The Legend of Zelda (Series)

[queenzelda]

I actually remember getting my first N64 but at the time it was the one with the red cart you had to add to the console just to be able to play Majora's Mask. I didn't get OoT until I found it in one of the bins for cheap. The store we went to was going out of business and I got both MM & OoT pretty cheap. Same with the N64. My brother ended up buying Super Mario N64. We used to love messing up Mario's face on that thing. XD

I remember watching the opening of OOT and I couldn't wait to play. My brother and I took turns playing. I did the first area getting the sword/shield. He did the dungeon I did the town, etc. It was a lot of fun exploring the game, not knowing what to expect.

[ShiraNoMai]

I had my N64 handed down to me from a family friend, and one of the few games she provided me with was Ocarina of Time. I never beat it. I got to Adult Link and the Spirit Temple and I got stuck? I'm not quite sure on what but, whatever it was, I stopped playing then. I had gotten the Collector's Edition for Gamecube (my first not handed down home console) and that had OoT (MQ) and Majora's Mask on it, plus a demo of Wind Waker (the only time I had played that game until WiiU), but my friend borrowed it most of the time so I just watched him play through both games.

I did finally wind up finishing the game myself when I got the 3DS remaster, which felt great to do at the time because of my aforementioned history of it. Fantastic game.

Love watching randomizers of it these days. The game has so many checks that I honestly can't believe people out there remember them all

[Dragon Lord]

For everyone else who wasn't miraculously ignorant of Nintendo's existence in the 90's and did play this game though, what are your memories of your first time playing it and how do you feel knowing it's now 25 years old?

I got it for Christmas the year it came out. Having spent a lot of my childhood up to that point playing A Link to the Past multiple times, I was pretty excited for a new LoZ game. The game definitely didn't disappoint for little 9 year old me. Of course now days I look back on OoT and notice a lot of things about it that I don't really care for any more, and it's fallen out of my top Zelda games. I'd probably still put it in the top 5, but I definitely think Majora's Mask is better in almost every way in comparison.

But back then it was a good time. Pretty sure I spent that entire Christmas day after opening presents playing the game.

[Moonface]

IGN | 'The Grass is Greener:' Tears of the Kingdom Developers Look Back While Responding to Classic Fans
IGN published an interview today that they conducted with the Eiji Aonuma and Hidemaro Fujibayashi about their feelings on the legacy formula, the timeline, and Tears of the Kingdom's success, and it's a pretty good read: https://www.ign.com/articles/zelda-tears...ujibayashi

On returning to the older style of Zelda games:

It's interesting to hear you say that because one of the discussions that I've seen among Zelda fans is, "Gosh, I miss the more traditional linear Zelda of the past." And I'm wondering, how do you feel about that given the direction of the series toward a very free-form, open-ended kind of design?

Aonuma: Well, I do think we as people have a tendency to want the thing that we don't currently have, and there's a bit of a grass is greener mentality. But I also think that with the freedom players have in the more recent games in the series...there still is a set path, it just happens to be the path that they chose. So I think that that is one thing I kind of like to remind myself about the current games that we're making.

But also, it's interesting when I hear people say those things because I am wondering, "Why do you want to go back to a type of game where you're more limited or more restricted in the types of things or ways you can play?" But I do understand that desire that we have for nostalgia, and so I can also understand it from that aspect.

On fans wanting the older approach to dungeon design to come back:

Speaking personally, I really enjoyed Tears of the Kingdom's design, and I think a lot of people were grateful for the much more intricate dungeons. I think why a lot of fans valued Ocarina of Time and games like that were the clever dungeons that felt like a very crafted, very deliberate experience. And with Breath of the Wild, especially initially, the dungeons felt quite a bit simpler by comparison...but I think there's sort of a hunger for those very classic dungeons like the Water Temple and things like that.

Aonuma: That was kind of our intention with Tears of the Kingdom, as you mentioned, which was to put a bit more density or thoughtfulness into the design of the dungeons in the game. I mean, when we think of Breath of the Wild, one of our guiding principles was to rethink the conventions of the series, and that applied to our thinking about dungeons as well. So we kind of broke apart our previous assumptions about the way we've made dungeons so far with that game. And I think the result was simpler approach that you saw in dungeons in that game.

