The Nintendo Switch 2 remake of The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time is releasing this week! What better time to get a quick run down of a bunch of additions to the game that weren’t in the N64 version? Last week Nintendo UK posted a quick trailer letting fans know what will be different to returning players when they head back to Hyrule on Thursday, November 5th.
Dashing
Remember playing through Ocarina of Time and feeling like you had to constantly be rolling if you wanted to move quickly? Or maybe you figured out the even faster strategy of turning around to face away from your destination, Z-targeting nothing, and sprinting backwards without being able to see where you’re going? There’s no need for these old tricks in the remake, since you can hold down the A-button after a roll in order to trigger a dash, allowing Link to run rather than walk.
Jumping
Maybe the biggest addition, mechanically, to Ocarina of Time in this new release is giving the player the ability to have Link jump at any time, rather than only when he approaches a ledge. It’s a big shake up that will surely lead to redesigned puzzles and new experiences for long-time fans of the series.
Gyro Aiming
While not technically entirely new to Ocarina of Time thanks to its presence in the 3DS remake, Gyro Aiming for things like the Hookshot or Fairy Slingshot is a feature that was not present in the N64 version that has made its way to the Switch 2 release.
Reimagined Visuals
It probably didn’t need to be said but the reimagined visuals are indeed a new addition to Ocarina of Time. Things like floating platforms have been removed in favor of making the platforms work as logical, in-universe objects. The characters have all been redesigned as well, and Hyrule as a whole looks much, much nicer than in did on the N64.
Fully Voiced Cutscenes
Bringing Ocarina of Time into the modern era of gaming also means that its characters will be able to speak up in cutscenes. Now you’ll finally be able to hear these beloved characters interact with Link in more than just grunts and shouts.
Play songs using the built-in microphone
Ocarina of Time’s titular ocarina is a little more interactive this time around, with the ability to play, sing, or hum the in-game songs into the Switch 2’s microphone to trigger them, rather being limited only to pressing buttons.
Threads of Time
Pictured as a large tapestry that fills out as you adventure across Hyrule and complete the steps of your quest, the Threads of Time is essentially a quest log, meant to help you keep track of Ocarina of Time’s various quests and side-quests.
The Hall of Fallen Foes
Finally, a fun new addition is the Hall of Fallen Foes – a museum of sorts that you’ll be able to discover on your journey. Filled with statues of foes you’ve defeated, you’ll be able to challenge tough enemies to rematches here, adding a bit of replayability to Ocarina of Time.
Surely there are more additions and small changes just waiting to be discovered in The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time on Nintendo Switch 2, but we’ll have to wait until the game is in our hands. Pre-orders for the game are still available, with the best deal at Walmart for $59.88 for the physical edition as of this posting. If you’re near Nintendo’s flagship stores in San Fransisco or New York, then you can always attend the midnight launch event. Best Buy in the United States will also be hosting midnight launches at select locations as well as have additional stock of The Legend of Zelda-themed Nintendo Switch 2 and Nintendo Switch 2 Pro Controller.
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Written by Jaxson Tapp
As a lover of gaming and the written word, Jaxson currently fills his time not only with playing games, but also writing about them. Ready for anything, Jaxson’s passion for puzzle games, JRPGs, tough platformers, and whimsical indies helps him bring a well-rounded opinion to Nintendo Wire’s reporting.
