Art Direction in Ocarina of Time is Award-Worthy

It’s not too often we see a remake of a game look worse than the original. By now, remasters and remakes happen regularly enough that we come to expect a certain upgrade in visuals and fidelity. For The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time, there is certainly a major upgrade in how the game looks compared to its Nintendo 64 predecessor. That said, this isn’t just an up-res lift from the old to the new. A completely revitalized Hyrule, including its inhabitants, good and evil, feels brand new thanks to an incredible art style I’m obsessing over since its release last week.

The Switch 2 version of The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time is one of the best-looking games on the console. Even for gamers who have only played Breath of the Wild or Tears of the Kingdom, it’s hard to deny this may be the most visually appealing Zelda game to date. Graphics and art style in a remake can make or break the experience. Do too little to differentiate the game, and you end up with The Wolf Among Us Remastered. Do too much, and it might feel like a different game entirely.

From the first trailer, Ocarina of Time looked both improved and unique. Link’s design sparked debate among purists online, and many wondered just how different the game would look. While Hyrule is still Hyrule, it’s hard to argue that every blade of grass and inch of these famous dungeons doesn’t ooze a new sense of life. It’s partially thanks to the power of modern consoles, but it’s more to do with the art style.

Part of what works well for the art style in the Ocarina of Time remake is the approach to realism. We are not looking at a photorealistic Hyrule like some of the Unreal Engine fan projects from over the years. The watercolor, cel-shaded approach to Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom is also missing, which was jarring for many who know that style as the signature Zelda look. The graphics in Ocarina of Time aim for hyper-detailed environments and doll-like characters that are simpler in their features and qualities.

The juxtaposition lets the space around the player pop in the best way. It’s also how the game maintains its fantasy elements while avoiding too much of an anime or cartoonish aesthetic. Why does this work so well? Well, in part, so much of the Ocarina of Time story is seen as a child’s journey to a greater purpose. These hero journeys work best when we see the little boy in the forest as relatively uninspiring, but the world around him is so fantastical. This approach lets us focus on the amazing sights around us and Link’s scale to the incredible feats he’s about to perform.

From the Temple of Time to the fog in Kokiri Forest, every element from the air to the ground is brimming with color, vivid stylings, and gorgeous lighting. The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time might not be the art style we see moving forward for every game, but I’d love something similar for Majora’s Mask. That said, every art style in Zelda games contributes heavily to its effectiveness as some of the most famous games of all time. Video games are art, and Nintendo nailed every element of The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time remake. It might not win Game of the Year, but its art direction is award-worthy in a crowded 2026 slate of games.