For as long as Link has been the Hero of Time, he has always had Epona by his side. Link's trusty steed has been invaluable throughout The Legend of Zelda, and there are many battles and traps that the hero simply couldn't have overcome without Epona in tow.
Then again, Epona is still a horse. As great as she is, she couldn't really hold up against the high-powered vehicles of Mario Kart 8, especially with the series' new focus on flying and anti-gravity maneuvers. It only makes sense that Link would need a new ride, but what could possibly be worth of the Hero of Time himself?
The Master Cycle, that's what.
The Master Cycle is part of the first DLC pack for #MK8 and has plenty of horse power. pic.twitter.com/FbrW7r977R
— Nintendo of America (@NintendoAmerica) October 15, 2014
Fans have known that Link would be making his way to the Mario Kart 8 roster for some time now, but Nintendo only just announced that the Hero of Time would have his own special vehicle. The Master Cycle fits Link well: the blue coloring and metal plating pay homage to the iconic Hylian Shield that Link carries, and the horse-shaped chassis is a nice nod to Epona.
Specifically, Link will be a part of DLC Pack 1, which seems to focus on The Legend of Zelda. In addition to Link and his vehicle, the downloadable content will also include eight new tracks, four of which make up the Triforce Cup. It only makes sense that Link would ride the Master Cycle through Hyrule itself, no?
What exactly these tracks contain is unknown, but we do know that the DLC also includes F-Zero's Blue Falcon and two more unknown vehicles, plus Cat Peach and Tankooi Mario as playable characters. The other four tracks included will focus on Nintendo's city/social simulator, Animal Crossing.
The second DLC pack, due roughly six months after the first pack is released, will include a similar set of new content. Eight more tracks and four new vehicles will make their debut, as will playable characters Dry Bowser, the Villager, and Isabelle. Currently, both DLC packs are priced at $7.99.
It won't be long before players will get their hands on both Link and the Master Cycle. The first downloadable content for Mario Kart 8 is scheduled to hit in November, while the second pack will be available in May 2015.
