Daily Debate: Do You Want a Zelda Game in the HD-2D Style?
Posted on July 24 2024 by Aubriel Eastman
June 18th’s Nintendo Direct brought forth many talking points for Zelda fans. Of course it did — a brand new entry in the 2D Zelda series was revealed. But my mind was racing even before Echoes of Wisdom graced our screens. It was all thanks to Dragon Quest III HD-2D Remake (I love Square Enix HD-2D games, but they seriously need to workshop their titles. Dragon Quest III HD-2D Remake is a bit lengthy. I digress). I’ve played Octopath Traveler II (no, not the first one yet) and Triangle Strategy. Both games have incredible stories and gameplay, which are only accentuated by the lovely art style. As the Dragon Quest trailer flashed across my phone, I couldn’t help but think to myself: what if Zelda looked like that?
For those who don’t know, HD-2D (trademarked by Square Enix) is a pixel art style that utilizes old-school pixel graphics — but with a high definition twist. It’s unique, and absolutely gorgeous. Rather than being topdown, like most of the 2D Zeldas, the camera shows a bird’s eye side angle. This means you can see more details, but it’s not an entirely free camera in the way some 3D games have. I think this style of gameplay would lend itself quite well to the 2D Zelda series. It makes NPCs more interesting, since you can really see what they’re doing. And seeing things from the side instead of the top would be completely new and refreshing. If you haven’t seen HD-2D graphics yet, please do yourself a favor and look up Octopath Traveler 2. Got it? Now put your imagination into gear!
Imagine a Zelda game with HD-2D graphics. It doesn’t even have to be a new one; The Minish Cap or Spirit Tracks remake when?? This idea has been stuck in my head ever since that Dragon Quest trailer. HD-2D is sort of Square Enix’s thing, but I think it would suit the 2D Zelda style perfectly. Graphics-wise, it’s obviously beautiful. Plus, there’s plenty of artistic ways Nintendo could make it stand out from other HD-2D titles. I would love to see an HD-2D game with the bright, almost pastel colors of a Link to the Past or Link’s Awakening.
So, what do you think? Would you like to see a Zelda game in the HD-2D art style? Let us know in the comments below!
Aubriel has been an avid Zelda fan since she was 13, when she discovered Twilight Princess. She loves writing screenplays and composing music, and is currently going to school for a BA in film. Aubriel is a staff writer for Zelda Dungeon.