But then we did hear the desire from fans for a bit more of a designed dungeon, and that led to our approach to dungeons for Tears of the Kingdom. And so as we proceed, whenever we're making a game, we look back at our past and then consider where we are now with the freedom that we give to the player in these games.

On Zelda being a playable character at some point:

I want to talk a little bit about Zelda for a moment. I remember when the trailer first appeared, my first thought was, 'Oh, now Zelda's adventuring too. Maybe this is co-op, maybe Zelda will be playable.' But of course, she had her own story in Tears of the Kingdom. What you think of the desire among fans for Zelda to have a bigger role, and to even be playable?

Aonuma: Yeah, it is interesting when you think about the name of the series, the Legend of Zelda, but Link is always the main character....Zelda has always been involved, and they have a relationship and their own rules in each of the games, but it is true that I think there's always room for thinking about this type of thing and Zelda's role. And there may be some sort of possibility for something like that in the future.

[Moonface]

The Legend of Zelda: 40th Anniversary Direct Announced
Tune in on September 8 at 7am PT / 10am ET / 3pm GMT for a special Nintendo Direct celebrating the 40th anniversary of The Legend of Zelda! The presentation will last approximately 30 minutes.

[Dragon Lord]

Awesome. Should definitely get our first real trailer for OoT Remake during this, and hopefully a release date for the game as well.

Doubt it'll happen, but would love to get a Switch/Switch 2 port of Wind Waker HD finally as well. I know Wind Waker is available on Switch 2 via NSO, but I really want the HD version with the faster sail in it. Could be cool to get a port of Twilight Princess as well. Doubt they'd go too crazy on other ports when they want to build up hype for OoT Remake, but I can wish, haha.

[Mr EliteL]

I keep forgetting LOZ as a series is older me, dang. Yeah they surely have something more than the OoT remake in store, 30 minutes is quite a while. Perhaps the movie?

[Dragon Lord]

I just realized I'm going to be working at the time of this Direct today and I won't be able to watch it. Nooooooo!!!!! I'm going to have to wait a whole three hours before I come home and can catch up on what I missed. My life is over.

[Mr EliteL]

The Legend of Zelda 40th Anniversary Direct - September 8, 2026 | Summary
Here is everything from today's LOZ showcase:

• The Legend of Zelda | Film Release: Date April 30th, 2027
  

• Nintendo Museum Kyoto, Japan
  The museum celebrates the anniversary by changing the tickets to a The Legend of Zelda 40th Anniversary design starting tomorrow for a year, adding a History board looking back on the series, a new photo op spot on November 5th, and opening of the Super Family Restaurant featuring a statue of Link along with various other Nintendo characters.
  

• Nintendo Today!
  New LoZ calendar animations and collectible cards will be added, plus more info on The Legend of Zelda film will be shared on there.
  

• New LoZ merchandise
  Partnering up with LEGO, Hasbro, Panini, Hori, Huzzle to bring more LoZ themed goodies to purchase, plus a new Nintendo Museum Official Book Vol 2 Legend of Zelda 40th Anniversary Special Feature, and a new Tears of the Kingdom amiibo.
  

• The Legend of Zelda 40th Anniversary Concert Tours
  Concert Tours will be coming to Japan starting from 23rd January 2027, North America begins February 22nd 2027 in Chicago, Europe begins April 3rd 2027 in London UK, and Australia 13th May 2027 in Melbourne.
  

• Legend of Zelda Ocarina of Time | Trailer + Gameplay Demonstration
  New gameplay is shown from Mr Aonuma, where controls and new features are being added. The original did not allow command jumps like when trying to move over gaps but instead an auto jump once at a ledge, but now you can jump about wherever you like. Camera can be moved freely now as well. Towns are more full of life also opening up places that were mere backdrops before to now explore. A new alternate way of using the Ocarina you can use the built-in mic to hum a tune Link has learned, and he will play that into the instrument. Threads of Time is another new feature to help guide to your next objective, and as you progress through the game a tapestry will fill up for you to view at your leisure.
  • Release Date: November 5th, 2026
    

• Young Link, and Young Zelda Amiibos
  These two amiibos relating to Ocarina of Time can be used in-game to make Link's head similar to what Young Link and Young Zelda looked like in the original.
  • Releases: 2027

• Zelda Notes
  Within the Nintendo Switch App is Zelda Notes and will be introduced to use alongside Ocarina of Time, just like Switch 2 version of Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom. You can check records from your game, accomplishments, take screenshot, play the Ocarina on your phone and share QR Codes of your music, do finding quests of objects or an area to trade for Ocarina music scores, and take quizzes to earn rupees.
  

