The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time Remake has been keeping us quite busy ever since we returned to Hyrule at Link’s side. It’s a game that’s at the center of many fond memories for a lot of its player base, many of whom are going to grin to themselves as they remember some of these little secret nuggets we’re about to talk about.
However, if you’re new to Hyrule, you should be keeping your eyes and ears peeled for unique ways to interact with the world and its people. But that’s vague advice in a world that’s as rich and detailed as this one, brought to life with renewed charm thanks to the remake’s visual touches. We’re here to point you in the direction of some of our favorites and give you an idea of just how much this one hides away.
1. King Zora’s Secret Reward
Here is an amusing little gem that the remake has added to King Zora’s list of interactions. You might be having fun figuring out how he responds to different masks, but did you know that simply forcing him to turn around and look at you prompts amusing responses from the monarch?
He’s going to try to encourage you to use the royal dais in front of him before commenting on the familiarity of your behavior. Approach him from the side again, and he’s going to resign himself to this new arrangement and officially declare you a friend. You’re still going to put in the work to earn Biggoron’s sword despite this newfound friendship, though.
2. The Mask Of Truth
Not to be confused with a certain Lasso of Truth, this one lets Link go back to the people he’s already met along the way on his adventure to uncover hidden truths about them. Indeed, King Zora himself is an example, as he reveals some of his worries that are hidden away behind his personality.
The Dancing Couple’s illusion of romance is another one that you should experience for yourself, if only to bear witness to that heady blend of hilarity and horror that the mask brings to their story. Hyrule can be a nasty place sometimes!
3. Look For Familiar Faces In Kokiri Forest
If you’re familiar with other Zelda games but are here for the first time in Hyrule, you might think that the magical debris floating around in Kokiri Forest looks quite like the Koroks. Well, that’s an intentional secrets that aims to bridge the remake with the titles that follow it via the intelligent use of its visuals.
It doesn’t mean that the Koroks actually live here at the time of this story, though, as the Great Flood was yet to hit the region.
4. Links To The Past
It’s interesting to see Link hold on to the Fairy Ocarina he gets from Saria before he leaves the Kokiri Forest for good as a child. It’s a nice little keepsake that the remake makes room for in comparison to the original release, which sees the Ocarina of Time completely replace Saria’s wooden instrument as Link’s primary musical option.
The Ocarina of Time is still the one he uses, but it’s nice to know he still carries that important link to his past and hasn’t forgotten his dear friend in the remake.
5. Malon And Talon Are Mario Fans
The remake’s visuals make this one even more pronounced than it was in the original. While the portraits of Mario and Luigi might be gone in the remake, you might notice Malon and Talon, whom you’re going to meet in your quest for Epona, both sport clasps that are reminiscent of Bowser quite evidently.
That’s interesting, and a nice little nod to another classic that’s very welcome.
6. An Appropriate Response To Vandalism
We’ve spoken about Deku Seeds being a potent way to turn a fight in your favor before, but they’re also a way to witness an amusing interaction that made its way to the remake from the original version.
Throw one into the left window of the courtyard where you first meet Zelda to have a guard retaliate with a bomb, a fitting response to what could be construed as an act of serious treason in most kingdoms!
7. Mess With Those Gossip Stones
You’re probably already using the mask of Truth to get these Gossip Stones to spill some very useful tea about the world around you, but we encourage you to try setting off a bomb in their vicinity or simply using the Megaton Hammer on one.
It’s going to be okay, we promise, and you get some truly amusing animations for your efforts.
8. Zelda’s Lullaby Has A Unique Use
If you happen to break a wooden sign apart when you’re swinging your sword around, which could happen quite easily when you’re out and about in Hyrule, use your Ocarina to play Zelda’s Lullaby to watch the sign get rebuilt right in front of you.
It’s another returning addition to the original and is a great showcase of how the game encourages you to experiment with nearly every tool at your disposal to uncover interesting little details.
9. Navi’s New Glow-Up
An interesting touch that the remake has brought to the table is that Navi’s glow is a lot fuzzier and more natural this time around, letting her light up the world around Link a lot better.
There’s a more intricate pattern on her wings in comparison to the original to see, too, which is indicative of a lot of thought going into making the remake look and feel like an upgrade to a very familiar experience.
10. Young Link’s Clothes Come With A Story
Nintendo UK’s coverage of the game features a conversation with the developers about how the new hardware at their disposal allowed them to chase a level of detail hitherto impossible for the game.
The example they showcase is how they attempted to go as far as to create their own fabric, and even consulted with samples from museums, to give a hand-woven feel to Young Link’s clothes that would feel close to something made by children of the forest. That’s commitment, and it certainly shows in this one.
11. Link Actually Plays The Songs
A lovely detail that’s immediately noticeable in the remake is that Link’s actually playing the tunes you learn during your adventure this time around.
That was a static detail in the original version, and it can be quite addictive watching Link’s fingers move across the instrument’s holes as he guides the music in the direction he wants it to go.
12. The Ocarina’s Acoustic Range
Nintendo UK pointed out that the Ocarina’s resonance is going to vary based on where you’re playing it, which is a very nice addition to the remake.
It also pointed out that what you’re hearing is a performance that features the real breath of an ocarina, which adds a layer of authenticity to the tunes you teach Link as you explore and engage with Hyrule.
13. Kaepora Gaebora Likes A Practical Joke
Ride with the sagely yet talkative owl to Lake Hylia, and he’s going to dunk you quite deliberately into the water along the way. It’s a little bit of comedy from a character who’s known for quirky interactions that belie a deeper history and role.
Look out for this one, though. It’s one of our favorites, but you could miss it if you get distracted.
14. New NPC Routines Make Things Very Immersive
Places like the Marketplace were quite static in the original release, but the remake gives them a visual upgrade alongside systems that now govern how NPCs behave at different times of the day.
You can see vendors calling out to you and other potential customers during the day, while they wind things down as the hours go by before packing things up and heading home for the night. We’ve even seen a few folks enjoying as we passed by, all of which makes the world feel quite alive in the remake.
15. Scaling Tricks In Hyrule’s Skyline
The developers have directly presented important landmarks such as Hyrule Castle or the Windmill as larger in scale than the world around them to emphasize that they are points of interest worth exploring.
Conversely, areas that you aren’t going to make much headway in thanks to what you’ve got at your disposal are going to see reductions in their visual details, making it quite tangible that the game intends you to wait for the right time before paying them a visit.
And that’s about it for this one. You’re going to have plenty more of these little details to find as you go around Hyrule (look for Biggoron’s Sword if you want a challenge), but these are all ones that we’re still chuckling about.
This is a remake that has truly lived up to the game that inspired it, while bringing fresh new touches that are very welcome to the table.
Happy adventuring!
