The Ocarina of Time remake feels remarkably modern — and surprisingly terrifying
Developing story first seen 2 hours ago
A hands-on preview of Nintendo’s Switch 2 remake of The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time finds that modern controls and a more realistic visual style make the 1998 adventure feel accessible and, at times, frightening. The changes matter because they ease the frustrations of returning to an influential classic while bringing its horror themes to life in ways the original could not.
The remake adds a dedicated jump button, right-stick camera control, quicker item selection, and a Threads of Time progression marker; Zelda Notes in the Nintendo Switch app offers maps and other information. The preview covered about 90 minutes of play, including sections with Child and Adult Link, and highlighted the Forest Temple’s blood-coloured light. The game launches on Switch 2 on 5 November.
- The remake modernises Ocarina of Time’s controls and presentation.
- Its realistic visuals make the Forest Temple more frightening.
- It launches on Switch 2 on 5 November.
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The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time is an adventure game first released for the Nintendo 64 in 1998. Players guide Link, a young hero who travels through Hyrule, a fantasy kingdom, and later returns to places after time has passed.
The game became influential for bringing exploration, puzzles and combat together in a large three-dimensional world. Its story follows Link at two stages of his life, as he faces threats to Hyrule and encounters Princess Zelda and other people who shape the kingdom’s fate.
The Forest Temple is one of the later areas Link explores as an adult, and its eerie setting is part of the game’s darker side. The remake’s significance lies in revisiting a much-loved classic for a new console while retaining its original story and world.
Both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
The remake’s modern controls and clearer progression tools could make a landmark adventure more welcoming to returning players and newcomers, while improved presentation gives its darker scenes fresh impact. Preserving the original story and scale respects what made the game influential while making it easier to enjoy today.
The case against
Modern controls and guidance features may alter the deliberate feel and sense of discovery that shaped the original experience, even if its story and scale remain intact. A more frightening presentation could also change the tone players remember, raising a fair question about whether a classic benefits from this kind of update.