For a game built on an existing map, The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom does a lot to justify its own existence. Initially conceived as an expansion to Breath of the Wild, Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom grew 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 undeniably Breath of the Wild's sequel, with many of its flaws intact. Even if BotW's criticisms like weapon durability and a new dungeon style were adjusted for TotK, their presence remains polarizing. However, the game also has a unique issue caused by Tears of the Kingdom's proximity to Breath of the Wild. It feels like Tears of the Kingdom distanced itself too much from its predecessor's map, but that could be remedied in DLC.
Sheikah Tech Has Vanished From Tears of the Kingdom
Returning Breath of the Wild players will quickly notice some bizarre inconsistencies with how their last adventure carried over to the present. The events of Breath of the Wild did 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 like they've slipped into a parallel Zelda timeline.
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 in Tears of the Kingdom apart 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 and Purah'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 of Breath of the Wild disappear 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 in Breath of the Wild's Master Mode may have inspired Tears of the Kingdom's sky islands, TotK can 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 from Breath of the Wild. Not only that, it would be the perfect place to show where Kass has gone. This Rito musician is absent in Tears of the Kingdom as 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 for Tears of the Kingdom has been announced yet, but if it ever is, resurrecting Breath of the Wild's Sheikah technology should be a top priority.
The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom is available now for Nintendo Switch.
