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How exactly does one approach remaking one of the greatest games of all time.

Nintendo have recently announced the release date for the upcoming The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time remake, scheduled for November 5, 2026 (exclusive to Nintendo Switch 2).

There was a dedicated Nintendo Direct that celebrates the 40th anniversary of The Legend of Zelda franchise with some extended look on the announced remake of the widely beloved 1998 classic- The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time.

Now to give some context, I have not played the original game but understand the influence and charm that the game had in 1998, of what was possible in 3d game design and video games as a medium. There is a certain level of timelessness to the game and this remake will not have the same impact the original had back in 1998.

But that is not necessarily a bad thing as this new remake seems to add much better quality of life features in terms of gameplay, being much more snappy and precise, and a better camera that you can adjust (thanks to having two sticks) with manual jumps and swimming being added. These features all add up, as now the gameplay is not so restricted to 1980s game design and with much better polish creating less frustration in how the game feels to play for modern audiences.

The main takeaway I get from the gameplay showcase, is that the remake seems to not do a complete re-imagining of what was originally established in terms of how you proceed from point A to B. The gameplay systems seem to be refined rather than added upon.

What looks to be a point of contention is the art direction and visuals of the remake, going for a somewhat realistic look with higher fidelity and detailed textures. I guess the divide in opinions on the visual style and aesthetic, comes with the territory of redesigning an old but classic game that had lower textures and resolution being rather distinct. The newer model of young Link for example has that added gloss between his face, which I can understand may look jarring when you look at his previous design of the original game.

Despite, the differing opinions on the new visual choices the remake has chosen. I generally like the new updated look being somewhat of a picturesque fairy tale, and see The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time remake as an entry for newer fans to experience the magic of one of the greatest games ever made.

The original I would say should be played, and in no way is the remake trying to replace the 1998 classic that revolutionised what we see in the 3d space and what was accomplished with the hardware limitations of the time.