Our Big Interview With Ocarina of Time Producers Eiji Aonuma and Hidemaro Fujibayashi

The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time remake marks a new chapter in the franchise's legacy. The game opens with a tapestry depicting the world of Hyrule, setting the stage for Link's iconic journey. Producers Eiji Aonuma and Hidemaro Fujibayashi shared their motivations behind this remake during a recent interview.

Aonuma emphasized the importance of passing down the original Ocarina of Time to younger developers, stating, "There are much younger developers who are working on this game, and I do think this is a really valuable experience for them to familiarize themselves first with the original Ocarina of Time and then have their own reinterpretation of it." He added that these conversations could benefit future projects.

Fujibayashi further elaborated on the essence of a Zelda game, saying, "The core of what makes a Zelda game, from my experience and thinking, is that it's the combination of exploration and discovery." He noted that this core principle has remained consistent throughout the series, from the original Zelda to recent titles like Tears of the Kingdom.

Reflecting on the development process, Aonuma mentioned that the specific cutscene featuring the tapestry was not initially created with that intention in mind. However, he recognized its value in conveying the legacy aspect of the remake. He also highlighted how revisiting the traditional 3D Zelda formula after several years away had allowed them to appreciate its positive aspects, such as simplicity and focus on exploration and discovery.

The interview also touched upon when the project began, with Aonuma clarifying that it started after the completion of Tears of the Kingdom. He expressed his curiosity about how younger developers would interpret the game for a new generation, which ultimately led to the remake's creation.