Ocarina of Time was on every kids’ Christmas list in December 1998, myself included. It’s a game that changed a generation and propelled the games into what they’ve become today. While Breath of the Wild has been a massive success, it lacks a little something: that thing is called a heat. Maybe I’m viewing Ocarina of Time through nostalgia-tinted glasses, but, it’s the best Zelda game to come out in the past 20 years, with A Link to the Past and Breath of the Wild hot in pursuit. One thing that is an even more interesting prospect is a remake of our beloved classic. While Breath of the Wild was a masterpiece and it got the exploration aspect of Zelda correct, Ocarina of Time got the story point-on. Meld these two games together? You’d get the perfect video game experience.
Skyward Sword probably had the best Zelda story. Yet, by this same token, it was unable to balance the gameplay experience with the narrative, which was the game’s downfall. This was not an issue with Ocarina of Time. It had the perfect balance of gameplay, narrative, and even music. While Skwyard Sword has the strongest narrative in the series, Ocarina of Time has the most balanced. This is why it is the best Zelda game of all time and why it resonates with so many people across the world.
For its 20th anniversary (which would be next year) Ocarina of Time deserves a complete remake. The dungeons can remain the same, the puzzles filled with familiarity yet a touch of unfamiliarity, but this masterpiece deserves the treatment that so many AAA games from its time are receiving (Final Fantasy VII, Shadow of the Colossus, etc.) It’s the greatest game of all time, although some Nintendo Switch fanboys will beg to differ (Super Mario Odyssey and Breath of the Wild.) The fact of the matter of though is that it’s time.
Last year’s Unreal Engine footage showcased how amazing Zelda could look. More than a Skyward Sword remake or a another expansion for Breath of the Wild, Ocarina of Time looked breathtaking. It would be Nintendo’s perfect opportunity to introduce the classic to a new generation of Zelda fans as well as provide a brand new experience for long-time fans of the game.
Fans were in awe when they saw Ocarina of Time running in unreal engine. We have always craved a true High Definition version of Ocarina of Time. Perhaps Nintendo, after 20 years, will finally deliver on how Ocarina of Time was always supposed to look.