1998. I packed my overnight bag extra full as I was about to head over to my best friend’s house. Comfy clothes, a few extra sodas in case we ran out, a controller, a notebook, and plent of other random goodies. I was excited for this weekend trip. Probably this one more than the hundred others I’ve done. You see, my friend had just got the ultimate gift. The new Legend of Zelda Game. Ocarina of Time. This would be the best weekend of all time.
We spent every single hour of that weekend doing everything time would allow us to do. Beating up baddies in the Deku Tree, rolling through the fields of Hyrule, and racing around Lon Lon Ranch. It was an oasis. I wasn’t just staying at my friend’s house. I was staying in Hyrule.
Getting to Gerudo Valley and hearing that guitar for the first time is still one of my best gaming memories ever. I even probably spent way too much time swan diving off of the bridge into the water back then JUST because of how cool it was. This was way more than a game. This was the real Legend of Zelda.
My favorite game in The Legend of Zelda series has been A Link To The Past. But it sometimes gets taken over by that weekend memory of Ocarina of Time. Heck, both of these games, and that series, are held in such high regard to me that I even got a Hyrulian shield tattooed on my forearm.
Nintendo knows this. Because this is not just my story. There are thousands others that are very similar. So many memories were made and relived through this series. So many more created with the recent games on the Switch. So Nintendo took their time and waited for the most opportune moment. The 40th anniversary.
When the news dropped earlier this year on that Nintendo Direct, I shed some grown man tears. With watery eyes, I let out an “OH MY GOD” and nearly felt that excitement I did before going into that old 90’s weekend. “It’s finally happening” I thought. “Please don’t mess this up!” And then today. The Legend of Zelda Ocarina of Time had its own Direct. And my gosh. It did not disappoint.
It looks INCREDIBLE. In every aspect (okay maybe the watery skin effects are too watery but still). I could not keep my eyes away. Nothing in my household that was happening could pry me away. Ocarina of Time, the way we all imagined it, will be here on November 5th 2026. It’s real.
Now, we have all seen talented artists in the past try and create this in Unreal Engine in such over on YouTube for many years now. Surely, it looks like Nintendo took that feedback and inspiration from those creators very seriously. This may honestly be their most impressive game yet to date.
Watching the gameplay alone, it moved and flowed the way it did back then with a TON of new paint. And modeling. And atmosphere. This has me excited. And it should. With my favorite series getting eyes from new generations on it, this will open up so many opportunities for more. I welcome this with as many open arms as humanly possible. Two, to be exact. But would totally have more.
Are you excited for the Ocarina of Time remake? Let us know in the comments!
While you’re here, check out some more Don’t Revive Your Friends content below:
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