If you were hoping to see older Zelda games ported to or remastered for the Switch at the recent Legend of Zelda 40th Anniversary Direct, you were likely disappointed, as Nintendo instead dedicated almost the entire show to its upcoming Ocarina of Time remake.
Out of all the Legend of Zelda remasters that have come to Switch consoles over the years, there’s still a sizable Wind Waker HD-shaped hole in that collection. The Legend of Zelda: Wind Waker HD released on the Wii U in 2013, with a number of upgrades compared to the original 2003 GameCube version.
While the original version of Wind Waker was added to the Switch Online GameCube library last year, the Wii U version is much better in comparison. It provides a smoother experience with various quality-of-life improvements, like a resolution boost, faster loading times, and subtle changes to the game that make it less of a chore to play in its second half. While it isn’t considered as influential as Ocarina of Time, Wind Waker’s impact can still be felt in modern Zelda games today.
The fact then that the upgraded version of one of the best Zelda games of all time is still only available on the Wii U is a shame. Much the same could be said of Twilight Princess HD on the Wii U.
Maybe I just had unrealistic expectations. For Zelda’s 40th anniversary, I imagined Nintendo would do something similar to what it did for Mario’s 35th anniversary, when it released Super Mario 3D All-Stars for a (baffingly) limited amount of time. The bundle put together three of Mario’s greatest games in one package for the Switch, with updated 3D visuals, improved frame rates, and more.
Is it unreasonable to expect Nintendo would do something along the same lines for Zelda, especially when the best versions of two of the franchise’s greatest games are trapped in Wii U hell? Instead, we got a disappointingly limited direct that failed to even show a trailer for the franchise’s upcoming live-action film adaptation.
Nintendo certainly delivered on giving fans an in-depth look at Ocarina of Time’s stunning remake. It looks fantastic and faithful to the original while still adding small, modern changes (like a jump button).
I have no doubt the Ocarina of Time remake will be great when it releases November 5. But if you wanted to see the best version of classics like Wind Waker and Twilight Princess receive new life on the Switch 2, it appears you’ll have to keep waiting. Maybe Zelda’s 50th anniversary will be a big enough ocassion.
