The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time remake that is set to come to the Switch 2 later this year already has a great solution to the game’s most headache-inducing level: the Water Temple. As the most notorious dungeon in Ocarina of Time, this level still has an intimidating reputation for its confusing layout and slow pace caused by the need to bounce back and forth from the menu constantly. It ultimately gets in the way of what had the potential to be the best area in the game, but the good news is that Ocarina of Time‘s remake won’t face the same problem.
This isn’t the first time that Nintendo has crafted an Ocarina of Time remake. Ocarina of Time 3D came to the Nintendo 3DS back in 2011, and one of the best features that this remake boasts is that it fixes the Water Temple issue that has plagued the original version for so many years. There will be a lot of pressure for the Switch 2 remake to honor the original game as much as possible, but using Ocarina of Time 3D‘s Water Temple as a template for this iteration is the right move.
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Ocarina of Time 3D Makes Key Changes to the Water Temple That Are Simple But Make a World of Difference
One of the biggest issues that the original Ocarina of Time Water Temple level had was that its reliance on the Iron Boots required players to constantly go in and out of the menu to equip and unequip them. Ocarina of Time 3D gives the Iron Boots a dedicated button that completely solves the problem. Making changes to Ocarina of Time is bound to be controversial, but the 3DS remake is a solid example of how tweaks to the original formula can actually make way for something that’s even better.
Guess the games from the emojis.
Guess the games from the emojis.
Easy (120s)Medium (90s)Hard (60s)
The Iron Boots aren’t the only thing that made exploring through the Water Temple such a headache, though. Unlike other dungeons found in the game, the Water Temple is more of a puzzle box instead of a linear level. This approach to the design can make it deeply confusing to navigate, and it has even caused plenty of players (cough, cough, me) to overlook important items. Ocarina of Time‘s 3DS version made some much-needed improvements to the overall design by adding colored markings throughout the Water Temple that make it way easier to pinpoint where Link is within the dungeon.
Camera-focused hints also help point players in the direction of missed items, which is another huge plus. The original version of Ocarina of Time on the N64 is a timeless classic, but the Water Temple is a perfect example of how far level design and mechanics have come in the following decades. Gamers who first experienced Ocarina of Time through the Nintendo 3DS remake instead of the N64 version are bound to find the original level design incredibly jarring and frustrating.
Even Though Ocarina of Time’s Water Temple Has Been Fixed, the Switch 2 Version Has the Opportunity to Be Even Better
There was a lot of time between the original Ocarina of Time and the 3DS remake, and there has now been even more time between the 3DS remake and the upcoming Switch 2 version. Game design has evolved drastically since these two titles were first released, so that leaves plenty of room for Ocarina of Time on the Switch 2 to make even more game-changing improvements. It’s hard to say exactly what these changes could be, but it wouldn’t be surprising if more adjustments were made to the Water Temple.
Ocarina of Time‘s 3DS version made some much-needed improvements to the overall design by adding colored markings throughout the Water Temple that make it way easier to pinpoint where Link is within the dungeon.
Of course, it’s a delicate balancing act when it comes to doing a Legend of Zelda remake justice. On the one hand, making it a stronger level would be great, but there’s also the issue of too many changes making it not feel like the Water Temple at all. What made the 3DS version’s Water Temple so much better was that the simple adjustments helped highlight the dungeon’s wonderfully fun qualities that presented such a great challenge. The N64 game was too challenging because of some simple design oversights, but Ocarina of Time 3D found the perfect balance that made the dungeon both challenging and satisfying.
Too many changes risk making the Switch 2 version easier than it should be. The Legend of Zelda games have taken many shapes and forms over the years, but each has presented their own unique challenges and head-scratching moments. As mind-boggling as the first iteration of the Water Temple can be, the dungeon is an integral piece of Ocarina of Time‘s DNA, so the Switch 2 version needs to handle it with a lot of care.
The Switch 2’s Ocarina of Time Remake Is Likely Just the Tip of the Iceberg With New Legend of Zelda Projects
There have been many questions regarding what the future of the Legend of Zelda franchise looks like. An Ocarina of Time remake has been rumored for a long time, and it already has fans speculating that more remakes are on the way. A Majora’s Mask remake seems like the obvious move from Nintendo, but only time will tell. Twilight Princess could be another option for a major remake, but there is even more beyond Nintendo’s apparent remake obsession.
Nintendo has yet to reveal an official release date for Ocarina of Time‘s Switch 2 remake. GTA 6‘s November release date has turned the latter part of the year into a wasteland, so it will be interesting to see if Nintendo decides to launch such an anticipated remake in Rockstar’s splash zone.
One of the most intriguing releases that the franchise has planned for the future is Nintendo’s Legend of Zelda movie. It’s hard to imagine turning the series into a live-action story, but that makes the project that much more interesting. Between a potential new remake, rumors of another open-world game in the works, and the movie set to debut April 2027, The Legend of Zelda franchise could have a lot of exciting things in store after Ocarina of Time comes to the Switch 2.
- Released
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2026
- Developer(s)
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Nintendo
- Publisher(s)
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Nintendo
- Number of Players
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Single-player
