Ocarina of Time Remake vs N64: Every Change Spotted So Far

Every confirmed and trailer-spotted change in the Ocarina of Time Switch 2 remake compared with the 1998 N64 original, from jumping to Threads of Time.

10/12/2026 Pre-launch 6 min read

FAQ

Is the Ocarina of Time remake a remaster or a full remake?

Nintendo describes it as a remake built for Nintendo Switch 2, with new graphics, new orchestral music, new movement options and expanded cutscenes. The world layout and dungeons follow the original closely.

Does the remake change the dungeons?

Footage shows small changes, such as a collapsing wooden bridge in the Deku Tree and a new bombable wall in the Water Temple. Nintendo has not announced new dungeons.

Is Hyrule Field bigger in the remake?

Analysts who compared the trailers think Hyrule Field keeps roughly the original layout, with new landmarks such as stone monuments and a marshy area. Nintendo has not commented.

How do the controls and movement change?

Change	Status	Source
Free camera on the right stick, including Castle Town	Confirmed	Nintendo
Dedicated jump button (X in the demo); you can jump across gaps and while climbing	Confirmed	Nintendo, IGN
Sprint by holding A after a roll	Confirmed	Nintendo
Faster swimming and diving, with a vertical dive meter	Confirmed / Seen in footage	Nintendo, IGN
Items are assigned to a horizontal shortcut bar and the D-pad	Seen in footage	IGN
Iron Boots and Hover Boots switch on and off with one button	Seen in footage	IGN, AndresRestart
Third-person aiming: aim with lock-on, fire with ZR, move while aiming	Seen in footage	IGN
Motion aiming for the Slingshot	Confirmed	Nintendo
Ocarina notes mapped to L, R, Y, X and A; song playback can be skipped	Seen in footage	IGN, Gaming Reinvented
Hum a learned song into the Switch 2 microphone to play it	Confirmed	Nintendo

What changes in the world and story?

Change	Status	Source
Expanded dialogue and fully voiced cutscenes; Link stays silent	Confirmed	Nintendo
Day and night keep running everywhere, including towns	Confirmed	Nintendo
Castle Town back alleys are bigger, with chatter to overhear and new shop minigames	Confirmed	Nintendo
Some loading screens between areas are kept on purpose	Confirmed	Eiji Aonuma, gameplay demo
Entering shops no longer loads a separate screen	Seen in footage	IGN
New stone monuments and a marshy area in Hyrule Field	Seen in footage	IGN
Lon Lon Ranch no longer sits on a raised plateau	Seen in footage	Kotaku
Crawling into Hyrule Castle leads through a new sewer-like area	Seen in footage	Kotaku, r/zelda
Kakariko Village construction house has a new layout	Seen in footage	IGN
The fishing pond is easier to find	Seen in footage	IGN
Death Mountain crater has a wider opening	Seen in footage	Hyrule Gamer
Hyrule Field is about the same size as the original	Unverified	gameranx
The Kakariko well has moved toward the village center	Unverified	Nin10doland

What changes in dungeons and combat?

Change	Status	Source
Hit-stop on sword strikes and a sideways Megaton Hammer swing	Seen in footage	IGN, Gaming Reinvented
Link pushes doors open by hand	Seen in footage	IGN
Deku Tree floating platforms replaced by a collapsing wooden bridge	Seen in footage	IGN
Some ladders are released by a stone mechanism instead of dropping	Seen in footage	IGN
Water Temple keeps the 3DS version’s colored guide lines	Seen in footage	IGN
A new bombable wall in the Water Temple	Seen in footage	Gaming Reinvented
Mirror Shield reflects Beamos lasers	Seen in footage	Gaming Reinvented
Lens of Truth looks like goggles	Seen in footage	Kotaku
Hookshot has a laser sight and a claw-shaped tip	Seen in footage	Nin10doland
Volvagia breathes fire along the ground	Seen in footage	Nin10doland
Gerudo’s Fortress jail cell becomes a cave leading to a cliff	Unverified	Nin10doland

What changes in the menus and items?

Change	Status	Source
Threads of Time tapestry shows story progress and your next objective	Confirmed	Nintendo
Mini-map is more detailed and can mark your Threads of Time goal	Seen in footage	GameSpot
Starting wallet holds 200 Rupees instead of 99	Seen in footage	IGN
Magic meter is split into segments	Seen in footage	IGN
Picking something up shows the count and the cap	Seen in footage	Bilibili creator 专注翻车鱼
A possible fifth Bottle slot	Unverified	IGN
Empty slots in the item screen and the tapestry hint at new items or areas	Unverified	Synthalis Gaming
Item grid split into child, adult and shared items	Unverified	AndresRestart

What changes in presentation?

Change	Status	Source
New art style meant to evoke nostalgia rather than pure realism	Confirmed	Eiji Aonuma
Orchestral soundtrack and refreshed sound effects	Confirmed	Nintendo
Navi glows pink and speaks in short pop-up hints	Seen in footage	Gaming Reinvented, gameranx
Kokiri, Goron and Zora tunics redesigned	Seen in footage	IGN
The Ocarina of Time’s finger holes match a real ocarina	Seen in footage	Bilibili creator 漫游者大黑
Zelda’s eyes are green	Seen in footage	Bilibili creator 专注翻车鱼
Kaepora Gaebora (the owl) scenes use a third-person camera	Seen in footage	Gaming Reinvented

Does any of this change our checklists?

Not yet. Our Heart Piece locations, Gold Skulltula locations and collectible tracker follow the original game, since the remake keeps the same world. If a location moves after launch, we will update them.

For release date, price and specs, see everything we know about the remake.

Ocarina of Time Remake vs N64: Every Change Spotted So Far

FAQ

How do the controls and movement change?

What changes in the world and story?

What changes in dungeons and combat?

What changes in the menus and items?

What changes in presentation?

Does any of this change our checklists?

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