Nintendo's Ocarina of Time Remake Hits Switch 2 Nov. 5 With Modern Controls, Richer Hyrule

The Verge said the remake feels modern and at times surprisingly terrifying, calling it the best-looking and best-playing version of the game. It reported a dedicated jump button, a pause-menu progression marker called Threads of Time, and Zelda Notes integration in the Nintendo Switch app for viewing game maps and other information on a phone. Engadget also referred to a Threads of Time system that provides story summaries and tool tips. NPR, however, said the pause-menu quest log is called Threads of Fate, a difference in how the sources described the same feature.

The Verge said lock-on combat remains engaging and swapping items and weapons no longer requires entering the pause menu as in the original. Holding a shoulder button halts the action, and an analog stick lets players find what they want in near-realtime. The Verge added that the adventure remains on a much smaller scale than modern Zelda games, with simpler quests and tools, but no less fun. It said its favorite section, the Forest Temple, showed off a more realistic art style and the game's horror themes, with red stained glass casting Link in the color of blood as he passed through beams of light.

NPR described the remake as the most ornate Zelda game ever made. It said the original cartoony aesthetic remains but is layered with intricate detail: Link's tunic is a hand-stitched mix of embroidered fabrics and leathers, and fairies are furry creatures with mosaic wings. NPR reported that its baroque environments could confuse as well as dazzle. After it skipped a chest containing a key in the Forest Temple, a Nintendo representative pointed it in the right direction and acknowledged that the rich detail could overwhelm the eye and make it hard to know where to go next.

Engadget said the remake plays even better than it looks. Kokiri Forest is lush and overgrown, Hyrule Castle Town's main square is bustling with people and pets, and taller buildings and new alleys add depth. Smaller details include a fluffier Kaepora Gaebora, a Deku Shield that visibly looks made of bark, and a more natural shape for Link's nose. Engadget said the Forest Temple uses low-lying fog, and Link's sword swings produce particles while the Spin Attack sends out waves of energy. It criticized the water, saying that after a swim Link looks covered in high-fructose corn syrup and that streams look like light blue jello.

Gameplay changes are more restrained. Nintendo kept Z-targeting, but added a jump button and a sprint button; players can also still roll. NPR said the jump is not especially useful in combat but can enable shortcuts, such as reaching the roof of a forest hut. The remake remains a linear adventure rather than an open world like Breath of the Wild. Engadget reported full voice acting in cutscenes, while lower-level NPC dialogue remains mostly text-based, and Navi still says 'Hey, Listen!' Other changes include improved swimming, a reworked inventory, full day/night cycles, and camera control.

NPR reported the remake will arrive two weeks before Grand Theft Auto VI, offering a contrast between a family-friendly fantasy and a modern-day crime epic as other companies avoid that November release window. It noted that Zelda is heading to the big screen next April after the Super Mario movies made billions. The Verge also said a live-action Zelda movie is set for April 2027. Engadget noted that the original Ocarina of Time sits atop Metacritic's all-time rankings, a point higher than Soulcalibur, GTA IV and Super Mario Galaxy 2.