Ocarina of Time Switch 2 Remake: Bill Trinen Calls N64 Classic the 'Perfect' Starting Point for New Zelda Players

The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time has long been held up as a defining entry in Nintendo's flagship franchise. Originally developed by Nintendo for the Nintendo 64 and first released in 1998, Ocarina of Time established many of the series’ narrative and design touchstones and has been reissued several times, including a 2011 Nintendo 3DS remaster developed by Grezzo and later digital and compilation releases on Nintendo platforms. At a launch event for the newly released Switch 2 remake held at Nintendo’s San Francisco store, Nintendo of America’s VP of Player & Product Experience Bill Trinen reiterated that Ocarina of Time remains an ideal starting point for players new to the series. Trinen argued that the game teaches core information about the Zelda universe—introducing its central characters, setting, and mechanics—and therefore functions as a foundational story for later entries. In his remarks, Trinen summarized the game's role in the series by saying it maps out Link’s hero’s journey, clarifies the relationship between Link and Zelda, and frames the antagonism with Ganondorf. He emphasized that Ocarina of Time communicates the franchise’s moral center, where themes of wisdom and courage are presented as counterweights to raw power. Why that matters for Switch 2 players The Switch 2 remake aims to bring Ocarina of Time’s core design to Nintendo’s latest hardware, allowing newcomers and longtime fans to experience the game with updated visuals and controls. The title’s legacy—dating back to the Nintendo 64 release and through the 3DS remaster—means many of the story beats and gameplay systems introduced in Ocarina of Time recur across subsequent Zelda titles, making it a useful primer for understanding the series’ recurring motifs. Context and platform history Ocarina of Time debuted on the Nintendo 64 in 1998 and has since been reissued on multiple Nintendo formats, most prominently as a dedicated 3DS remaster in 2011 by Grezzo. Nintendo continues to promote its back catalogue via digital storefronts such as the eShop and through periodic hardware-focused showcases like Nintendo Direct events. For players approaching Zelda for the first time, Nintendo’s messaging—articulated by Trinen at the Switch 2 launch—positions Ocarina of Time as both a historical landmark and a practical entry point into the franchise’s world and themes.