It's probably too early to get excited, but it seems that older 2D Zelda games could be in line for giving them a 3D makeover. The news comes via Zelda producer Eiji Aonuma, who recently told GamesRadar that Shigeru Miyamoto has been "talking about" revisiting 2D Zelda games, specifically "the ones that were designed with multiple levels to the world like A Link to the Past, and taking those 2D graphics and recreating them in 3D."
In context, it sounds as if Aonuma is referring to applying 3D effects to the existing titles – perhaps akin to the 3D Classics already available for 3DS – rather than a full-blown polygonal remake. As GamesRadar points out, A Link to the Past, with its multiple tiers, would certainly lend itself to 3D effects. What it wouldn't lend itself too: Helping us save money.
Reader Comments (46)
Posted: Nov 10th 2011 9:05PM Janitor said
As much as I love all the Nintendo favorites (zelda, mario, etc.) I really wish the company would try to innovate them more or make a new IP, finally. The reason why I haven't bought a Nintendo system since the N64 is because all the "great games" are the same thing, over and over again on the new systems. Not a troll, though I might be flamed, but I just can't do them anymore....And don't remake the 2d ones...they're perfect just how they are.
Posted: Nov 10th 2011 9:16PM TwEE said
@Janitor
Well you're in luck.. Nintendo has come up with a turd load of new Ips (a lot) this generation for the Wii and Ds. And took old forgotten ones and re-imagined them into games so different from their original forms that they might was well be new Ips.
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Well you're in luck.. Nintendo has come up with a turd load of new Ips (a lot) this generation for the Wii and Ds. And took old forgotten ones and re-imagined them into games so different from their original forms that they might was well be new Ips.
Posted: Nov 10th 2011 9:17PM Nolan North said
@Janitor
So Pikmin, Golden Sun, Hotel Dusk, Another Code, and other IP's (that unfortunately have yet to be localized, like Disaster, Xenoblade, Last Story and Pandora's Tower) don't exist?
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So Pikmin, Golden Sun, Hotel Dusk, Another Code, and other IP's (that unfortunately have yet to be localized, like Disaster, Xenoblade, Last Story and Pandora's Tower) don't exist?
Posted: Nov 10th 2011 9:27PM TwEE said
@Janitor
what I was getting at is, from my point of view, they have to rely on those games to survive or stay relevant."
Like all the other developers they have to rely on the big money makers to stay in business and fund new untested possible unpopular money losing games.
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what I was getting at is, from my point of view, they have to rely on those games to survive or stay relevant."
Like all the other developers they have to rely on the big money makers to stay in business and fund new untested possible unpopular money losing games.
Posted: Nov 10th 2011 10:50PM Foetoid said
@Janitor
You havent bought a Nintendo console since the N64? You went out of your way to miss out on Mario Galaxy, Paper Mario TTYD, Eternal Darkness, Pikmin 1 and 2, Metroid Prime Trilogy, Wind Waker and Twilight Princess, the GOOD smash bros games? Those games alone are worth the purchase of a GC and Wii.
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You havent bought a Nintendo console since the N64? You went out of your way to miss out on Mario Galaxy, Paper Mario TTYD, Eternal Darkness, Pikmin 1 and 2, Metroid Prime Trilogy, Wind Waker and Twilight Princess, the GOOD smash bros games? Those games alone are worth the purchase of a GC and Wii.
Posted: Nov 10th 2011 11:17PM Nolan North said
@Janitor
You do realize that there are people out there that really just enjoy those games and therefore DEMAND them right? Nintendo makes new IPs all the time, several of them are unsuccessful because nobody cared about them. It's like that for EVERY developer. Unless a game is universally acclaimed and has solid advertising, if it doesn't have a big name behind it, it's not gonna sell.
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You do realize that there are people out there that really just enjoy those games and therefore DEMAND them right? Nintendo makes new IPs all the time, several of them are unsuccessful because nobody cared about them. It's like that for EVERY developer. Unless a game is universally acclaimed and has solid advertising, if it doesn't have a big name behind it, it's not gonna sell.
Posted: Nov 11th 2011 10:05AM ShadowLordAriel said
@Janitor I agree! I've owned every Nintendo console and it seems everything after the 64 has been pretty lackluster. I personally am tired of the millionth rehash of an old title. How many times are they going to rerelease a Zelda or Mario game and make some simple graphical tweak and slap some lame console subtitle in it and brand it "new"? I've been a Nintendo fan a long time but u definitely feel they haven't grown up with their audience over the years. They're content on releasing the same things over and over again. And I'm not a fan of games like pikmin or Pokemon. They've stated kid centric or the most part when it comes to first party titles. While there's nothing wrong with that I wish they'd venture out and come up with things that cater to those of us who are looking for more adult oriented stories and games.
