Released in 1998 on Nintendo 64, The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time remains, for many, the greatest game of all time. More than 25 years later, this video game monument returns in an unexpected form: an unofficial remake, designed by passionate fans, powered by Unreal Engine 5.
At the helm of the project: CryZENx, independent developer, whose YouTube videos go around the world. Recently presented by Digital Dreams in 8K at 30 frames/second, this remake offers a dazzling rediscovery of cult scenes from the game, such as the delivery of the Goron Ruby by Darunia or the exploration of the village of Kakariko, day and night.
Thanks to Lumen and Nanite technologies integrated into Unreal Engine 5, the rendering is strikingly modern. And the reactions were not long in coming: “The true hero of Hyrule is creating this game,” commented an admiring fan. Others are calling for some adjustments: “Please redo Link’s face. He looks like a 6 year old doll. He’s supposed to be 13.”
Between admiration and frustration: fans call out to Nintendo
This fan-made project is not the only one to get people talking. For his part, the creator PunchBro published a video explaining how to play Ocarina of Time 3D in 4K on PC using the Citra emulator. By modifying the internal resolution and adding an HD texture pack, the final rendering even surpasses the initial expectations of the 3DS version released in 2011. “That’s exactly how my brain imagined it on 3DS,” admits one player.
Despite this fervor, there is concern. Nintendo has a habit of cutting short unofficial initiatives, especially when they gain visibility. “I can’t wait for Nintendo to remove this for no good reason,” quips one user.
An official 4K remake on Switch 2? The dream continues
The frustration of part of the community is palpable: why doesn’t such a tribute come from Nintendo itself? For many, Ocarina of Time deserves a remake worthy of the name, with modern graphics but intact gameplay. “I would like the developers to understand that this is what we want: no reinvention, just modern graphics,” summarizes a very shared comment.
Some still dare to hope that the Nintendo Switch 2, still unconfirmed, will offer an official remake. In the meantime, it’s the independent scene that carries the torch, reminding us that the greatest legends never die… as long as there are fans to revive them.