Nintendo has shown the first gameplay footage from its remake of The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time and announced that the game will be released on Nintendo Switch 2 on November 5, Video Games Chronicle reports.
Nintendo announced the remake in June but showed nothing beyond a single shot of young Link lying in bed in his treehouse. The new footage shows the game running, beginning with the opening section in which Link explores Kokiri Forest.
What the footage shows
The remake adds a dedicated jump button, replacing the original's automatic jump when Link reached the end of a ledge. Link's outfit has been redesigned to look as though it were made from leaves and other material gathered in the forest.
The footage also shows Link entering the Great Deku Tree, the game's first dungeon. Navi returns as his fairy assistant and still offers advice on enemies and other points of interest. Link can aim his slingshot with motion controls or with the Control Stick.
Nintendo said the remake keeps the loading screen between certain areas in order to preserve the feel of the original. The demo shows this when Link moves from Kokiri Forest into Hyrule Field.
GameSpot reported that Zelda series producer Eiji Aonuma walked viewers through a 15-minute gameplay demo during The Legend of Zelda 40th Anniversary Direct. Aonuma pointed out during the demo that free jumping is a major change in the context of Ocarina of Time, and GameSpot suggested the combination of the jump and a new sprint mechanic could lead to some level design changes in the final game, even though what was shown was faithful to the original. The demo also highlighted quick weapon swapping, which GameSpot said borrows from Breath of the Wild, and the outlet reported the remake will feature full voice acting.
New additions
A menu feature called Threads of Time records everything Link has done so players do not lose track of their progress. As they reach story milestones, a tapestry fills in to show the adventure so far.
Hyrule Castle Town no longer uses a fixed camera and can be fully explored, and night can now fall there, whereas in the original that happened only in certain areas. Players can also hum a tune at their Switch — or, per GameSpot, play it on a physical instrument and have it register through the Switch 2's built-in microphone — and provided Link has already learned the song, it plays in the game.
GameSpot also reported that the rumored Zelda-themed Nintendo Switch 2 console was confirmed during the Direct, along with a Pro Controller, a carrying case and new amiibo figures of Young Link and Young Zelda. The console and Pro Controller launch on October 29, one week before the remake, while the amiibo arrive in 2027.
Ocarina of Time was originally released on Nintendo 64 in 1998 and holds a Metacritic score of 99, topping that site's list of the best games of all time. It previously received a remaster on Nintendo 3DS in 2011 with improved controls and touchscreen support.