'Ocarina of time', a timeless masterpiece that is reborn for a new generation

In a month of November in which GTA VI is released, one of the most high-profile titles of all time, only a hero like Link could overshadow Rockstar's blockbuster. But he does not do so with a new installment of the saga, but with the remake of one of its most beloved games. Furthermore, The legend of Zelda: Ocarina of time (1998), published for the Nintendo 64, was the first adventure of the saga in three dimensions and is one of the best-rated video games in history. Its relevance is due as much to a surprising proposal for its time as to the influence it still has today. All this, added to the nostalgia and a successful trajectory of the saga, has turned the title into an icon of popular culture.

The influence of a timeless classic

Ocarina of Time introduced elements such as target locking (known as Z-targeting), which allows the camera to track an enemy or a relevant object. It also promoted the use of buttons dedicated to specific tasks according to the context. Currently, these two mechanics are extended to practically all three-dimensional adventures. Furthermore, for the biggest followers of The Legend of Zelda adventures, it defines a key point in the saga's chronology.

In a recent interview, producer Eiji Aonuma explained that one of the reasons they decided to make this remake is because a large part of the current development team is too young to have worked on the original title. Coinciding with the saga's 40th anniversary, they wanted to offer them the experience of reimagining this classic, both to learn from the past and to see what they could contribute from a current perspective and open the door to new generations of players. Together with Shigeru Miyamoto, the father of Mario and of Link himself, Aonuma was one of the directors of the original title, and today he is the person in charge of The legend of Zelda franchise.

Aonuma himself confesses that he is nervous about the reception the release will have, because he knows that conceiving this remake is a major challenge, both to do justice to the original work and to respect the memory of the most veteran players. Although an updated version for the Nintendo 3DS handheld was published in 2011, it is often considered only a remaster. This time, however, the team has remade the title from scratch, with total freedom to adapt and modify elements that have become outdated but while keeping this nostalgia factor in mind.

Change the appearance but not the experience

“The developers and the technology may be new, but the essence of the game remains unchanged,” asserted Aonuma in the same interview. At first glance, the remake is updated with more realistic and detailed graphics, one of the topics the community has commented on the most since its presentation. But the team's goal was not simply to reproduce the original with modern graphics; rather, an entire visual style was defined, based in part on Japanese puppet theater and also on other analog references. The art direction seeks to emphasize the beauty and the darkness of the world of Hyrule in contrast with its picturesque and peculiar characters. This balance is what gives Ocarina of time a mysterious, almost dreamlike charm.

Regarding mechanical innovations, one of the main changes is the incorporation of very basic functionalities that the original title did not include due to the software or hardware limitations of the era (such as the existence of a single joystick on the controller). For example, in the new game, the user can move the camera freely and has the ability to jump whenever and wherever they want. These are actions that, if they were not available today, would feel like imposed restrictions, but which at the same time highlight the title that was managed to be developed more than 28 years ago.

Among the new additions, there are also substantial improvements to the interface and the management derived from equipment and skills. The new title allows for easy and fast switching between weapons and items, and aiming with the shooter (slingshot) or the bow more precisely with motion controls. Also notable is the addition of voice acting in the cinematic sequences, and other novelties such as improvements in weather and the passage of time, which continues without pause regardless of where the player is.

A generational leap and iconic melodies

Without entering the realm of spoilers, thinking of the new players who may discover the title with this remake, The legend of Zelda: Ocarina of time is an adventure full of mysteries that takes place in the world of Hyrule during two different eras. The story recounts the heroic journey of Link and his allies through dungeons and temples, in which they must face both formidable enemies and complicated puzzles. Their destiny is to stop Ganondorf, the main antagonist, before he consolidates his power and subjugates the kingdom.

A key element of the adventure is the ocarina, a curious wind instrument, and the various melodies that Link learns to play and that allow him to open new paths and invoke very useful powers. As a novelty, this remake offers the possibility to hum the iconic melodies into the microphone (or even play them with a real ocarina). Starting Thursday, November 5th, Ocarina of time will be available exclusively for the Nintendo Switch 2 console.