Nintendo releases Switch 2 remake of The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time
Japanese game maker Nintendo is releasing a remake of the 1998 game The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time for its Switch 2 console on 5 November. It keeps the original's foundation while adding a new visual style and modern improvements.
Japanese video game company Nintendo is releasing a remake of The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time for its newest console, the Switch 2, on 5 November. The original, a 3D adventure game for the Nintendo 64, came out in 1998, 28 years ago. The remake will be the first Zelda title exclusive to the Switch 2.
What has changed
The remake has a far more realistic visual look. Art director Aya Shida said in an interview that it was inspired by puppet shows and practical-effects films. In her words, such forms create a convincing sense that characters truly exist in their fantasy worlds, which overlaps with the nostalgia the original evokes.
The game also adds modern features: a jump button, sprinting, full voice acting and a "Threads of Time" feature that helps players track their progress. The Nintendo Switch app can display game maps and other information on a phone. At the same time, the developers wanted to preserve the experience of repeatedly using the Roll Attack to cross Hyrule Field. The remake keeps that option, and players can now dash as well.
Longtime Zelda producer Eiji Aonuma described the remake as a faithful interpretation using modern technologies.
Release and price
Nintendo announced the date during a stream marking the Zelda franchise's 40th anniversary. The game was first teased in June. It launches in the same month as Rockstar Games' Grand Theft Auto VI.
US retailers Amazon and Walmart have offered the physical edition for preorder with a $10 discount ahead of launch. After release, the physical version will almost certainly rise to $69.99, while the digital one stays at $59.99. Nintendo has also released a special Switch 2 and Switch 2 Pro Controller with Triforce imagery.
