From NPR · · 2m
Nintendo remakes Zelda classic for Switch 2
The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time arrives November 5th with lavish visual detail and new movement controls, positioning Nintendo against Grand Theft Auto VI.
In brief
The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time arrives November 5th with lavish visual detail and new movement controls, positioning Nintendo against Grand Theft Auto VI. Nintendo is remaking The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time for Switch 2, launching November 5th with ornate visuals and new mechanics like manual jumping and…
Zelda gets the remake treatment
Nintendo is lavishly remaking its 1998 classic The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time for Switch 2. The game debuts November 5th, two weeks before Grand Theft Auto VI.
Timing matters against GTA
As other companies dodge the Grand Theft Auto juggernaut by avoiding November, Nintendo's wholesome fantasy is poised to stand out against the glitzy violence of Grand Theft Auto.
Visual detail reaches new heights
The remake maintains the original game's cartoony aesthetic but layers it with intricate detail. Your tunic is hand-stitched embroidered fabrics and leathers. Fairies are furry creatures with mosaic wings.
Beauty can overwhelm exploration
The rich details dazzle but can confuse. During a ninety-minute preview at a New York City event, the Forest Temple's ornate environments made it hard to know exactly where to go next.
Mechanical changes stay modest
Nintendo adds a user interface from Breath of the Wild and a quest log called Threads of Time. The game also adds movement features missing from the original: a manual jump and a sprint.
Manual jumping changes exploration
In the original Ocarina of Time, you automatically jumped when running off ledges. Now you can hop on command, allowing occasional vertical shortcuts. You can also hold a button to sprint.
Timing matters for Zelda's moment
With Zelda heading to the big screen next April, the remake is poised to ensnare old fans and entice new players. Its sky-high production values fit Nintendo's priority since 2023's Super Mario Bros. Wonder.
Beauty alone won't tell the story
The Ocarina of Time remake is the prettiest Zelda game the reviewer has ever played. But a ninety-minute preview is not enough to see if its beauty is more than skin deep.
The one thing
Nintendo is remaking The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time for Switch 2, launching November 5th with ornate visuals and new mechanics like manual jumping and sprinting.
