socialrosiechen: Side-scrolling, 25-year-old Zelda II, reimagined as a 3D FPS... and it works!

Saturday, June 19, 2010

Side-scrolling, 25-year-old Zelda II, reimagined as a 3D FPS... and it works!

I know, I know, Zelda games are sacred. It's like trying to cover a Michael Jackson song -- you can give it your best shot, but you can't improve on something perfect, so why bother? Well, you do it for fun of course! Zelda II FPS is a delightful, painstakingly recreated version of the 1987 side-scrolling classic. No expense has been spared -- all of the original textures are there, and the sounds. It feels remarkably and eerily familiar.

Of course, it's not without its issues. Combat is... hairy. You can't see enemies sneaking up behind you, and they have an unnerving tendency to move quickly when you're not looking. Getting around can be a bit of a pain too -- just stick to the yellow brick road though, and you should avoid the random fights.

This reimagining is by no means complete, but there's at least 10 or 20 minutes of gameplay to sink your teeth into. If you're having trouble getting started, read the walkthrough. Also, don't forget to stock up on hearts whenever possible -- they respawn, and when you have a full life bar, your sword shoots frickin' lasers.

All in all, this is a fantastic example of what the Unity 3D engine, a dollop of belabored love and a garnish of ingenuity can achieve.

Now we just need Nintendo to release a first-party 3D version of A Link to the Past...