The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time modernizes an all-time great

One of Nintendo’s most important games feels right at home on Switch 2.

28 years after the release of The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time, the monumental adventure game is back with modern features and overhauled visuals on the Nintendo Switch 2. I went hands-on with Ocarina of Time and was immediately drawn into the classic tale.

I played roughly an hour of The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time, with my session divided into three different sections of the game. I started out in Kokiri Forest, where Link begins his adventure. After being summoned by the Great Deku Tree, I had a few tasks to accomplish before I could meet the legendary being. This included chats with Saria, and procuring some items around the village.

I spent a lot of time marveling at the visuals. Obviously, the graphics have vastly improved from the 1998 game, but it was the rich colors and textures that caught my eye. When I jumped into the water to grab a rupee, I immediately knew that a new contender for Shacknews’ Best Water award had arrived.

Speaking of jumping, one of the key changes in this remake is that Link can now manually jump, wherever and whenever he likes! It’s a change that puts the game more in line with modern Zelda games, in which verticality has become more central to gameplay design.

After getting a sword and shield, I set out on my adventure. I reached the Great Deku Tree, and played through the game’s first dungeon. Inside, I found chests, platforming segments, and enemies. In battle, I used Z-targeting to hop back and forth, dodging enemy attacks before swinging forward with a strike of my own.

I unlocked the slingshot, and used it to drop a ladder down for myself. I used the newly added motion controls to aim it. Gyro aiming was one of my favorite aspects of Breath of the Wild, so it was cool to see it added here. Like in that game, it’s my preferred way to aim. The small movements in your controller are reflected on screen, allowing for precision aiming while keeping your thumb on a face button.

The second segment of my demo took me to Hyrule Field and Hyrule Castle Town. I didn’t solve any puzzles or fight any enemies here, as it was more focused on exploration. Traversing Hyrule Field really drove home the scope of this remake, with its massive open areas and points of interest in the far distance. Link can sprint now, so I high-tailed to town to see what was up.

Hyrule Castle town feels densely populated, with various NPCs tending to work, dancing, and chatting with each other. I entered a potion shop and spoke to the owner, who was freaking out about a bug in his store. He handed me a bottle, and I used it from my inventory to trap the insect.

I also got to play the titular ocarina during this segment of the game. I saved myself the embarrassment of singing into the microphone, but used the face button to play the notes on the instrument. 

The third and final portion of my demo took me to the Forest Temple. Playing as an older Link, I was now equipped with the Hookshot and a bow and arrow. When fighting Wolfos, I dodged their flurry of attacks until they left themselves exposed for a counterattack. 

The Forest Temple includes other puzzles and combat encounters, just as it did in 1998. All of them are enhanced by updated controls, modern visuals, and a camera that the player can manipulate themself. 

During my time with The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time, I never felt like I was playing a game from 28 years ago. It’s a testament to the quality of the original game, but also the work Nintendo’s done to modernize it for the players of today. 

These impressions are based on a demo played at a private Nintendo event. The final product is subject to change. 

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