Daily Debate: Do Sequels and Remakes make Zelda better?

Lauded as the most original entry in the Zelda franchise in years, A Link Between Worlds managed to be a sequel to the classic A Link to the Past, a breath of fresh air to those who just wanted something different from the series, and a callback to the tougher games of Zelda’s early years. This perfect storm of nostalgia and innovation is one of the many aspects that makes both this game and The Legend of Zelda series in general so memorable, but it’s hard to say whether one is more important than the other.

Although we might not think about it very often, there are a lot of sequels in the Zelda franchise. In truth, with the official timeline now in place, all games besides Skyward Sword are follow-ups to other games in the series. But, in terms of direct sequels, Zelda II: The Adventure of Link, Link’s Awakening, Majora’s Mask, Phantom Hourglass, Spirit Tracks, and now A Link Between Worlds most accurately make the cut. While merely being sequels to some really great entries gave these games a lot to live up to, they all succeed in maintaining the innovative spirit of the Zelda franchise.

As for remakes, speaking as a fan who never had the chance to play the original games on the N64, SNES, or NES, I was thrilled to have the opportunity opened to me again through games such as Ocarina of Time 3D, and re-releases on the virtual console, such as The Legend of Zelda. Even The Wind Waker HD is something I regard as a fantastic entry, despite having played through the original. While some might enjoy the original versions of these games out of nostalgia, I believe that the remade iterations have the unique ability to appeal to both parties.

With the ongoing hoping and campaigning for a remake of Majora’s Mask, as well as the speculation surrounding Zelda U‘s place in the timeline, remakes and sequels are clearly going to remain relevant to the Zelda series, but are these the best for its future? While I believe these are both key components of the franchise’s continual relevance to fans both new and old, I know there are fans who have a distinct preference for one or the other, if either! Tell us your thoughts on the matter in the comments below!