10 Things The Zelda: Ocarina of Time Remake Must Leave Untouched

With the announcement of the upcoming The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time remake for the Switch 2, Nintendo is stepping onto sacred territory once again. And the initial glimpse offered by its first trailer suggests a complete visual overhaul, leading some to believe the development team is taking some ambitious strides, which naturally leaves us wondering what else might be on the chopping block.

However, when you are tasked with recreating a titan like Ocarina of Time, which is undeniably a masterpiece widely considered by millions to be the greatest and most influential video game ever made (and I count myself in that group), there are certain elements you simply cannot touch, whether they are small details or the entire vibe of a region.

So, from quirky mini-games and hidden easter eggs to pure atmospheric trauma, here are 10 things the OoT remake must leave untouched when it finally launches in Holiday 2026!

10 Biggoron’s Sword Fetch Quest

A Test of Patience and Bartering

Sure, modern quality-of-life additions like auto-save and streamlined map markers are almost guaranteed to show up in this remake, but they shouldn't trivialize the most rewarding, headache-inducing trading quest in the game: the quest behind Biggoron’s Sword.

This lengthy fetch side quest is a masterpiece of classic RPG design, requiring you to complete a strict chain of barter trades across Hyrule, with several steps locked behind tight time limits.

It actually makes you interact with some of the weirdest, most memorable NPCs in the kingdom, and also get to know more about some interesting regions. And the struggle makes the quest’s reward feel incredibly sweet: a two-handed blade that deals double damage and never breaks. I mean, the sweat to get that must remain the same, with no autosave between every trade, please!

9 Ganondorf’s Blood Puke

A Piece of Uncensored History

Only long-time fans who played versions 1.0 and 1.1 of Ocarina of Time on the original Nintendo 64 will remember this obscure detail: upon defeating Ganondorf’s human form atop the collapsing tower, the King of Evil coughs and visibly vomits blood onto the floor before sinking into the rubble.

And the thing is that Nintendo quietly censored this detail in later versions and subsequent ports, replacing the red blood with a murky green goo – that happened in the GameCube edition, 3DS remaster, the Switch Online catalog, and so on.

So, for this ground-up remake, Nintendo should embrace its original, darker vision and restore Ganondorf’s blood puke, don’t you think? Just to restore that obscure moment for the game’s climax and nod to hardcore retro fans.

8 Water Temple

Keeping the Frustration in HD

I know what you're thinking, and honestly, I get it! But tell me: didn't navigating Adult Link through the infamous Water Temple deeply shape you as a gamer and toughen you up for every complex dungeon you faced afterward?

While small quality-of-life fixes (like streamlining the Iron Boots toggle) are welcome, the core, labyrinthine layout and water-level manipulation mechanics shouldn't be dumbed down into a linear walk in the park.

And the reason is that we need to preserve the rougher edges of Ocarina of Time’s original game design and keep that legendary puzzle trauma alive, so a whole new generation can experience it in glorious HD visuals!

7 Navi’s “Hey, Listen!”

The Most Iconic Nagging Companion in Gaming

After reading the last entry and seeing this one, you might think I’ve completely lost my mind, but hear me out: how could anyone even consider removing the defining catchphrase of one of the most famous companions in gaming history?

Navi constantly chiming in might have driven us slightly crazy back in 1998, but over the decades, her high-pitched calls have become an irreplaceable part of the game's identity and pop culture history – I mean, I use it as a phone ring nowadays for message notifications, just because it is too iconic for the franchise.

In fact, I don't just want her back with full volume in the remake. I want Nintendo to route Navi’s “Hey, listen!” calls directly through the controller's built-in speaker for maximum nostalgia!

6 The Sheik Plot Twist

Protecting the Weight of a Legendary Reveal

In an era dominated by internet leaks, datamining, and fan theories, the dramatic reveal that the mysterious Sheik is actually Princess Zelda in disguise must still be treated with the exact same narrative weight and aura of mystery as it was in 1998 – otherwise, we’ll miss one of the most iconic and badass moments of Ocarina of Time’s and Zelda’s lore.

Also, I really do not want the remake to try to “modernize” the story by dropping heavy-handed hints early on or rushing through their meetings. I want the same Sheik that provoked a lot of confusion and “who the hell is he?” feelings back then.

