Undeserved rave reviews? Zelda remake scores 96 on Metacritic

The original Ocarina of Time, released in 1998, is one of the highest-rated games of all time, with a Metascore of 99. The remake stays very close to the original in terms of gameplay. Its biggest selling points are a successful graphical overhaul and various quality-of-life improvements, which have helped it achieve a current Metascore of 96, making the Ocarina of Time remake one of the highest-rated games of the year. But does Nintendo's latest release really deserve such praise? The question becomes particularly relevant when considering the game for what it is: a remake.

At the time of writing, the Metascore is based on 84 critic reviews, most of which award the game a perfect score. The graphical overhaul has received particularly strong praise, with reviewers describing the new visuals as "fantastic," "impressive" and "beautiful." The improvements to controls and overall convenience have also been well received. Link can now jump freely and move the camera independently, for example. The soundtrack has also been re-recorded, while expanded dialogue and additional side quests provide some extra content. The core gameplay, however, remains largely unchanged.

Is it only truly great for newcomers?

Many reviews conclude that the Ocarina of Time remake is an excellent entry point for newcomers. Experienced Zelda veterans, however, may find it somewhat lacking. GameStar (in German) awards the game 92 out of 100, pointing to its relatively low difficulty, among other shortcomings. RPG Site is even more critical, giving it 80 out of 100 and criticizing the cumbersome item management system as well as the boss fights, which have been simplified compared to the original.

For newcomers, the Ocarina of Time remake appears to be an easy recommendation. Those who already know the original inside out, however, are mainly getting a prettier and more convenient version of a familiar adventure – one that is even less challenging in some areas. Thanks to the nostalgia factor, that could still be plenty of fun. Whether it justifies near-perfect review scores is another question, and it's exactly what fans are currently discussing on Reddit.

Some users suspect that nostalgia is playing a significant role in the glowing reviews. The argument is that many critics played the original themselves and may be awarding particularly high scores because of their fond memories of it. However, other users say they never played the original and are still thoroughly impressed by the remake. Would a comparable game without the famous Zelda name receive equally high ratings? Feel free to share your thoughts in the comments below.