Check Out This Fan-Made Mockup Trailer for a Zelda II Remake

I’ve made it no secret here at the site that I have an undying love and appreciation for Zelda II: The Adventure of Link, the black sheep of the franchise. A departure from the formula established by its predecessor, Zelda II introduced a bevy of mechanics all its own — some that would see longevity throughout the franchise, and others that would be abandoned. Advanced combat mechanics such as the downward stab would return in entries like Twilight Princess, whereas the inclusion of traditional RPG progression systems were thrown to obscurity. It’s an interesting beast to be sure and has led to no end of debate within the Zelda fanbase on its legitimacy within the series.

I’m an odd duck in that I personally believe it’s a better game overall than the original. Gasp you should, dear reader, as I’ve had strong feelings about this entry since its debut over three decades ago. However, that’s not to say that it isn’t without its flaws. A brutal difficulty and enigmatic plot progression are some of the more prominent complaints I’ve read and heard about, and I can’t say that those claims are wrong. I think personally that regardless of how I feel about it personally, Zelda II is the installment most in need of a remake. Unfortunately, it doesn’t seem as though it’s in the cards at Nintendo (I’ll be keeping my fingers, toes, and eyes crossed for a surprise announcement this year), but YouTube channel Retrograde has already given some thought to what could be.

Sporting a pixel art style akin to indie darling Blasphemous, this trailer for a conceptual remake sees a more cinematic take on the story of Zelda II, complete with a bearded Link! The aforementioned mechanics return and are given new life through the updated aesthetic, classic tunes are given an overhaul, and returning pieces from the likes of Skyward Sword have been added for good measure. Error even makes an appearance; although he’s a bit… different than I remember him being…

If you like what you see here, be sure to give the rest of Retrograde’s channel a look for more great content.

So what do you think? Does this look like a game that would right the wrongs of the long-maligned sequel? Let us know in the comments below!