Ocarina of Time remake hits Switch 2 this Thursday: what Nintendo confirmed and what is still unclear
The 1998 classic returns rebuilt on November 5, only on Switch 2. Here is what changes, what it costs and why voice-over and release time still call for caution.
Anyone who played Ocarina of Time in 1998 on the Nintendo 64 remembers it the same way: a locked camera, blurry textures and a Hyrule that felt huge. On Thursday, November 5, Nintendo releases a rebuilt version of the game, exclusive to Switch 2. It does not run on the original Switch.
What Nintendo confirmed
According to Nintendo itself, it is a remake with fully renewed visuals, voiced cutscenes, expanded dialogue and a symphonic orchestral score. The company also says it reworked the camera and movement. The date was revealed in September, during the presentation for the Zelda series' 40th anniversary, and Nintendo's announcement mentions Eiji Aonuma, the series producer, showing the first gameplay footage.
English-language Wikipedia, which collects the information released so far, lists the practical changes: dedicated buttons to run and jump, faster swimming, motion aiming, a free camera on the right stick and use of the console's microphone to play the ocarina. There is also integration with Zelda Notes in the Nintendo Switch app and a log called "Threads of Time". Nintendo of America adds the "Hall of Fallen Heroes", where statues of defeated monsters can be studied or fought again.
The 1998 game and what the remake changes in practice
The original came out in November 1998 on the Nintendo 64 and became famous for popularizing the target-lock system (Z-targeting), with a soundtrack by Koji Kondo. In the remake, the camera is no longer almost fully automatic and becomes free on the right stick, jumping and dashing get their own buttons, and aiming the bow and the Hookshot can be done with motion controls, according to The PC Enthusiast and Titanquisitor.
The ocarina changes too. You can hum a melody you have learned, or play a real instrument, and the game recognizes the sound through the console's microphone. If you prefer, you can keep using the buttons. Nintendo also announced an electronic ocarina that works with this sound recognition, and The PC Enthusiast mentions a version from HORI.
If you want to compare, you can: the original game remains available on Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack, according to The PC Enthusiast. As for the physical edition, according to Nintendo it comes in commemorative packaging in the first print run, while supplies last.
Price, language and release time (Brazil focus)
In the United States the official price is $59.99. In Brazil, Gameover Drive reports a digital price of R$ 329.90, with pre-orders open and a physical copy around R$ 439. That is the only outlet with these figures among those I consulted, so check the eShop before buying. The same article says the game takes up about 27 GB and can be pre-downloaded.
On language there is a catch. Nintendo talks about voiced cutscenes, but the official pages I read do not say in which languages. Gameover Drive states that Brazilian Portuguese appears on the language list, without separating audio from subtitles. In short: Portuguese subtitles are very likely, Portuguese voice-over is not confirmed.
The release time is also not official. Nintendo has not published a time for Brazil, and the expectation of midnight comes from estimates by the specialized press. If you plan to play at the stroke of midnight, confirm on the eShop.
Why it matters
Ocarina of Time often tops lists of the best games of all time, and Nintendo knows it: the release comes with the Zelda 40th anniversary celebration, including a commemorative-edition Switch 2 on sale since October 29. For people who never played it, it is a chance to see the classic without the technical weight of the 90s. For people who did, the question is whether the camera and control tweaks change the feeling of adventure or just modernize it. That can only be answered with the game in hand, and reviews should arrive around launch.
This article was written before the release. Price, language and release time may change by then.
Sources: Nintendo (Zelda 40th anniversary announcement), Nintendo of America (trailer and price), Wikipedia) and Gameover Drive (in Portuguese). Also consulted: The PC Enthusiast and Titanquisitor.
This article was written in Portuguese and adapted into English by our team. Original in Portuguese
