It’s a dream come true for many fans of Nintendo’s cult franchise. The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time has been partially recreated in Unreal Engine 5 by an independent developer. Thanks to the power of the most advanced graphics engine available, the famous village of Kakariko comes to life in a realistic and modern version.
This technical demo, created by Taylor S. Ellis, does not come from Nintendo but from a personal project, available for free download via his Patreon account. And if the visual rendering is already impressive, this is perhaps only the beginning of an even more ambitious adventure.
The village of Kakariko resurrected in a new generation version
The video posted by Taylor S. Ellis shows a completely redone version of the village of Kakariko, an iconic location from Ocarina of Time. All visual elements have been reproduced down to the smallest detail. “Taylor S. Ellis faithfully recreated the village of Kakariko in Unreal Engine 5 by transferring the game’s assets to the “.obj” format and then recreating all of those assets himself.
The work was carried out in such a way as to avoid any legal issues. “This was done to (hopefully) prevent Nintendo from removing their work through a copyright infringement claim, as the fact that they subsequently recreated the material should mean that they will not attract the wrath of Nintendo’s lawyers.”
Where and how to download the playable demo for free?
Good news: the demo version is available to everyone, free of charge. To play it, simply go to Taylor S. Ellis’ Patreon page. “You will need to create an account and register to access it, but the download will be completely free.”
The demo currently only covers a segment of the original game, but it allows you to wander freely in Kakariko and observe the attention paid to the smallest details: textures, lighting, animation, depth of field… everything has been revised upwards.
Is this remake a complete project or just a technical showcase?
As of now, this is not a complete remake of the original game. Only Kakariko has been reproduced, but fans hope that other mythical zones, such as the Temple of Time or the Plain of Hyrule, will soon see the light of day.
Ellis has not formalized a roadmap, but the result already published is astonishing. “What they have managed to create so far is just incredibly impressive.”
Why is this project so passionate about Zelda fans?
Nostalgia plays a key role, of course. Ocarina of Time remains for many the greatest Zelda ever released. Seeing this universe reborn with photorealistic graphics strikes a chord. But it’s also the frustration of waiting for a real official remake that fuels the craze.
Until Nintendo takes a serious look at the issue, it’s enthusiasts like Taylor S. Ellis who fill the void, reinventing this masterpiece in their own way. One thing is certain: the players want more.