Nintendo is bringing back a familiar name for The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time remake. This 1998 classic game is once again ready to be launched on modern consoles. Naturally, the company wants to keep the original vibe for gamers. In this effort, the company has asked Yusuke Nakano, the artist who worked on the original Nintendo 64 game, to draw the map for the new version.
In a latest interview, the core team that worked on the game has revealed this. According to director HokWai Ng, “We didn't want to change the feel of each location or the way the locations connected with one another, both of which are so characteristic of The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time. So this time, as in the original game, we chose not to make the entire world seamless, instead using separate maps for different areas.”
The remake is set to launch on Nintendo Switch 2 on November 5, 2026. Bringing back the original artist shows that Nintendo wants to keep the game's old charm alive while giving it a fresh look. The team also tried hard to preserve how these areas connect with each other. Instead of turning the entire world into one large map, Nintendo has kept separate maps for different areas.
Notably, Nakano also worked on other Zelda games, including Majora's Mask and The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening. His return gives the remake a direct link to its roots. This choice to keep the original artist helps the remake stay close to the original game. While the visuals have been improved, the developers do not want the new version to lose what made the classic special.
Also Read: Nintendo Switch 2 vs Nintendo Switch OLED: Which Console Should You Buy in 2026?
Hyrule Field was one of the areas that needed special attention. Art director Aya Shida explained that the team wanted the field to look large and beautiful without making every visible place seem open for exploration.
To do this, Nintendo added more details to areas players can visit. Distant places have fewer details, making it clear that not everything in the background is meant to be explored. The team also made landmarks such as Hyrule Castle and the windmill appear larger. Nintendo's focus is not just on making Ocarina of Time look better. The company wants to bring back the feeling of exploring Hyrule for the first time.