Daily Debate: Could the Master Cycle Zero Have Worked in Tears of the Kingdom?

Tears of the Kingdom expanded and built upon concepts from Breath of the Wild in nearly every way. However, one item that was glaringly omitted from Tears of the Kingdom was the Master Cycle Zero. Included as a reward for completing The Final Trial of Breath of the Wild‘s The Champion’s Ballad DLC, the Master Cycle Zero was Link’s Divine Beast. A motorcycle that used inventory items as fuel, it quickly became a fan favorite for its speed and accessibility. Why then would such a popular and useful item be excluded from the sequel?

While some die-hard fans of the Master Cycle Zero will insist that it should have been carried over into Tears of the Kingdom, the reason it was excluded is quite simple. An easily accessible motorcycle would undermine vehicle construction and discourage players from experimenting with Ultrahand. It would be like designing an elaborate puzzle for the player to solve and then allowing them to skip it with the press of a button while collecting the reward anyway. At that point, why even make the game?

So, in its current state, the Master Cycle Zero is entirely incompatible with Tears of the Kingdom‘s core mechanics. That being said, should it have been included in some form? What would developers have to change to make it work for Tears of the Kingdom?

First and foremost, it could not be available in the early game. An indestructible pre-built vehicle could only work as a post-game reward, after the player has sufficiently experimented with Ultrahand. Second, it would have to be nerfed. Whether that means adding a refresh time or scaling back fuel efficiency, something would have to be done to prevent it from being a one-size-fits-all solution for general traversal. Third, make it compatible with Zonai Devices. Adding Zonai Devices to the Master Cycle Zero would just be fun and it would make up for some of that necessary nerfing. Add a cannon to the front to blast enemies or a wing to make a Glider Bike like from Rocket: Robot on Wheels. This would help the Master Cycle Zero contribute to Tears of the Kingdom‘s emphasis on player creativity and experimentation, not discourage it.

Now, what are your thoughts? Would you have liked to see the Master Cycle Zero in Tears of the Kingdom? Would it have even worked for that game? What changes could the developers make to the Master Cycle Zero to make it more compatible with Tears of the Kingdom? Tell us what you think in the comments!

Nick Miller

Nick is a writer for Zelda Dungeon and a longtime fan of the Zelda franchise. In his free time, he enjoys fishing, archery, skateboarding, and some good ol’ fashioned family time. He’s an advocate for physical media and an avid video game collector. His favorite Zelda game is Ocarina of Time, though Breath of the Wild and the Link’s Awakening remake are close contenders. His other favorite video games series include Kingdom Hearts, Fallout, and Ratchet & Clank.