The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time on Switch 2 looks like a very faithful remake of the Nintendo 64 classic, but as seen in the Zelda 40th anniversary Direct, this updated version of the game takes at least one element from the modern open-world Zelda games.
When demonstrating the returning Fairy Slingshot item, Zelda producer Eiji Aonuma showed off the weapon-switching and aiming mechanics, which look nearly identical to the same systems in Breath of the Wild.
Players can quickly swap their weapons in a horizontal menu similar to the one used in Breath of the Wild, Tears of the Kingdom, and Echoes of Wisdom. Aiming a projectile weapon also uses the same reticle seen in Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom, with full motion control support as well. The difference in Ocarina is that you can use Z-targeting in conjunction with free aim.
Upon the official announcement of the Ocarina of Time remake, speculation amongst the Zelda fanbase ran rampant about whether the new title would remain faithful to the original game or reimagine it to be similar to modern Zelda titles. While Aonuma made it clear from the beginning of his presentation that Nintendo is taking the former approach, it looks like there will at least be some UI and quality-of-life elements taken from recent games.
In terms of significant changes made in the remake, there’s a major difference in how time passes compared to the original game. Link can also manually jump in the remake, a contrast to his auto-jumping in the 1998 original.
The Zelda Direct revealed that the Ocarina of Time remake launches on November 5, a stone’s throw away from Grand Theft Auto 6. Nintendo also announced that the live-action Zelda movie is simply titled “The Legend of Zelda,” and a 40th anniversary concert tour will take place in 2027.