The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time remake is nearly here. In just a few weeks, players will embark on a quest that transcends time itself to save the Kingdom of Hyrule from meeting a terrible fate. In anticipation of the game's release, Nintendo released a new trailer that showcases some of the game's new features, and the first wave of previews also made their way online. And so far, the biggest takeaway is that the upcoming title won't be a 1-to-1 recreation of the original adventure.
The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time remake will feature a new area called the Hall of Fallen Foes, where players can replay any of the game's bosses. Moreover, small areas have been redesigned, dungeons and puzzles have been tweaked, there are new side quests to complete, and NPCs have more lines of dialogue.
These changes ensure an enhanced playing experience while allowing the remake to remain pretty faithful to the original Nintendo 64 adventure. The additions don't aim to change the scope of the game, but rather its depth, which is definitely the way to go when updating a game that's so beloved and acclaimed. That said, there's one key area that could've been greatly improved if Nintendo had deviated from the original, intended path.
Hyrule Field should've been redesigned to be larger in The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time remake
When The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time was first released in 1998, it forever changed the gaming landscape by being the first Zelda title to transition to 3D graphics. It pioneered the target lock in combat and also featured a huge world for players to explore. Few experiences compare to walking into Hyrule Field for the first time and watching this huge, open area with multiple paths to explore. Even the NPCs in the game treat Hyrule as if it is this large, nearly infinite landscape, where going from the Kokiri Forest to Castle Town is an adventure in itself.
Back in 1998, Hyrule Field was a major accomplishment that was unlike anything done before. However, nearly three decades later, this area can not only feel relatively small but also pretty empty. That's because more modern games like The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom have given us truly massive worlds filled with multiple caves to explore, environmental storytelling, and over 100 mini-dungeons to keep players entertained. So, going back to the first iteration of Hyrule in 3D can feel like a step backward.
Instead of redesigning Hyrule Field so that it feels as large as it once did in 1998, Nintendo simply added new minor landmarks and hidden secrets for players to uncover. This makes sense, as it allows The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time remake to be faithful to the original Nintendo 64 title. However, out of all the areas in the game, Hyrule Field is the one that would've benefited the most from a redesign. After all, it is the central hub that connects all the other regions together, so players are bound to traverse it quite a lot.
Hyrule Field could've been larger in the remake to keep the fantasy of a huge map intact. That way, when NPCs are shocked to discover a kid from the woods made the trip all the way to Castle Town, it would still hold true. The changes shouldn't have ended with a larger area either. Nintendo could've made the most of the new space to hide even more secrets, lore details, and underground caves.
A fantastic addition to The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom that made exploration all the more rewarding was finding armor sets across the land. Maybe the same could've been done in Hyrule Field in The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time remake. After all, these would've been cosmetic rewards that wouldn't have altered the gameplay experience in any major way, allowing the remake to still be respectful of the original adventure while also giving players more things to do.
The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker had figurines hidden around the world for players to collect, so collectibles like these could've also been added to the Ocarina of Time remake in a larger version of Hyrule Field. Moreover, rupees and heart pieces could've also been hidden in this redesigned area. That way, it wouldn't have been necessary for players to explore this new landscape, but it would've been a fun addition for everyone looking to obtain more optional rewards.
While it makes sense that Hyrule Field remains, for the most part, unchanged, this was one area that could've benefited from major tweaks. Fortunately, the rest of the remake looks fantastic so far, and it won't be long before we finally get to play it for ourselves.
The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time remake will be released on Nov. 5, 2026.
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