My Zelda: Ocarina Of Time Remake Skepticism Vanished After Playing It

Did The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time need another remake? Ocarina is an all-time classic, but it's rooted in a particular time and place in gaming history. How would the new Ocarina of Time balance respect for its original design with modernization? Would it feel like old angular game geometry with an updated paintjob, or would it stray so far from its original design that it no longer feels like Ocarina at all? All of this was on my mind as I sat to play a lengthy portion at a demo event. I'm pleased to report that Ocarina of Time is still a masterpiece, and more importantly, this remake appears to largely strike the right balance of reverence and renovation to make it feel modern without losing its original charm. My demo consisted of three sections: young Link's start in Kokiri Forest and some adventuring inside the Deku Tree; young Link leaving the forest and exploring Hyrule Field and Hyrule Castle Town; and adult Link from the start of the Forest Temple. The most immediately striking change is to the presentation. The new look for Link was divisive based on early showings, but actually playing it, I quickly appreciated the bold choice of visual style. Link and the other …

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