Google has introduced a hidden Easter egg that harkens back to the 1998 era of search engine design, timed with the impending release of the remake for The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time. By typing "zelda" into Google's search bar, a Master Sword appears in the lower-right corner of the screen.
Clicking on the Master Sword initiates a visual and auditory sequence, distorting the screen to simulate a time warp. This transports the user to a representation of Google as it appeared in 1998, characterized by its minimalist design and a straightforward presentation of search results as blue links. The "I'm feeling lucky" option, a staple of early Google, is also present in this nostalgic interface.
The year 1998 marked the original release of The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time on the Nintendo 64 and was a significant year culturally, noted for films like "Saving Private Ryan," the emergence of pop stars such as Britney Spears, and television shows like "Sex and the City." It was also a time of popular music like "The Boy Is Mine" by Brandy and Monica, the prevalence of toys like Furbys, and the widespread use of Nokia mobile phones.
This Easter egg arrives as Nintendo prepares to launch the remake of the classic title. The company has been gradually revealing details about the game's appearance and gameplay for its Nintendo Switch release. IGN has provided an extensive hands-on preview and a detailed breakdown of the changes featured in the remake compared to the original N64 version. The producer of the Zelda series, Eiji Aonuma, recently commented that some younger members of the remake's development team had not played the original game, a situation he views positively for the project's fresh perspective.