Nintendo’s second developer interview about The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time for Nintendo Switch 2 outlines changes to the classic adventure, from redesigned controls and dungeon adjustments to an expanded soundtrack and new accessibility features. The team said it rebuilt the game’s functions from scratch, seeking to modernize the experience without losing the original’s feel and identity.
Link can now jump at any time using a button, replacing the original’s automatic jumping. That change required the developers to reassess platform gaps and obstacles, including differences between child and adult Link. Players can choose between a one-button jump attack based on the original setup or a two-step option introduced in Breath of the Wild. Link can still travel by rolling, and can also run by holding a button.
The camera is now freely controllable rather than fixed in certain locations. Nintendo says this lets players view Hyrule from new angles and notice details that were previously easy to miss. Adjustments were also made to help players keep their bearings. Dungeons retain their original mechanisms, but some layouts and item locations have been slightly changed to make progression clearer.
The Water Temple has received particular attention. Eiji Aonuma wanted to address some of the issues behind the dungeon’s reputation for difficulty, so switching between items is now easier. Some walls have also been replaced with grilles that reveal nearby rooms and make the temple’s layout easier to understand. Boss encounters include smaller visual changes: Gohma, for example, covers her weak point with her arms while invulnerable, making it clearer when she can be attacked.
A new illustrated timeline lets players follow the story through images and narration unlocked as the adventure progresses. Nintendo says the feature is intended both as a guide and as a way for players from different generations to share memories and experiences of the game.
The remake includes more than 150 background music tracks, including new compositions for cinematic scenes. The developers aimed to preserve recognizable elements of the original melodies while adapting them to the new scenes. The music was recorded with a full orchestra, with arrangements ranging from expansive performances to more restrained pieces. Koji Kondo also advised on how the tracks should be performed. Some arrangements mix orchestral recordings with sounds recreated from the Nintendo 64 version.
Environmental audio has been expanded with effects such as rustling leaves, water hitting rocks, and insects and birds. These sounds vary with the location and activity around Link. The game also supports 5.1 surround sound, while the ocarina’s notes were recorded using a real instrument. Its resonance changes depending on where Link plays, and the recording includes the sound of the performer’s breathing.
Nintendo Switch 2’s built-in microphone can be used to hum learned melodies or play a real ocarina for the game to recognize. The developers described implementing this feature as a significant technical challenge. All cinematic scenes are voiced, while Nintendo says it sought to preserve the characters’ existing sound. Japanese auditions were conducted without revealing actors’ names, and one performer from the Nintendo 64 version returned.
The team has also revised explanations and the gradual introduction of items and controls to help newcomers learn the mechanics. More hints are intended to help players work out how to progress without relying constantly on external guides. The game is compatible with the ZELDA NOTES app, which includes features from other Nintendo Switch 2 releases as well as Ocarina of Time-specific tools, including an ocarina mode and additional exploration functions.
Aonuma said the aim was not simply to produce an improved version of the original, but to reinterpret its world in greater detail. Nintendo hopes returning players will revisit their memories of the game while new players experience Ocarina of Time for the first time.
Sources: Nintenderos.