Ocarina of Time is coming back on November 5, and I've been arguing with myself ever since the first trailer. Part of me is thrilled. The other part thinks Nintendo is taking me for an idiot. Both parts get a say below.
The game my mom actually let me have
I'm a fan of the original Ocarina of Time from day one. I sank so many hours into it on the Nintendo 64. It was one of the rare games my mom bought me, because she saw it as a "smart" game.
Ever since, I've been excited whenever a new Zelda comes out, and I've played every single one. But Ocarina of Time holds a special place in my heart that the others don't quite reach.
The first trailer: nostalgia first, then a raised eyebrow
When I saw the first trailer, I got properly excited. It did its job: it woke the nostalgia right up.
Then my brain caught up, and I thought Nintendo was really taking me for an idiot. Another remake? They did the same with Star Fox not that long ago, and with a bunch of other games. Ocarina of Time has even been remade before, on the 3DS in 2011. Nintendo announced the new one in June 2026 as a game "reborn exclusively for Nintendo Switch 2", and the Star Fox remake only came out the same month. It all starts to look like a pattern.
To be fair, I do understand. A brand new Zelda takes years to make, and Tears of the Kingdom only came out in 2023. Something has to fill the gap. And an Ocarina of Time remake is a good idea. It was a revolutionary game, it deserves to be glorified, and it deserves a chance to thrive in a new century. A new millennium, even.
The new trailer: I respect the art style, but it's not for me
I need to play it before I form a real opinion, and I know that. But the images I've seen so far don't convince me that much.
The main thing is the design of the characters. I don't like the art style they chose. I have to admit it fits the story and the narrative, and I respect the creative team's work, but it's just not for me. It makes me feel uncomfortable for some reason, and I can't explain it better than that. I just don't like it.
The cutscenes don't entice me much either. For some reason, I kind of liked it when the characters didn't really speak and you had to imagine their voices yourself. Part of what made this series special was how our own imagination shaped the characters, and how mysterious they were. I guess the voices bring more life into the game, and I'm open to being proven wrong.
The music is the opposite story. It's faithful to the original and just as exciting as it was back then, and I'm into it. Here's what Nintendo says is new, next to where I stand:
| What's new | Where I stand |
|---|---|
| Overhauled visuals | Great work, but the character design isn't for me |
| Fully voiced cutscenes and more dialogue | I liked imagining the voices myself. Maybe they bring more life |
| Symphonic orchestral soundtrack | Faithful to the original and just as exciting. I'm into it |
| Switch 2 only | No surprise, and it's the only console I play on |
What I can't wait to see again
I'm properly excited to see Lake Hylia again, and the fishing pond in particular. It's one of the most vivid memories I have of the game.
I also just want to spend hours on Hyrule Field with Epona, like I did in the original, enjoying the majesty of the place. No quest, no rush. If the remake gets that right, I'll be happy.
Forty years, a remake and a movie: is Nintendo milking it?
I want to say this is a proper way to celebrate 40 years of the franchise. Nintendo has plenty planned around the anniversary: a special Switch 2 console and controller, amiibo, concerts and more. But right now it just feels like we're milking a cow. Remakes and remasters everywhere, and I'm tired of it.
And there's even a movie coming, on April 30, 2027. What? I'm a huge Legend of Zelda fan, and I still don't want to touch the movie with a 300 foot stick. The mystery was the charm. Now we have to watch it in live action?
My take: excited to play it, scared to be let down
I'm unarguably excited about playing a modernized version of Ocarina of Time. It's the game I grew up on, and it's finally on the console I play on.
My real fear is simple: that I'll be disappointed. Not because it'll be a bad game, but because it won't match the one I've carried in my head all these years. The original didn't need a remake to be loved, so this one has a lot to prove.
I'm skipping the special editions and the pre-order. But for this occasion I'll go to a store and buy it in person. If a guy tells me it's sold out, so be it. That's all part of the experience.
I'll review it, but not on November 5. I'll write the review once I've had enough time with the game to form a real opinion. Until then, I'm excited, I'm suspicious, and I'm keeping my fingers crossed that the excited one wins.