That’s because this remains one of the greatest plot twists in video game history, and its pacing, dramatic musical swells, and emotional reunion inside the Temple of Time need to remain completely pristine.

5 The Fishing Pond

And Stealing the Owner’s Hat, Of Course

The serene fishing pond tucked away at Lake Hylia is easily one of the most addictive, cozy mini-games in the entire franchise, offering the perfect mental break in the middle of a high-stakes quest to defeat Ganondorf. I still fondly remember how my sister, my dad, and I used to make up our own little competitions to see who could reel in the biggest catch!

That's because it’s just pure, simple fun for anyone who loves a good fishing minigame, especially with all the neat little secrets tucked away, like stumbling upon the ultra-powerful Sinking Lure hidden in a random corner of the pond, or being able to act weird while fishing, like having Link fully underwater while wearing the blue suit and the Iron Boots.

And beyond keeping those relaxing water physics and mechanics intact, the remake absolutely must preserve another specific, hilarious secret: the ability to hook the pond owner’s hat with your fishing line, snagging it right off his head to reveal his baldness while he desperately tries to cover it up! It’s a classic, lighthearted Nintendo interaction that simply cannot be forgotten.

4 Gerudo Valley’s Iconic Theme & Vibe

Don't Over-Orchestrate Perfection

The entire soundtrack for Ocarina of Time is a timeless work of art, but few tracks capture the spirit of adventure quite like the vibrant, flamenco-guitar-driven theme of Gerudo Valley – and if you're a true Zelda fan, I know you still hear those iconic acoustic chords echoing in your head from time to time!

This specific piece fits the eccentric atmosphere of the region like a glove. The moment you step into the desert canyon, not knowing who or how dangerous the Gerudo truly are, the music instantly shifts your mindset. That driving rhythm in the background catches on immediately, setting the perfect tempo for the whole sequence.

Some compositions are so masterfully crafted in their original form that an overly dramatic, heavy-handed orchestral rearrangement can actually end up stripping away their unique magic. I really hope Nintendo keeps that infectious beat, the fiery acoustic strumming, and the thrilling sensation of infiltrating dangerous, uncharted territory intact for the remake

3 Bottom of the Well & Shadow Temple Terrors

The Horror, The Horror

Ocarina of Time features some genuinely unsettling locations and terrifying monsters, to the point where you almost feel like you accidentally booted up a horror game by mistake, and nowhere is that atmospheric terror more potent than inside the Bottom of the Well and the Shadow Temple.

From the terrifying, multi-armed design of Dead Hand to the blood-stained walls, torturous guillotine traps, ghostly Wallmasters dropping from the ceiling, and haunting sound design, these areas provided a stark, dark contrast to the usual beauty of Hyrule.

Nintendo must not sanitize or tone down these creepy environments just to chase a lower age rating (much like what happened with Ganondorf’s blood puke, by the way). That macabre undertone is vital to the game's mature narrative beats, and this remake deserves to keep every single chilling detail intact!

2 The Mario Window Easter Egg & Guard Bomb

Preserving Whimsical Hidden Details

When you first sneak into the Hyrule Castle courtyard as young Link to meet Princess Zelda (which is a truly awesome sequence, by the way), you can peek through a nearby castle window to find a delightful easter egg featuring portraits of Super Mario, Luigi, Bowser, and Peach hanging on the wall.

To make this even better, if you shoot the window with your Slingshot a few times, a frustrated castle guard will yell at you and throw a bomb right out the window at Link! It’s an unexpected, hilarious hidden detail that brings so much charm to the castle grounds, and it definitely deserves a spot in the remake.

1 The Classic Day/Night Soundscape

Simplicity That Still Delivers Pure Atmosphere

We don't need a cinematic, modern cutscene sequence every time the sun sets in Hyrule (as much as we love the dynamic weather systems with dedicated cutscenes in newer open-world entries like Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom), since Ocarina of Time’s approach hits a very specific nostalgic note.

The wolf howl signaling the arrival of nightfall, the rooster crowing at sunrise across Hyrule Field, the frantic spawning of Stalchildren rising from the earth all work together seamlessly, and that feeling of despair that takes us – and all of that with a simple audio transition.

But as kids, it generated an absurd amount of tension whenever we failed to reach the castle drawbridge before it closed for the night, and we need newer generations to feel that too! That iconic sound design needs to remain completely untouched.