Daily Debate: Should They Make Retro Versions of Modern Legend of Zelda Games?
Posted on June 16 2022 by Mike Soldano
Born at the dawn of the video game era, I had the pleasure of experiencing the evolution from 8-bit pixels to visuals so vivid they’re basically live action. It was an interesting time to grow up. Each generation of console blew my mind with its amazing leaps in visual advancements. It didn’t matter my age, whether it be fourteen or forty, whenever a new console comes around, I’m still in awe. How much better can these games get?
One thing I found was that no matter how far we’ve come, I still hold a love for those older, less polished games. Perhaps the connection to my past allows me to keep coming back, revisiting old games from my childhood. Is it nostalgia? Sure, but its only a half truth because these games are fundamentally still great to play. They hold up despite not having the sharpest of visuals. They are fun and they offer something slightly different from modern games: an adventure in a cartoonish world far removed from our own. Nostalgia is a fun escape from adulthood, and it’s what keeps me coming back. But what about kids who did not get to experience these games back when they were new?
Pixilated graphics have become somewhat of an art form, a style of game we like to call “retro”. I showed a lot of these retro games to my son thanks to the Switch’s virtual console. I fully expected him to complain about the way they looked. To my utter disbelief he was very much into them, he even plays them all on his own when I’m not around. They still click with the younger crowd even though the nostalgia factor isn’t there.
It got me thinking, would there be a market for remaking modern games into a retro version of itself. Imagine playing a 16-bit version of Ocarina of Time or Skyward Sword. To experience these games with that bird’s eye view lens instead of over the shoulder would be great fun.
Would you play retro versions of modern Zelda games? If so, which would you like to see made pixilated and what changes would have to be made to these games in order to make them playable in such a format? Please let us know in the comments section below.
Featured Image: Richard Denton/n64squid.com
Mage of the cosmos, guide and traveler through realms fantastic. A world builder who loves to see how much depth and life I can bring to each of my creations. Writing is a passion that needs to be shared with others. Having a community is vital, for a bard’s tale cannot thrive without the attention of the audience.
