Remakes are all the rage, so why hasn't Nintendo joined in on all the recycling fun? The Legend of Zelda is a series ripe for rehashing, but Nintendo has refused to give in to temptation. Why is that? The answer is surprisingly noble.
"Whenever we have to think about the remake," says producer Eiji Aonuma. "we have to also think about the background, especially what kind of situation, what kind of period and time that previous game was played in, because, be it Ocarina of Time or any other games, whenever they say they want to have a remake on whichever platform, they have some emotional attachment from playing that game at that particular time or environment.
"We cannot afford to destroy that kind of emotional attachment."
I find that attitude very admirable, and I'm very glad to see that there are some developers out there who respect their own work enough to want to leave it alone. Some games should stay the way they are and remain part of the time they were made for. I wish other developers would exhibit that same level of self respect.
Jim Sterling serves as reviews editor for Destructoid.com, head of the Podtoid podcast, and produces a number of news stories, original features, one-of-a-kind videos. With his passionate argumentative style, controversial opinions, harsh delivery, and dedication to brutal honesty Sterling is a name that you can't help but recognize.
Likes
PS2, iPod Touch, Silent Hill 2, Metal Gear Solid, Dynasty Warriors 3
Meet the rest of the team
| BBcode help |
| [b]Bold text[/b] |
Bold text |
| [i]Italic text[/i] |
Italic text |
| [url]http://www.dtoid.com/[/url] |
http://www.dtoid.com |
| [url=http://www.dtoid.com/]Web link[/url] |
Web link |
|
| [img]http://www.example.com/robot.jpg[/img] |
 |
Post a comment! You can also post a photo below:
Comment with Facebook
Click connect and comment instantly!
|
Comment with Dtoid
New? SIGN UP - it takes 5 seconds
|
70 comments | showing # 1 to 50
|
Comment with Facebook
Click connect and comment instantly!
|
Comment with Dtoid
New? SIGN UP - it takes 5 seconds
|
Comments policy
Destructoid is an open discussion community. You don't need to "audition" to post a comment - just speak your mind. We respect differing opinions on the site, so have at it. Be smart, funny, insightful, clueless, or cute -- but back it up with substance. Keep your cool, keep it fun. We only ask that you act respectfully and above all: don't be a troll and ruin it for everyone else. Don't bring down gamers or we'll, you know, gently shoot you in the face and stuff you into a flaming mailbox. Each comment is your opportuntity to make this community awesomer. Is that even a word?
Avoiding the banhammer only requires common sense: spamming, trolling, racism, NSFW stuff, and other forms of sucking will not be tolerated. If anyone is griefing please report abuse. Be good. Don't suck!
Contest:
10:40 AM on 12.02.2009
| 
As long as there is a legitimate way to play old games, I'll be happy. Much love, Nintendo.
I'm a huge fan of Zelda, and I understand that this quote is more in reference to the HD remakes of classic games we've seen on downloadable services, but it's still a strange quote from the developer who has been giving us six slightly different versions of Ocarina of Time in the past 11 years.
The funny thing is, most of the Nintendo first party games have aged very, very well so I don't really see remakes necessary for any of these games.
Seriously?
SERIOUSLY?
It's a game series, there are bound to be similarities. Seriously.
I happen to think the ds zelda games is a great, refreshing formula. Not everybody likes it.
That says something about modern Nintendo. They suck.
I like the evolution of the Zelda franchise over the years and remakes can be a double-edged sword, especially with a series as important and loved as Zelda.
Not to mention that Ocarina was essentially a 3D-ified version of A Link to The PAst.
It's because they're consistently good games that we don't mind playing them over and over. I can't think the amount of times I've played the same Metroid game across different platforms and developers: Super Metroid, Metroid Fusion, Metroid Zero, Metroid Prime - All essentially the same game (though Prime had a new dimension!)
Zelda is more split across the dimensions: Links Awakening, Minish Cap, Phantom Hourglass are pretty much the same with improvements and some new additions. Ocarina of Time and Twilight Princess are pretty much the same with some of Wind-Waker's toys.
I understand both sides. Though one of them actually includes me buying more Zelda games. Hint: It's not the no-remake side.
Word.
Though to be fair, they "DX'd" a bunch of games at the time, and LA had a whole new dungeon and extra tunics. Still a remake though.
this formula hasn't changed so what exactly are they supposed to "remake" that (one could argue) Nintendo hasn't already given us for the last several years?
you see where im going with this?
You're exaggerating like crazy.
Ok, got it.
i may have to start fighting a losing battle against the few things i like about the wii, If monster Hunter Tri comes out before my Finals i can kiss my degree goodbye.
@ZombiePlatypus:
The DX games were more like updates instead of remakes. Even the ports to the Game Boy Advance can't really be called remakes. In these cases, they aim to preserve the emotional attachments surrounding the original, not build them up from scratch.
That's the only Zelda title I would want remade though because it is very difficult for newcomers to get into, for example didn't that come with a map packaged with the game to point you in the direction of each temple? It's simple design flaws like that that aren't included in the game itself that could use some updating.
Also, Link's Awakening DX.
Also, A Link to the Past GBA.
See: Metal Gear Solid: The Twin Snakes, Resident Evil remake, Persona PSP.
Also, I doubt all the purchased downloads of Super Street Fighter II Turbo HD Remix even come close to matching the quarters that game guzzled down in the arcades back in the day, or even its console iterations on the SNES and Genesis.
Also, there's a difference between a deluxe edition and a remake. A deluxe or special edition just adds stuff, a remake rebuilds the game for new hardware. Zelda: Link's Awakening was still a Game Boy game, adding a few colors and a dungeon did not make it a remake.
Also, A Link to the Past GBA."
Not remakes, rereleases with some enhancements. A remake entails completely rebuilding a game in the shadow of its source material from the ground up. Also, cocks.
Creating a remake (a GOOD remake) doesn't spoil the original memory in any way. In fact, good remakes cause you to RELIVE those positive experiences while adding even more memorable experiences to the pile.
I think what they're REALLY trying to say here is, "We can't afford to make it evident that the just about every old game series USED to have archaic controls and badly implemented ideas were passable at the time because people didn't know any better."
I DO think the Zelda series holds up WAY better than most though. Even the original is still completely playable and very enjoyable.
Using this logic, any game sequel is basically "the same game." Hell, many games that use the LoZ formula would basically be just "remakes" then.
Reusing characters from prior games? I think that's why it's called a sequel.
Similar Plot elements? S-e-q-u-e-l?
Using the same game play mechanics? Sequel anyone? Man, I so hated how God of War 2 used the Choas Blades again, had those little QTE and had such a fixation on combos. It was basically the same game alllllll over again.
All the levels are different. Many of the items of different, all the dialog is different. Most of the locations are changed. "Their sub type, like fire dungeons and ice mountain, maybe not, but then again, everyone uses those." About how much of the game do you have to change for it to be an actual sequel now a days.
Like I said, there are very few exceptions, from what I can tell A boy and his blob is everything the original wanted to be but wasn't, and since that's a very obscure game and doesn't have a large established fanbase to riot over the grand story or mythos it doesn't have, it gets a pass.
Very rarely is it necessary in my book is all I'm saying.
You guys finish the rest.
Zelda is hardly the poster child of this problem.
Never...
...Ever
I'd be more up for a collections disk with the games basically in their original format (but multiple games on a disk) for those who don't want to or can't download the games.