Topic: (Zelda) What would you expect from a hypothetical Wind Waker / Twilight Princess rerelease?

Hello,

We still don’t know if we’re any closer to Switch 2 releases of Wind Waker and/or Twilight Princess, but the rumor is making the rounds again.

I’ve always wondered: What would an intriguing port look like? Wii U brought them up to HD, which looked okay, but my feeling is those versions wouldn’t hold up too well if they merely received another bump to 4K. A mismatch was already noticeable in HD. Textures or even geometry might need more work, at least in TP. As for WW, the blinding bloom could get dialed down. Any other ideas? Live orchestrated soundtracks?

And what’s realistic? Surely these are viewed as stopgap releases, so Nintendo likely wants to keep the effort in check.

Edit: Personally I can even see Nintendo deciding against it. It feels difficult for them to hype up and find a sweet spot for. There are other Zelda games that have been absent for longer and that would make a bigger anniversary splash, I’m thinking of the rumored Ocarina remake (big project) or Oracles/Minish Cap remakes in the LA engine (more manageable).

I think we are closer to getting a NSO release of Twilight Princess rather than any HD versions. Unless Nintendo decides to do a Mario Galaxy/Galaxy 2-style release.

Yeah good point, the NSO release of WW decreased the likelihood quite a bit. Why would they steal the thunder. As for the Galaxy-style bundle, it doesn’t make as much sense imo. Galaxy 1 + 2 really go together like two halves. WW and TP are two massive games that are totally separate. And they are older and thus don’t translate as easily to 4K as Galaxy did.

My dumb *** would gladly drop $70 for a 2 pack, but they’ll probably put TP on NSO and call it a day

Honestly, just basically port WW HD and Twilight Princess HD from the Wii U, but without any gamepad or Miiverse features. Include both of them on a physical Switch 1 cartridge that costs $70, or sell them digitally separately for $40 each or $70 for both of them digitally. Just having a legal way to access them outside of the NSO prison would be awesome.

Oh me too. I don't think I can replay TP anytime soon, it's not been long enough since the last playthrough... WW might work, last time was on Wii U.

Sure, Nintendo could do this. The reason I opened a discussion is the likely consequences: Most importantly that they wouldn't release any other Zelda within a year or so. That's just how Nintendo operates. They like giving rereleases an exclusive window to shine.

So, only WW&TP U (mostly untouched?) for 2026 and the 40th anniversary?

70 dollar WW/TP HD would be a better deal than the Galaxy remaster pack at 70 dollars, which itself is probably a more worthwhile deal than most 70 dollar games (unless you look at both purely in the sense of "time spent in development vs cost")

Realistically? If they release Twilight Princess, it'll be the Wii U HD version with some minor control changes and UI tweaks, maybe a resolution bump and some texture work if we're lucky, and it'll be standalone for $60.

Maybe they'll throw in Link's Crossbow Training for a laugh and make us all suffer with gyro aiming for a game intended for IR pointer controls.

I don't know why I see so many people who think they would release WW and TP together when they could just release one of them and make more money. Galaxy 1 & 2 make sense as a bundle. WW and TP have nothing to do with each other except both being released on the same console - a console which is on NSO and already includes one of those games.

I wouldn't mind being proved wrong, but I'm also not looking forward to all the price complaints if they do release TP HD standalone for $50+

@kkslider5552000 @charliecarrot
I agree with both: That 70€ for a double pack would be good value, and that Nintendo has no reason to do it that way. Zelda games don’t really make sense in bundles. People have that expectation because the games are both old and have been released before, so they think they belong in the bargain bin - that’s not an attractive business case for Nintendo at all.

I think mostly it would be a stupid PR move if A. only one of them was on Switch 2 and B. they were released remotely close to each other and Nintendo should do a reasonable thing instead.

It would also just be annoying for Nintendo to have a reasonable idea for a 70 dollar release and decide "nah".

If it was any other series from any other publisher, we'd have a massive compilation of HD remakes of all the previous games, that goes on sale for like $20 at times.

But no, it's the Nintendo way, that they'll get re-released one time and as full-priced games. We should probably count ourselves lucky if we get two in one, even if it doesn't feel that way.

