The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time2026

In 1998 I bought the Nintendo 64 and The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time from my youth dedication money and I loved this game. At least that is the memory that remains. But how much of it is just pure nostalgia and romanticization of one’s own childhood? After only a few minutes it becomes clear that the magic this game radiates is still there today. The graphics are beautifully revised and the gameplay adapted sensibly to the present time. The story is a classic Zelda. You assume the role of the hero who must save the kingdom and free the princess. Since my last trip to Hyrule was quite a while ago and I could not remember all the details, I was actually surprised in many places. Of course, at some corners you notice the comparatively simple gameplay. The difficulty is also criticized by some players. For me, however, the experience of history was clearly in the foreground, which is why this did not bother me at all. Since the remake is very close to the original, it is only really clear what the developers put on their feet at that time. The creative ideas, the design of the individual areas, the day-night change and above all the journey through time with their respective effects on the game world are still remarkable from today’s point of view. Sometimes it is almost incomprehensible what was technically and playfully possible at that time. I see the sounding somewhat divisive. On the one hand, I think it is great that this path has been taken and the world gets even more life. On the other hand, I would have liked this approach to be pursued more consistently and not only partially implemented. In the end, the realization remains for me that it is not only nostalgia. Ocarina of Time has actually preserved its magic and is still fantastic today.

Translated from German·Show original