40th Anniversary of the Legend of Zelda

[Original TMNT Cartoon Fan]

Last Saturday markeed the 40th anniversary of the release of Legend of Zelda. The video game was first released for the Nintendo Famicom Disc System in Japan on Friday, 21 February 1986. It was later released for the NES in North America in August 1987 and in the PAL Region in November that year. It was also released ofr the Nintendo Famicom in Japan in February 1994.

The game was also released for the Game Boy Advance in Japan in February 2004, in North America on 2 June that year and in the PAL Region on 9 July the same year.

[Andrew NDB]

Originally Posted by Original TMNT Cartoon Fan

Last Saturday markeed the 40th anniversary of the release of Legend of Zelda.

Well that's too bad. 40th anniversary and there is fu** all to celebrate with Zelda this year.

Still no Ocarina of Time HD on Switch (no, the Gamecube version playable on there does NOT count), still no Wind Waker HD on Switch, still no Twilight Princess HD on Switch. No real whisperings of anything new with Zelda going on, to speak of. Just the movie. Still surprised they haven't announced a Link to the Past remake for Switch since they already built the damn engine for it between the Link's Awakening remake and Echoes of Wisdom -- that would be a license to print money, as far as I'm concerned. Especially if they added some extra story content or dungeons.

[sdp]

Nintendo wants to promote the new Mario movie so they're busy extending the Mario anniversary for that. I don't expect much Zelda talk until Fall at the earliest but we'll have some games and tie-in materials whether a remake or new game to go along the hype of the Zelda movie next year for sure.

My first Zelda game as in the summer of 1998 but it was Zelda II for the NES. I was hyped for OOT coming out later in the year so I bought it from a comic book store for like $1.99, and played hours of it. I was a bit too young to get too far, never beat it but loved it. Then a couple of months later when I played through OOT I was amazed the towns from Zelda II were actual people in the game, that's when I became obsessed with the timeline since my reasoning was "oh these sages eventually become town names in the "future" game Zelda 2.

[Original TMNT Cartoon Fan]

Originally Posted by sdp

My first Zelda game as in the summer of 1998 but it was Zelda II for the NES.

Were you aware of 1986 Zelda, A Link to the Past and Link's Awakening in back 1998?

[Prowler]

I started with the original Zelda on my brother's NES when I was a little kid in the 90s. Never managed to beat it. Very hard game. The cryptic nature of it is no longer a problem in 2026 where you can quickly look up a walkthrough of it, but only the gamer himself can improve his skills.

My 2nd Zelda was Ocarina. It blew my mind when I was 8-9 years old. First time I played a game with such an epic adventure and where the NPCs had fleshed out personalities and backstories to the point of me developing an emotional connection with them.

The best classic 2D Zelda nowadays is A Link to the Past. Th best 3D Zelda is hard to say. I'd say BOTW/TOTK but many Zelda fans will disagree for changing the formula entirely.

Originally Posted by Andrew NDB

Well that's too bad. 40th anniversary and there is fu** all to celebrate with Zelda this year.

Still no Ocarina of Time HD on Switch (no, the Gamecube version playable on there does NOT count), still no Wind Waker HD on Switch, still no Twilight Princess HD on Switch. No real whisperings of anything new with Zelda going on, to speak of. Just the movie. Still surprised they haven't announced a Link to the Past remake for Switch since they already built the damn engine for it between the Link's Awakening remake and Echoes of Wisdom -- that would be a license to print money, as far as I'm concerned. Especially if they added some extra story content or dungeons.

You have an Ocarina remake on the Nintendo 3DS. Ditto for Majora's Mask.

WWHD and TPHD are stuck in the Wii U, a console no one bought, sadly.

A Link to the Past does not need a remake. The OG has aged marvelously, unlike Link's Awakening which is a pain to play on the Game Boy nowadays with just two buttons. Plus, graphics in the style of LA remake and Echoes of Wisdom for ALttP? No thanks.

[Mad Dog McMutt]

I usually play at least 2 Zelda games per year. Ocarina of Time is my 2nd favorite game of all time and I know where every heart piece is. The only Zelda game that I don't like is Zelda 2. That game is way too brutal and the one time that I did play through, I used a save state every 2 minutes. I am also not too fond of Majora's Mask, but I do like the atmosphere and many other things about it.

