In an excellent interview with IGN, Zelda producer Eiji Aonuma has explained why Nintendo doesn't follow the lead of other companies and remake vintage entries in the franchise:
Whenever we have to think about the remake, 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.
So there you go. Nintendo is protecting your precious memories!
Comments 47
...so, why isn't it the same for Mario and Pokemon? I guess they aren't produced by Eiji Aonuma.
Just rerelease A Link To The Past or Link's Awakening on the DS. I know it wouldn't destroy my 'emotional attachment'..
He's obviously heard many cries to graphically overhaul Ocarina of Time.
I'm glad of this stance, it was perfect enough. No need to skew and replace peoples memories of it.
Yeah, good point from Aonuma.
I don't see it as replacing people's memories... I see it as re-imagining old ones. Plus, it brings the classics to a new generation.
I thought it would be a good idea... oh well.
Like this idea! Just make the classics available in their original form on current systems, and I'm happy. They have done Zelda remakes though - ALttP/Four Swords and Link's Awakening DX come to mind. I'm not a huge fan of remakes anyway for older games (with the exception of some NPC games that work much better with the Wiimote like Metroid - imho). For Zelda and most other games, I'd rather just play the originals and have more modern sequels.
I would rather them focus on new sequels to the games rather than remaking the old games.
I APPROVE!
Although games like A Link to the past (and other classics like Chrono Trigger) were ported to DS, the games are still the same
That's why I'll never stop lovin' Nintendo
I'm glad they know what we're thinking. But new graphics would be nice....
List of Nintendo made remakes:
The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening DX
The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past GBA
Super Mario All Stars SNES
Tetris/Dr. Mario SNES
Metroid Zero Mission
Legend of Zelda BS (Japan only)
Pokemon Leaf Green/Fire Red
Quote from Eiji Aonuma cited on Wikipedia, "Ocarina of Time was the first title I worked on, and I was continuously tackling challenges every day during its development, so I think this is the title I feel I impacted the most. I believe that experience made me what I am now. I always think about what we couldn't do and what didn't work well in the previous game when we start a new title, but there's no game that I would want to actually change as such. I have to say though, the first Zelda game that I played and felt potential in was A Link to the Past. I'm actually very interested in what it would be like if we remade that title as a 3D game."
If Nintendo were to package the last two Zelda console releases as "re-imaginings" of the old games they could totally get away with it. There are several elements--especially from TP--that could back up the idea (Zant=Aganhim, Light world/Dark world, etc.).
I can understand it. Gotta keep the classics classic and not old entries that are rendered out of date by any means... and you gotta keep Virtual Console profitable. ^^;
If they remade Link's Awakening they would make so much money!
$_$
I'd rather play my old favorites with modern graphics. The new games don't seem to quite capture what made the old games so special to me. I too would love to run around A Link to the Past or Link's Awakening in 3D. But not a game that loosely homages the original games.
I was never in to the Zelda games when I was younger. I didn't actually play any untill I got super smash bros. melee. I didn't even know Link's name untill then! I say just focus on making new games. I really don't care much about the graphics in games [though I still do like good graphics.]
I agree with Aonuma here. Also he didn't totally rule out the possibility of a remake somewhere along the line. I believe he just said they'd need a very good reason or a great idea to bring the old games forward or something like that, before they'd consider it.
I disagree with Aonuma. What emotional attachment is Aonuma talking about? To me I see the Zelda games as masterpieces, but nothing to get emotionally attached to. It sounds like Aonuma is making a petty excuse. A remake will make an awesome game ten times better. Thankfully, Aonuma did not rule out the possibilty. If they have an idea to remake the Zelda games, they need to come up with one. OOT had so much content cut out in the original [Unicorn's Fountain for example], that all Nintendo needs to do is remake OOT with modern Wii graphics and add all that lost content. A 3D remake of ALTTP would also be an awesome idea.
I would just like a new 2D Zelda for Wii, like they did with New Super Mario Bros Wii.
@DJ Triforce: the VC brings the classics to a new generation. that's what it's there for.
They're basically saying that you have to be very careful because you have to deal with two crowds, those new to the game and those who played the original and will have high expectations for it.
Sounds like he's the one with the emotional attachment. If the demand was there and the money was there, any game would be remade. That's the classic Nintendo business model. Looking at a remake like Mario 64 on the DS, his point is well validated. BUT, that game was still released and made a nice chunk of change for the big N.
Well, if you don't want to remake the old games Ninty, can you at least put both The Legend of Zelda and Zelda II on a DS collection as is but with like an easy mode or something?
You know, so that I can actually, like, beat it, or something? Please? I really like those games, but I suck at them...
Bring the BS Zelda games on Wiiware.
Ah, Ocarina of Time and Majora's Mask with next-gen graphics and orchestrated scores. drool
Ocarina of Time and Majora's Mask would be great with graphical upgrades, but I would rather play the games the way they were when they were made.
To call Link's Awakening DX a remake is quite a stretch. It's exactly the same game with the same gameplay and graphics, just with added color plus one dungeon. That's not what comes to mind when I think of a remake of a game with modern technology...
Still I'd love to see new 2D Zelda games although I can't complain. The Toon Link Zeldas for DS are as close as you can get to them with 3D graphics
If you don't have an emotional attachment to Zelda games why do you care if there is a remake or not? Know thyself.
