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The Legend of Zelda series is arguably in its best state ever, thanks to Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom, respectively. But its entries that use the top-down perspective should also never be scoffed at by those who only played the 3D games. The Link’s Awakening remake on the Switch in 2019 proved how incredible these games could be.
But that’s only one of them; two other games for the Game Boy Color, called Oracle of Ages and Oracle of Seasons, are also highly underrated. Released in 2001, they are both still fondly remembered in 2025. With this in mind, here are five reasons why they, too, deserve the remake treatment in the style of Link’s Awakening.
The Escapist recaps
- The Legend of Zelda series first debuted in 1986 on the NES and has been one of Nintendo’s iconic IPs ever since.
- The series has sold over 150 million copies, with the latest title, Tears of the Kingdom, selling over 20 million copies since its May 2023 release.
- The Legend of Zelda: Oracle of Ages and Oracle of Seasons came out on the Game Boy Color in 2001.
- Playing both would grant you a password for the secret true ending.
- Both games are available to play on the Nintendo Classics retro service for Switch Online subscribers via the Game Boy app.
When Two Become One
By the time the Oracle games were out, gamers had already been treated to the Pokémon games, coming in two versions, where some of the pocket monsters were exclusive to each version. To collect them all, you would have needed to exchange Pokémon with someone who had another copy, thereby truly completing the game.
The Oracle games did something similar by unlocking the true ending by completing both games. Only then would you be able to play the true ending by facing Ganon. It’s a unique approach, as it encourages the player to buy both games for the true ending.
It also helps that both Ages and Seasons have different storylines and items, instead of the same ones that two Pokémon games have, just with exclusive monsters to collect. To have two remakes instead of one would be great for those new to the Oracle games, as well as to play the true ending once both games are finished.
The Diarama Look
When the Link’s Awakening remake was announced in early 2019 by developer Grezzo, it already made a huge impression thanks to its diorama-art style. It was something entirely new to the Zelda series, but once the remake came out later that year, it shone, becoming one of the game’s best attributes. The same art style was repeated for Echoes of Wisdom in 2024, and this trend should carry on for the Oracle remake.
Imagine the scene: in Oracle of Seasons, the changing seasons from Winter to Autumn could be a fantastic showcase for the diorama-art style. Fleeting snow on trees, replaced by falling autumnal leaves once the player uses the Rod of Seasons. With Oracle of Ages, using the Harp of Ages to travel through time could show the changes of Lynna Village in the past, a central hub of the game, to Lynna City in the present.
Combined with the different colors and settings that the land of Labrynna has, along with the extra power of the Switch 2, it could showcase the diorama-art style in crisp, new ways for the two games.
Quality of Life features inspired by Link’s Awakening
A big part of what made the Link’s Awakening remake work was its Quality of Life (QoL) features. For example, no longer were players required to equip just two items. This time, others could be assigned to the X and Y buttons, as well as automatically using items like the Power Bracelet and Pegasus Boots, saving space on the buttons.
There’s also the added benefit of placing markers across the map, making it easier to come back to hidden doorways and paths you may be unable to access for now.
For the Oracle remakes, seeing these QoL features pass over would make them far more accessible than before. Items like the Magnet Glove and Seed Shooter could be automatically assigned, as well as an improved map to place markers over the lands of Holodrum and Labrynna.
The time and season portals could also be better marked and made easier to access, too. Even the visual effects when switching seasons and travelling in time could show the diorama-art style transform in real-time to where Link is travelling. It’s these QoL features that could make both Oracle games a far more fun experience for modern players.
The Impressive Landscapes through time
Time travel in games is something that’s been hard to nail down for years. Titles like Blinx the Time Sweeper and Prince of Persia: Sands of Time have used the concept in various ways, like rewinding levels, pausing moments, and more.
But Oracle of Ages took the Ocarina of Time concept from 1998 and expanded it. For the 2D top-down title, it was new, and for the Game Boy Color, it was impressive to see how Labrynna could change in various ways between eras.
It would be a fantastic showcase to see characters and landscapes either age or de-age in real-time, similar to how the effect was used in The Time Machine movie from 2002.
Mix this in with the Switch 2’s processing power, and it could feel like no loading times or transitions would occur, instead with players seeing the landscapes change, adding to the charm of the game.
Perfect Opportunity to make Oracle of Power
Ever since the Oracle series was announced in 1999, constant rumors of a third game, allegedly called Oracle of Power, have remained. As the games were meant to represent the series’ main MacGuffin, the Triforce, it was meant to be a huge, expansive storyline.
But once it was reduced to two games, the whole narrative changed. But for these rumored remakes, the third game could finally have its time to shine.
This could be a win-win for everyone involved. Although both games work with one another in harmony, a third game could give developer Grezzo an opportunity to work on an original top-down Zelda game that was originally scrapped.
This way, both games get remade, but with the added bonus of Oracle of Power to finally complete the trifecta as originally planned.
Ask The Escapist
Allegedly, the cancelled third game was to be called Oracle of Power, to complete the ‘Triforce’ analogy the team had thought up, but it was decided that developing three games at once was too complicated.
Spoiler warning, but once both games are completed, you’re given a special password, which unlocks the final confrontation with Ganon.
Thanks to Ages and Seasons being made available on the Nintendo Classics retro app on the Switch consoles, you can play them right now, as long as you’re a subscriber to the Switch Online service.
The post Remaking the Seasons for the Ages: 5 reasons why the Zelda Oracle games should be remade for Switch appeared first on The Escapist.