Ocarina of Time remake: Switch 2 release, $59.99 price, new controls

Nintendo is bringing The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time back on Switch 2, with a release scheduled for November 5th. The remake arrives 28 years after the original launched on Nintendo 64.

The game lands in the same fall window as Rockstar Games' Grand Theft Auto VI, and The Verge describes Nintendo's release as its own fall juggernaut. A special Switch 2 console and a Switch 2 Pro Controller with Triforce imagery are also launching to mark the game.

The remake keeps the classic N64 structure but adds modern touches. There's a jump button, a way to sprint, and full voice acting. A feature called "Threads of Time" helps you keep track of your progress.

The visual style is much more realistic than the original. According to art director Aya Shida, the look drew inspiration from puppet shows and practical effects films, which she said create a convincing sense that characters exist in their fantasy worlds.

Nintendo developers said in an interview they wanted to preserve the experience of spamming the Roll Attack to forward roll across Hyrule Field. In the remake you can still spam Roll Attack, but you can also dash.

The Verge's Jay Peters wrote that he has fond memories of rolling around the world in the original. The developer Q&A, published as part of Nintendo's "Ask the Developer" series, also covered gameplay changes and the new art direction.

In an October 29th report, The Verge noted that one week remained before the November 5th launch to secure the physical edition with a $10 discount at Amazon and Walmart. The Verge reported the physical version would almost certainly move from $59.99 to $69.99 once the game launched, while the digital version stays at $59.99.

That price shift is The Verge's expectation, not a confirmed Nintendo announcement. The discounted preorder window described in that report ended with the November 5th release.

The Verge's Cameron Faulkner spent hands-on time with sections of the game and called it a lot of fun to play. He praised the graphics and art style and said the controls have been modernized to be simpler to pick up for players familiar with third-person action games, including other modern Zelda titles.

He also described the remake as feeling remarkably modern and, at times, surprisingly terrifying. Those are impressions from partial play, not a full review.