•The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time is being rebuilt from the ground up for the Switch 2, and a preview playthrough suggests the result is one of the strongest versions yet — even as its new art style continues to divide players.
A report by Eurogamer’s Richard Wakeling on his time with the remake notes that while the game’s existence was never in doubt, this is “the first time the game feels like it’s been reworked from the ground up.” The Switch 2 version launches on 5 November.
The most obvious change is the graphics. Eurogamer writes that the art style “got a real mixed reaction” after the first full trailer, describing it as a “marmite situation.” Wakeling says he initially fell into the “love” camp but grew concerned on repeat viewings — before concluding his gut instinct was correct once he played through parts of the remake.
Unlike the 3DS remake, which smoothed over the original N64 graphics, this version rewrites them entirely. New textures and depth have been added to Hyrule, from rough tree bark to a setting sun “inking the sky orange.” The character designs, according to the report, look “completely at home in the landscape,” capturing what Wakeling calls the game’s fairy-tale essence.
The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time
“I would adore a remake of Majora’s Mask in this art style — what a joy it would be to see it so wonderfully twisted and surreal and unsettling. Imagine the moon!”
Changes that take some getting used to
The removal of auto-jumping is one change players may need to adjust to. Wakelist admits being “a little miffed” about its absence but acknowledges the logic: it brings Ocarina’s controls in line with Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom, letting players remap the jump button to Y.
“Despite knowing this, though, I still completely flubbed my first jump, embarrassingly landing in the water right in front of Mido (who is still an ass).”
The report notes that while some may resent losing auto-jump, it “fundamentally changes to Ocarina other than potentially altering some puzzles.” Wakelist spent five minutes attempting to jump atop Mido’s house during the preview.
Dungeon tweaks
Dungeons receive modest adjustments — neither a full rework nor a complete overhaul. In the Forest Temple, Nintendo added an elevator in the block puzzle room and removed rotating pillars needed for an arrow-through-torch switch. In the Great Deku Tree, there is now only one Skulltula blocking progress, and vines leading to the Dungeon Map have been cut down.
“None of them ever felt like they were robbing the game of something,” Wakelist writes. “Instead, they felt more like Nintendo has been filling in the cracks.” The Deku Tree dungeon also introduces returning players to a quick item select menu borrowed from BOTW and TOTK.
The Forest Temple — one of Wakelist’s favourite dungeons — was played in full. He describes hunting down the Poe Sisters, evading Floor Masters, and the “deliciously eerie atmosphere” created by music that sounds like whispering just out of earshot. The new graphics elevate the stained glass domed ceilings, whose bright colours contrast against the decaying manor.
The Phantom Ganon boss fight was described as “so gloriously recreated it was as if it was torn from my own memory.” Wakelist did admit a personal blunder: forgetting whether energy balls can still be reflected with an empty bottle.
Hyrule rebuilt
Beyond the dungeons, Hyrule itself has been reshaped. Removing the fixed camera in Hyrule Castle Town allowed developers to enrich the settlement with life — wanted posters in back alleys, a view from the main square’s balcony, and a stable revealed opposite what was previously the jar room.
“Hyrule Castle Town truly feels like a bustling capital,” the report says. “Some of the characters have been moved as well; a few finding new homes, while others wonder about the streets.”
Hyrule Field’s geography between major locations has also changed. Wheat now grows around Lon Lon Ranch, a dilapidated building sits near the castle moat, and Little Peahat Larva appear to attack Link. The six trees that once watched over the path from Kokiri Forest are gone — a change Wakelist is “not sure how I feel about,” though he notes the stream in their place is “quite pretty.”
A new addition uncovered during the preview was an abandoned camp hidden in a cliff, containing a fairy’s note translated by Navi — a hint about rolling into trees. Wakelist hopes more such notes may be scattered across Hyrule and would like to see them used for “more characterisation for Navi.”
Voice acting
The one aspect the report criticises is the English voice acting, which Wakelist compares to a “cheesy late ’90s to early ’00s anime dub.” However, he notes players can change the voice language.
“I love what I’ve played so far. Every change feels like it has a purpose,” he concludes. “To the souls who discovered Zelda through BOTW and/or TOTK, I say give Ocarina a chance. This game is the foundation of the modern 3D adventure genre.”
Nintendo offered both travel and accommodation for attending the preview event.
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