A remake of The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time arrives on Nintendo Switch 2 on Thursday, Nov. 5, revisiting the 1998 Nintendo 64 adventure with a complete visual overhaul and adjustments aimed at making the game more approachable for modern players. The review describes it as a faithful recreation that highlights the original’s strengths and addresses some of its shortcomings, without introducing major new ideas.
The story follows Link from his childhood among the Kokiri to his role as the Hero of Time. He travels across Hyrule, builds friendships with different peoples and moves through time in an effort to stop Ganondorf from destroying the kingdom. New dialogue and voice acting for some key characters, including in Brazilian Portuguese, leave the plot and characterizations largely unchanged; Link remains silent.
The remake’s detailed environments and lighting make Hyrule one of the most visually striking worlds on Switch 2, while its art direction retains the look and feel of the original. Even small details, such as Malon’s Bowser brooch, have been preserved.
Hyrule Field, the central area connecting the game’s regions, feels smaller and less empty, making repeated journeys less tiresome. Players can also run, although the control scheme requires holding the roll button to maintain speed, which makes camera movement harder. Other Switch 2 control changes fare better: a quick equipment system reduces trips to the menu, and the directional buttons make it easier to put on and remove special boots and masks.
The puzzles and item locations remain close to those in the 1998 game. New players can receive hints about where to go and what to do, while Navi’s interruptions are less frequent and intrusive than in the original. The game is also fully translated into Portuguese, with voice acting the review praises and only a few minor issues with intonation.
For returning players, the remake offers a detailed return to the Nintendo 64 classic. For newcomers, it preserves the original adventure while making selected changes to ease the experience.
Sources: Folha Ilustrada.