Nintendo's recent Game & Watch releases provided players with a new way to play some classic Legend of Zelda games, and there are still several others that the company could create ports of. The Legend of Zelda games are known for consistent high quality, and Game & Watch versions would likely be warmly received. The main question is which games in the series could be next.
Game & Watch is a brand of handheld consoles that began in 1980. Originally the systems featured a single, very simplistic game in addition to a clock and alarm. However, Nintendo's recent revival of the concept started with the Super Mario Bros. Game & Watch. Pairing the classic features with famous and iconic titles is an excellent tactic, and the new Game & Watch systems have looked promising thus far.
The Legend of Zelda Game & Watch actually features three games: The Legend of Zelda, Zelda II: The Adventure Of Link, and The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening. All three of these games are very important parts of the series, and each of them have become iconic in their own ways. While the three of them deserve the praise they get for their quality and forming the first building blocks for the series, almost every Zelda title deserves high praise. With the Legend of Zelda Game & Watch already offering three gems from the series' classic era, there is plenty of reason for other Zelda titles to get the Game & Watch treatment.
Zelda: Link To The Past Would Be Perfect For The Game & Watch
The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past is a landmark title for the series. Not only was it 1991's highest-selling video game in Japan, but it also had a significant effect on the series' future. The light and dark worlds that Link could travel through were the first in what would become a series tradition of different versions of the same world that were necessary for exploration and puzzles. Aside from the innovation, the game's story features several characters for players to care about and get attached to, and the ending is genuinely heartwarming. A Link to the Past is also the Zelda game with the most dungeons, giving it another accolade. While A Link to the Past has been ported before, a Game & Watch version would be a perfect addition to the series.
A couple of other classics that would make excellent additions to the Game & Watch line would be The Legend of Zelda: Oracle of Ages and The Legend Of Zelda: Oracle Of Seasons. These games were released at the same time, similar to most Pokémon releases. However, the oracle games followed different plotlines with different main villains that could be connected via link cable to allow interactions between the games and reveal more of the story. It is a unique gimmick that is unlike any Zelda title before or since. Given that the last Zelda Game & Watch featured multiple games built-in, a new Game & Watch could include both Oracle games and apply the bonuses for linking the games as well. With BOTW 2 having been delayed to 2023, it may be good to encourage players to replay past titles, and releasing a Game & Watch version could do just that.
The Legend of Zelda Game & Watch releases are truly interesting, reviving an old concept with the help of excellent titles. Although the new Game & Watch consoles are small, the excellent games involved make them worth playing. With these classics from The Legend Of Zelda series, the future of Game & Watch could become even better.