Summary

  • This impressive-looking HD-2D remaster of The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past features a tilted 3D look, weather, a day/night cycle, NPC schedules, and dual-screen device support.
  • Its creator hasn't set a release date yet, so it's unclear when (or even if) it will drop.
  • For the project to survive if it does release, it needs to avoid offering copyrighted assets for download.

When I cover retro game recompilation/decompilations at XDA, I usually try to be pretty selective, and in most cases, the game actually needs to be playable or, at the very least, groundbreaking in some way.

This Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past HD-2D remake I recently stumbled across on Reddit definitely breaks one of those rules since it seems to be very early in development. However, it's undeniably cool, and something Nintendo will likely never actually release itself. Of course, it's important to note that this project is being developed with AI assistance, like so many other recent old-school game PC ports.

According to JoggingThruThe6, they've "been working on this for the past few days" and the video was just "tossed together to quickly highlight some things." They've been testing the HD-2D port on their AYN Thor, a dual-screen, Android-based handheld, but recorded the video with the game running on their Mac.

The port aims to retain the overall visual style of the SNES classic, but with a slightly tilted perspective that makes it look more three-dimensional, along with other updates like weather effects, a longer, more detailed intro sequence, and even a day-and-night cycle. Other new features include NPC schedules that sound similar to Zelda Majora's Mask's, better enemy AI, and a dual-screen mode.

The trailer offers a brief look at the work-in-progress game, but it's hard not to be impressed by the port, even in this early state. I hope Nintendo is taking notes.

Keeping copyrighted assets out of the mix is key to its survival

JoggingThruThe6 says they're looking for artists to collaborate on the project. They also mention that they're "not sure" when they'll consider releasing it. If the Zelda: A Link to the Past port does release, hopefully its creator leaves out copyrighted Nintendo assets, because the Japanese gaming giant's army of lawyers will almost certainly go after them.

The best approach is to require players to use their own Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past ROM that they've ripped themselves or acquired elsewhere, since this protects the project legally and helps ensure it won't get instantly pulled from the internet the moment it launches. A lot of retro game recompilations/decompilations PC ports work this way, including Zelda: Ocarina of Time's Ship of Harkinian, and so far, Nintendo hasn't taken legal action against it.

On a side note, while The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds exists, it's not a straight remake or remaster of A Link to the Past; it's more of a sequel.

In other retro game PC port news, a Super Smash Bros. port is on the way that's made entirely by humans and not AI.