Critics Call The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time Remake the Definitive Way to Play a Legendary Classic

The review embargo for The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time remake has lifted, and the first critic reviews are very positive. Overall, the game scored exceptionally well on both review aggregators. Reviewers praise the visuals, the updated controls, the new voice acting, and the reworked dungeons. At the same time, some criticize the remake for playing it too safe and being too easy for longtime fans.

On OpenCritic, the game holds a Top Critic Average of 96 based on 30 reviews, with 100% of critics recommending it. On Metacritic, the remake has a score of 96 based on 80 reviews. All of them are positive, with no mixed or negative reviews at all.

GamesRadar+ — 10/10

The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time is a remake for the ages, blending the charm and whimsy of the original with more digestible gameplay and stunning visuals. It’s as timeless as it ever was, managing to recreate one of the most beautiful games to date without compromising the magic of its 1998 predecessor – only adding to it. Between newly voiced dialogue, revamped dungeons, fresh puzzles, and more, Hyrule has never felt so alive.

Dexerto — 10/10

Whether you’re a returning player or a newcomer, Ocarina of Time remake is the definitive way to play Link’s legendary adventure.

Saudi Gamer — 10/10

A rich, breathtaking world brimming with secrets, alongside an extensive inventory of tools and items that you gradually discover and use to explore, overcome obstacles, and solve puzzles. All of this comes together to create a captivating adventure that embodies what an adventure should be.

VGC — 5/5

The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time’s Switch 2 remake is a remarkable restoration of one of gaming’s most beloved adventures. Rather than reinventing a masterpiece, Nintendo has carefully refined what made it special, creating the definitive way for a new generation to discover it and returning players to fall in love all over again.

Eurogamer — 5/5

Alongside great judgement and clever tweaks, this astonishing remake has a proper ace up its sleeve.

IGN — 9/10

The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time is both an exceptional remake of an incredible game and a rich adventure that stands on its own. This remake proves there’s still so much value in the traditional Zelda formula: the dense, intimate world of Hyrule is stuffed with charming characters and fascinating secrets. Its intricate dungeons are satisfying to unravel, even if their somewhat streamlined design has slightly dulled the special feeling that comes from solving them. Whether you’ve played the original 100 times, once back in 1998, or never at all, I highly recommend this beautiful retelling of a legend.

Nintendo Life — 9/10

Ocarina of Time on Switch 2 is a stellar reimagining of the original, one that completely revamps the experience with stunning visuals, modernised gameplay, and vastly improved audio. Despite some minor blemishes, this is comfortably the most visually stunning work Nintendo has ever put out, and it’s unquestionably the best way to play one of the most seminal games of all time. That said, it is a very safe remake. Despite lots of minor changes throughout, it’s still essentially the same game you’ve likely already played, and so you might find it offers little challenge if you’re familiar with the N64 original or 3DS remake. This makes the lack of Master Quest – or really any kind of hard mode – particularly glaring.

Forbes — 9/10

Overall, this new Zelda: Ocarina of Time remake is a visual tour-de-force, with a beautiful and intricate game world to explore with updated controls and camera. The character designs are off-putting, but the game is still something to be treasured.

TheSixthAxis — 9/10

The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time is one of the all-time greatest games, of that there’s no doubt, and this remake is a glorious way to re-experience this adventure. Nintendo strikes an excellent balance between keeping much of the original feel and the modern niceties of graphics, controls and design.

RPG Site — 8/10

The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time Remake feels designed for new players first and foremost, letting new generations see what made us fall in love with it back in the day, and in that regard, it succeeds with flying colors. While some decisions and directions in this remake may keep me from reaching for it again anytime soon, Ocarina of Time is a classic tale and remains a standout among the pantheon of the Zelda titles, and this remake is a great showing of why, even with its blemishes.

Scores from other outlets:

• Destructoid — 10/10
• Console Creatures — 10/10
• Nintenduo — 10/10
• Gameliner — 10/10
• Gameblog — 10/10
• Wccftech — 9.5/10
• GameSpot — 9/10
• Famitsu — 37/40

The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time is a remake of Nintendo’s legendary 1998 adventure game, which is still considered one of the greatest games of all time. On Metacritic, the original holds a score of 99, the highest on the site. In the story, you play as Link and travel across Hyrule between the hero’s childhood and adulthood to stop Ganondorf. The remake features fully updated visuals, voiced dialogue, reworked dungeons, new puzzles, and modern controls. The game launches on November 5, exclusively on Nintendo Switch 2.