Nintendo’s remake of The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time arrives on Switch 2 on Thursday, revisiting the 1998 game with updated controls, revised visuals and new quality-of-life features. The result is described as a highly faithful adaptation that makes the classic more accessible, though its polish does not dispel the sense that the original’s impact is difficult to recapture.
The remake replaces the original’s camera with an over-the-shoulder view and adds dedicated jump and sprint controls. Combat feels smoother, and a quick menu makes switching items easier than repeatedly pausing to open the equipment screen. A new “Threads of Time” quest log can offer guidance when players get stuck, while the famously troublesome Water Temple is more manageable.
Some familiar challenges remain. Switching between targeted enemies is still awkward, and the Biggoron Sword quest may require outside guidance. The economy has also changed: wallets can hold twice as many rupees, but Great Fairy upgrades now cost money, with prices reaching 500 rupees.
The visual overhaul is among the remake’s most noticeable changes. Detailed textures sometimes clash with the game’s cartoon-like proportions, and certain character designs can feel unsettling. Expanded animations and cutscenes add detail but occasionally slow the opening hours. Nintendo has also adjusted some characters: Mido is portrayed as overbearing but well-intentioned, while the owl Kaepora Gaebora no longer repeats his guidance as readily. Navi, meanwhile, has stopped interrupting with her familiar “Hey! Listen!”
Despite these revisions, the remake remains close to the original, even as it smooths some of its rough edges. Its updated presentation and conveniences make the adventure easier to revisit, but the review argues that the game’s once-innovative qualities now amount to a safe return to a celebrated classic. Nintendo’s careful treatment, however, could help keep Ocarina of Time in the gaming canon for years to come.
Sources: NPR News.