It was way back in 1998 when I finished Ocarina of Time. I remember how incredible it all was, not only to play but also to look at. N64 games back then felt stunning — so impressive that I rushed out to make the N64 the first Nintendo home console I ever owned.

Those days are gone, and N64 games now look pretty rough to my eyes. But with the $60 Ocarina of Time remake, exclusive to the Switch 2, Nintendo brings some of that magic back again; I’ve never had more fun replaying a game in my life.

When I first tried the new version of Ocarina for about an hour a few weeks ago, it felt like it was replacing my old memories of playing the original game. More than a week into playing at home, I can confirm that the remake has completely replaced my memories of the original. I’ve revisited the N64 version a few times through the Switch Online N64 app, but it feels so minimal and awkward compared with the remake that now I can’t go back.

A whole new version of the familiar

Everything in Ocarina of Time has been created fresh again. Like some sort of setbuilder making all the pieces of an old show from memory, it’s astonishing how Ocarina is an old game made with completely redone graphics. It outdoes Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom in visual splendor, with similarly gorgeous open vistas at every turn.

Just as Ocarina of Time inspired Breath of the Wild, it’s Breath of the Wild that’s now reshaped Ocarina — at least, visually. The scope, story and challenges in Ocarina remain just about the same, creating a more intimate experience despite its sense of epic scale. If you’ve never played it before, think of it as a theme park version of the supersized Hyrule in Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom.

But I appreciate its more contained scale even more now. I got lost in Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom, and not always in a good way. To be honest, at times, parts of those games began to feel repetitive. Ocarina of Time’s story is told more directly, with clearly laid-out goals and a faster pace. It feels like a true fusion of the sandbox-like open worlds of recent Zelda games and the intricate, puzzle-driven storylines of older ones.

The improved controls are phenomenal

I’d love this new Ocarina even if it only brought updated graphics, reworked sound and new voice acting, which grew on me. But its control scheme makes the game far more intuitive to play. The old Ocarina didn’t have a jump button: Link just auto-jumped! Here, you can jump anywhere. The old game never had a second analog stick to control your viewing angle: It relied on “Z-targeting” to look ahead or to recenter your focus on objects and enemies. Now, you can look around and Z-target with a trigger button — something that modern Zelda players probably just take for granted.

Some areas are different now: Early on in Kokiri Forest, the way you find the first sword is different. The dialogue has also changed. That’s just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the many little shifts here, which become hard to notice. At some point, my experience of the new 2026 version simply took over and overwrote all my old, fuzzy memories of the 1998 version. It’s now, once again, the game as it felt to me back then.

The story is enchanting me again

Maybe it’s that I’m getting older, or I don’t replay games such as Ocarina of Time year after year like some do, but I realize I forgot a lot of what happens in this game. But I look forward to every night I get a chance to play it again. It’s that good.

I didn’t think that would happen, not with RPGs and Zelda games advancing so much over the years. It’s a testament to Ocarina of Time that its structure and mystery still feel perfectly paced. There are tons of side missions, but the main story arc is strong and continuous. I felt a sense of awe more than once, even when it came to things I knew would happen. The time travel — which I hope doesn’t spoil too much for anyone who’s never played before, though, hey, it is called Ocarina of Time — still feels wondrous.

Screenshot by Scott Stein/CNET

I was skeptical about Nintendo spending all its resources updating classic games over the last year or so — a trend that started with Starfox, continued with Switch Sports Resort and has returned here. I wanted new games for the Switch 2 — not retreads. But I have to admit that Nintendo has done these remakes with expert care. And in the case of Ocarina of Time, the effort truly feels like it transcends the original. As much as I ended up loving Star Fox again, it never felt as much like a new game as this Ocarina remake does.

Is it a truly new game? No. But it feels like the most singular Zelda game again, taking precedence even over Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom. And with its graphic overhaul, it now feels like a cousin to those games in a new way, a sort of trilogy (but not exactly). I find myself, once again, appreciating how absurd and adorable all the characters are. Zelda games have such a goofy sense of humor, and I feel like Ocarina does more than Breath and Tears do. I’ve gotten a kick out of finding every side character in Hyrule just to see their new faces.

And the dungeons in Ocarina of Time are so good. I want Zelda games to return to the kind of intricate, puzzle-filled dungeons found here.

Please, may have I some Majora?

I’m so stunned by how much I love the new Ocarina that I’m wondering what other magic Nintendo could work on other throwbacks. Do this for Mario 64, or Pilotwings. 

Or…Majora’s Mask. 

The Legend of Zelda: Majora’s Mask is the “other” Zelda game for N64, and it’s even more brilliantly conceived. Remaking it for the Switch 2 now seems like a when — not an if — considering Ocarina’s Hyrule has been completely rebuilt with new graphics. Nintendo brought Ocarina and Majora to 3DS, and the cycle could repeat again here. I’d be all for it.

Screenshot by Scott Stein/CNET

Could this all be a massive test run for a future Zelda that doesn’t exist yet? It certainly feels like it — but when? The remastered version of Metroid Prime paved the way for Metroid Prime 4’s release. Beyond the battle-focused Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment, this is the first Zelda game made exclusively with the Switch 2’s hardware in mind — and its lush visuals show it. It’s the best-looking game on the Switch 2 yet, and of course it makes me wonder what a new Zelda game could feel like. Or heck, a new Mario. 

This reconstruction of Ocarina of Time feels like it’s strutting, dripping with luxury, full of glorious style, a symphony played with a full orchestra. And somehow, unleashing it all in service of a fantastic remake doesn’t feel excessive. I’m having a blast playing it, but I also want to see what this opens up for the next generation of Nintendo Switch 2 games.

But if you’ve never played a Zelda game before and have a Switch 2, I envy you: The new Ocarina of Time is an incredible place to start.