Zelda: Ocarina of Time Remake Shows Off Hyrule Castle Town and Gerudo Fortress in New Footage
Nintendo has shared fresh footage from the upcoming Zelda: Ocarina of Time remake, giving fans another look at how the beloved classic is being rebuilt for Switch 2. The latest clips highlight two iconic locations: Hyrule Castle Town and Gerudo Fortress, both updated with modern visuals, smoother movement, and a more dynamic camera.
One clip follows young Link as he explores Hyrule Castle Town, a location that has been dramatically expanded from its Nintendo 64 roots. In the original 1998 release, the town market was presented through fixed camera angles and pre-rendered backgrounds. In the remake, the area appears fully explorable, with Link running through lively streets, climbing stairs, and moving through narrow alleyways lined with buildings.
The footage also shows the familiar couple dancing near the central fountain, a nostalgic detail longtime fans will immediately recognize. However, the biggest change is the new camera system, which lets players rotate around the environment and take in the town from different angles. Hyrule Castle Town now feels more like a living, layered city, filled with shops, pathways, and elevated sections that add more depth to exploration.
The second clip shifts to adult Link in Gerudo Fortress. This updated version of the desert stronghold features ladders, multi-level structures, and sweeping views of the surrounding dunes. As Link climbs through the fortress, an enhanced arrangement of the classic Gerudo Valley theme plays in the background, bringing one of the series’ most memorable pieces of music back with a richer, more cinematic sound.
Gerudo Fortress appears to retain its identity as a dangerous desert outpost while benefiting from improved environmental design. The remake’s new camera perspective makes the area feel larger and more open, especially as the footage pans across the desert landscape beyond the fortress walls.
These clips follow a recent look at Zora’s Domain, where young Link was shown climbing winding stairways beside waterfalls before diving into the water. That footage offered the first glimpse of underwater swimming in the remake, with the camera following Link beneath the surface. Swimming is one of several modernized movement features being added to the game.
Other new gameplay improvements include the ability to roll directly into a sprint and a dedicated jump button, giving players more control over Link’s movement than in the original version. The remake also introduces a fresh way to perform ocarina songs, allowing players to hum or play melodies into the Switch 2 microphone instead of relying only on button inputs.
The Ocarina of Time remake is also receiving fully voiced cutscenes and a newly recorded orchestral soundtrack, replacing the original MIDI-style music. These changes are designed to modernize the presentation while preserving the atmosphere that made the original game one of the most influential adventures ever made.
Exploration has also been improved. Link can now enter many shops and indoor locations without loading transitions, making the world feel more seamless. The game will also support the Zelda Notes app, adding another layer of interaction for players on Switch 2.
The remake’s rollout began with footage of Goron City on Death Mountain, followed by Zora’s Domain, and now Hyrule Castle Town and Gerudo Fortress. Each new preview has shown how Nintendo is reimagining familiar locations with expanded layouts, improved lighting, updated character movement, and richer environmental detail.
The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time remake launches exclusively for Switch 2 on 5 November. The digital edition is priced at $59.99, while the first physical print will cost $69.99 and includes textured foil cover art.
