For a game built on an existing map,The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdomdoes a lot to justify its own existence. Initially conceived as an expansion toBreath of the Wild,Zelda: Tears of the Kingdomgrew into a project of its own, and many fans are glad it has. Not only is Hyrule just as breathtakingly gorgeous as before, but now players can see it from even higher up with the sky islands. The game has been repopulated with new enemy arrangements, quests, and all sorts of collectibles, and that’s not even getting into the unique experience of navigating the Depths.
It’s staggering how much content Nintendo has managed to stuff into this package, but it does have its limits. For all the new content, this is undeniablyBreath of the Wild’s sequel, with many of its flaws intact. Even ifBotW’s criticisms like weapon durability and anew dungeon style were adjusted forTotK, their presence remains polarizing. However, the game also has a unique issue caused byTears of the Kingdom’s proximity toBreath of the Wild. It feels likeTears of the Kingdomdistanced itself too much from its predecessor’s map, but that could be remedied in DLC.
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Sheikah Tech Has Vanished From Tears of the Kingdom
ReturningBreath of the Wildplayers will quickly notice some bizarre inconsistencies with how their last adventure carried over to the present. The events ofBreath of the Wilddid happen, but Link is not widely known as the hero of Hyrule. Prominent side characters like Hudson and the citizens of Tarrytown recognize Link, but Bolson, who Link had to interact with before and during the Tarrytown quest, doesn’t remember him at all. It all comes together to make veteran players feel likethey’ve slipped into a parallelZeldatimeline.
All of this comes to a head when investigating areas like Hyrule Field or the iconic Shrine of Awakening. To make room on the map and ensure new players don’t feel they missed story details, Sheikah technology no longer exists inTears of the Kingdomapart from what Purah and Robbie have made. All the towers, Shrines, and even the giant Divine Beasts have disappeared, only replaced with the Skyview Towers andPurah’s own take on the Sheikah Slate. Besides a single Guardian husk on Purah’s old lab, it’s strange to see one of the most prominent elements ofBreath of the Wilddisappear without a trace.
DLC Can Call Back To Breath of the Wild’s Heavy Sheikah Influence
Fortunately, there is a simple solution. Just like how the floating platforms inBreath of the Wild’sMaster Mode may have inspiredTears of the Kingdom’ssky islands,TotKcan reference its predecessor in its own DLC. In a quest handed out by the Sheikah scientist characters, Link could track down pockets of Sheikah technology hidden in the deepest reaches of the Depths. Dialogue would ideally be added to explain why no Sheikah technology is on the surface now, something fans have been wondering about.
This quest would enable players to regain some of their Sheikah weapons and armor fromBreath of the Wild. Not only that, it would be the perfect place to show where Kass has gone. ThisRito musician is absent inTears of the Kingdomas well, and many players would love to see him again. With how involved Kass was with The Champions' Ballad DLC, it’s not a stretch to imagine Nintendo is saving him for another expansion. No DLC forTears of the Kingdomhas been announced yet, but if it ever is, resurrectingBreath of the Wild’s Sheikah technology should be a top priority.
The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdomis available now for Nintendo Switch.
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