The Nintendo Switch era has been a great time for The Legend of Zelda fans. Two major Zelda games, Breath of the Wild and its sequel, represent some of the system’s biggest highlights, and a couple of titles were re-released as well. While Skyward Sword HD wasn’t all fans hoped for during Zelda’s 35th anniversary, it was still a welcome upgrade for the game. The earlier Link’s Awakening remake was also a pleasant sight, bringing back a classic Zelda title beloved by many.
Nintendo shouldn’t stop there with Zelda remakes. There are many classic Legend of Zelda games ripe for a re-release, and the three Capcom-developed portable entries should be given top priority. These are all well-regarded and provide unique takes on the formula. Since Oracle of Seasons and Oracle of Ages are a package deal, The Legend of Zelda: The Minish Cap should get the remake treatment first. With a ton of unique attributes, including the in-universe introduction of the wind mage Vaati and the Four Sword, The Minish Cap deserves another shot at impressing new and old fans alike.
A Switch Remake Would Highlight The Minish Cap’s Best Qualities
Of the sprite-based Zelda games that haven’t received remakes or 3D sequels, The Minish Cap uses a modified version of The Wind Waker’s art style that would cleanly sidestep the issues some fans had with Link’s Awakening on Switch. The game can still use simple, deformed 3D models, but it would adhere to a style already present in some Zelda games. The Wind Waker style has become fondly remembered, but last time it was used was in the 3DS’s Tri Force Heroes. A Minish Cap remake can bring the game and its cartoonish style back.
A 3D take on the handheld Zelda would have several more benefits. There would undoubtedly be contention over new assets, as The Minish Cap had some of the best sprite work and animations on the Game Boy Advance, but they would have some advantages. Seeing a 3D book or leaf with somewhat realistic shadows applied would emphasize how small Link is when he shrinks. It would also emphasize the scale of several bosses, particularly a late-game fight that involves jumping across the backs of two giant creatures miles in the air. What a remake can do with The Minish Cap’s content makes it ideal for a return.
The Legend of Zelda: The Minish Cap Has Unique Elements Worth Bringing Back
The Minish Cap offers a lot of things that the Zelda franchise hasn’t seen much of, one of the biggest being its setting. The Kingdom of Hyrule, seen in both peacetime and during an evil invasion, is not an uncommon sight at all. However, it’s the new dynamic offered by the Minish that makes it memorable and unique. Link can see many areas around Hyrule from a whole new perspective, where puddles become impassible lakes and bookshelves become towns. Even a regular-sized Octorok becomes a dungeon boss when Link is that small. It’s a thrill to have so much world to explore beyond what a regional map would suggest.
There are also a ton of memorable characters to meet in Minish Cap. Vaati has appeared in a few Zelda titles, but was never characterized much beyond being an evil wind mage. Here, players can see him immediately before his rise to power, and it is interesting to see the history of Zelda’s arguably most prolific second villain explored deeper. More focus is put upon Ezlo and the Minish through Kinstone fusion and a variety of side quests. Minish Cap’s Hyrule is one of the most fleshed-out in the Zelda franchise, and it would be a shame for it to be left in the past.
Important Changes A Minish Cap Remake Could Make
A remake can be used to enhance a game as well as preserve it. The Legend of Zelda: The Minish Cap still holds up, but some things could be made better. Link’s Awakening’s unrestricted movement system on Switch should be brought forward, but this time with the option to move with the control stick or the D-pad. The presence of four item buttons instead of two should also be kept, and speaking to Ezlo can be moved to a free shoulder button. The music can be made more bombastic than the original game and Link’s Awakening, and the Kinstone fusing and Figurine systems can have random elements removed to expedite playthroughs. It would also be nice to see the housing side quest expanded, even if it’s eant to be an in-joke regarding how the two Oracle games were planned to be a trilogy.
The concept of a Minish Cap remake also begs for additional dungeons. The Minish Cap is one of the shortest Zelda games as, subtracting side quests, the player is left to clear just six dungeons. That’s down from the normal eight or nine, and the game’s low difficulty compared to other handheld Zelda games means it won’t take long for a focused player to clear. This isn’t a problem with the game that needs to be solved, but a remake still presents the opportunity to add anything. An expanded attempt at the Link’s Awakening’s Dungeon Creator would be appreciated, but a whole new challenge dungeon - perhaps another one exclusive to shrunken Link - would be appreciated. The possibilities for a Minish Cap remake are huge, so hopefully Nintendo greenlights the project in the future.
The Legend of Zelda: The Minish Cap is available on Game Boy Advance.