Ocarina of Time Remake Dreams Get Bigger as Death Mountain Takes Center Stage

You move on through Ocarina of Time. Taking a closer look at what a modern remake could change, especially as you move past the early areas. You've been to Kokiri Forest, Hyrule Field, and Castle Town. Now you're focusing on Death Mountain, and everything before it. However, here the vision is not just a visual upgrade but a bigger rethink of how these areas will feel and work.

And as you move forward, you realize that even small changes could alter the experience in meaningful ways. As you wander through Hyrule Field. You find scattered holes and hidden chests that add a little bit of variety, but they feel a little limited by today’s standards. You start to imagine one where they open into small caves, mini-dungeons, or more layered challenges.

You don’t expect simple hallways with a reward at the end, but puzzles and encounters more in line with modern Zelda design. Such expansion would give the overworld a sense of fullness. But without changing what it is. You look up at the sky and start to see details that probably would be changed in a remake.

The static skybox and spinning textures would be replaced by more natural clouds and smoother transitions. The day-night cycle also stands out as outdated, especially given how quickly it shifts. You’d expect a more gradual system that works consistently whether you’re in the field or inside a town.

When you enter places like Kakariko Village. The fixed-time system is starting to feel restrictive. You remember how some things are locked at certain times, so you have to go out, wait, and then come back. In a modern version, you would expect time to continue naturally. Therefore, making the world feel more connected. This would also mean NPCs would need schedules, moving around in ways that match the time of day.

As you walk through the village, smaller details begin to stand out more. The construction workers, for example, don’t actually build anything and just move back and forth. You’d expect updated animations that show real work being done, or at least something that makes their behavior believable. Visual improvements will obviously fix technical quirks like objects and textures not lining up.

Simultaneously, you start to think about tone, especially in the darker areas like the graveyard. The presence of skeletons and eerie spaces is crucial to the game’s identity. As you continue, the well in Kakariko Village feels like a missed opportunity early on. It doesn’t hint at its later importance, and you’d expect some subtle foreshadowing in a remake. Small environmental clues could suggest that there’s more beneath the surface. 

While heading to Death Mountain, you see that the environment and characters could use a little more visual contrast. 

The Gorons in the original blend in too well with the rocky surroundings. A modern version would likely use color and lighting to better separate them from their surroundings. This would make both the characters and the setting easier to read.

The story around the Gorons also feels like it could be shown more directly. You’re told they’re starving, but you don’t really see it in their appearance or behavior. In a remake, you’d expect visible signs of hunger and discomfort. Then, after resolving the problem, you’d want to see that change reflected in how they look and act.

Character expressions and animations are another area where improvements would stand out. When you meet Darunia, his dialogue says he’s angry, but his face doesn’t show it. You’d expect more expressive characters, especially during important moments. Voiced cut scenes would also help add life to these interactions. As we head back into the forest, the Lost Woods' structure begins to feel dated.

The segmented layout would probably be replaced by something more natural and continuous.

If you took the wrong path, you would still get lost, but it would feel like a real forest. As you reach Dodongo’s Cavern, the sense of danger doesn’t fully match the story. You’re told the area is overrun, yet there are only a few enemies present. In a remake, you’d expect a much heavier presence of Dodongos to reflect the situation. This would help to tie the dungeon closer to the story.

More modern mechanics would also be applied to gameplay systems. For instance, fire interactions might be used in puzzles where enemy attacks help you move forward. You’d have more dynamic problem-solving opportunities rather than static solutions. These additions would make the dungeon more like how recent Zelda titles handle physics and interaction. Movement and controls would be improved as well, if only in small but significant ways.

Even something as basic as grabbing onto a ladder mid-jump would feel more... responsive. Some of these tweaks help make the experience a little smoother without changing the core design. Boss encounters, especially King Dodongo, would likely become more ambitious. The size of the fight could be adjusted to match the setting and the buildup.

Perhaps you’ll notice several phases, new mechanics, and an expanded arena. Even after finishing the dungeon, the lighter moments with the Gorons still shine. Their humor and personality are part of what makes the game memorable. You’d want those moments to stay intact, even if they’re expanded. That balance between serious and playful is a good one to maintain.

At least you could have made the environmental hazards, like eruptions, more manageable as you get higher on Death Mountain.

Perhaps they'll become part of a more active challenge, rather than just stopping at convenient points. You may find yourself moving around them, using cover and timing to get through. It would be more fun to climb this way. There is also scope for subtle foreshadowing regarding the volcano itself. Distant noises or fast visuals might suggest something larger, like Volvagia. These details would add depth, but not too much too soon. It’s a way to build tension naturally.

When you encounter the Great Fairy, her design becomes another point of consideration.

The original version leans heavily on minimal clothing, which might be adjusted in a remake. You’d still expect the same elegance, but with a design that fits modern standards. This is one of those areas where changes feel likely. Travel mechanics also come into focus as the world expands. Shortcuts like the owl’s glide help early on, but they might not be enough in a larger version of Hyrule.

You could see new movement options come in over time, like a gliding ability. This would also mean less need for constant fast travel. And fast travel itself may change as well. You could have more flexible options, not restricted to certain songs. Or else they could serve a completely different purpose.

These possibilities provide you with an idea of how the main systems could change in a remake. As you think through all of these changes, it becomes clear how much potential there is in revisiting this game. The original already did a lot with the limitations it had. Such a modern retelling could build on that base both in familiar and new ways.