Nintendo's recent 40th Anniversary Direct provided a comprehensive look at the upcoming remake of The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time for the Nintendo Switch 2. While the presentation showcased a refined art style and new control options, including a jump button and motion-controlled aiming, the game's level and map design seem to closely mirror the 1998 N64 original.
The initial gameplay segments focused on familiar areas like Kokiri Forest and the Inside the Great Deku Tree dungeon. These locations exhibit increased detail and benefit from a free-rotating camera, offering a fresh perspective. However, the on-screen minimap for Kokiri Forest demonstrates a layout that is nearly identical to its predecessor.
Modernizations are present, such as an interactive element where Link must traverse a collapsing wooden path to reach the slingshot, a change from the original's floating platform. The iconic Hyrule Field was also shown, addressing speculation about its potential expansion to accommodate modern open-world scales. Despite the broader camera views highlighting landmarks like Death Mountain and Hyrule Castle Town, the overall size and scale of the field appear to remain largely consistent with the original game. The transition between areas still involves loading screens, suggesting a non-seamless Hyrule.
However, the minimap for Hyrule Field does appear wider, leaving open the possibility for additional activities and side quests. Link's new abilities, including a sprint function and the ability to jump at any time, could also introduce new gameplay opportunities within these familiar environments.
The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time remake is scheduled for release on November 5. The digital version is priced at $60, with the physical edition costing $70, reflecting a price point below that of many new full-priced releases.