The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time Reviews
Nintendo has successfully rebuilt one of gaming's most influential classics for a modern audience as a cohesive story. It’s a visual and audio spectacle, stitched together with a nostalgia for the dungeon crawler of old. Cinematics and story beats help expand lore, though some voice work falls flat. A reworked overworld and dungeons are a joy to explore, though Nintendo has missed an opportunity to go further in some areas. The experience is more approachable for a modern audience, though some of the challenge and discovery has been diluted. The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time remake is a truly excellent adventure for both new and returning heroes to enjoy on Nintendo Switch 2.
I doubt that the Ocarina of Time Remake is going to replace its forebear at the top of the Metacritic rankings, for the simple reason that the entire games industry is in a different place now. But Nintendo has effectively turned its 28-year-old classic into something that will feel modern to a new player, thus ensuring that the game will continue to remain relevant within the general discourse for another few generations yet.
The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time proves that truly timeless game design can remain just as enjoyable nearly 30 years later. Its enchanting world, memorable characters, clever puzzles and excellent dungeons are brought to life through beautiful visuals and an outstanding soundtrack. Unnecessary loading screens, limited voice acting and the inability to complete side quests after the ending are disappointing omissions, but they do little to diminish what is one of the most joyful gaming experiences of the year.
Review in Slovak | Read full review
The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time Remake is a stunning, fairy-tale adventure that, thanks to its refreshed visuals, streamlined gameplay and new features, manages to enchant players all over again. Although the simple combat system and low difficulty level are a reminder of the original’s age, exploring Hyrule and discovering new temples still provide plenty of enjoyment. Nintendo has produced an excellent remake that will delight loyal fans of the series and allow a new generation of players to experience one of the industry’s greatest legends.
Review in Polish | Read full review
Captivating, enchanting, mesmerizing whether you’ve played the original or not. An adventure you won’t soon forget, with its immaculately designed dungeons, inventive use of tools and items and world that is condensed to offer countless tales and secrets without the bloat. Simply amazing.
Review in Arabic | Read full review
Nearly three decades after its original release, The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time still holds a special place in video game history. Its combat system has influenced generations of developers, its dungeons remain outstanding examples of level design, and its narrative continues to stand out for its elegance and emotional depth. This Switch 2 remake delivers a successful visual overhaul, modernised controls that address many of the original's limitations, and several other additions that make an already timeless adventure even more engaging.
Review in Italian | Read full review
Nintendo is bringing back one of its most legendary titles, knowing exactly how to make the most of its source material while making only the meaningful changes. It's an unforgettable experience for both those who remember it fondly and those experiencing it for the first time.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
It's clear that just as much heart was poured into The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time remake as the original with its carefully-crafted modernisations, mind-blowing visual overhaul, astounding orchestral score, and a familiar journey that'll stay with you forever. 🧝♀️
Ocarina of Time’s remake took me right back to the N64, and it never let go of that nostalgia. The visuals and music are a joy, the new jump, sprint and free camera feel smooth and responsive, and quality-of-life touches like swapping the Iron Boots with one button make the dungeons easier to enjoy without changing what makes them special. The final fight against Ganondorf is impressive and looks imposing in the remake. It ran without any performance drops in both docked and handheld, and it’s easy to recommend to newcomers as well as longtime fans.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time remake revitalizes a timeless classic with exceptional controls, satisfying combat, gorgeous visuals, and masterfully designed dungeons. However, questionable modernization choices, underutilized new mechanics, and unnecessary conveniences occasionally undermine the original's sense of discovery. It's a compelling reimagining that newcomers may appreciate more than longtime fans, even if it struggles to establish itself as the definitive version.
The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time for Nintendo Switch 2 serves as an excellent example of how a remake should be crafted. Nintendo has succeeded in modernizing a masterpiece without compromising its essence, highlighting a gameplay structure that continues to prove its enduring quality, even nearly thirty years after its debut. This is more than just a nostalgic trip; it is proof that great works can transcend generations, continuing to captivate both those who have known them forever and those discovering them for the very first time.
Review in Italian | Read full review
This Switch 2 version of The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time is almost as perfect as remakes get. In fact, I can only really cite an abundance of added hand-holding and a lack of difficulty options as negatives – small gripes in light of picturesque locales, a reimagined orchestral score, and faithful upgrades that make arguably the greatest game of all time the most enjoyable it has ever been.
Of course, in terms of technical aspects, it may be difficult to compare it to the impact the original had on the gaming market. But it is also true that even if we subtract 3 to 5 points for innovation from the 99 points the original received at the time, it still scores in the 90s. I believe there is sufficient reason for gamers to rate it highly simply for the fact that it has brilliantly revived an already sophisticated work in a form suitable for the current generation.
Review in Korean | Read full review
The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time on Nintendo Switch 2 masterfully pairs its timeless 1998 dungeon architecture with a lavish 60 fps visual overhaul and modernized free-jumping controls, delivering the definitive edition of an industry landmark despite slightly overly forgiving combat.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time Remake knows what made the original great and does not confuse modernization with completely changing the game's identity. The new controls make exploring more fun, the extra dialogue adds more emotional weight to the story, and the visual and audio upgrades bring Hyrule to life in a way that couldn't be done on the N64.
The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time returns transformed into a true masterpiece. Nintendo succeeds in modernizing one of the most influential video games in history with an extraordinary audiovisual presentation, a captivating sense of scale, and gameplay design that proves to be nothing short of brilliant nearly thirty years later. An adventure that not only does justice to its legacy, but keeps intact its power to surprise, move, and inspire new generations of players. An essential masterpiece that transcends time.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time is, still to this day and for decades to come, a masterpiece. It is legendary in every sense of the word and this remake is more than we could have ever hoped for. The world, its characters, its nuances and its attention to detail – it is superb. I say this with absolutely zero cheek that this is a piece of work that should be studied alongside other famous pieces of art (literature, film, etc.).
The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time is a careful remake that keeps the original design while upgrading everything around it. It's easy and lacks Master Quest, but it looks, sounds, and plays wonderfully, and it suits returning players and newcomers alike.
The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time is a magnificent remake of one of gaming's greatest masterpieces. Stunning visuals, beautifully modernized controls, outstanding music, and timeless dungeon design make this the definitive way to experience a true legend.
Review in Italian | Read full review
The rebirth of a timeless classic which proves that real legends never get old.
Review in Unknown | Read full review