Gamers get nostalgic as Zelda remake hits shelves

Nintendo's long-running Zelda series has received a nostalgic boost with the release of the remake of the 1990s classic, Ocarina of Time, as part of the series' 40th anniversary celebration. The game, which has already garnered widespread acclaim with a perfect 96/100 score on Metacritic, has fans excited, particularly for its improved graphics.

Takumi Kawata, a 27-year-old fan, expressed his excitement for the remake, noting the enhanced visuals, especially the beautiful forests. His brother Kousuke Kawata added that the game's visuals are "absolutely stunning."

The series, centered around the adventures of the green-clad warrior Link battling the evil demon Ganondorf across the ages to save Princess Zelda, was created by Shigeru Miyamoto in 1986. Its last two main installments, Breath of the Wild (2017) and Tears of the Kingdom (2023), sold over 55 million copies combined. Eiji Aonuma, who produced the new Ocarina of Time, admitted to feeling nervous about the release but was reassured by the positive reviews, with IGN calling it an "exceptional remake" and the Guardian newspaper giving it a five-star rating.

Market analysts will be closely monitoring the game's potential impact on the Switch 2's sales, which recently became the world's fastest-selling games console. Despite the quarterly drop in Nintendo's net profit, they have maintained their annual forecasts.