycle Zero would make its way intoThe Legend of Zelda:Tears of the Kingdom. As more information came out about theBreath of the Wildsequel, however, and new trailers were released, the hope it would be added diminished regardless of how useful and fun it would have been for players. Nintendo appears to have at least acknowledged this, as the introduction of Zonai devices suggests it chose to instead rework its approach to vehicles.
But while Nintendo tries to pay tribute to the Master Cycle Zero byadding Zonai schematicsfound in the Shrine of Resurrection for the Beam Cycle, it falls short of living up to the standard the Master Cycle Zero had set. The Beam Cycle’s weaknesses like its complicated design, maneuverability, and limited utility are very prominent when compared to player-made constructs like the Hover Bike. Built from just three common Zonai devices and using minimal battery, the Hover Bike recaptures the freedom and energy that the Master Cycle Zero offered, allowing players to soar through the air with speed and ease.
The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdomis available now on Nintendo Switch.
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