STACK #265 November 2026

FEATURE GAMING

• The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time is out Nov 5

The Switch 2 release of Ocarina of Time is a full remake, not just a visual update. It’s been rebuilt from the ground up, with an eye to preserving the spirit of the original while updating nearly everything within the game. Visuals: The textures, lighting, and character models have all been completely rebuilt to give Hyrule a modern look, while retaining the game’s familiar aesthetics. There are now real-time shadows, realistic water effects, and much more, all targeting 1080p at 60 frames per second. Audio: If you thought that the original musical compositions were stunning, just wait until you hear the fully reorchestrated symphonic soundtrack recorded for this update, upping the cinematic majesty immeasurably. It isn’t just the big sonic stuff that’s been seen to, either, with environmental audio such as wind, water, and even village chatter being refreshed. Dialogue: Save for the ever-silent Link, all the game’s major characters now have voiced cutscenes, to add even more emotional depth to the story. Controls: This one’s huge – there’s now a dedicated jump button! Add free camera control and Ocarina of Time now plays like other modern action adventures. But the enhancements don’t end there. There’s also the option of using motion aiming thanks to the abilities of the Joy-Con 2 controller, and an updated UI more akin to Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom . Performance: We all hate load times, and to this end the game has been tweaked to make traversing the world feel seamless. Expansion: Remember peering into the distance of Hyrule Castle Town and wondering what lay beyond? It has now been expanded, allowing a greater area to be explored. Updated designs: Items such as the three Spiritual Stones and the Ocarina of Time itself feature enhanced detail, including a Triforce symbol etched near the ocarina’s mouthpiece. Help: A “Trails of Time” guidance system offers optional navigation assistance, while the Zelda Notes companion app brings such goodies as quizzes, ocarina tools, and in-game progress records. ONWARDS TO SWITCH 2

It’s one of the most influential video games ever made, and this month sees a modernised take on The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina ofTime releasing for Switch 2. We take a quick look at the significance of the title, and what to expect from this much-anticipated update. Words Amy Flower TIME CATCHES UP! FORMAT: GENRE: Action adventure MULTIPLAYER: No

A brief history of Time… Originally released in 1998 for the Nintendo 64 console, The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time was a true innovator. It oozed fresh thinking, introducing such systems as controls that did different things depending upon your situation, and lock-on targeting. It also gave players a detailed world that felt alive in ways that we’d not previously experienced, all wrapped up with truly cinematic storytelling. But that wasn’t all. Its time-shifting

thoughtful design Ocarina of Time managed to make dense environments approachable. Its Z-targeting system became a genre standard, while the combination of puzzle-solving, exploration, and challenging combat would influence numerous successors - Dark Souls and The Witcher being two significant examples. The lure of Ocarina of Time wasn’t just in its mechanics though. Players connected with the emotional depth of Link’s journey from childhood to adulthood, and the game’s haunting atmosphere. Adding to this, the musical storytelling

structure, memorable characters, and iconic soundtrack all added to making Ocarina of Time a defining moment in gaming history, setting a template that influenced how 3D action games worked from then on. Enduring influence As one of the earliest fully 3D open-world adventures, with its

The original Ocarina of Time started life as a remake of the NES title Zelda II: The Adventure of Link for the Super Nintendo. DYK?

through the titular ocarina further enhanced the game’s emotional impact. Now, 28 years on, Ocarina of Time is still widely regarded as one of the greatest video games ever made, both for its technical achievements and its narrative scope.

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The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom, Dragon’s Dogma 2: Dark Arisen, Xenoblade Chronicles X: Definitive Edition - Nintendo Switch 2 Edition

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