[Andrew NDB]

Originally Posted by Prowler

You have an Ocarina remake on the Nintendo 3DS. Ditto for Majora's Mask.

Non-HD. Though I'm not sure with emulation. I just did some tests for Dragon Quest IX in a 3DS emulator on my TV and they looked pretty GREAT (except for text and like the borders) in 4K.

WWHD and TPHD are stuck in the Wii U

But why? This should take them a total of like 3 months to port, each.

Plus, graphics in the style of LA remake and Echoes of Wisdom for ALttP? No thanks.

Eh... yeah... I admit, I'm not a super fan of that. It's like every time we take a step forward with Zelda in "the looks" department in terms of more realism, something right after that must reverse course into much more silly and childish to maintain some kind of stupid, needless balance.

[Prowler]

Originally Posted by Andrew NDB

Non-HD. Though I'm not sure with emulation. I just did some tests for Dragon Quest IX in a 3DS emulator on my TV and they looked pretty GREAT (except for text and like the borders) in 4K.



But why? This should take them a total of like 3 months to port, each.



Eh... yeah... I admit, I'm not a super fan of that. It's like every time we take a step forward with Zelda in "the looks" department in terms of more realism, something right after that must reverse course into much more silly and childish to maintain some kind of stupid, needless balance.

DQIX came out on the original DS. But since the 3DS is backwards compatible with the DS, I guess 3DS emulators also can play DS games?

I'm with you. They should just port those HD remasters to the Switch 2. Most 1st party Wii U games got Switch ports, so why not port those two as well?

I'm fine with cartoony and childish graphics if it's something like WW, PH or ST which are all original games in an art style that fits them. But remaking previous Zelda titles with completely different art style?! Don't do that.

[Andrew NDB]

Originally Posted by Prowler

DQIX came out on the original DS. But since the 3DS is backwards compatible with the DS, I guess 3DS emulators also can play DS games?

They cannot but I meant *DS emulator in this case. I'm getting too carried away into all of these emulation experiments now.

Here's DQ IX emulated in 4k:

I'm with you. They should just port those HD remasters to the Switch 2. Most 1st party Wii U games got Switch ports, so why not port those two as well?

EVERY TIME Nintendo starts to collect and remaster some Zelda games on the current system, they drag their fu**ing feet until the NEXT Nintendo console comes around. By this point they abandon collecting/remastering them on the previous console and START doing int on the new one. Rinse and repeat. Pathetic.

[Prowler]

Originally Posted by Andrew NDB

They cannot but I meant *DS emulator in this case. I'm getting too carried away into all of these emulation experiments now.

Here's DQ IX emulated in 4k:





EVERY TIME Nintendo starts to collect and remaster some Zelda games on the current system, they drag their fu**ing feet until the NEXT Nintendo console comes around. By this point they abandon collecting/remastering them on the previous console and START doing int on the new one. Rinse and repeat. Pathetic.

I bought DQIX some years ago for €39 or so CIB at a used games shop. I haven't played it yet. I should try and fix that this year.

[sdp]

The only thing that truly triggers my autism is Link not wearing green or his hat in BOTW/TOTK. Drives me insane

I know he can wear the original outfits in the game but that's not the point. In canon Link wore the blue outfit and it's the one shown in promotional art.

Originally Posted by Original TMNT Cartoon Fan

Were you aware of 1986 Zelda, A Link to the Past and Link's Awakening in back 1998?

I was aware of ALTTP around 1996 I think but as a little kid it looked super boring and had no desire to ever play it. I remember also ignoring early previews of Zelda 64 for that same reason, I'm not sure at what time I decided I NEEDED to get OOT, but when I remember looking for used NES games the summer before OOT came out and saw that golden cartridge and bought it. Fell in love with the series. I also got Zelda 1 NES and Links Awakening GB before OOT came out, so a lot of Zelda in that 1998 year for me.
Zelda 1 was fun but confusing, I did enjoy more Zelda II. Link's Awakening never clicked for me, I know it's one of the most loved Zelda's but whatever. OOT Was the first in the series I beat.

Originally Posted by Andrew NDB

But why? This should take them a total of like 3 months to port, each.

We might still see them ported next year, though Wind Waker is already in NSO Classics and Twilight Princess likely will be added sooner or later. so who knows.
Personally I didn't like the HD remasters too much, Wind Waker stopped looking like a cartoon and looked more like a play doh so I kind of prefer the upscaled NSO Classics one. And Twilight Princess had some characters look absolutely awful.

