It’s been a busy week recovering from the whiplash of major game announcements, including a remake of The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time. While the news was predominantly received with tears and open arms, some pose the question– do we even really need a remake? This question was explored in a well-thought article by my colleague, Block, and you can read his opinion article HERE. My piece today is my respectful counter argument.
First and foremost, I believe that valid arguments can be made on both sides, and even though this is far from our first remake rodeo (e.g. Resident Evil 2, 3, and 4, Silent Hill 2, Final Fantasy VII and much more), the conversation is particularly interesting because of the game.
The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time released on the Nintendo 64 in 1998. It pioneered 3D adventure gaming and revolutionized gameplay with Z-targeting. It was critically acclaimed and achieved what no other game could. According to the Guiness Book of World Records:
“Released for the Nintendo 64 on 23 November 1998, the action-adventure The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time (Nintendo) is the only videogame to achieve a Metascore of 99 as of 28 March 2025, as verified by review aggregate website Metacritic.com. The game sits ahead of two other titles on 98, SoulCalibur (Namco, 1999), Grand Theft Auto IV (Rockstar, 2008), and Super Mario Galaxy (Nintendo, 2007) on 97...The second highest-rated Zelda game is the 2017 open-world sort-of reboot The Legend of Zelda: The Breath of The Wild with a Metascore of 97.” –Guiness World Records
With that said, little can argue its importance and success in the video game industry.
So, what’s with the debate about remaking an almost 30-year-old game? Many feel it’s not necessary because the original and 3DS remaster are readily available, and the title holds up well even to this day. Those statements are true. The original Ocarina of Time is available via online services such as Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack and virtual console on the Wii/WiiU, and one of the highest rated video games of all time should be expected to age well. Others are feeling “remake fatigue”. However, I present another perspective of why we need a Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time remake.
The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time likely has had the most influence on Xennials and Millennials, and these generations are now grown up and in their 30s and 40s. They are, arguably, in the prime of their adult life now. Many may have gotten married, had kids, and/or hold full-time jobs to pay their bills. We (I am a Millennial) are the current backbone of society as Baby Boomers and Gen Z age into retirement, and Gen Z are still figuring their lives out.
We are also at the age where we are experiencing nostalgia, and it hits hard. When it comes to video games, Ocarina of Time is one of a small handful of titles that can elicit emotion so strong, it moves us to tears. This is evident in almost every single reaction video I’ve watched. There are key moments where people react to consistently, and the most noticeable one is when the ocarina plays a few notes of Saria’s song.
It’s just enough to grab the attention of anyone who has played the game. Pull up any reaction video. As soon as Saria’s Song plays, the eyes widen, mouths drop, and gasps are made. Because The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time relies on music, this reaches people across the globe, regardless of language:
Music is a powerful way to evoke emotion and memory. Music has been known to activate a network of regions in the brain involved in recall and memory formation. In fact, there are studies that show people evoke more vivid memories from music over a visual prompt. It has been many years, if not decades, since full grown adults cried over an announcement trailer. The tears are an outpouring of emotion, demonstrating the significance of this announcement. Grand Theft Auto VI may be popular and hype, but the simple act of bringing The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time back to life and the subsequent reactions are proof of how monumental this decision is. The music behind the game will be one of the strongest pulls for this remake.
Some people aren’t even thinking ahead to how good or bad the remake is going to be. Yes, we all hope Nintendo gives this the white-glove treatment, and yes, we worry that they may ruin an already perfect game, but if you read the descriptions of these reaction videos, they always state something along these lines:
This was my childhood.
And what evoked that? The sound of that ocarina…
Speaking of childhood, we need this remake for the generation of people that have grown up and had to leave childhood fantasies behind. And what is one of the largest themes behind The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time? Growing up and how that impacts the world, your home, your responsibilities, and your friendships.
Sure, you can argue that this could be remedied by popping in the original game, but again, I urge you to look past that. It is the act that Nintendo is doing something that no one thought they would ever do, and Nintendo is business-saavy. They are generally risk-adverse with their franchises, and they know how high-stakes this remake is This project isn’t some Super Mario 3D All-Stars situation where three older games were slapped into one cartridge. It is an absolute given that this Ocarina of Time remake will be given the love and attention it deserves, and whether the player likes it or not is not a reflection of the remake’s importance.
Let’s also look at the fact that Shigeru Miyamoto is 73 years old. His time at Nintendo is sunsetting sooner than later. With the remake of Star Fox and now Ocarina of Time, we also honor the passage of time with one of the most iconic figures at Nintendo. Miyamoto was the creator behind Star Fox and Legend of Zelda, so it is fitting that these are remade not only to honor the generation that grew up with them but also to pay homage to their creator.
“The flow of time is always cruel… its speed seems different for each person, but no one can change it… A thing that does not change with time is a memory of younger days…” –Sheik, The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time
Passing of the Torch
As an old curmudgeon myself, there are times I’ve found myself huffing and stating “the original was better” when listening to a remixed song or remade television/movie franchise. Most people remain partial to what they experienced during their impressionable years; however, a remake done with love and care can act as a gateway to the younger generation, a new audience. This is what keeps some cultural phenomena thriving while others die out.
Image Credit: CitizenLevy
There is a subset of parents such as myself who have introduced things of their time such as The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time, but it doesn’t guarantee that the children will pick up those titles as passionately as them. In fact, if those same children pick up gaming, they are likely exposed to games of their own generation like Roblox (heaven forbid), Minecraft, and Fortnite. These titles are cut from a different cloth.
The graphics are not the same. The controls are not the same. The speed is not the same.
Other than the rare exception, most kids are not and will not flock to a 1998 game with characters made of pointy polygons, stiff camera controls, a lack of dual analogue controls, and textures that make the ground look like puke. If we are true fans and advocates of “the greatest video game of all time”, we shouldn’t discount the chance to update the game that would welcome a whole new generation of gamers.
An Ocarina of Time remake also may do wonders for adults without kids. Sometimes revisiting an old hobby, show, or game can disappoint because it did not feel the same way compared to back in the day. This is because our bodies and minds have grown up and adjusted to changes in culture and technology. I experienced this firsthand when revisiting Donkey Kong 64. I loved that game to pieces as a child, and I was embarrassed to admit that after all these years, the overflowing joy was no longer there. I was irritated by the camera and frustrated with the gameplay. Those negative feelings didn’t exist back then. Sure, a game of Ocarina of Time’s caliber may hold up better than Donkey Kong 64, but I bet the thrills and chills just aren’t the same. A remake is the opportunity to give someone the same “feeling” of joy by removing outdated controls and camera angles and focusing on the experience.
Lastly, while The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time is accessible, it may not always be the case. The original title is available on virtual consoles and Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack. Those methods are services that can be shut down at any time. The original cartridge will eventually break down. The 3DS version, released in 2011, will also fade away in time. The Nintendo 3DS isn’t a modern console that someone can easily buy off the shelf at any retailer. The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time remake will be a modern physical method of owning this epic title, and any means to support game preservation are positive, whether in the form of a remake or not.
Therefore, while we may not “need” an Ocarina of Time remake due to various claims of needing fresh ideas, fear of a bad product, or current accessibility, we need this to honor one of the greatest video games in history and keep the door open for more people to discover it.
What side of the debate are you on? Does The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time need to be remade? Please share your thoughts with us on our Boss Rush Facebook Group or our Boss Rush Discord.
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