Can you remember playing Twilight Princess for the first time and finally realising that the Hero’s Spirit was actually Link from Ocarina of Time & Majora’s Mask? It’s the closest we’ve ever come to seeing ‘old Link’, although thinking about it I’m not sure being a fighting skeleton actually counts – are you still old when you’re technically deceased and reanimated?
Anyway, pulling myself back from the rabbit hole I’m about to go down, there’s a ROM hack where you can actually play as Old Man Link (human, not a muscly version of Dry Bones) complete with a long white beard to give him that wise-old-sage look. It’s a ROM hack of A Link To The Past called The Legend of Zelda: The Hunter’s Song and provides an alternative adventure where sword slashing won’t be able to get you out of scary situations (even though there’s a sword in the game art below…).
According to the description of the ROM hack by Alfonsodelavega and Zscream, Old Man Link gets a visit from an old acquaintance, but we don’t know why they’ve turned up to see him out of the blue. With new sprites, new dungeons, a new storyline, and new characters like a battle-ready Minish waiting to accompany you on your adventure, it will definitely spice things up for die-hard Zelda fans who know the original game like the backs of their hands. And Link actually has a voice in this game too!
Without a sword, you’ll have to rely on using your bow, a hammer, a shield, items, and your wits to complete the game. Alfonsodelavega and Zscream have also hinted that there’s a bomb puzzle that, if not completed properly, could actually soft lock the game… not a game to play while you’re watching TV or chatting with a friend then, this is going to require your full attention! Check out the Link in the YouTube video description above to find out more and patch onto your A Link to the Past ROM!
