The Legend of Zelda Ocarina of Time Review, Gameplay Impressions, Videos & Top Features for Switch 2

The top-rated video game of all time is now better than ever.

Widely regarded as the one of the most influential games ever, a crown jewel of Nintendo's library and the pinnacle of The Legend of Zelda series, Nintendo has outdone themselves remaking The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time to provide fans with the definitive way to experience this masterpiece.

Whether it's your first time or tenth time, this is a must-play for any gamer.

Gameplay Impressions

In 1998, Ocarina of Time was influential for its finely-tuned action combat featuring Z-targeting lock-on gameplay, camera control, item management, level design, puzzles, expansive world and time-traveling mechanics. It's easy to see its influence across the industry since its release. Nintendo has perfected the classic in every way while while staying true to the core aspects and charm of the original instead of straying away from what made it a success nearly 30 years ago.

Ocarina of Time features smooth combat with precise, responsive controls. Fans of the original version will feel an instant improvement while fans of recent Zelda games like Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom will feel right at home with the modern control scheme. Thanks to the advanced hardware of the Switch 2 and its Joy-Cons and Pro Controller, gyro aiming makes a major difference when aiming arrows, enhancing long-range combat and improving archery mini-games to be far more enjoyable. It's easy to take this for granted in 2026 since other Nintendo games have implemented this feature but it is an important feature that makes this version superior to the original.

In addition to improved combat, the modernized control scheme makes exploration and puzzles feel less of a chore. For example, players can equip/unequip important items with one press of the D-pad instead of needing to go into a menu. The frustration many experienced with the Water Temple on Nintendo 64, for example, is gone. Pressing the R button quickly pulls up all available items, making for quick and smooth adjustments during gameplay. Easily switching from the bow to bombs or hookshot makes a major difference allowing players to effortlessly engage in combat and puzzles without breaking flow. 

In addition to modernizing menus and item mapping, players can roll into a dash by holding down the A button and there's also now a dedicated jump button instead of Link jumping automatically in the N64 version. Although these may seem like minor adjustments given today's standards, they make a significant difference in making Ocarina of Time even more enjoyable to play.

The biggest and most notable difference of course will be the overhauled presentation and graphics. The storybook-like presentation, movie-quality art style, incredible graphics, shadow work, physics and textures are the best from Nintendo. The immense attention to precise detail to all environments and interiors, in addition to the cutscenes direction and amazing camera work create an epic feeling fit for such an important game in history. The cinematics are truly jaw-dropping and unbelievable, some of which capture the true terror of villainous Ganondorf and other cutscenes that really sell the devastation across Hyrule.

Beyond graphics, audio design is phenomenal across the board. The sound effects and epic presentation of discovering an upgrade remains a classic staple that is nearly unmatched in gaming. The music, voice acting and sound effects are top notch, allowing gamers to really feel the emotion through the music. The implementation of music is very impressive. For example, intense music begins when enemies engage, which is a great feature to let the player know an enemy is near in case they didn't see but also makes gameplay even more exciting. A nice quality-of-life feature is conversation log that allows players to revisit dialogue in case they missed something or need to check.

The world building, distinct environments and varied locations have always been one of the most memorable aspects of Ocarina of Time. It is a true joy being able to explore Hyrule to discover secrets, uncover alternate paths, interact with different characters, solve puzzles and unlock upgrades. There are interconnected quests, which are easy to follow thanks to modern quality-of-life features for tracking quests and objectives. There's an excellent map system, similar to recent Resident Evil games, with clearly defined points of interest, including entrances/exits, heart pieces and chests. 

Fantastic level design and puzzles, which will make players think about their surroundings and equipment but solutions aren't obtuse for the sake of being obtuse like many other games or even some other games in the Zelda series. Ocarina of Time is the quintessential Zelda game and deserving of the high praise it has received since 1998. It is the pinnacle of the series for a reason and it's primarily because navigating through the world is enjoyable and doesn't feel like a chore or demanding players waste their time with overly-confusing puzzles or design choices. Players can immersive themselves in the atmospheric nature of each distinct location. The unique temples have enjoyable gimmicks to keep the game fresh and maintain a fantastic pace.

In addition to exploring temples during the main quest to save Hyrule from Ganondorf, Link can partake in min-games such as archery, bombchu bowling and one of the enjoyable fishing mini-games in all of gaming. These mini-games are enjoyable ways to improve a player's combat skills but also serve as important ways to unlock upgrades so they are absolutely worth the player's time.

A game as revered as Ocarina of Time required the utmost care and attention to detail as possible. The quality in every aspect is top notch and the game runs smoothly on Switch 2 without any crashes or glitches.

Conclusion

Overall, limitations and drawbacks from the Nintendo 64 and Nintendo 3DS versions are eliminated in this remake thanks to the advanced hardware of the Switch 2. There are excellent quality-of-life features such as ideal autosave points, modernized camera control and impeccable performance. This is arguably the finest-crafted and highly-produced title in Nintendo's library and befitting to honor a legendary classic as beloved as Ocarina of Time. A dream remake for gamers for years, Nintendo absolutely delivered in every way possible to perfect this masterpiece in gaming history.

The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time is held in such high regard because it is a grand adventure that players often don't want to end. It is a game so enjoyable many will want to immediately begin again. Now in 2026 on Switch 2, gamers have the definitive way to experience this classic masterpiece.

For those who have never played Ocarina of Time, it absolutely lives up to the hype and it exceeds expectations on Switch 2. This is sure to have people clamoring for Majora's Mask and many more remakes of classic games in the series. Whether released in 1998 or now perfectly remade in 2026, it is easily a contender for Game of the Year.