To be fair, I do think there's a reasonable middle ground between "Arms is still 60 bucks and 40 when on sale" and "Rare Replay/Orange Box with notably better sales" and I simply hope Nintendo someday discovers that instead of inexplicably deciding they'd rather have literally no one buy their B-tier games after a year.

If it was so reasonable, why didn’t they release both on Switch 1? They had a whole generation to do it.

I dunno, I assume they were busy with new Zeldas and getting the last 3D Zelda never given a remaster a remaster.

Also for various reasons there's almost no way it would be a two pack on Switch 1 if that had happened so that would've been two more releases to both make and release so in hindsight it wouldn't have fully made sense outside of Wii U ports already being common.

As much as I'd love a 60fps bump for WW, along with optional Gyro controls and resolution bump. i don't think that one in particular holds up all that well. Controls are so stiff, limited and cumbersome compared to BOTW & TOTK. I'd still bite though. Same thing applies to TP (NS2)

And of course the 3DS verisons of OOT & MM, with 60fps, higher resolution, Gyro and whatever else. Opitmized filler until they bring forth the remakes.

@NeonPizza Interesting that you find WW too antiquated to enjoy! Did you start playing Zelda with BOTW or did you play the old ones before and open world Zelda changed your view on them?

I'll take any older 3D Zelda over BOTW & TOTK, and have no issue with the controls at all. I just love the idiosyncrasies that Zelda lost with the open world games.

As for OOT & MM, what you describe is very unlikely. The 3DS versions wouldn't look favourable on a big 4K screen, coming from 400p. 3DS technology was so close to the N64, and the screen so tiny - Nintendo could just build on the old code, geometry and all. The gap is wider now.

I can see that now (15 years after OOT 3D, which came 13 years after OOT) would be a good time to remake OOT, I'd be over the moon! But I expect a full remake, if at all.

@NintendoWife
I'm with you on taking any of the older 3D Zelda's over BOTW, which I'm sure will ring true and even more so with TOTK as well if and when I ever decide to get around to it. I just can't shake the almost soulless feeling of BOTW when you're traversing outside the temples, and mostly disappointing boarderline none existent score. the first 4-5 hours were wondrous, but for whatever reason i decided to put it off. 3 years later, i jumped back in and all I could think was "I don't want to do this anymore." lol

And that's true. Both OOT & MM 3D on 3DS would gain zero benifits being directly ported over to NS2 in either 1080p or 4K. Why? Because 3DS has Gamecube-like visuals, but with lower poly count, but with better lighting & shaders. Either way, low polygon models and environments with the GCN, DC, XBOX, PS2 & 3DS are typically far better off being displayed at 480i/p they were designed to. Once you get to Wii U-tier power, than you get the 720p+ green light.

Wind Waker has charm, a wonderful score, and the Wii U version thankfully improves the sailing, with the inclusion of Hero Mode. But i don't know, WW's controls are on the clunky, less seemless and cumbersome side, combat is just alright and there aren't enough dungeons. It's become all too apparant now when you side it against BOTW.

as for OOT & MM, they need full on remakes. OR they could always bring them over to NS2 as place holder filler appetizers, using filters to soften the visuals to mitigate those pesky lower polygon characters & environments, while getting them both running at 60fps until an OOT & MM Remake eventually and hopefully arrive.

I'm not sure what's more wrong, implying the minimalist parts of BOTW's music wasn't obviously utilized brilliantly or ignoring the various parts of the game that doesn't even have that type of music.

I'd think the key thing about the BotW soundtrack is that it reacts to what you're doing. It's chill when you're walking through a tranquil forest, but it definitely isn't when you're being attacked by guardians.

@NeonPizza By all means, do play TOTK - I recently discovered that I put 200 hours into it! We’re still taking about exceptional games. I just can’t get over what has been lost in the switch to an open and systems-based design. The two games are missing an author’s handwriting, if you will.

Regarding Wind Waker I’m not sure I agree, I love pretty much everything about it

OoT is a really tricky one for Nintendo. Even with a remake they can’t (and shouldn’t) fundamentally change what type of game it is. A classic linear adventure. Me and other old folks be the perfect customers, but will the newfound (and much bigger) BOTW audience appreciate it?