Some of you may not be old enough to understand the power of nostalgia. Playing a game you played when you are younger brings to your mind MUCH more than the details of the game, but brings up memories of the time surrounding and the general way you felt at the time. It gi warm fuzzies. It's the reason you see crazed people defending mediocre games from their youth. There is the attached emotion that wells up inside them connected to the game.
This is what Aonuma is talking about. Different visuals and sounds and music do NOT reconnect someone to their past in as powerful away. It sucks the magic out for people who have played it before.
Thing is I've played it again recently and I have the re-releases for Gamecube and you can get it on Virtual Console. If us old folks want the old experience it is readily at hand.
So, remake Ocarina of time? Maybe. I don't really see a huge reason to, honestly. Every console game since has essentially been a remake of Ocarina of Time, isn't it? I'm okay with that...
but then I do like the characters in OOT and it would be fun to see them reimagined and it would be fun to keep the game the size and structure that it already is...
But, I'd rather have a new one that makes me basically forget OOT because it's so good, wouldn't everyone?
(apologies for the choppy writing, I was multitasking. Something else old folks (35) aren't good at.)
just like they say "you cant fix what hasnt been broken"
Pfft, sure, I'll remember that Nintendo..
No remakes for zelda please! Thanks for listening nintendo
Isn't the wii virtual console a different environment? Someone might lose their emotional attatchment from all those emulations.
You missed many more remakes, Optimusmetroidprime. Nintendo did release a pitiful number of zelda remakes, though.
Well, since it's just Zelda, it doesn't concern me in the least.
List of Nintendo made remakes:
The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening DX (not actually a remake, they just colored it & added a new dungeon, otherwise exactly the same as the none color game.)
The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past GBA (also not a remake, it's a port of the SNES game to the GBA with a new multiplayer game & adding the voice of kid link to the game)
I started playing Oracle of Ages after finding a copy awhile back and OMG I freakin love the old Isometric Zelda games. I want another stipped down story, non-stylus driven DS Zelda much in the way of Oragle of Ages/Season, A Link to the Past, etc. Not a remake of a old game a NEW Zelda made like a old one. New Classic Zelda!
No remakes? That's fine by me. Other than Zelda II, IMO, none of them really need any changing(although I would like to see a Zelda II-like sequel/spin-off). Just keep releasing the classics in their original form, and everyone would be happy.
I understand. Everything else is being remade, so we can leave Zelda alone. How about Four Swords Adventure for Wii Ware with online play? Make it happen
Basically he's telling everyone how they would respond were the games to be remade.
Not that I really care if they get remade...
I'd like to see Zelda get the Four Swords treatment again on the Wii as people have stated. Maybe it will happen now that NSMBW is set to sell just short of a gazillion copies.
The GBA connection thing made the Gamecube version a rarely played game. We tried so hard, but the batteries on the GBAs kept running out on at least one GBA during play... it was just not manageable.
If they don't want to remake a Zelda game, I guess no one can force them. I personally think it would be nice to have the first Legend of Zelda get the "Link to the Past" treatment or Link to the Past get a 3D treatment, but then I'd also like a good Zelda game where I can play as Zelda. Notice I said "good" so don't give me that CD-i crap.
But the CD-i games are so funny! I bet people would buy a new CD-i like Zelda game just to see how cheesy and corny it was.
Hmmm, let's see here, there was that Zelda bonus disc they did for GameCube, which had OOT and MM on it. Then we have all of these other remakes of Nintendo goodies as well...
Super Mario All-Stars (SNES)
Super Mario All-Stars + Super Mario World (SNES)
Super Mario Deluxe (GBC)
Super Mario Advance: SMB2 (GBA)
Super Mario Advance 2: SMW (GBA)
Super Mario Advance 3: Yoshi's Island (GBA)
Super Mario Advance 4: SMB3 (GBA)
~Kirby "Nightmare in Dreamland" (Kirby's Adventure) (GBA)
The entire collection "Classic NES Edition/ Famicom Mini" (GBA)
Zelda Bonus Disc (OOT + Majora's Mask) (GC)
Super Mario 64x4 (DS)
Metroid Prime Trilogy (Wii)
~Kirby Superstar Ultra (Kirby Superstar) (DS)
(Kirby's actually Hal Laboratory, but I included him anyway as he's cute and exclusive to Nintendo consoles.)
...Then you've got the whole kit-and-kaboodle of flawlessly emulated VC titles. And I'm not even going to include all of those titles with some random old game thrown in as an Easter Egg or bonus unlockable. Um, yeah - so, um, well - sorry Nintendo; you're a little bit late to announce that you won't be doing remakes anymore
I'd be okay if they remade ALttP in 3D because it wouldn't change the way the original looked. Or better yet, a 2D remake of OOT.
@43: Nearly all of those are ports, not remakes. Remake is when you completely rebuild the game using modern technology. Pokémon FireRed vs Pokémon Red, for eg. Port is just putting the old game on a newer format and leaving it by-and-large intact - all the various Zelda ports, Metroid Prime Trilogy, etc.
What's with ALttP for the GBA?
I have no problem with not remaking the console titles after Zelda II, but Zelda, Zelda II and the GBC parts (especially the Oracles) could be a lot better on DS or with a total 3D makeover
I don't want a remakes, but updated games. For example:
And in the Mario universe:
Tap here to load 47 comments
Leave A Comment
Hold on there, you need to login to post a comment...