Opinion: I May Never Play The Original Ocarina Of Time Again

Image: Zion Grassl / Nintendo Life

A classic xkcd webcomic came to mind while I watched last week’s Zelda Direct live. In the one-panel comic, two people from the far future (as evidenced by their Jetsons-style bubble ship) say their goodbyes. Here’s the interaction:

“Bye!”
“May the Force be with you!”
“Huh?”
“It’s just something my grandma used to say. No idea what it means.”

“Bye!”
“May the Force be with you!”
“Huh?”
“It’s just something my grandma used to say. No idea what it means.”

A caption reads, “I wonder on what date Star Wars will be quoted for the last time.”

The Star Wars franchise may not be as universally loved as it was when this webcomic was first published, but the author’s message is plain: all good things must come to an end.

That comic came to mind because I realised, while watching the gorgeous artwork and refined mechanics of the Zelda: Ocarina of Time remake, that I have almost certainly already played the N64 original for the last time.

And that makes me sad.

A Well-Worn Cartridge

Image: Nathan Lockard / Nintendo Life

I was a young adult when I first played Ocarina of Time and have completed it countless times in the decades since.

In recent years, I’ve tackled Link’s adventure in nearly every way possible. It began with a first-time run of the Master Quest edition on the GameCube. My wife was kind enough to read the walkthrough for me as I struggled through. A palate cleanse via the original version on my trusty N64 came shortly after. Ah, much better.

Then came the excellent 3DS remake, followed by a breezy tour through Ship of Harkinian on my Steam Deck to, ahem, see what modding looks like. Most recently, I went back to basics by conquering Link’s first 3D adventure to break in my Analogue 3D.

Ocarina of Time remains a game I routinely revisit. It’s a comfort blanket. A way to pause the clock and relive the past.

Which is why I’m so surprised to feel the way I do.

A True Replacement

This happened once before. Only once, mind you, and it’s been a while.

Image: Damien McFerran / Nintendo Life

Metroid: Zero Mission is the only example where a remake completely and utterly replaced its forerunner for me. I love me a good remake, but I generally find them to be a supplement rather than a substitute. A lovely new coat of paint, rather than a demolition and replacement.

This is coming from someone who spends a majority of his gaming time replaying favourites. I make frequent visits to 16-bit staples like Yoshi’s Island and Chrono Trigger, and I often return to Advance Wars and Shadow of the Colossus. Add in an annual tradition of 100-percenting already-conquered Metroidvanias like Guacamelee and The Mummy Demastered, and it is safe to say I am living in the past.

Many of my favourites have received remakes and remasters (looking at you, Final Fantasy Pixel Remaster), but they rarely keep me from enjoying the original versions.

But this one? It feels like a true replacement. I just know it. This is what Ocarina of Time is now.

Hyrule Market, old vs. new — Image: Nintendo Life

I knew it the moment Aonuma-san walked Link into Castle Town. The fixed camera was gone, replaced by a city bustling with life. Link was standing in the Hyrule I had always envisioned, and I can’t imagine going back to the old after seeing the new.

A Lifetime of ‘Last Times’

Admitting that out loud is surprisingly difficult. Video games don’t often stir my emotions, but letting go of this one feels different.

Image: Nathan Lockard / Nintendo Life

I suspect it’s a symptom of middle age. I first played Ocarina of Time when I was going through a host of ‘first time’ experiences. A generation later, it’s my children who are doing the same: growing up, moving out, and beginning their own adult lives. I find myself in a quieter house, experiencing a rapid succession of ‘last time’ experiences.

The last time Santa brought my kids a new console. The last dinner together. The last road trip. The last walk with our dog. The last Mario Party.

Life is full of first times, but it holds an equal number of last times, most of which pass without any fanfare. Mourning the final playthrough of any video game, even if it is the best of all time, is undeniably a first-world problem, yet I find the experience strangely cathartic. It’s the rare ‘last time’ that I’m able to acknowledge.

Letting Go

Image: Nathan Lockard / Nintendo Life

Like the characters in that xkcd comic, saying goodbye can be difficult.

I may never again play the 1998 version of the best-reviewed game ever, but it was a privilege to play it for 28 years. That same sense of privilege applies to being a father, a writer, an engineer, and everything else that I will inevitably experience one last time.

I keep telling myself that it’s okay to be sad about leaving the N64 version behind, because it’s perfectly natural to celebrate life’s comings and goings. But moving forward doesn’t erase the past. It’s simply time to let a new generation experience this seminal game for the very first time.

Sadness aside, November 5th cannot come soon enough. Until then, may the Force be with you!

Image: Nathan Lockard / Nintendo Life

Has a remake completely replaced an original favourite for you, or is there always room for both? Let us know which games come to mind in the comments below.