Zelda 1 NES best graphical update/hack?

[Supergamerguy]

Hey guys, I was on the lookout for Zelda 1 NES hacks lately that improve upon the, let's face it, rather aged and dull graphics of the original. The graphics are really what has put me off from playing this game for so long, just because of the game's tendency to get the player lost. 

I found, so far, Cute Zelda, Modern Classic Edition, and Relocalized DX in my search, with Cute Zelda seeming to get the highest praise in reviews.

I don't require the retranslation found in Relocalized DX, so that won't pull me in over the others btw

What are your guys' thoughts on the subject? Which hack would you recommend and why? Are there any hacks or graphical updates I've missed so far? Also, side note, I've also been considering playing BS The Legend of Zelda Third Quest instead of the original, due to its updated visual style (even though I'm not usually picky about graphics). What are your thoughts about that?

Thanks in advance.

[IAmCaptPlanet]

most Zelda 1 graphics hacks seem to steal assets from Link's Awakening, and while LA looks fine when playing LA, i just find it doesn't translate well to Z1

i prefer LoZ1's original graphics even to BSZelda, myself. but it is kind of a shame that LoZ1 has not been totally re-made in BS Zelda, i think it has something to do with some kind of limitations, idk

but i would'nt mind a 100% copy od LoZ1 in BS framework myself.

but Zelda 1 doesnt really lend itself to a graphical update (not a accurate one anyways) because of the limitations of the original, all houses are the exact same cave, all dungeons look like different color clones, and the overworld is either brown or green bush, brown or green mountains, or graveyard.

kinda like, the more updated the graphics get, the more flaws in it's design stand out.

like LA had a LOT more varied landscapes and characters and locations, even with a lot LESS graphical capabilities.

but i have tried those 3 you mentioned, and i always revert to the vanilla LoZ1 (untill Redux gets finished!, animated tiles will help a lot, without changing the feel or the original graphics i think)

[AdamDravian]

Check out the Zelda 1 Redux thread in the "Personal Projects" section of this forum. It uses a light touch to spruce up the graphics a bit in a way that I feel avoids the pitfalls mentioned in the above post.

[Jeville]

I play with original graphics. The archaic gameplay doesn't mesh well with 'updated' graphics.

[Supergamerguy]

(untill Redux gets finished!, animated tiles will help a lot, without changing the feel or the original graphics i think)

Check out the Zelda 1 Redux thread in the "Personal Projects" section of this forum. It uses a light touch to spruce up the graphics a bit in a way that I feel avoids the pitfalls mentioned in the above post.

Huh, I actually have been checking up on that, but I thought it was an entirely new hack. Thanks for clarifying!

I play with original graphics. The archaic gameplay doesn't mesh well with 'updated' graphics.

I like the Link and enemy sprites, it's the environmental sprites that tend to blend together for me.

[ShadowOne333]

Check out the Zelda 1 Redux thread in the "Personal Projects" section of this forum. It uses a light touch to spruce up the graphics a bit in a way that I feel avoids the pitfalls mentioned in the above post.

but i have tried those 3 you mentioned, and i always revert to the vanilla LoZ1 (untill Redux gets finished!, animated tiles will help a lot, without changing the feel or the original graphics i think)

Thank you for the shoutout, guys
I'm glad other people share the same feeling as I do when I did the new sprites for Zelda 1.

For those interested, this are the sprites I did specifically for Zelda 1 Redux:

Bottom = Original, Top = New (Manhandalla has its eye-size reduced in the final patch)


Left = Original, Right = New


I tried to keep the original sprites' tone and basic design, and modified them based on that to better match their official artwork for each and every enemy/boss/NPC.

Huh, I actually have been checking up on that, but I thought it was an entirely new hack. Thanks for clarifying!

The hacks Zelda 1 Redux (and Zelda 2) that I'm working on, are complete improvement hacks for both NES Zeldas that tries to address all of the archaic design and gameplay choices made by those games, and trying to bring them up to pair to more updated Zeldas, like ALttP, but also giving a lot of optional patches for people that don't like certain features, so they can customize their own ROM and experience either Zelda to best of their liking.

The changes are mostly gameplay-wise, while still maintaining the original graphics as much as possible.
However, for Zelda 1 Redux, I have also included 3 optional graphical patches.
My new custom graphics, posted above, are the default Redux graphics, but I have also added the original graphics as an optional patch, as well as another optional patch that brings over Link's Awakening-like graphics, with some elements of it modified to fit with the new gameplay changes (like breakable visible walls as in ALttP/LA).

[Jorpho]

It looks like Zelda Classic is still in development. Of course, there's no chance Zelda Classic can run in a NES emulator, but nonetheless it may be worth considering.

[Supergamerguy]

It looks like Zelda Classic is still in development. Of course, there's no chance Zelda Classic can run in a NES emulator, but nonetheless it may be worth considering.

That actually does look pretty cool, but I'd want to be able to use the benefits of emualtion, like save states, because I'm not highly skilled at Zelda games. 

[Asaki]

Left = Original, Right = New

Right-handed Link!?!? BLASPHEMY!!

[ShadowOne333]

Right-handed Link!?!? BLASPHEMY!!

We all know Skyward Sword Link is blasphemy.
Oh wait, you're talking about the redone sprite.
I forgot I mirrored the image, so he is still left-handed in-game

[Asaki]

Ohhh, okay, ha ha.

It doesn't bother me that much that he's a righty now, but I do think it's weird that they "fixed" Twilight Princess Wii by mirroring the ENTIRE GAME.