Nintendo spent the majority of Tuesday’s “The Legend of Zelda 40th Anniversary Nintendo Direct” highlighting the upcoming Ocarina of Time Remake, along with new features and a firm release date for the title.

Previously slated for “fall 2026,” fans will officially be able to have in their hands a copy of the game starting on November 5th. This gives players ample time to embark on their quest to save Hyrule from the clutches of the villainous Ganondorf before Grand Theft Auto VI arrives later in the month on November 19th.

Series producer Eiji Aonuma gave viewers a lengthy demo of the game during the Direct, showcasing the title’s impressive graphics and new gameplay mechanics. Originally released on the Nintendo 64 in 1998, the classic Ocarina of Time was the very first 3D Zelda title, and while it was immensely innovative, many of its mechanics haven’t aged well for modern audiences. Aonuma assured gamers that the main goal was to reinterpret this classic with modern conventions, providing a more seamless gameplay experience.

For instance, the camera can now be fully controlled by the player with the Switch 2’s right joystick, something that was not possible on the Nintendo 64. The camera can even be freely used to explore the popular Hyrule Castle Town in much greater detail.

In addition, a sprinting mechanic has been added to make Link run a little faster, which means gamers will no longer have the urge to spam the “roll” command when traversing large environments.

Players also will not have to go into the pause screen to select their equipment, as their items can be accessed from a more convenient menu similar to what’s found in Breath of the Wild.

Amiibo figurines will also have some functionality, as players will gain access to nostalgic themed masks when using the upcoming Young Link and Young Zelda amiibos, set to release alongside the game.

Playing the titular Ocarina of Time is now easier than ever, as players will be able to turn on the Switch 2’s built in microphone and simply hum the melody they’d like to be played, and the game will intuitively play it for you.

Aonuma also showcased that most NPCs have more dialogue and interactions as compared to the original, breathing new life into the game’s imaginative world. Voice acting too has been implemented during cutscenes, although it is not present throughout the majority of the game.

Aside from all these new features and the greatly updated graphics, The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time looks to be a perfectly faithful adaptation to the original N64 title. Dungeons and towns seem to be very similar, and even Hyrule Field has seemingly maintained its scale. This may upset some fans, who were hoping for greater changes that may make the world feel more realistic, but will certainly please purists wanting the original experience intact. Similarly, loading screens have been preserved to further maintain the connection to the 1998 release, though Aonuma emphasized that they are technically no longer needed.

Lastly, prior to the Direct, the Australian Nintendo Store possibly leaked a price of $94.95 AUD, though it was quickly removed. This would translate to roughly $59.99 USD or £49.99. It should be noted that this was not confirmed officially during the Direct by Nintendo.

Did this closer look at The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time get you more or less excited for the upcoming game? Sound off in the comments below, and follow us for all your video gaming content!