• The Legend of Zelda 40th Anniversary Switch 2 Design | Trailer 
  A brand new design for the Nintendo Switch 2 along with a matching Pro Controller and Carry Case will become available later this year.
  • Release Date: October 29, 2026
    

---

Not a lot shown but I suppose a decent chunk of gameplay Nintendo Direct style for Ocarina of Time. Still nothing really for the film, I was expecting an actual trailer at least even if like 10-20 seconds long of clips. All we got was just a title card reveal, which I can't link to yet, so just check the Direct for it.

[Dragon Lord]

AHHH THE GAME LOOKS AMAZING!!!!! I wasn't sure how it was going to turn out from the original teaser, but oh my God did they do an absolutely perfect job of updating the graphics while keeping that magical look/feel of Ocarina of Time. Everything about this trailer was just absolute perfection. I've been harsh on Nintendo for a long time, but they absolutely nailed this, 100/10, PERFECTION.

I pre-ordered the instant I got on my computer when I got home from work. Game releases a week before my birthday and I think I'm going to take that entire week off of work just to fully consume this game.

The first 10 seconds of the footage they showed off was enough for me to know that it was more than worth spending the $500 on a Switch 2 just for this one game.

Grand Theft WHO!?!

[Mr EliteL]

Only just realised I forgot to add the amiibos for Young Link and Young Zelda, on my phone and will add them later as I fear I'll mess up the post if I try now.

Graphics does look great, probably the best LoZ has looked. GamepIay too, was thinking damn, if I did have a Switch 2 would I want to finally get another as I've only played Spirit Tracks and a demo of Wind Waker. I know OoT is one of the regarded top LoZ games and this remake may make most players top 1, who knows.

Might find out if I finally get a Switch 2 from today's Direct. It's price currently not increased just yet, still lower than release on Amazon, though seen other stores higher than £380.

[Maniakkid25]

Finally watched the gameplay reveal, and if I'm being honest?

I'm not that impressed.

Start with the graphics. The game looks great; it's a great update to the game's look, while still keeping the original feel. 10/10, no notes

But as far as the actual gameplay goes? It just looks like Ocarina of Time. Yeah, I know, "Floor is made of Floor", but, like, I own Ocarina of Time on Gamecube. Twice, actually. Including Master Quest. Based on the small segment of the Great Deku Tree they showed, it looks like the layouts and puzzles are the exact same, when they could have overhauled them by a lot more! I don't really see any reason to play this other than updated graphics and maybe some updated dialogue.

I'm sorry; I'm sure the game is gonna be great, but I am not seeing any reason to buy this when I could just, you know, play Ocarina N64 on the Switch 2. Unless there's something big in the game that they aren't letting on, I am not impressed.

[Dragon Lord]

if I did have a Switch 2 would I want to finally get another as I've only played Spirit Tracks and a demo of Wind Waker. I know OoT is one of the regarded top LoZ games and this remake may make most players top 1, who knows.

Might find out if I finally get a Switch 2 from today's Direct. It's price currently not increased just yet, still lower than release on Amazon, though seen other stores higher than £380.

I would definitely say get one now if you can before another price increase if you have any interest at all in the system. We all know more price increases will come, so it's better to get it now if you can safely afford to do so. Aside from having access to this absolutely flawless looking masterpiece of a diamond game, as we learned from today's Direct, you'll also have access to what looks to be an absolutely wonderful new Kirby game (huge). 

If OoT Remake alone isn't enough for you (though by the trailer alone, this game by itself is going to be more than enough reason to buy a Switch 2). Also Winds/Waves next year if you're interested in the Pokemon games.

Switch 2 ownership is definitely starting to look more and more worth it the last few months, haha. Star Fox, OoT Remake, new Kirby game and Winds/Waves is a pretty good set of games to make the Switch 2 investment worth it.