Nintendo is aware of the widespread frustration surrounding the Water Temple in The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time and has confirmed that the infamous dungeon will receive significant changes in the upcoming remake.
In an interview as part of Nintendo's "Ask the Developer" series, longtime Zelda producer Eiji Aonuma stated his desire to address the dungeon he designed 28 years ago. "Since it became well known for its difficulty in the original game, I had the team make some adjustments in this version," Aonuma said.
The Water Temple is notorious for its confusing layout, slow underwater movement, and the frequent need to pause the game to equip and unequip the Iron Boots, which are necessary for sinking in water. This constant menu navigation often led to players becoming disoriented.
Aonuma explained that his original intention was to create an engaging underwater experience, drawing inspiration from the sensations of freediving. However, he acknowledged that the complex structure and item management detracted from the enjoyment. "We addressed those issues in this version," he confirmed.
Game director HokWai Ng elaborated on the planned improvements. Item toggling will be streamlined, allowing players to swap equipment with the d-pad instead of navigating menus. Additionally, certain walls that contributed to navigational difficulties will be replaced with lattice-style structures, providing players with better visibility of adjacent rooms and a clearer sense of the overall dungeon layout.
The developers hope these changes will foster intergenerational discussions about the game, with younger players potentially finding the dungeon less challenging than their predecessors did. The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time is scheduled for release on November 5, exclusively for Nintendo Switch 2.