The Legend of Zelda remains one of the most prolific and successful IPs in all of Nintendo's library. While this series has cemented its place in gaming, this is no easy feat considering its siblings include other popular titles such as Super Mario Bros, Metroid and Kirby. Many installments in the franchise have graced each generation of Nintendo console dating all the way back to the NES in the mid 1980s, with not one but two releasing on the immensely popular Nintendo DS.
Released in 2007 and 2009 respectively, The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass and Spirit Tracks had to make some conventions to shrink down onto the portable device, but with these changes came some clever new concepts and mechanics. Both games were completely controlled using the Nintendo DS touch screen, while also making great use of other hardware features like the built-in microphone. Sparing no expense, they still delivered a lengthy, satisfying quest with memorable music and additional multiplayer modes for good measure. With fans eagerly anticipating the release of The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild 2, Nintendo could do well to bring back these DS classics for the Nintendo Switch as a both a holdover and excellent addition to the console's library.
Simple But Charming Quests
The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass and The Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks both have the unique distinction of being direct sequels the the GameCube title The Legend of Zelda: Wind Waker. Because of this, this duo of Nintendo DS games carry over that same cartoon like visual style and emphasis on humorous, lighthearted fluff. There is no Twilight Ream, Calamity Ganon, or moon hurtling towards the world in these stories, with a focus instead placed on colorful environments filled with a lively cast of characters.
In an industry as a whole predominantly shifting towards more serious and gritty manners of storytelling, this happy-go-lucky tone and straightforward adventure plot can be a refreshing change of pace. The original Breath of the Wild featured themes of war, grief and loss, as the player explores a Hyrule long after it has been decimated by a never ending stream of conflict. Of course, no game in The Legend of Zelda repertoire has ever delved as dark as the themes in The Last of Us, but this is still heavy subject matter all the same. Breath of the Wild 2 looks to possibly be even more dark than its predecessor, a tone that could be alleviated by bringing back these DS installments.
Pick Up and Play
Tonal distinctions aside, both of the games themselves are just plain fun to play. Even though the Nintendo DS is a few generations behind the Nintendo Switch in terms of graphics and technical capabilities, gamers should make no mistake these these are fully fledged, authentic experiences from The Legend of Zelda series. The Nintendo Switch also maintaining that same touch screen functionality introduced on the Nintendo DS makes it even more of a no brainer to port these games over to Nintendo's latest device.
Nintendo has already acknowledged the Switch having the right tools built in to accommodate most of its legacy titles from every generation. The motion controls of the Wii can be emulated with the Gyro sensors in the joy cons, something that is perfect considering The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword remaster due for this July. The touch screen controls and ease of access make these titles extremely accessible and even casual games, perfect for the portable nature of the Switch during on the go situations. The DS graphics are naturally the one elements that is a bit dated, but a quick clean-up job to make everything look crisper isn't something that's out of the question.
At the end of the day however, the main point is that this would result in two brand new Zelda games available on the Switch, something which fans of the franchises and hybrid console certainly would not object to.
The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild 2 is in development for Switch.