Zelda fans anxiously waited for November 5th, 2026, when Nintendo would release the remake to one of the most influential and beloved video games in history: The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time. Conversations swirled over the remake ever since it was announced, and plenty of content earned their clicks when comparing it to the juggernaut known at Grand Theft Auto VI. With massive shoes to fill, do you personally think this remake lived up to the hype and earned its stripes?
At first glance, this may seem like a silly and obvious question; however, those entrenched in the Zelda community voiced plenty of concerns. Some die-hard fans out there mentioned that a remake was not necessary. Some go further and worry that it would tarnish an already near-flawless game. Lastly (and I wouldn’t fault anyone for feeling this way), some would be worried that the remake would be a disappointment, at least in comparison to the pitfall association with hype and inflated expectations.
With that said, there are plenty of gamers such as myself have come to conclusion that Nintendo stuck the landing. Let’s first start with the official reviews, and while not as high as the original 1998 Ocarina of Time, a Metacritic score of 96 is an impressive feat (versus a 98). This remake actually outscores The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time 3D made for the Nintendo DS (a 94). A post made by Hunter on X stated that only four video games achieved such a high a Metacritic score in the 2020s, and they were: The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, Eldin Ring, Baldur’s Gate 3, and The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time. This and the other reviews prove that Nintendo handled the remake responsibly and did the original justice:
The other important factor is simply the community has absolutely rallied for the release. Fans lined up during midnight releases across North America outside retailers such as Best Buy and Game Stop. People aren’t just talking about Ocarina of Time, they are living it with one another:
In addition to high scores and fan presence, we also can gauge Nintendo’s confidence in its success because they made the Ocarina of Time remake the foundation of the Zelda 40th anniversary. For a while, many fans thought Nintendo neglected Zelda despite all the attention they paid to Mario’s 40th. From the looks of it, Nintendo is just getting warmed up, and it all starts with The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time remake. In fact, Nintendo released several songs from the game on the Nintendo Music app the evening prior to release. I’ve given it a listen, and it’s a beautiful recreation of the original music. The quality is superior, but it also keeps the spirit of the original.
And if Google celebrated Ocarina of Time by zapping us to a 90’s inspired page, I’m not sure what else you need to know that this remake has lived up to its expectations, honoring tradition and nostalgia while looking toward the franchises’ strong future.
Do you feel The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time remake has lived up to the hype? Is it more than Elder Millennial nostagia? Please share your thoughts with us on our Boss Rush Facebook Group or our Boss Rush Discord.
Nintendo Pow Block – A Nintendo Podcast by Boss Rush
Nintendo Pow Block is a weekly Nintendo podcast hosted by Edward Varnell, Corey Dirrig, and their friends from around the internet. Each week, they dive into the latest Nintendo news and rumors for Nintendo Switch and Switch 2, new and upcoming releases, updates to Nintendo Switch Online and the Nintendo Music app, and discuss what they’ve been playing in the Playing with Power segment.
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