Two Surprising Zelda Games Could Get Major Glow-Ups on the…

The recent announcement of the Nintendo Switch 2 shared new information on the console to get fans excited. Included in this were the reveal trailers for new games and system features, but what came unexpected to some were the Nintendo Switch 2 Edition upgrade packs for certain games.

As well as a select few of these games receiving new content exclusive to the Nintendo Switch 2 Editions, players should expect to see major improvements to all the games receiving upgrades to keep them in line with the Switch 2’s own game library. Some of the community can look forward to receiving two Zelda upgrades bundled with the Nintendo Switch 2 Online Expansion Pack. However, there are two other The Legend of Zelda games for the original Switch being updated for the new console that could be seriously improved as a result.

Nintendo Switch with Zelda Echoes of Wisdom Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom

Why the Nintendo Switch 2's Backwards Compatibility Is a Godsend for Modern Zelda Games

Confirmation that the Nintendo Switch 2 will be backwards compatible with games from its predecessor means a lot for modern Zelda games.

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By Josh Cotts

Link’s Awakening and Echoes of Wisdom Will Receive Free Switch 2 Updates

Both Games Need the Performance Boost

A majority of The Legend of Zelda fans are likely to be excited about upgrades to Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom, especially for the additional Zelda Notes feature expanding on the game’s lore, but the often overlooked Link’s Awakening and Echoes of Wisdom may be more deserving. Link’s Awakening remade the Game Boy original with a new toy-like aesthetic, making players feel like they were playing with a diorama. Echoes of Wisdom maintained this visual style, and with Zelda’s ability to place Echoes of objects with the Tri Rod, the world became a playful sandbox.

In spite of this distinct art style, many players were unable to fully appreciate it on the game’s original hardware. Both Link’s Awakening and Echoes of Wisdom had performance issues, making the game suffer overall. While still visually impressive, seeing both of these games struggling showed that the Switch simply isn’t capable of handling them. With the Switch 2’s reported hardware specifications, it’s likely that both of these titles will be able to be played as they were originally intended without the major drops in frame rate.

Link and Zelda’s Adventures Will Be Better Than Ever On Switch 2

Nintendo has confirmed that, alongside the paid Switch 2 Editions of some of its games, there will be some free Switch 2 updates for original Switch games. Included on this list are The Legend of Zelda: Link’s Awakening and Echoes of Wisdom, confirming that the shortcomings of both of these games should be resolved on the new console. This is a major benefit to fans, allowing them to enjoy each title to their full capacity for free.

While players pointed out the flawed frame rates of these games to be the main issue, this isn’t all fans should look forward to with these upcoming updates. To many players, the unique visuals are one of the major selling points of both of these games, and by utilizing the Switch 2’s 4K capabilities, the games will never have looked better. By removing Link’s Awakening and Echoes of Wisdom’s performance issues and enhancing the graphics, the Switch 2 could be the best way to experience both of these stories.

This update is needed for both titles, but it may be more important for Echoes of Wisdom. Though Link’s Awakening is a remake of a beloved Zelda classic, Zelda being the protagonist in Echoes of Wisdom made the game stand out to fans as it is very rare for the titular princess to take the lead, particularly in a traditional mainline game in the series. By fixing the game's issues and elevating its strong points, Echoes of Wisdom may finally get the justice it deserves with the Switch 2 update.

Unconfirmed Nintendo Switch Games that Deserve a Nintendo Switch 2 Edition

Some beloved Switch games are getting upgraded Nintendo Switch 2 Editions, but there are still a ton of games that deserve to be enhanced.

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By Cameron Swan

The Zelda Updates Have Major Implications for Other Upgrades

The Switch’s hardware did a disservice to Link’s Awakening and Echoes of Wisdom, and with these free updates, the issues present with the original releases may finally be corrected. With Nintendo giving a second chance to these Zelda games, it could indicate that free updates for other games will be added to the console in time.

Since Metroid Prime 4: Beyond and Pokemon Legends: Z-A are both being treated to a Switch 2 Edition upgrade, it might make sense for Nintendo to update the previous games in the series for the Switch 2. For Metroid Prime Remastered, fans would likely enjoy the 4K visuals and mouse controls present in Prime 4. As for Pokemon fans, many found that Pokemon Legends: Arceus has performance issues similar to Link’s Awakening and Echoes of Wisdom. The community would surely appreciate the opportunity to play both Pokemon Legends games fully optimized for the Nintendo Switch 2, free of frame rate drops and draw distance issues.

The Switch 2’s hardware specs are impressive, presenting the opportunity for more innovative games that players expect from Nintendo without feeling these restrictions. While some have expressed concern about how long this tech will last before showing its age, there might be no need to worry just yet; Donkey Kong Bananza’s performance is reported to be able to reach 1080p at 60 FPS in handheld mode. If the Switch 2 can handle the fully destructible worlds that Donkey Kong will charge his way through, it is likely that it will be capable of handling much more than its predecessor.

Though there are dozens of Nintendo Switch games that deserve the full Nintendo Switch 2 Edition treatment – complete with performance tweaks and new features – the free updates provided to Link’s Awakening, Echoes of Wisdom, and a selection of other titles still offer more than players may have initially expected. Rather than just implementing backwards compatibility, these games have been carefully tuned to make use of the Switch 2’s improved hardware. The Switch 2 is already shaping up to be the ideal Zelda console for fans looking to play as much of the series in one place as possible, and with these updates, it could be the best way to play these titles too.

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