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Posted: Nov 12th 2011 4:21AM Nolan North said
@ShadowLordAriel
Metroid, Legend of Zelda, Fire Emblem, Eternal Darkness, Geist, as well as the Operation Rainfall games not mature enough for you? Or does it have to be Call of Duty to be considered "grown up"? Keep in mind: A lot of them are under 10 years old.
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Metroid, Legend of Zelda, Fire Emblem, Eternal Darkness, Geist, as well as the Operation Rainfall games not mature enough for you? Or does it have to be Call of Duty to be considered "grown up"? Keep in mind: A lot of them are under 10 years old.
Posted: Nov 10th 2011 9:06PM McDude said
Not surprising. It seems all Nintendo really wants to do anymore is mine my childhood.
Posted: Nov 11th 2011 12:39AM SushiGummy said
@McDude
Sad, but that's what happens when people obsess over nostalgia. Nintendo would probably be less inclined to remake old games if people weren't continuously saying things like "NINTENDO WILL NEVER MAKE A GAME AS GOOD AS STARFOX 64" or "I WISH NINTENDO WOULD GO BACK TO HOW IT WAS BEFORE."
Unfortunately, people pretty much ask for this kinda thing to happen.
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Sad, but that's what happens when people obsess over nostalgia. Nintendo would probably be less inclined to remake old games if people weren't continuously saying things like "NINTENDO WILL NEVER MAKE A GAME AS GOOD AS STARFOX 64" or "I WISH NINTENDO WOULD GO BACK TO HOW IT WAS BEFORE."
Unfortunately, people pretty much ask for this kinda thing to happen.
Posted: Nov 11th 2011 5:43AM ScruffyTheJanitor said
@SushiGummy
Truer words have never been spoken. If there's a market for it, "why not?"
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Truer words have never been spoken. If there's a market for it, "why not?"
Posted: Nov 10th 2011 9:06PM Schlecht said
In a style like Pokemon did with the more recent games? (more of a 45 degree angle camera rather than a near direct top-down)
Posted: Nov 10th 2011 9:08PM CoconutSkittle said
These would definitely be more interesting than 3D remakes of Ocarina of Time/Majora's Mask since those games already had 3D worlds. Seeing a game we've played before in a 2D world being realized in 3D would be something really special.
Posted: Nov 10th 2011 9:15PM Yuglyoshi said
You know what...no thanks. I played ALTTP on SNES, and then on GBA, and then on Virtual Console. It'll take a lot more than some 3D updates for me to buy it again (especially since it has aged quite a bit)
Posted: Nov 10th 2011 9:17PM Timjoy said
HD Miyamoto...HD remakes...not 3D....
Posted: Nov 10th 2011 9:18PM LittleMofreaky said
They didn't say that they wanted to remake the 2D Zelda games. They said that they wanted to make a NEW Zelda game in the STYLE of the 2D Zelda games.
.....JEEZ!
.....JEEZ!
Posted: Nov 10th 2011 9:18PM Mr Khan said
I think you drew the wrong conclusion from this, Richard. The conclusion i've seen drawn is that Nintendo wants to make new old-school type Zeldas a la NSMB, that is, games top-down like Phantom Hourglass and Spirit Tracks, but more action-focused
Posted: Nov 11th 2011 9:30AM RichardMitchell said
@Mr Khan
Hmmm. You may be right. GamesRadar drew the same conclusion, and actually spoke with Aonuma, so I figured they had the right context.
Reading his words though, you may be right, which would be much more interesting. Although, the DS Zelda games practically are 2D anyway, so it seems weird that Aonuma would think of it as "going back" to 2D Zelda games...
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Hmmm. You may be right. GamesRadar drew the same conclusion, and actually spoke with Aonuma, so I figured they had the right context.
Reading his words though, you may be right, which would be much more interesting. Although, the DS Zelda games practically are 2D anyway, so it seems weird that Aonuma would think of it as "going back" to 2D Zelda games...
Posted: Nov 10th 2011 9:19PM RickGhastly said
We're about to get into some real "Who's on first?" kind of shit when talking about 3D remakes of 2D games on the 3DS.
Posted: Nov 10th 2011 9:26PM Ectoplasm said
Please actually remake the game with polygonal models like Phantom Hourglass and even add new content, not just port it over with stereoscopic sprites.
