Eiji Aonuma, producer and franchise head for The Legend of Zelda series and director of the original Ocarina of Time, has referred to fixing the game's notoriously difficult Water Temple as "overdue homework." In a recent "Ask the Developer" interview, Aonuma addressed the dungeons of Ocarina of Time, with the Water Temple being a particular point of discussion.
The original Water Temple's primary mechanic involved raising and lowering the water level to access new areas. This, combined with the constant need to equip and unequip the Iron Boots to sink and float in the water, often required players to repeatedly open the menu screen. This process, along with a challenging-to-locate treasure chest, contributed to the dungeon's frustrating reputation among players.
Nintendo has since refined the Water Temple experience in the 3DS remake, streamlining the Iron Boots mechanic to a single button press and clarifying the treasure chest's location. Aonuma explained his motivation for revisiting the dungeon, stating, "I had some overdue homework: I wanted to do something about the Water Temple I created 28 years ago." He elaborated on his original intent, aiming to create an immersive underwater experience that captured the unique sensations of being submerged, which was novel for 3D games at the time. However, he acknowledged that the complex structure and item toggling in the original made it difficult for players to maintain their bearings.
Remake director Hok Wai Ng added that the team adjusted certain walls to create lattice-style structures, allowing players to see beyond rooms and better orient themselves. The remake also introduces a more functional swimming mechanic for Link, which differs from the original game where Link could not swim properly underwater. The Iron Boots now serve to ground Link on the floor, presumably for specific puzzles, while the new swimming allows for greater movement precision.
The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time remake is set to release on November 5.