The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time remake officially releases tomorrow (November 5) and reviews have now gone live for the first Nintendo Switch 2-exclusive Zelda game. Overall, critics seem to agree that the remake is a pretty safe reimagining of a beloved game, one that is afraid to take any real risks or make any substantial changes.
It’s not hard to see why, given that the original N64 version of Ocarina of Time remains the highest-rated video game of all time on Metacritic. But how does the Nintendo Switch 2 remake’s Metacritic Score stack up against the OG?
Is Ocarina Of Time Remake Better Than The Original?
According to the Metacritic scores for both games, The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time on N64 remains the higher-scoring game. The original version has an incredible 99, which is unheard of by modern standards. By comparison, The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time for Nintendo Switch 2 has an amazing 96 at the time of writing, which makes it one of the highest-rated games of this year, but still pretty short of all-time status.
This isn’t exactly surprising, and it doesn’t automatically mean the N64 version is the “better” game, unless you put all your stock in Metacritic scores. Which, you know, you really shouldn’t. By all accounts, the remake has tons of quality-of-life improvements, gorgeous new visuals, and can be played on the go. For my money, that makes it a superior experience, even if it hasn’t broken new ground in the way the original game did.
It’s also worth noting that as new reviews come in over the next few days, the remake’s score could go up or down (probably down).
In our own 9/10 review, we called the game a loving remake that we wished would take just a few more risks.
“The Switch 2 remake preserves its legacy, though it resists change in ways that occasionally clash. Remakes are always a sticky subject: many fans want the game to be completely different, while others want it to be basically the same, but on a modern platform with easy access. There’s no real solution to making a remake that satisfies everyone, but Ocarina of Time comes close. With some additional content and replay value, it could easily have been the definitive version. But it will “just” have to settle for being an incredible remake that’s worth playing at least once. Ocarina of Time is arguably worth playing in any iteration, including Switch 2.”
What Are Other Critics Saying About The Ocarina Of Time Remake?
This is a sentiment largely shared by critics elsewhere. Voxel awarded the game a 10/10, writing: “Nintendo’s approach to this remake is notably safe and restrained—featuring few changes—yet it succeeds brilliantly in crafting the best version of this classic we have ever seen. I am certain that for those playing it for the first time, it will be an incredible journey, while for those who have played it dozens of times, it will be a truly nostalgic adventure.”
Meanwhile, GAMINGbible also awarded the game a 10/10: “The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time for the Nintendo 64 is an undisputed masterpiece, with the Nintendo Switch 2 remake being the sleeker, sexier new version with a few extra tricks up its sleeve. While I’d have still liked the remake to explore some of that cut content from the Nintendo 64 era, I’m more than satisfied with this upgraded port.”
Like Screen Rant, Nintendo Life gave the game a 9/10, noting: “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.”
Finally, the “lowest” score so far is a highly respectable 8/10 from RPG Site. “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,” they wrote. “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.”
Overall, it looks like Nintendo has a big hit on their hands. But a near-enough 1:1 remake of the greatest game of all-time was hardly going to fail, was it?
The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time
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