Nintendo Launches Ocarina of Time Remake on Switch 2

Nintendo released a remake of The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time on Switch 2 on Thursday. The game arrives 28 years after the original title launched in 1998. The publisher aims to preserve the game's legacy while updating its systems for current hardware.

The new version modifies how players interact with the world. Nintendo replaced the original camera angles with an over-the-shoulder view, though it retained a top-down perspective when sneaking into Hyrule Castle. New buttons for jumping and sprinting make movement feel more natural to players. Combat mechanics are smoother, but switching between targeted enemies remains difficult compared to modern titles like Elden Ring.

The item management system now uses a quick menu. This feature was introduced in 2023's Tears of the Kingdom and continued in 2024's Echoes of Wisdom. Players can swap equipment without pausing the game. This change allows for faster strategic shifts during battle, such as casting spells and deploying Bombchus simultaneously.

A new quest log called Threads of Time helps players who get stuck. However, the Biggoron Sword quest still requires external guides for many players. The Water Temple, which was notoriously frustrating in the original, is now more manageable. Currency inflation has affected the economy of Hyrule. Wallets now hold double the cash, but Great Fairy upgrades cost up to 500 rupees instead of being free.

Visual updates present a mixed experience for players. The game features ornate textures that sometimes clash with its cartoony character proportions. The character Nabooru appears with large red lips and golden eye-shadow, a look that some players find jarring. Animations are more extensive, and new cutscenes in the opening hours slow down the pacing.

Narrative elements have been adjusted to soften rough edges. Mido, a character who blocks progress in Kokiri Forest, is written as an overbearing but well-intentioned boss rather than a bully. The owl guide Kaepora Gaebora no longer repeats himself easily. The fairy companion Navi does not chime in with her frequent Hey! Listen! line.

The remake is considered one of the most faithful adaptations of a classic game. It is less faithful than the Demon's Souls remake but more faithful than the Final Fantasy 7 Remake trilogy or the Resident Evil 4 remake. Nintendo released this title ahead of a Zelda movie scheduled for next year.