Quite some time ago, what was once a niche hobby took a giant leap forward, one that would change the medium forever. As gaming hardware became more powerful, a graphical shift took place. Two-dimensional, sprite-based games were largely set aside to make way for full, three-dimensional worlds.
The downside to this otherwise fruitful endeavor was that the development of 2D games gradually diminished. Although 2D and 3D games are entirely different beasts that allow for entirely different experiences, the latter took such precedence that the former was mostly relegated to portable titles or the occasional nostalgia-driven download. With handhelds catching up in terms of power - and paired with the modern obsession with graphics and polygon-count - it seems the world is beginning to forget the art of 2D gaming.
But all hope is not lost. With 2D Mario games returning to prominence, and retro-inspired downloadable titles becoming more and more common on all platforms, a 2D renaissance of sorts is a-brewing. We think it's time a certain Hylian hero joined the party. Below are a handful of reasons why we desperately need a new 2D Zelda.
Loftwings of a Different Feather
Although three-dimensional gaming is often billed as the evolution of 2D gaming, in truth it's not quite as cut and dry as many believe. Look at A Link to the Past and Ocarina of Time, for instance. It would be a disservice to the former to call it lesser simply because it's not a 3D adventure. It is a fully-realized 2D masterpiece, and only serves to illustrate the differences between the two types of games.
While 3D gaming allows for more detailed, realistic worlds and more complex interactions between the player and the game, 2D gaming has its own unique feel to it as well, one that is in no way lessened by any advancements in technology. You can interact with the world much more intimately in 2D games, which makes you feel that much more connected to it, however fantastical it might be. In A Link to the Past, for instance, you can go anywhere you choose, or do anything you want, unless there's something physically blocking you from doing so. You can interact with everything with any item you have, something simply not possible in a monstrously-sized modern game. This allows for the kind of tactile experience only more simplistic games truly provide. An experience that, in its simplicity, requires players to actively engage their imagination and become an instrument in the world's creation. It's not all laid out for you like in 3D games - you have to imagine these worlds to life, and that's part of why they inspire such an intimate connection. In this way, 2D games and their direct link to imagination also often make for more open-minded, abstract narratives (a la Link's Awakening).
Less handholding and coddling is also required for a more simplistic, 2D adventure. Remember in the first few Zelda games, where you were simply given a sword and let loose to live or die on the dangerous fields of Hyrule? Back then, if you didn't know which button was attack, you figured it out pretty damn quickly. Skyward Sword was an amazing achievement for the series - and had a way more reasonable tutorial than its home console predecessor, Twilight Princess - but like any modern game, its complex controls required more explanation and more of a learning curve than a 2D Zelda adventure ever would.
Taking out the intricacies inherent to 3D gaming, a 2D adventure is also, in a way, freer to focus on gameplay over story. Sure, modern titles like Super Mario Galaxy prove that a full 3D title need not buckle down to the demand for heavy plot lines in games, but even everyone's favorite plumber is often criticized for refusing to incorporate a heavier narrative into its platforming. When it's a 2D game, however, players don't care as much about rescuing a princess for the hundredth time. For whatever reason, 2D allows more players to take a game for what it is, and to let themselves enjoy it as the developers intended.
2D games can also be more difficult without turning away casual gamers - just look at the original Super Mario Bros, which gamers of all ages and experience levels have played. Difficulty spikes are much easier to manage when the control scheme is simpler. Nintendo need not worry about pulling out all the stops if they make a new 2D Zelda.
Know Your Roots
The Zelda series - just like most of Nintendo's keystone franchises - got its start in the 8-bit era. It grew and evolved to perfection on the SNES, with later entries serving as icing on a magnificent cake. While later games took the Zelda concept and applied it to a 3D world - to admittedly stunning results - the 2D Zelda games account for their own distinct take on the world of Hyrule.
The last true 2D Zelda was The Minish Cap for Game Boy Advance - but that was more than seven years ago. With 2D Mario games doing well, and rumblings of an A Link to the Past remake on Zelda creator Shigeru Miyamoto's radar, now is as good a time as ever. As cool as a remake of this SNES classic would be, we'd much rather see a spiritual sequel. Make it for 3DS or Wii U - we don't care, we just want more of where that retro magic came from. Nintendo could even merge the two worlds if they think the time of sprites has passed, creating a 2D experience with 3D models, a la New Super Mario Bros. Whatever route the company takes, the immense success of 2D Mario games - or retro throwbacks like Mega Man 9 - prove that there is still a place in the gaming world for this type of gaming. Why not let Link join the party?
The sad truth is there are numerous gamers who missed out on Zelda's original games, jumping into the series on the GameCube or even later. They may have access to the old games via the Wii Virtual Console, but a new release would be just the ticket to get the newer generations of gamers to fully appreciate all that 2D Zelda games truly have to offer. Shorter development time and a smaller development cost couldn't hurt the company either, as a helping of 2D Zelda would be a cost-efficient way to tide the rabid hardcore audience over until Zelda HD is ready (which, who's kidding, is going to be awhile).
Besides, it would be awesome. That alone should be reason enough.
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