There’s often a debate on whether or not Nintendo’s The Legend of Zelda is an RPG series or not. Some have argued for it, since these games have Link go through stories similarly to games of the genre, like going through dungeons and fighting goblins. Others have argued against it, since the series’s focus on puzzles isn’t very RPG-like.
Defining what makes a game part of the RPG genre can be difficult, so this debate will go on forever and ever. However, even if the mainline Zelda series isn’t part of the RPG genre, there is one entry that is an RPG: Zelda 2: The Adventure of Link.
What was considered the worst game in the series, many have since taken a liking to Zelda 2 and have even called it underrated. Nintendo seems to agree, as they always put this game in their eShops and, most recently, their NSO library of NES games. I think it’s time to give this entry a proper remake.
After the original Legend of Zelda was released to critical acclaim, fans at the time were shocked at how different The Adventure of Link was in comparison. Gone is the bird’s-eye view, replaced with a standard sidescroller camera. Instead of focusing on finding items and solving puzzles, this sequel was more focused on combat and leveling up.
Zelda 2’s combat and level-up system is why most people consider this entry to be the only proper RPG. While still fun, the random battles can be annoying, and the real-time combat is basic by today’s standards. Definitely an underrated gem on the NES, though modern gamers might struggle with it.
If this game were remade, the combat would need a considerable upgrade. Having a company like Vanillaware work on this would be great, as games like Dragon’s Crown and Odin’s Sphere show how you can do a proper sidescrolling RPG. Their focus on combat is very similar to Zelda 2, which makes me wonder if this NES RPG is more influential than I thought.
Nintendo has shown that they’re willing to let Link and Zelda do some weird stuff with different developers. The Hyrule Warriors games let you kill thousands of soldiers with a couple of sword swipes, while in Cadence of Hyrule, you can explore dungeons in a music-based style. It’s not impossible to imagine these characters in sidescrolling RPG action from Vanillaware or a different studio.
Having top-down and open-world Zelda games is great, since these are the definitive experiences for the franchise. Still, this writer would kill for a Zelda 2 remake with stellar real-time combat.
For more features about potential remakes, stick with us here at Gfinityesports.com: the best Zelda website.
