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All the news about The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time remake
Ahead of the release of Rockstar Games’ Grand Theft Auto VI, Nintendo is launching its own fall juggernaut: a Switch 2 remake of The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time.
The remake, which is releasing 28 years after the launch of the original version on Nintendo 64, has a much more realistic visual style and some modern improvements like a jump button, a way to sprint, full voice acting, and a “Threads of Time” feature that helps you keep track of your progress. But while the game has a new coat of paint, it appears many elements will still remain faithful to the classic N64 release. Nintendo has also launched a special version of the Switch 2 and Switch 2 Pro Controller with Triforce imagery to celebrate the game.
The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time remake is scheduled to release on November 5th. You can follow along with all of our coverage of the game right here.
For the Ocarina of Time remake, Nintendo developers said in a new interview that they wanted to “preserve the experience of spamming the Roll Attack to forward roll your way across Hyrule Field.” I have very fond memories of rolling around the world in the original.
In the remake, you can still spam Roll Attack, but you can also dash.
The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time launches later this week, and in the lead-up Nintendo has put out the first half of a lengthy developer Q&A, covering everything from what changed gameplay-wise, to the new visual style, which was inspired by puppet shows. As art director Aya Shida explains:
Neither puppet shows nor practical effects films reproduce reality exactly as it is. Even so, both create a convincing sense that the characters truly exist within their respective fantasy worlds. We also felt that there was some overlap between these forms of expression and the distinctive nostalgia evoked by the original game.
The long-awaited remake of The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time for Nintendo Switch 2 launches next Thursday, November 5th. In other words, you have a week remaining to secure your physical edition with a $10 discount at Amazon and Walmart. Once the game launches, the physical version will almost certainly go from $59.99 to $69.99 while the digital version will stay at $59.99.
Nintendo had the unenviable task of reimagining its Nintendo 64-era masterpiece for the Switch 2, and based on our hands-on time with some sections of the game, it’s a lot of fun to play. The graphics and art style are fantastic, and the controls have been modernized to be simpler to pick up for those who are already experienced with third-person action games, including other modern Zelda titles.
I’ve really warmed up to the game’s art style, especially in this new trailer. And after reading my colleague Cameron Faulkner’s hands-on preview, I’m looking forward to returning to Hyrule even more. The game launches on Switch 2 on November 5th.