Originally Posted by Andrew NDB

Eh... yeah... I admit, I'm not a super fan of that. It's like every time we take a step forward with Zelda in "the looks" department in terms of more realism, something right after that must reverse course into much more silly and childish to maintain some kind of stupid, needless balance.

Meh, for me I prefer cartoony like Link, I also like the more realistic ones but I enjoy switching back and fort. I'd get bored with only 'realistic' Link. But man I HATE the look of Link's Awakening remake. Especially for Link's Awakening, that game was forced to have a chibi look because of the hardware, if there was one game I would've wanted to see with realistic proportions, it's that one to finally "see" the game how my little kid self used to imagine the game was happening.

I actually don't mind the art style for Echoes of Wisdom since I don't have that preconceived notion. I heard that game ran badly on Switch 1 but on Switch 2 it runs really well.

Originally Posted by Prowler

The best classic 2D Zelda nowadays is A Link to the Past.

A Link to the Past does not need a remake. The OG has aged marvelously, unlike Link's Awakening which is a pain to play on the Game Boy nowadays with just two buttons. Plus, graphics in the style of LA remake and Echoes of Wisdom for ALttP? No thanks.

I first played ALTTP with the GBA port, I could never really get into it. I know people say it's the best one, I think I got about halfway through. Oddly enough that one only has 2 buttons but it played well enough.

I don't feel it needs a remake because in a way it's already been remade. Four Swords Adventures basically has the same map even if the game is different and it looks beautiful. Then with A Link Between Worlds it's basically also another ALTTP reimagining with the map feeling very much the same.

[Andrew NDB]

Originally Posted by sdp

The only thing that truly triggers my autism is Link not wearing green or his hat in BOTW/TOTK. Drives me insane

What drives ME insane is the lack of the traditional Zelda music score in anything for like ever. It can be remixed or a redux of those themes, but to me those themes are timeless. I don't think we've really gotten them at all since maybe Ocarina of Time? Before?

I was aware of ALTTP around 1996 I think but as a little kid it looked super boring and had no desire to ever play it. I remember also ignoring early previews of Zelda 64 for that same reason, I'm not sure at what time I decided I NEEDED to get OOT, but when I remember looking for used NES games the summer before OOT came out and saw that golden cartridge and bought it. Fell in love with the series. I also got Zelda 1 NES and Links Awakening GB before OOT came out, so a lot of Zelda in that 1998 year for me.

I loved ALTTP but for some reason I felt content to sit on the sidelines while everyone was raving about OOT like it was the best thing ever. Because -- to me -- it couldn't be. I would eventually play the Gamecube version of it that included the OOT "Master Quest."

What can I say? It was OK. I don't think I enjoyed it as much as ALTTP. I tried to get into Majora's Mask but I couldn't. Too weird and the ticking clock was offputting.

Zelda 1 was fun but confusing, I did enjoy more Zelda II.

I think I finally beat Zelda 1 as an adult. Never Zelda II... way too hard.

I actually don't mind the art style for Echoes of Wisdom since I don't have that preconceived notion. I heard that game ran badly on Switch 1 but on Switch 2 it runs really well.

I don't really mind it either. I am fairly far into Echoes of Wisdom but I couldn't figure out what to do next. I think I was just wandering around the desert without any clear direction of what to do next the last time I dipped my toe into it.

Then with A Link Between Worlds it's basically also another ALTTP reimagining with the map feeling very much the same.

Definitely I have my eye on A Link Between Worlds. Another 3DS game that self-remasters wonderfully on emulation and higher resolution modes.

Timeline-wise I guess we're suppose to pretend that the Link in "A Link Between Worlds" is actually NOT the same Link from ALTTP or LA, but from hundreds of years later? That seems... needless.

[Mad Dog McMutt]

Originally Posted by Andrew NDB

What drive ME insane is the lack of the traditional Zelda score in anything for like ever. It can be remixed or a redux of those themes, but to me those themes are timeless. I don't think we've really gotten them at all since maybe Ocarina of Time? Before?



I loved ALTTP but for some reason I felt content to sit on the sidelines while everyone was raving about OOT like it was the best thing ever. Because -- to me -- it couldn't be. I would eventually play the Gamecube version of it that included the OOT "Master Quest."

