Nintendo Loves Remaking 3D Zelda Games, But For Some Reason, Not The 2D Classics
Gamespot
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After months of speculation, https://www.gamespot.com/articles/nintendo-finally-reveals-the-legend-of-zelda-ocarina-of-time-remake-for-2026/">The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time was unveiled for Switch 2 during this week's https://www.gamespot.com/articles/nintendo-direct-june-2026-all-the-biggest-announcements-and-games/">Nintendo Direct.
It's the latest in a long line of remakes and remasters for Zelda 3D titles, but also raises the question: Why aren't there new versions of the franchise's first three mainline entries?
Nintendo has never remade The Legend of Zelda, Zelda II: The Adventure of Link, or The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past.
These 2D classics for NES and SNES are what made people fall in love with the action-adventure series to begin with.
They even feature gameplay features still seen today in the series, like puzzle-filled dungeons, pot breaking, and satisfying secrets to discover.
Weirdly, the only 2D Zelda to get a proper remake is https://www.gamespot.com/reviews/the-legend-of-zelda-links-awakening-review-a-respe/1900-6417309/">The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening on Switch.
That's the fourth entry in the mainline franchise, and while a dark-horse favorite of fans, it doesn't have the same widespread acclaim as A Link to the Past.
In fact, to this day, many still consider that SNES game as the pinnacle of the series.
The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past did get https://www.gamespot.com/reviews/the-legend-of-zelda-a-link-to-the-past-review/1900-2901300/">re-released on Game Boy Advance, with multiplayer-centric The Four Swords added on to the experience.
That game's version of Hyrule was also remade in https://www.gamespot.com/reviews/the-legend-of-zelda-a-link-between-worlds-review/1900-6415543/">A Link Between Worlds--so maybe Nintendo considers that 3DS title to be a remake of sorts.
But still, in a world where every 3D Zelda game has received the remake or remaster treatment (including https://www.gamespot.com/gallery/zelda-breath-of-the-wild-and-tears-of-the-kingdom-every-switch-2-upgrade/2900-6612/#1">Switch 2 Edition upgrades), it's a bit odd Nintendo hasn't given the same glow-ups to the original triforce of games in the franchise.
Sure, I'd prefer new Zelda games over these, as someone who remembers playing A Link to the Past as a kid.
But at the same time, those 2D classics deserve a second time in the spotlight.
Meanwhile, The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time will see its second remake later this year on Switch 2 after previously getting a 3DS makeover in 2011. https://www.gamespot.com/articles/zelda-ocarina-remakes-lack-of-gameplay-did-it-a-disservice/">Nintendo withheld showing any gameplay in the reveal trailer, which hopefully signals https://www.gamespot.com/articles/a-zelda-ocarina-of-time-remaster-on-switch-2-would-be-a-huge-missed-opportunity/1100-6539247/">bigger changes than just a visual overhaul.