Jon Batiste says Ocarina of Time remake keeps its spirit
The musician has played Nintendo’s remake early but not finished it. He says it may hold surprises while staying true to the 1998 game—and its iconic score.
Jon Batiste says Nintendo’s new The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time remake may bring “twists” and “surprises” while remaining recognisably close to the 1998 game. In an interview with Variety at the game’s New York launch event on Wednesday, November 4, the musician shared an early impression after playing through early access; the remake released for Nintendo Switch 2 on Thursday, November 5.
“I’ve gotten to play the new one, and I haven’t finished it,” Batiste told Variety. He said the changes he had encountered seemed welcome, but added: “it’s not gonna be completely different. And that’s to its credit.” His comments are a first reaction, not a verdict on the whole game.
What Jon Batiste says the remake preserves
Batiste’s affection for the original comes from the way it mixed familiar fun with a world that felt expansive. He recalled playing Street Fighter 2 with his sister and cousins, then encountering Ocarina of Time’s blend of open-world role-playing and action-adventure. The 1998 Nintendo 64 game, he said, made it feel possible to combine kinds of gameplay he already loved.
That mix is part of why he hopes the remake retains the original’s identity even as it introduces changes. Batiste described the game as feeling “like you’re in a universe all its own.” Variety identifies the new release as a remake of the Nintendo 64 title, rather than a wholly different story: Link must protect Hyrule from Ganondorf, who seeks the Triforce.
The music matters to Batiste, too. He singled out the Ocarina of Time score by composer Koji Kondo, recalling that game music helped draw him toward playing instruments as he grew older. His comments connect the remake’s appeal to more than updated visuals: for him, the soundtrack is part of what made the original memorable.
How the Ocarina of Time remake changes Link
The remake’s presentation has already prompted debate. WIRED describes it as a ground-up overhaul reaching beneath surface textures, and says child Link has been given more detailed facial features. The outlet reported fans comparing the new look with characters from Twilight and the Gerber Baby, while noting that the remake’s background characters look simpler by comparison.
WIRED contrasts the remake with the 2011 Nintendo 3DS version, which it says used the original game’s underlying geometries. The 2026 release changes those foundations as well as the surface, making the question of how much can change before a familiar character feels different part of the conversation around the remake.
WIRED also reported that Nintendo confirmed the game uses AMD FSR, an upscaling tool. Asked by the outlet whether generative AI tools were used in designing the characters, Nintendo declined to comment; its use in the design process has not been established.
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Sources and context
- What ‘Legend of Zelda’ Superfan Jon Batiste Thinks of ‘Ocarina of Time’ Remake and the Game’s Iconic ScoreVariety
- The ‘Ocarina of Time’ Remake Is Finally Here, but Why Does Link Look so Yassified?WIRED
AI-assisted article checked against the listed sources. NewsJaws did not conduct interviews or attend the reported events.