What can I say? It was OK. I don't think I enjoyed it as much as ALTTP.



I think I finally beat Zelda 1 as an adult. Never Zelda II... way too hard.



I don't really mind it either. I am fairly far into Echoes of Wisdom but I couldn't figure out what to do next. I think I was just wandering around the desert without any clear direction of what to do next.



Definitely I have my eye on A Link Between Worlds. Another 3DS game that self-remasters wonderfully on emulation and higher resolution modes.

Timeline-wise I guess we're suppose to pretend that the Link in "A Link Between Worlds" is actually NOT the same Link from ALTTP or LA, but from hundreds of years later? That seems... needless.

A Link Between Worlds is a must play for any Zelda fan. It has a similar overworld map to LTTP, but it feels like it is it's own game.

[sdp]

Yeah they retconned A link between worlds to take place much later with a different Link. We lived in a better world before Nintendo published an official Timeline since it doesn't make a lot of sense. Fans who spent countless hours checking the most minute easter eggs Nintendo loves putting in the games was far more fun to follow than now having to explain inconsistencies in the official one.

The problem is they kept making sequels or prequels to OOT & ALTTP which now makes all. I'm not a fan of the official timeline, The oracle games should not be the same Link from ALTTP/LA. And the defeated timeline was just a lazy way to make the 3 sequels to OOT work.

[Andrew NDB]

And then after Nintendo goes to all that trouble of doing the official timeline through Skyward Sword and a bit beyond, even publishing the compendium/encyclopedia with all of that, they release Breath of the Wild. So naturally, everyone is wondering where that will fit on the official timeline now that there is one, and specifically which branch.

Nintendo's answer to that: "Hahahah... NONE of them!"

What?

[Mad Dog McMutt]

Originally Posted by sdp

Yeah they retconned A link between worlds to take place much later with a different Link. We lived in a better world before Nintendo published an official Timeline since it doesn't make a lot of sense. Fans who spent countless hours checking the most minute easter eggs Nintendo loves putting in the games was far more fun to follow than now having to explain inconsistencies in the official one.

The problem is they kept making sequels or prequels to OOT & ALTTP which now makes all. I'm not a fan of the official timeline, The oracle games should not be the same Link from ALTTP/LA. And the defeated timeline was just a lazy way to make the 3 sequels to OOT work.

I never try to piece together a timeline for any video game franchise. Whether it be something like Twisted Metal or Metroid, I just don't care that much about the order of the sequence of events because it usually just doesn't make any sense in the grand scheme of things, so I don't waste my time on it. I basically look at each game like a stand alone entry.

[Prowler]

The Zelda timeline has always been a fan theory kind of discussion. Nintendo making it official was unneeded and they mostly confirmed things most fans had already figured out, anyway. Namely the order in which game takes place in time.

Besides, it doesn't change the fact that most Zelda games are pretty much self-contained. Sure, they will have nods and mentions to something from a previous title, but it's not like you need to play Ocarina of Time in order to enjoy and understand Wind Waker. So what if the Hero of Time is mentioned in the prologue? Hell, you don't even need to play OOT in order to enjoy and understand Majora's Mask. And MM is a direct sequel to it.

Video games aren't movies or tv series, and therefore developers should make each installment easy enough for new players to the series to understand things, even if there's mentions and callbacks to previous titles. Especially in an old series like Zelda that has lots of games at this point in time. It would be an unfair and daunting task for a new player to be "forced" to play the series all the way from the OG NES game up until TOTK in order to understand the series.

Ocarina of Time... I can understand those who played it many years after it came out not "getting it", but it really was a cutting edge game back in 1998 for the action/adventure genre. A Link to the Past, though? It still hold up. That's peak 16-bit era retrogaming there.

A Link Between Worlds is similar to ALTTP for the reasons mentioned but yet, not a remake. The experience ends up being different. I liked it and all, but it took me a week at best to beat it and I don't have much desire to replay it again, quite frankly. I no longer remember a lot of it that well, in fact.

My problem with LA's remake is that the graphics and music don't hit as hard as they did on the DX version. The coloured version of the game on the GBC. Which even included an extra dungeon, that had a new version of NES Zelda dungeon theme. Gameplay wise though, LA's remake was great and added much needed QOL features to the game. But it doesn't have the same charm of the original art and music wise, IMO.