[Game With In] The revival of a masterpiece from 28 years ago, ‘The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time’

The core theme of the 1998 video game ‘The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time’ is time travel.

When the main character Link pulls out the sword from the Temple of Time, he goes to the world seven years later as an adult, and when he inserts the sword again, he returns to his childhood.

In 2026, Nintendo, which established the grammar of modern 3D action adventure with 'Ocarina of Time' 28 years ago, pulled out 'Master Sword', a remake of the masterpiece, out of the blue.

I played 'Ocarina of Time', which was officially released in Korea on the 5th, to see if the legacy left behind by the original still resonates with gamers who have changed a generation.

◇ The world of Hyrule reborn on beautiful visual effects

The 'Ocarina of Time' remake almost entirely inherited the level design of the legendary original.

Almost all designs are the same, including the structure of the terrain and dungeon, the placement of items and monsters, puzzle solving methods, and hidden fun elements.

You can even beat the remake just by looking at the strategy text or video of the game from 28 years ago.

There are also minor differences. Beds where you can sleep and change between day and night have been created in every village, and the great fairies of the original, who taught skills for free, ask you to pay rupees like in 'Breath of the Wild'.

On the other hand, the production, interface, and operation were updated by introducing many elements of modern 3D games.

Unlike the original, where switching viewpoints was restricted, the remake version allows the camera to freely rotate 360 ​​degrees in all directions anywhere.

Being able to jump whenever you want is also a natural element for new players, but for those who remember the original, it comes as a very big change.

The method of taking out and using items was based on the operation method established in 'Breath of the Wild', the biggest hit of the 'Legend of Zelda' series.

It is also impressive that when entering the building from the outdoors, it flows smoothly without any loading.

The dialogues in important story sections are fully voice-dubbed by voice actor [458650], making it fun to watch.

Above all, what remains most vivid in my mind is the visual effects that pushed the performance of the Nintendo Switch 2 to the limit.

Lighting effects that change in real time according to time, reflections of objects on the water, and bushes that naturally flutter according to the player's movement are fun for the eyes.

This is a visual effect that can be implemented because the level design is a closed design rather than an open world, and it was developed without the need to consider compatibility with older generation models.

The sight of Link and Princess Zelda, whose facial features and curves became much more pronounced, felt foreign, but as you continue to look at it, you tend to get used to it.

◇ Nintendo’s choice to faithfully recreate masterpieces instead of variations

‘Ocarina of Time’ clearly demonstrates Nintendo’s consistent trend of remaking old games, known as the ‘master’ of the gaming industry.

Nintendo's previously released remakes of the Super Mario series and Pokémon series also received positive reviews for their elaborate reinterpretation of the visual effects and interface, while barely touching the 'perfect' level design of the original.

Rather than adding or subtracting from a work that has already been played for decades and has served as a textbook for 3D action games, the production team chose to inherit it with a modern exterior.

Perhaps because it inherited the perfect original, the 'Ocarina of Time' remake scored 96 points on the overall rating site 'Metacritic' immediately after its release, the highest score among the blockbuster games released this year.

However, such faithful reproduction may act as a double-edged sword depending on one's perspective.

For gamers who have already played the original game or are familiar with the grammar of 3D action games, 'Ocarina of Time' is likely to feel like an overly easy and simple game.

This is not to say that the game couldn't be made, but that modern action games have borrowed elements that first appeared in 'Ocarina of Time' and made complex variations of them.

Nevertheless, for those who have played the original for a long time, those who know the Legend of Zelda series but have never played 'Ocarina of Time', and those who are beginners learning the video game itself, Link's journey in the game will be a time travel filled with new discoveries and surprises.