Posted: Nov 10th 2011 9:35PM legacybush said
Miyomato....I have a proposition.....It might...might sound weird at first but please give it a listen............well, there is no easy way to say this.......but are you interested in baby making?
Posted: Nov 10th 2011 9:58PM Frito said
Isn't that Square Enix's job?
Posted: Nov 10th 2011 10:02PM The 7th Number said
remake? How about making a NEW top down zelda game, i really really want one. When was the last one, 4 swords? I really liked that game. Never bought any 3D zelda games.
Posted: Nov 11th 2011 12:30AM The 7th Number said
@pluupy I played Phantom Hour Glass and it was good. But i sold my DS, and would rather play a top down Zelda game on my TV, not a handheld.
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Posted: Nov 10th 2011 10:08PM Khalus said
Le sigh...what a massive waste of time, resources and money! The Zelda games of the past are already great as is...why screw them up by adding 3D.
Oh thats right, just like with most developers recently, none can think up a new IP or a worthwhile idea, so they keep rehashing the same shit over and over and recharging full price!
Oh thats right, just like with most developers recently, none can think up a new IP or a worthwhile idea, so they keep rehashing the same shit over and over and recharging full price!
Posted: Nov 10th 2011 10:14PM a falling stone said
If they ever do a full remake of link to the past, I would buy that console or handheld the day it came out. But Nintendo has lost my interest. :(
The snes days were so much fun!
The snes days were so much fun!
Posted: Nov 10th 2011 10:16PM BPMOmega XBL PSN Steam said
On the subject of changing dimensions... I wonder if any of those fan-game developers finished a 2D sprite-based "demake" of Ocarina of Time...
Posted: Nov 10th 2011 10:16PM freelancer91 said
So the Nintendo cocaine bucket is running dry again and they are completely out of ideas. So their solution is to make an unsolicited 3D remake of a game that doesn't even need it and to not create any new intellectual property. When did Nintendo start firing all of the people with ideas?
Posted: Nov 10th 2011 11:15PM Frostblade10 said
Haha interesting points; I never thought about that. Though, Hyrule castle is actually a relatively friendly place compared to LttP.
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Posted: Nov 10th 2011 10:24PM GeneJacket said
No no no no no no no no no no..............no.
Posted: Nov 10th 2011 10:35PM pluupy said
CMOOOOOOOON LINK TO THE PAST
Posted: Nov 11th 2011 12:33AM Milf Biggenson said
So let me get this straight. Miyamoto's big idea is to remake some old games? Wow, what a genius. Uh, that's been their M.O. for the last 25 years, except now they can make 'em in 3D! They will continue to milk those games and franchises until Super Mario and Link will be as welcome in your game system as a new Tony Hawk game. God, that company has to get a freakin' clue. They stopped being relevant years ago and continue to do things that just make me shake my head in disbelief. Zelda is coming out in less than two weeks and I can't even remember the title. That's how little I care about and that is SAD! I bought OoT, Majora's Mask, Wind Waker, Minish Cap, Phantom Hourglass, Spirit Tracks and Twilight Princess on launch. Now, I couldn't possibly care less. How can you compare Zelda to Skyrim? You can't. I know, different games, but don't you think by now, Zelda coulda, shoulda, woulda morphed into something along the lines of what Bethesda is developing?
Posted: Nov 11th 2011 4:06AM Blackbird said
I would really be interested in a 3D remake for the original NES Zelda, that game was amazing.
Posted: Nov 11th 2011 9:22AM jozanovic said
2D games in 3D?
You can't explain that.
You can't explain that.
Posted: Nov 11th 2011 11:54AM eilegz said
port its not the same as remake....
Posted: Nov 11th 2011 4:16PM Cave Johnson said
LttP is probably my favorite game of all time, but I already have 2 cartridges for the SNES and I have the GBA game as well. I don't think I need a 4th copy that's in 3D, unless it adds something cool like 4 Swords did in LttP.
Posted: Nov 12th 2011 9:21AM Kade Storm said
Dear Public-At-Large,
We're out of creativity and flare to actually create and move forward. Therefore, you will suffer another generation of remakes, prequels, and poorly re-imagined crap that just won't stand the test of time.
Yours sincerely,
The Powers of Media Entertainment
We're out of creativity and flare to actually create and move forward. Therefore, you will suffer another generation of remakes, prequels, and poorly re-imagined crap that just won't stand the test of time.
Yours sincerely,
The Powers of Media Entertainment








