How about a full PC port of ALTTP?

And make it as easily editable as possible. With the SNES, the game had limitations, such as number of total sprites on a screen, editing the overworld with only 2x2 tile chunks (meaning that each chunk had 4 16x16 pixel tiles in it, and if there wasn't a specific 2x2 tile pattern that you were looking for, you were out of luck as single tiles in the overworld couldn't be edited). However, on PC, those limitations don't exist. Idealy, the game's physics, sounds, programmed behaviors, graphics, etc, should ALL be the same as in the SNES version, but it should be coded in a way that makes it MUCH more easily edits. For example each dungeon's complete layout should be in its own separate file, instead of referencing a set of dungeon numbers, where each had a list of room numbers to reference rooms from a huge array of different pre-programmed rooms. Also, the entire map should be in a single file, and part of one large layout, instead of divided up into separate map areas. This would also mean that the master sword part of the woods would be part of the normal map, instead of being treated as a separate area (same with the Zora's domain). Also this would mean EVERY part of the map, would have a corresponding light and dark world counterpart. In the SNES version, the master sword area, and Zora's domain do not have dark world versions. In a PC version, that should be fixed, and given reasonable blank areas that are possible to return from (but otherwise no content there) as no official content is there in the SNES version. This would also allow a player of the PC port to add whatever they wanted there, and provide a nice area for customizing/modding the PC port. The makers of the PC port should also release editing tools for editing all aspects of the overworld and the dungeons. The editing tools for the PC port should be more user-friendly than Hyrule Magic, and provide cursor hover tool tips for each button or text box, so one would never be unsure about how the controls are are used.

Your idea was already atempted. It's called Zelda Solarus (for PC). And the result is poor. While the game can do a lot more and has no limits of the SNES game, the result looks like a copy of the original game instead, since the original SNES engine is not used, but some less capable custom engine. Someone is also trying to port Ocarina of Time to a 2D PC game which looks a bit better though. Hacks on the other hand are much better, since they use the original SNES engine.

Solarus (game and editor)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CY1z5BGBSq0

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qq7rda5G6Lc

Puzzledude wrote:Your idea was already atempted. It's called Zelda Solarus (for PC). And the result is poor. While the game can do a lot more and has no limits of the SNES game, the result looks like a copy of the original game instead, since the original SNES engine is not used, but some less capable custom engine. Someone is also trying to port Ocarina of Time to a 2D PC game which looks a bit better though. Hacks on the other hand are much better, since they use the original SNES engine.

Solarus (game and editor)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CY1z5BGBSq0

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qq7rda5G6Lc

Cool. Thanks. I'm gonna check that out. One thing I notice from that video is the game doesn't have the original HUD layout. I wish it did. Otherwise it looks more like a knockoff, and less like a direct port.

Also where can I get the ALttP game for that engine? The engine and game are separate, and several of the games are Zelda based, but none of them claim to be a direct port of ALttP.

That's because there is no ALTTP port for Solarus due to copyrights. No one made it. Do note: roms essentially are illegal to distribute, we distribute only patches here, but porting the game to PC will basically mean you would distribute an entire game. The actual ALTTP ported on PC is not happening - too much work. That's why programers decided to make emulators, so you can then emulate any SNES game on PC or other devices such as PSP etc. Also, how would you distribute a ported game, you can not just post a patch, but a complete game and your site will be taken down due to copyrights. We only post patches here, otherwise we would be canceled, like Rom sites eventually are.

Puzzledude wrote:That's because there is no ALTTP port for Solarus due to copyrights. No one made it. Do note: roms essentially are illegal to distribute, we distribute only patches here, but porting the game to PC will basically mean you would distribute an entire game. The actual ALTTP ported on PC is not happening - too much work. That's why programers decided to make emulators, so you can then emulate any SNES game on PC or other devices such as PSP etc. Also, how would you distribute a ported game, you can not just post a patch, but a complete game and your site will be taken down due to copyrights. We only post patches here, otherwise we would be canceled, like Rom sites eventually are.

As far as I can tell, the graphics used in Solarus Zelda game are direct rips of the graphics in ALTTP. Isn't that already a copyright violation? I mean some artist had to draw all those original assets for the original game.