The first hands-on impressions of The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time on Switch 2 describe a remake that updates more than the graphics. Previews point to revised puzzles and dialogue alongside new movement controls, with some writers won over by the presentation and others noting that familiar actions feel different. Since these were limited preview sessions, they offer an early read—not a final judgment on the whole game.
7
19
27
More than a graphical refresh
IGN’s preview says the remake is not a one-to-one recreation, highlighting expanded dialogue and revamped puzzles.
7 One example reported by GameFile is Saria’s changed greeting: the original “Yahoo” becomes “Hello, Link!”
34
The presentation has also been substantially reworked. NPR called the remake “the most ornate Zelda game yet,” while CNET’s writer said the visuals initially felt uncanny in trailers but came away preferring the new version after an hour of play.
1
8 Those are individual impressions, not evidence of a unanimous response to the art style.
New controls feel more modern—and different
Engadget reports that Link now has a dedicated jump button and a sprint button, and says the game “plays even better than it looks.” The preview also notes fully voiced cutscenes.
19 Eurogamer was less immediately comfortable with one change: manual jumping takes some getting used to compared with the original’s automatic jumps.
27
That mix captures the trade-off in the early coverage: modern controls may make movement feel more direct, but they also alter a familiar part of the original’s play. The available previews don’t establish whether every new control or interface change will feel equally successful across the full adventure.
Preview sessions covered different parts of Hyrule
The reports describe hands-on time in more than one location. NPR says its New York preview lasted 90 minutes.
18 In Frankfurt, Gamesurf reports spending two hours with sections covering Kokiri Village, Hyrule Field and the Forest Temple.
23 GeekDad also describes a demo beginning in Kokiri Forest and leading toward the Great Deku Tree.
17 Metro says its preview included the entire Forest Temple.
20
These accounts show that writers got beyond a brief trailer demonstration, but they do not establish one shared itinerary or mean every previewer played the same sections. A short, curated session can reveal how a remake feels moment to moment; it cannot answer every question about pacing, later areas or the full game’s balance.
What the early coverage can—and can’t—tell players
The clearest takeaway is that Nintendo has paired a detailed new presentation with changes to dialogue, puzzles and movement, while preserving the broad identity of the 1998 adventure.
7
19
34 The early reactions are encouraging, but limited playtime leaves room for a fuller assessment once reviewers can experience the complete game.
The remake is scheduled to launch on Switch 2 on November 5, 2026.
1 CNET’s preview describes it as a $60 game; the available reporting here does not establish the separate $70 physical-edition listing mentioned elsewhere.
8