There are a few fans out there that make these “remaster”, or “HD packs” as some call them, for certain games on the Nintendo Entertainment System (NES). The latest to come across my radar is for The Legend of Zelda. I must say, out of the handful of these I know of, this is certainly one of the more impressive ones. While I was never able to get into The Legend of Zelda, I got it used, no manual, just the game cart, and was lost for most of my play time with it. I can certainly respect what the game represents though. This remaster pack makes the game look like our rose colored glasses that power our nostalgia tell us it looked like. In a word, impressive.
Not Quite 16-Bit but Ahead of The Original
While this HD Pack does not make this look like a Super Nintendo game, it does feel like a Super FX chip for the NES. The limitations of the hardware still rear their ugly heads but so much is better than should be possible on the hardware.
That is where things fall apart. If you are a purist and only game on original hardware, you will have to sit this one out. Or set aside your gaming morals. One or the other.
You will need to use the Mesen emulator to make the magical graphics come out. There is also a patch over on ROMHacking.net you will need to download and apply to your copy of The Legend of Zelda.
Remaster in Every Sense Possible
This remaster definitely adds things you would expect. Better graphics, better sound, etc. Enemies now have more defined looks to them, the dungeons are more dingy and dirty looking.
All in all, this is such a great remaster I may have to fix not giving this game much of my time. I have beaten Zelda II and Zelda III but this one, it was always just out of my reach to figure out.
Check it out and let me know in the comments below what is your favorite action adventure game like this. I am partial to Zelda III myself, it was just so much fun.