Ocarina of Time Remake Gets New Encouraging Update From Nintendo

The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time is returning with a full remake, but some of the developers responsible for bringing the Nintendo 64 classic back have never actually played the original game. It’s an interesting situation, especially considering how beloved and widespread Zelda: Ocarina of Time has become since its 1998 release. Nearly 30 years later, Nintendo is preparing to revisit Hyrule with a new generation of developers.

Of course, remaking a game as popular as The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time comes with some pretty high expectations. The original remains one of the highest-rated video games of all time, and its influence can still be felt throughout the industry. However, there’s also the question of how much Nintendo should change, particularly when it comes to controls, exploration, and other gameplay mechanics that have evolved considerably since 1998. Zelda series producer Eiji Aonuma believes that having younger developers work on the remake has actually been an advantage.

Zelda Producer Eiji Aonuma Discusses Passing the Torch with Ocarina of Time

Image via Nintendo

Speaking with Japan Today, Aonuma revealed that some younger members of The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time remake’s development team have never played the original Nintendo 64 game. He doesn’t see that as a problem, however, as Aonuma credited these developers with bringing fresh ideas to the project. As he explained,

“It’s thanks to these young people, by thinking about how to adapt the game in the best possible way, how to make it fun once you have the controls in your hands, that this remake came into being.”

It’s an interesting approach to The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time, especially considering Aonuma himself worked on the original game alongside Shigeru Miyamoto. The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time remake has new features, updated controls, dungeon changes, side quests, and a dedicated jump button. The development team, with veterans’ guidance, sought to modernize certain aspects of the game, but not the whole game. For those who want nothing to do with these changes (which is understandable), players will also have the option to hide the user interface, offering a cleaner view of Hyrule.

Anuma also acknowledged that he’s nervous about the upcoming release of The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time remake, particularly because of how important the original game is to the franchise. The producer has spent decades working on Zelda, eventually taking on a leadership role after helping develop the original Ocarina of Time and directing Majora’s Mask.

Of course, longtime fans will ultimately decide whether the Zelda: Ocarina of Time remake changes improve the original experience, but Aonuma’s comments offer an interesting look at how Nintendo approached the remake. Some of the people rebuilding one of gaming’s most influential adventures are discovering it for the first time themselves, which could make this version of Ocarina of Time feel fresh even to those who know Hyrule by heart.