“The Legend of Zelda: The Hunters Song” ROM Hack Reimagines Link as an Old Man
Posted on January 15 2025 by Nicole Scott
Imagine playing a Zelda game where the Master Sword is absent and Link shows his age from years of adventuring. The Legend of Zelda: The Hunters Song is a fan-made ROM hack that released on December 31st, 2024. It was created by Alfonsodelavega, and it breathes new life into A Link to the Past.
The story follows Old Man Link, donning gray hair and an impressive mustache. He is awoken, as Link often is, by a familiar yet curious friend from another adventure. You likely didn’t imagine a Picori in your playthrough of A Link to the Past, but now you don’t have to. The Hunters Song joyously brings these worlds together, if only for a few hours of gameplay.
The creators wrote an original story, including new characters and sprites, and reworked the combat for a fresh perspective on this legendary classic. Link wields a bow and also speaks with his friends. Alfonsodelavega noted in the game’s description that there is a bomb puzzle that could result in a soft lock, so stay attentive or use save states! The game is currently in its first version, so this issue may be resolved in the future.
The hack was created with the help of the Zscream Dungeon editor created by zarby89, which you can learn more about in the community’s Discord server.
Given Nintendo’s history regarding unauthorized fan projects, the future of this ROM Hack is uncertain, so play it while you can. Download it for yourself here. If you want to experience the game in full without playing it, YouTube creator Hack Games Longplay Channel has a full playthrough of The Hunters Song to enjoy.
Does the idea of an elderly Link intrigue you? How do you feel about combining A Link to the Past with The Minish Cap? Let us know your thoughts and if you’ll give it a shot in the comments below!
Source: Alfonsodelavega (via Retrododo)
Nicole Scott is writer for Zelda Dungeon from suburban Appalachia. She loves drinking espresso, seeing live music, building LEGO sets, being a completionist, and snuggling her two probably-alien cats, Tizo and Alarielle.
