A new comparison between the original The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time and its upcoming Nintendo Switch 2 remake highlights the dramatic changes made to the classic adventure’s visuals and gameplay.
Originally released for the Nintendo 64 in 1998, Ocarina of Time is being rebuilt for Nintendo Switch 2 with a substantially updated visual presentation and several changes to its core gameplay. The remake is scheduled to launch on November 5, 2026.
The comparison shows how far the game has evolved since its original release, with updated environments, character models and overall presentation bringing the classic adventure in line with modern hardware.
The remake also introduces several gameplay changes. Link can now jump, use a dash ability to move faster, and swim and dive underwater. Players will also be able to switch between items more quickly using a single button.
Ocarina Of Time Remake Adds New Features
Nintendo has added several quality-of-life features to the remake while retaining the original adventure. Threads of Time serves as a new progress and objective tracking feature, while time of day now progresses throughout Hyrule.
Hyrule Castle Town has also been expanded with previously inaccessible areas. Players can hear additional gossip and participate in minigames while exploring the updated town.
The remake features fully voiced characters during cutscenes, alongside expanded NPC dialogue and manual camera controls. Load screens have also been retained as part of the game’s effort to preserve elements of the original experience.
The Ocarina itself remains an important part of the adventure, with support for an Ocarina accessory allowing players to perform melodies in the game.
The original Ocarina of Time was a landmark release for 3D game design, introducing systems such as target-locking combat and 3D camera navigation that became influential across the industry. It was later remade for Nintendo 3DS as Ocarina of Time 3D in 2011, which introduced updated visuals, stereoscopic 3D and touch-screen inventory management.
The Nintendo Switch 2 remake represents the latest and most substantial visual and gameplay overhaul of the classic adventure, while retaining its original dungeon progression and core story.
