The Legend of Zeldaseries has been ongoing for decades, and it’s a franchise that isn’t a stranger to reinvention. There are very few entries in the series that feellike a direct continuationfrom something before it, and even those that are, have new features and mechanics to help them stand out from their predecessors.
With the Zelda series constantly starting afresh, it means that there have been some fantastic mechanics that only got one chance to show off, and have now been relegated to a page in Hyrule’s history books. Out of all the classic features that have appeared in previous Zelda titles, which are the most in need of a revisit?
10Picori Link
Minish Cap
With the release of Echoes Of Wisdom, it seems like Nintendo is finally remembering the existence of 2D Zelda. Now, the next step is to remember the best 2D Zelda gimmick they ever had and give it another chance in the spotlight.
Shrinking down into Link’s Picori form in Minish Cap created some of the most interesting puzzles and visually stunning set pieces. While the idea was used perfectly, it still has so much more potential. The detailed pixel art backgrounds still look fantastic, and we can only imagine how good these gorgeous backgrounds would look on more modern hardware.
9Time Travel
Ocarina Of Time & Oracle Of Ages
For a few years, it felt like time travel was an intrinsic part of the Zelda DNA. However, time travel as a game mechanic hasn’t been revisited for decades at this point. While time travel is essentially used to connect two different worlds in Ocarina of Time, the way it’s used in Oracle of Ages, with more of a focus on puzzle solving, shows more promise to build upon.
Having time travel in a more 3D Zelda game like Ocarina of Time, but with more of a focus on puzzle solving like Oracle of Ages, would be a fantastic combination, especially if this hypothetical game were more open-ended. While time travel still remains a common narrative device in Zelda, it’s been long enough since it’s been an actual mechanic.
8Sidescrolling
Zelda 2
The second Zelda game is now widely regarded as an overly-challenging experiment gone wrong, and proof that Nintendo should’ve stuck with what made the first Zelda game such a phenomenon, a lesson which they learned, displayed by the return to form in A Link To The Past.
However, with the popularity of Metroidvanias, proving that sidescrollers can have more of a focus on puzzles and action, this genre switch might be the perfect choice for a smaller-scale Zelda release. While Nintendo, of course, has Metroid,a more melee-focusedMetroidvania starring Link would be the perfect shake-up to the formula.
7Loftwings
Skyward Sword
Before the release of Skyward Sword, Loftwings were touted as the new big thing and a core part of the gameplay. However, by the time you finish the game, you’ll realize that the Loftwing was just a relatively inconvenient way of getting around Skyloft, and not much otherwise.
It’s a shame, since Loftwings had potential, but Skyward Sword, ironically, didn’t give them enough time to spread their wings. Tears of the Kingdom proved the validity of flying machines as a way of getting around a more open-ended Zelda map, but perhaps instead of needing to craft a vehicle out of Zonai parts, a dedicated mechanic like Loftwings might provide a more polished experience.
6Season Control
Oracle Of Seasons
The Breath of the Wild/Tears of the Kingdom generation of Zelda has been massively successful, and exploring these giant worlds has proven to be an entertaining central premise for the series. However, once you’ve explored the world once, it can feel like there’s little reason to return, since nothing ever really changes.
Perhaps a return to the season-changing mechanic from Oracle of Seasons would be a great way to make the setting of a Zelda game feel more alive. Instead of immediately unlocking all seasons, each could be hidden inside a dungeon, and once you have access to the power, you’ll unlock a drastically altered version of Hyrule to explore, thanks to seasonal differences.
5Mask Transformations
Majora’s Mask
The Zelda series is well known for its established set of fantasy races that appear throughout the series, like Zoras, Gorons, and Deku Scrubs. Majora’s Mask provided the chance to get a closer experience with these tribes byletting Link transforminto them, drastically altering his moveset, and changing how different characters interact with him.
Since Majora’s Mask, there are now even more races that have been introduced, and would serve as fantastic transformations for Link in a new title. Zonai Link, Rito Link, or even an adorable Korok Link - this is only scraping the surface. Even the races featured in Majora’s Mask would be perfect for revisiting within a less linear game, but the joy of rolling around as a Goron still hasn’t been recreated.
4Trains
Spirit Tracks
One of the main issues with the more recent Zelda games is that even though the worlds are massive and interactive, they don’t feel particularly alive after you’ve fully explored them. NPCs are on a set path; there are a handful of repeating events you’ll come across, and nothing changes aside from the main story beats. What’s the solution? Trains.
After the introduction of Zonai tech, a more technologically advanced Hyrule, as seen in Spirit Tracks, is hardly a foreign concept. Having a consistently moving and dynamic element like a train or two traveling around Hyrule, moving NPCs, and giving Link a chance to hitch a ride would be a great way to make the world feel a little less static.
3Item Renting
A Link Between Worlds
The item renting introduced by Ravio in A Link Between Worlds was a double-edged sword. On the one hand, it opened up the adventure to let you tackle any challenge in pretty much any order you wanted, but it did take a little bit of the wonder out of the adventure, knowing every dungeon item from the start.
However, if Ravio and his item rentals were to return, instead of selling dungeon items, it could instead be an opportunity to sell or rent armor, weapons, or even skill upgrades. By switching the focus of a revisited Ravio store, you don’t feel like anything is getting spoiled, and it’s a less risky way to test out different equipment without needing to commit. Also, any excuse for Ravio to return is worth exploring.
2Spinner
Twilight Princess
Twilight Princess is well-known for giving Link one of his biggest arsenals of dungeon items to date, and while that meant you always had plenty of variety, it also meant that some of them felt a little underutilized at points. One of the most egregious examples is the Spinner.
The giant spinning top served as a small vehicle for Link to ride, where he could latch onto grooves, opening up new paths for exploration. It was an undeniably enjoyable item to use, but after its initial dungeon, there were very few places where it was used effectively. A return of the Spinner, with a world that’s designed with it more in mind, would be a recipe for success.
1Toon Link
Wind Waker, Four Swords Adventures, Phantom Hourglass, And Spirit Tracks
It’s been too long, and I just want my son back. Throughout the 2000s, we were getting Toon Link more often than we weren’t, and he solidified himself as an iconic, more expressive form of Link. However, after Spirit Tracks, his appearances outside of spin-offs have dried up.
Whether it’s in a smaller scale, AA game, perhaps as the star of a new 2D Zelda, or maybe a return to the Spirit Tracks timeline, whatever it is, it’s been long enough that Toon Link deserves a chance to lead his adventure once again.
