I Wouldn’t Dream of Playing the Zelda: Ocarina of Time Remake Right Now

I am not currently playing Nintendo's Switch 2 remake of The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time, despite my editor offering to let me review it. Even though this may be my favorite Zelda game, the one that initially drew me into the series, and undeniably one of the greatest games ever, I am hesitant to play it. While I have read the glowing reviews from trusted friends and Polygon's own critics, I also trust Nintendo and its developers, Eiji Aonuma and Hidemaro Fujibayashi.

They are seasoned Zelda veterans who have revived the series with Breath of the Wild, and they have chosen to hand Ocarina to younger developers to train and inspire. This revitalization is crucial, as the original 1990s game was developed with outdated technology and may not be as enjoyable to play now. My 10-year-old son adores Zelda, especially the recent Tears of the Kingdom.

He has even tried playing the original Ocarina of Time, but never truly connected with any of the games. I warned him against playing the original to preserve the magic of his first experience. The Ocarina remake comes at an ideal time for him. He is thrilled about it and will receive his own Switch 2 for Christmas to play it. If I were to play the game before him, I would be stealing that special moment from him.

It is difficult, if not impossible, for me to put myself in his shoes. I may not play Ocarina now, but I am allowed to enjoy the eight-track soundtrack sample released on Nintendo Music. Each arrangement of Koji Kondo's iconic tunes is a work of art, and the Hyrule Field Main Theme is my favorite for its sweeping epic quality.