Can you smell it? The sense of adventure? The fresh sea breeze? That disgusting coating found on Switch game cartridges? Yes, The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening is just over a month away and we can't wait.
The game was first revealed in February this year during a Nintendo Direct, but it turns out that series producer Eiji Aonuma had actually teased the remake way before then, back in 2016. The tease came from an issue of EDGE magazine, in which Aonuma discussed potential future projects at the time:
“Actually, Nintendo has been telling me to create a new IP. But then, they’re also telling me to make more Zelda games.
I can’t really share much; I’m not sure I’m allowed to say anything. But I really like the idea of a game where I can live as a thief. That’s all I’ll say.”
It's pretty easy to miss, especially if you're not familiar with the game. In the original Link's Awakening, the player can opt to steal goods from the Town Tool Shop. You can walk out with any item of your choosing by distracting the owner and leaving through the front door, but if you so do, Link will be called 'Thief' by everyone in the game going forward.
In this month's issue of EDGE, Aonuma was asked whether his "thief" comment was a subtle hint. He immediately laughed in response, and confirmed that it was indeed a tease (thanks, Nintendo Insider).
There's only one thing for it, then. Who wants to join us in looking back through every single sentence Aonuma-san has said over the last couple of years? Maybe we'll pick up on a hint for a remake of Ripened Tingle's Balloon Trip of Love?
One can dream...
[source nintendo-insider.com]
Comments 44
I still like the idea of Link as a Hylian who was raised by the Gerudo and gets sucked into the conflict where he ends up having to fight his own king, Ganondorf.
I can remember reading that too, either on here or Nintendo Everything . I've never played Links Awakening past the opening hour so I wouldn't have made the connection.
That sly dog! I like him!
@OorWullie It is not a quest but a well known "feature". Run around the shop keeper with the item you want to steal and get out when he turns his back to the door. You'll have a nice surprise when you go back to the shop
@OorWullie Same. My friend could professionally speedrun that game, but it just couldn't keep me engaged. That said, I think that this remake's modern QoL improvements should easily fix that.
I’d need a less subtle hint. Something like this: “I really like the idea of exploring a mysterious island with a giant egg on top of a mountain. But I can’t say any more.”
@OorWullie It doesn't matter how long you play it. You can become a thief right after you get your sword back.
What if he then turned around and actually released a game about being a thief?
I play the original every year around Christmas. The nostalgia is so high with it and really gets me in the spirit. I remember borrowing my friends banana yellow gameboy with both donkey Kong country and Links Awakening and playing it while going to pick out a Christmas tree with my family. It’s because of that one year I play it every year.
So for me this remake is going to be amazing. I have a feeling I’ll still prefer the original but I’m beyond excited for this remake in every sense. I love that art style. It’s like Nintendo is using Zelda as a vehicle for artistic expression and that really goes hand in hand for how the tales are woven in every game. They’re all their own unique yet familiar tapestry.
Yeah not a great hint just because he could have easily been referring to a new Zelda game where Link's a thief .
Obviously he was teasing Joker in Smash 🙄
/s
@astrofan1993 That sounds interesting but Ganondorf isn’t exactly the king of the Gerudo anymore. I doubt he’d be able to go back and just become the king again
Fufufu~
Though this also makes me think that I'd love to see Aonuma handle a new IP.
Wow, that’s actually a big hint!
Too bad I stopped reading Edge-magazine otherwise I should have noticed.
Hmmm I think he meant the character was a thief rather than just one event that happens in a zelda game. Bit of a stretch guys!
@Rhaoulos You don't even need to walk out when he has his back to the door. The joke works perfectly even if he's facing the door when you exit.
I wonder if Links Awakening remake was originally planned to be a 3DS game or was going to be a Switch game all along
That *******!
Slime-ridden, scruffy-looking, nerf herder.
So that means we ARE getting a Skyward Sword HD, then? 😁
I remember this quote. I also remember people reading it and going "Oh, Link's Awakening." But then everyone just sort of forgot about it because it didn't seem very important.
Zelda+Assassin’s Creed: Kingdom Battle confirmed.
Hardly surprising, I remember reading this game was in production well over a year before its announcement. Sly little devil though
Either that or you can look into Discounts on my Nintendo. Every remake of a game is preceded by a discount of a previous version, usually just before its announcement.
@Tandy255
Wow that sounds like a really cool new game! I wonder when he'll reveal it... It's been like 3 years since he last talked about it.
That little THIEF!
@astrofan1993 - I had a dream way back in college of this exact thing, but he was also the "prince" of the gerudo thieves, making Ganondorf his essential father.
That's a trip to be reminded of that in this article and recited from the first comment.
Haha maybe I didn't read it properly. Whats a Zelda 'noob'? I will endeavour to learn of course.
He played us like a dam fiddle!!!
@Samwise7 Considering Aonuma himself confirmed the hint, not so much of a hint. Maybe read the whole article ya?
So basically EDGE aren't real investigative journalists, since they would have researched and figured that out back then.
VERY subtle. He could have just as easily referred to a game concept where Link is a small-time thief in the beginning, like in Aladdin.
I'm glad that there's no picture quest in this game. As much as I loved it, I didn't love being labeled as THIEF just to get 100% completion. XD
That's awesome!
This is a reach, you can play as a thief in Skyrim so....
I wish he would like make a game where the player can meet an ERROR
@Tandy255 Even then, the giant egg would have to almost literally fall on me in order for me to get the hint...lol
I remember when he said that, and I immediately assumed he was remaking Link's Awakening.
Aonuma isn't involved with the Link's Awakening remake though.
@ChromaticDracula Zelda and the Kirby series. There are a lot of different styles for both series's.
This is the first time I've heard the term, Cheeky sausage.
@MH4 J A N E
Mandatory Half life 3 confirmed !
This was originally planned for Wii U! WOW! Just like Mario Odyssey if this was planned for 2016, then it was a Wii U game ported over to Switch since Switch only replaces the failed Wii U which didn't even sell 1 million systems worldwide before it was discontinued just 4 months after release! It is a bit odd though given this game was originally a handheld game, not sure why it's only on a home console, and not the handheld, the 3DS. Hmmm...
He should definitely make a new IP. I'd love to see what he can think of!
@dougphisig,
Yeah, who knows.
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