The Legend of Zelda: Link’s Awakening for Switch isn’t the only Zelda title that Nintendo has remade or remastered recently. Ocarina of Time, Majora’s Mask, The Wind Waker, and Twilight Princess have all been updated for modern consoles with new bells and whistles like improved graphics, better controls, and new features like challenge modes and Amiibo support. As great as it may be to revisit Hyrule as a young version of the Hero of Time or Wolf Link, one can’t help but wonder what other great Zelda games deserve a fresh coat of paint. From Skyward Sword to Oracles of Ages, the following are the Zelda Switch remasters we’d like to see next.
Zelda Switch Remasters We Need | Skyward Sword
Though series producer Eiji Aonuma did state this past summer that remaking Skyward Sword for Switch would be “close to impossible” due to the title’s reliance on motion controls, he didn’t outright say that the game will never be on the hybrid console. Skyward Sword is worth another visit because of how divisive it is among fans. Some claim that the title improves upon the franchise’s fundamentals through features like a real-time inventory and Dowsing, while others criticize the game for having a slowly paced intro, relying too heavily on Wii MotionPlus, and a gigantic boss called The Imprisoned. A remake could appeal to both sides of the debate, preserving the elements that most fans agree on while removing some parts of the title that feel unnecessary.
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Zelda Switch Remasters We Need | Zelda 2
Zelda 2: The Adventure of Link is unlike any other Zelda game Nintendo has developed so far, which is precisely why it should be remade for Switch. The action RPG includes elements that have rarely been featured in subsequent entries, such as experience points, a magic meter, and side quests. Its combat is also novel in that it has players alternate between standing and crouching positions in order to take down foes. Given the success that side-scrolling titles like Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night and Curse of the Moon have had on Switch recently, it would make sense for Nintendo to give Zelda 2 a modern makeover. This being said, it should preserve a lot of the Castlevania 2-inspired charm that still makes the original so noteworthy. Fans shouldn’t be surprised if a remake for this classic is announced soon, as it celebrated its 30th anniversary last December.
Zelda Switch Remasters We Need | Four Swords Adventures
Seeing as how the Switch was made with multiplayer in mind, a remake of The Legend of Zelda: Four Swords Adventures could be a natural fit on the hybrid. The game allows four players to team up as one of four Links in order to take down iconic Zelda villains like Shadow Link, Vaati, and Ganon. When Four Swords released in 2004, it forced additional party members to join the fray with a Game Boy Advance system. Should the game make its debut on Switch one day, two players can join in on the fun through the console’s Joy-Con controllers, while another two can jump in either through an additional pair of Joy-Cons, wireless Pro Controllers, or USB controllers. A remake of the title could serve as yet another quality multiplayer title that fans can immerse themselves in on the system. Seeing how most of the hybrid’s best-selling titles have multiplayer functionality, a Four Sword Adventures remake seems like a no-brainer.
Zelda Switch Remasters We Need | Oracle of Ages/Oracle of Seasons
The Legend of Zelda: Oracle of Seasons and The Legend of Zelda: Oracle of Ages take full advantage of the Game Boy Color’s hardware by allowing players to completely change the world around them through the Rod of Seasons and the Harp of Ages, respectively. In the former’s case, players are able to alternate between spring, summer, fall, and winter in a moment’s notice, allowing them to freeze pools of water so that they may walk across or grow vines to climb mountains. In the latter case, fans can transport themselves back in time and switch between historical periods in order to circumvent obstacles.
One can’t help but imagine how impressive each title would be if remade on Switch. Oracle of Season‘s bright, colorful environments would pop on the hybrid’s LCD screen, while Oracle of Ages‘ thought-provoking time-jumping puzzles are practically meant to be enjoyed on the go. The interplay between the two titles can remain intact, allowing users to quickly exchange items and upgrades they no longer need to friends when in handheld mode. Nintendo could improve upon the relationship between each game by allowing fans to leave behind notes warning other players of dangers that may lie ahead. These messages could even give other users clues on how to solve puzzles.
When all is said and done, the best benefit of Nintendo remaking Oracle of Seasons and Oracle of Ages is that there’s twice as much money to be made. If Pokemon can still make millions off the formula, who’s to say Zelda can’t?
Though it’s anyone’s guess what Nintendo may have up its sleeve when it comes to Zelda remakes and remasters, it’s safe to assume the company will continue revisiting early entries in the franchise. The modern remasters of Majora’s Mask, Ocarina of Time, and Wind Waker have all been critically acclaimed well so far, indicating that there’s certainly a demand for more among fans. Whatever Nintendo plans to announce next, here’s hoping that the upcoming Link’s Awakening remake for Switch lives up to the pedigree of the original Game Boy title when it launches on September 20, and that Breath of the Wild 2 manages to captivate the world just as well as its predecessor.
