Link can now jump on command. In Nintendo’s Nintendo Switch 2 remake of The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time, pressing X or B on a Joy-Con 2 triggers a manual jump. It’s one of several control changes that make the familiar adventure feel quicker without changing its recognizable world or structure.
The challenge is to keep the Nintendo 64 classic true to its roots while making it feel at home alongside modern Zelda games such as Breath of the Wild. After roughly 30 minutes with the Switch 2 update of the Nintendo 64 classic, the reviewer said Nintendo seemed to have struck that balance. The reviewer described the remake as graphically impressive and said it plays better than ever. Link’s first 3D adventure felt both nostalgic and thoroughly modern.
The hands-on session covered much of what series producer Eiji Aonuma showed during a Nintendo Direct gameplay demonstration in September. It began with Navi waking Link, a fairyless boy, and delivering a message from the wise old Deku Tree. The reviewer revisited the basics of interaction and combat, then spoke with Kokiri friends to learn how to progress. That meant acquiring a Kokiri sword by visiting a nook in the forest and earning enough rupees to buy a Deku shield.
Those early tasks felt quick and precise. The reviewer moved through the tutorials and confronted the bossy Mido so efficiently that even he might have been impressed. Inside the Great Deku Tree, combat against Skulltulas and Deku Baba felt responsive. The reviewer also picked up the Fairy Slingshot and Link’s bow and arrow, and found it quick to cycle through the inventory with R to switch between items and secondary weapons.
After exploring the Great Deku Tree, the reviewer met the owl Kaepora Gaebora, who directed them to Hyrule Castle. From the main menu, the reviewer could check a log of Link’s adventure, review key story beats, and check the next destination. The reviewer characterized Threads of Time as a bit of new hand-holding, but also a handy way to reacquaint oneself with the narrative’s current state.
Hyrule Field stretches toward distant landmarks such as Hyrule Castle and Death Mountain. The walk to nearby Castle Town initially felt daunting, but Link can now dash, a new ability that lets him cover long distances faster. The reviewer detoured to fight a large Peahat near the town’s drawbridge, testing combat against a tougher enemy. In Castle Town, townspeople dance and talk as they move through the area. Conversations and possible side quests quickly distracted the reviewer, who wanted to return when there was more time.
The session also jumped ahead to Adult Link and the Forest Temple, where the Hook Shoot is key to exploring the dungeon. The reviewer said the Forest Temple let them appreciate the remake’s streamlined movement and combat, as well as the care taken to refresh familiar spaces. The reviewer described the temple as gorgeous, tangible, and ancient, with vines and moss on its stone walls. Small architectural adjustments make it feel real without losing the original’s spirit. Improved lighting and textures distinguish its different quadrants, and ever-present mist flowing along the floors gives the temple an ethereal mood.
After exploring the Forest Temple’s twisting hallways and clever puzzles, the reviewer said they were intoxicated by the experience. Even with the faster movement and controls, the reviewer was unable to meet the dungeon’s boss, Phantom Ganon, during the allotted time. Across the hands-on session, the reviewer described the remake as snappy, streamlined, and polished in ways that made it feel fresh.
The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time is scheduled for release on Nov. 5, exclusively on Nintendo Switch 2.
