Summary
The Legend of Zeldais easily one of Nintendo’s most potent weapons in their arsenal, as the iconic series has been at the forefront of some of theindustry’s most incredible releases. But while a majority of the games in theZeldafranchise have been made by Nintendo, there have been a few special occasions that saw them loan the IP out to another developer, resulting in some of the most fascinating entries in the series.
Whether it was Capcom doing wonders with handheldZeldaor Grezzo showing just how much love and appreciation they have for the series, some of the franchise’s most outstanding titles haven’t even been made by Nintendo. These games have done an admirable job at staying true to the core values ofZelda, while also striking out to create something unique, as other developers have used everything that makes the series so special to create their own vision of this legendary franchise.
Conceived as a remake of the very first game in the series by Capcom, its development resulted in a duology that started withThe Legend of Zelda: Oracle of Seasons. Taking influence from other handheldZeldagames likeLink’s Awakening,Oracle of Seasonstakes place in a top-down 2D world with absolutely spectacular sprite art and feels like the perfect representation of what the series used to be.
This incredible handheld action game showed outstanding care and appreciation for the series, as Capcom was able to capture the spirit of adventure and joy thatZeldais known for wonderfully.Seasonsformed one half of a terrific experience, as it pairs upperfectly with its Game Boycounterpart, offering a stronger fighting and combat-based experience compared to the puzzle-heavy second chapter. Both of theOraclegames are available on Nintendo Switch Online, making this remarkable handheld action title easy to play today.
WhileOracle of Seasonsfocused largely on combat and action, the second half of Capcom’s duo of handheldZeldaadventures put an emphasis on puzzles and exploration. WithThe Legend of Zelda: Oracle of Ages, Capcom showed just how well they understood this classic franchise, as they were able to accommodate all aspects of its long-running legacy.
Oracle of Agesis still an absolutely fantastic experience, with one of the best stories in the franchise’s history and sometruly incredible dungeon design. Backed by some wonderful music and art direction, this amazing adventure title is still one of the all-time greatest handheld games ever produced. Along withSeasons,Oracle of Agesis readily available to play today, as it was released on Nintendo Switch Online in 2023.
Over the years,Dynasty Warriorshas cultivated an expansive genre ofgame known as Musou, generally referring to a large-scale hack-and-slash combat game with numerous enemies and characters battling on-screen. Famous franchises likeFire EmblemandDragon Questhave been given the Musou treatment by developer Omega Force, but one of their best efforts came in the form ofHyrule Warriors: Age of Calamityfor Nintendo Switch in 2020.
Taking place one hundred years before the events ofBreath of the Wild,Age of Calamityexplores the time seen during the flashbacks, chronicling Ganon’s rise and setting players off into a huge, epic battlefield that utilizes all the franchise’s most iconic races. With its enormous scale, satisfying combat, and epic story,Age of Calamityis one of the Switch’s most impressive titles and one of the most fascinating non-Nintendo-developedZeldagames of all time.
Capcom had a solid grip onThe Legend of Zeldaby the time the Game Boy Advance came out, as they seemed to know what made the franchise tick and were able to create some absolutely incredible games, releasing their best effort with the series withThe Minish Capin 2004. Development picked up immediately afterOracle of SeasonsandAges, with Capcom wanting to explore a fairy tale story within the realm of Hyrule and introducing the Minish, also known as the Picori, and shrinking Link down to their size in order to go on a grand adventure.
The Minish Capis a charming, delightful game that also sees Link face off against someone other than Ganon, as the nefarious wizard Vaati serves as the game’s main antagonist. Featuring one of the franchise’s most incredible soundtracks, outstanding dungeon design, and a fantastic combat system,The Minish Capremains one of the most overlooked entries in the series. It was recently made available on Nintendo Switch Online, making it easier than ever to experience this classic game today.
The Legend of Zelda: Link’s Awakeningwas originally released on the original Game Boy in 1993, and was a historic release for the series, as it put a larger focus on story and narrative than any previous game had before. Link’s quest to escape Koholint Island by waking up the Wind Fish is still one ofthe franchise’s best stories, which developer Grezzo took to heart when they produced a full 3D remake for the Nintendo Switch in 2019 and captured all the spirit and warmth of the Game Boy classic.
Link’s Awakeningon Switch makes use of a charming hand-crafted art style, feeling like an approximation of the puppets seen on marketing material during the release of the original game in 1993. With sharp, focused combat that feels exceptional, faithful recreations of the classic dungeons and an awe-inspiring soundtrack, Grezzo’s work on Link’s Awakening is easily the best non-Nintendo Zelda game, as it expertly brings a classic title into the modern era and feels unique at the same time.The Legend of Zelda: Link’s Awakeningis available now on Nintendo Switch.
