A fan developer has ported Zelda’s Adventure, one of the three Zelda games for the ill-fated Phillips CD-i, to Game Boy. The game, which is considered to be one of the worst games ever made, has been translated into a version that strongly resembles the original Link’s Awakening for Game Boy. John Lay, the developer, used a modified version of GBStudio to achieve this. It’s playable on PC or any other platform that supports Game Boy emulation, including the Analogue Pocket.
About Zelda’s Adventure
For those who aren’t familiar with the game, Zelda’s Adventure is a CD-i game that features live-action cutscenes and a photorealistic art style that’s unique, if nothing else. Several people used in the game weren’t actors, including the developer Viridis Corporation’s office receptionist Diane Burns, who played Princess Zelda. Unlike the other two CD-i Zeldas that have become internet memes over the years, Zelda’s Adventure doesn’t have animated cutscenes.
The Remastered CD-i Zeldas
Back in 2020, a developer named Dopply released unofficial remastered versions of the other two CD-i Zeldas, Faces of Evil and Wand of Gamelon, making them playable for the first time on PC.
The Upcoming Release of The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom
It’s worth noting that The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom is set to release soon. Reports suggest that this game is even more open-ended than fans might expect.
How the Game Was Ported to Game Boy
John Lay ported Zelda’s Adventure to Game Boy using a modified version of GBStudio. This resulted in a game that strongly resembles the original Link’s Awakening, the first Zelda game made for Game Boy. The game can be played on PC, and on other platforms that support Game Boy emulation.
The Process of Porting the Game
“I began by using a custom script to extract all the binary data from the CD-I disc image for Zelda’s Adventure,” Lay explained. “Next, I wrote a custom tool to convert the raw disc data into GB Studio-compatible data. The final step was to import the converted data into GB Studio and assemble the game using its built-in tools.”
How Close Is the Game to the Original?
Lay said that the port is “pretty close” to the original. “Obviously the art and sound are different, but the gameplay is extremely similar,” he said. “I had to make some changes to accommodate the different graphics resolution on the Game Boy, and I added a few features to make it feel more like a modern Game Boy game, such as a full-screen minimap and a save system.”
How to Play the Game
The game can be played on PC using any emulator that supports Game Boy games. Players can also play the game on the Analogue Pocket, provided that the device is set up for Game Boy emulation. It’s unclear whether or not Nintendo will take action against the game, so it’s recommended that players avoid sharing the ROM for the game online.
Final Thoughts
If you’re curious about one of the worst games ever made, or if you’re a fan of Zelda games, you might want to check out the Game Boy port of Zelda’s Adventure. While it’s not an official release, it’s still a chance to experience the game without the need for the rare Phillips CD-i console.
