The Dark Souls of Zelda Games: What Nintendo Needs After The Revival Of Wind Waker on The Switch 2

Why Twilight Princess Deserves to Rise Again

Okay, fine. Calling Twilight Princess the “Dark Souls of Zelda” is a tiny bit dramatic, but where’s the fun in accuracy without flair? We don’t play games purely for utility, after all—we play because they make us feel something. And Twilight Princess? That game made us feel things! It brought darkness and grit to a franchise previously known for its uplifting tales and bright aesthetics. Gone were the sunny skies of Ocarina of Time and Wind Waker. Instead, we got haunting golden hours, eerie twilight realms, and absolutely creepy shadow monsters that felt ripped straight from the fever dream of some over-caffeinated Miyazaki fan.

But that’s not all. The gameplay leaned hard into precision and skill thanks to its combat system. Anyone who’s taken down a Darknut in Twilight Princess knows it wasn’t about mashing buttons until something happened. It required timing, strategy, and an actual sense of satisfaction when that clunky bucket of armor finally went down with a sound as cathartic as a soda can cracking open.

Not to mention, the story! This was no cute, save-the-princess tale. Twilight Princess gave us a world on the brink of calamity, full of gray morality and hearts weighed down by despair. Midna alone made you rethink the whole “fairy sidekick” thing. She was sarcastic, complex, and flat-out interesting. When she started warming up to Link over time, it felt earned—not some other cookie-cutter “chosen one” shtick.

Why Now Is the Time for Twilight Princess

You just put Wind Waker on Switch 2, Nintendo. This means you’re obviously down for bringing the classics back to the limelight. And as much as I adore The Wind Waker, the Switch 2 is a perfect opportunity to step into a different kind of Zelda world. One that’s darker and moodier. One with wolves, shadowy realms, and dungeons that actually made us break a sweat. Zelda fans want variety, and Twilight Princess offers an experience you just don’t find in most of the other entries.

And honestly, it’s been long enough. Sure, there was the Twilight Princess HD remaster for the Wii U back in 2016, but considering the Wii U’s short-lived time in the sun, that remaster might as well stay under the radar. The Switch 2 already has a killer lineup, and adding Twilight Princess would be yet another cherry on an already fantastic Zelda sundae.

Revamp, Don’t Just Remaster

Now don’t get me wrong—I’m not asking for a copy-paste job with resolution bumps. Bring Twilight Princess back, but do it better. The motion controls from the original Wii release? Ditch ’em. Give us crisp, intuitive combat that feels contemporary while still staying true to the principles of the game. Rework the pacing a bit (you can admit the intro was a slog). Maybe even sprinkle in some new secrets because gamers love nothing more than discovering an easter egg that’ll send Twitter into a frenzy.

Keep the soul of Twilight Princess intact but bring it into 2024. We’re not asking for a Breath of the Wild-style open world, either. Linear Zelda games like Twilight Princess have their charm and place. Don’t turn it into something it’s not. Just polish it, refine its edges, and then roll it out like the masterpiece it was always destined to be.

A Love Letter to Darkness

Nintendo, you have a golden opportunity. You’ve opened the floodgates with The Wind Waker. Don’t stop there. Zelda fans love the lighthearted adventure, but we also crave depth. We hunger for a challenge. Twilight Princess offers exactly that and would fill a gap in the franchise lineup that even Tears of the Kingdom or Skyward Sword HD can’t touch.

Bring back the shadows. Bring back Midna. Bring back the thrill of taking down that monstrous dragon perched atop the iconic City in the Sky. Trust me—we’re ready, and the Switch 2 is the perfect home for this beautiful, brooding gem.

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