Earlier this month, while I was visiting the Nintendo Holiday Showcase in NYC, Nintendo Switch Sports Resort wasn’t the only title I got to spend a little hands-on time with. I was also given the opportunity to check out the upcoming Nintendo Switch 2 remake of The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time.
My demo experience was broken down into three distinct phases. It all started off in Kokiri Forest, where Young Link was tasked with claiming his sword and shield, and then making his way to the Great Deku Tree.
That iconic music has never sounded better, and between the detailed textures—from the rough-spun weave of Link’s tunic to the visible woodgrain of the Deku Shield—and the sheer novelty of being able to jump indiscriminately, I was in heaven. The various denizens of Kokiri had more fleshed-out dialogue and much more expressive character models, making all those well-worn paths seem brand new and full of promise.
After much more exploring than was strictly necessary, I headed over to the Forest Training Center for combat practice and to uncover the hidden Kokiri Sword, then collected the necessary 40 Rupees to purchase my shield from the shop. Now combat-ready, I proceeded to the Great Deku Tree, who seemed a bit more weathered (and maybe even a little grumpier) than I remembered. Bigger, too, now that you mention it, with a scrubby mustache and a grand, booming voice that stopped me in my tracks.
In the remaining moments of part one, I entered inside, targeted and defeated some Deku Babas (with Navi providing some helpful hints as I locked onto my enemies), and took a few tentative steps into some early-game puzzle-solving. Sadly, I had dillydallied a bit too long in Kokiri Forest and didn’t have time to make it through that massive first spiderweb.
Part two picked up as Link departed the forest for Hyrule Field after receiving the titular Ocarina. There was a little too much environmental noise for me to try humming the various melodies like Mr. Aonuma demonstrated, and that’s a feature I can’t wait to try at home on my own.
The transition into Hyrule was truly cinematic, really capturing the excitement of that pivotal moment. After meeting Kaepora Gaebora, who’s now fully voiced, I made my way to Hyrule Castle Town. The town itself was a veritable hive of activity, with all those old familiar faces displayed this time in lush HD.
This portion of the gameplay also afforded me my first real look at the Threads of Time feature, a gorgeous tapestry that recounts Link’s adventures in a suitably ostentatious fashion. Oh, and I also did a little motion-aimed target practice before I moved to the third and final phase of my demo.
Here I played as Adult Link, now with a nicely varied inventory of usable items. I plumbed the Forest Temple, pushing blocks, collecting keys, and having a much more difficult time defeating several imposing Stalfos than I probably should’ve.
The environment was stunning, and I was surprised to notice how much this particular dungeon, with its elaborate wainscoting, truly resembled a haunted house (à la Luigi’s Mansion) in this iteration of the game. This was also the first place where, as the camera pushed in close to reveal the contents of a great chest, I realized the level of detail even on familiar items like the Hylian Shield. You could see weathering, scrapes in the metal, and imprecise painting on the crest that gave it an organic, real-world feel.
I Hookshot(ed?) to my heart’s content, explored twisting hallways, and slowly began to remember the pace of combat. I even managed to (mostly) remember how to defeat the first Poe Sister using my newly acquired Fairy Bow, releasing her restless soul from the painting just as the final seconds of my time ticked down, wrapping things up nicely if I do say so myself.
If I were to sum up my first impression of this new, improved version of Ocarina of Time, I suppose it would be… well, awe-inspiring. (Literally, half of my voice notes from the experience begin with some version of the phrase “Wow, look at that!”) The title, already beloved by generations for its story and gameplay, now offers even more on both fronts, making for a more immersive experience overall. And visually, it takes full advantage of the Switch 2’s processing power to showcase a truly astounding level of visual fidelity.
Bring home The Legend of Zelda: The Ocarina of Time for the Nintendo Switch 2 when it hits retail shelves on November 5th, where you can relive one of Link’s most famous adventures with much more than just a fresh new coat of paint. Though, if I’m being honest, that metaphorical coat of paint alone is likely worth the price of admission.
Access to this special preview event was provided by Nintendo of America. This post contains affiliate links. Just look at that shield, y’all!
