Zelda: Ocarina Of Time's New Look Is Starting A Fan Debate

The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time might just be the greatest game in the franchise, depending on who you ask. It's undeniably a fan-favorite entry, and despite getting a 3DS remake a decade ago, fans have still been clamoring for an updated version on a more modern system. Thanks to new leaks regarding an Ocarina of Time remake, it looks like everyone might get their wish later this year.

While there's no official confirmation from Nintendo yet, the prospect of an Ocarina of Time remake is causing a lot of excitement, but also plenty of debates. Over the years, many fans have posted texture upgrades and HD renderings of OoT, but now that the game is making headlines again, it's stirring up more graphics debates than usual. This includes a recent post on X, which highlighted a debate over HD textures being used on PC.

Ocarina Of Time On PC Can Look Very Different, But Should It?

The argument really seems to stem from whether or not the colors and HUD look good. What feels like a majority of fans aren't in love with the color scheme on display here (you can see the original X post above). A few have offered fixes, but a lot of those fixes have also been met with pushback. It feels like no one can agree on what Ocarina of Time should look like with a fresh coat of HD paint.

"The problem with these textures is not the resolution, it is the artstyle," reads the post. "Pay attention to the difference in contrasts and colors. Black should be dark brown on the wood and not pure black. The high contrast creates visual noise that looks displeasing to what people are used to."

And that's really the crux of the matter. Ocarina of TIme never had a realistic artstyle, so adding more realistic textures is a bit unappealing to most folks who are used to the game looking a certain way.

An Official Zelda: Ocarina Of Time Remake May Be Coming

Nintendo

Despite all of this, an official Ocarina of Time remake is allegedly coming in time for Holiday 2026. NatetheHate shared the news in a recent podcast, and it's caused quite a stir in the Zelda fandom. Nintendo has been great about re-releasing older Zelda games and giving us remakes (shoutout to Link's Awakening on Switch), so this all feels in the realm of possibility.

If this turns out to be true, graphics will likely play a huge role in the overall way fans feel about an OoT remake. It's a classic, and going too cartoonish (like Link's Awakening) might run its darker edges, while a hyper-realistic update could get us into uncanny-valley territory. Hopefully, Nintendo will soon reveal The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time remake so we can get a good look at it ourselves.

Released November 21, 1998

ESRB E10+ for Everyone 10+: Animated Blood, Fantasy Violence, Suggestive Themes

Developer(s) Nintendo

Publisher(s) Nintendo

Engine Zelda 64 Engine