TL;DR: The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time remake launches tomorrow, November 5, exclusively on Nintendo Switch 2. It’s US$59.99 digital and US$69.99 physical. The catch for us: the Philippine Nintendo eShop doesn’t open until November 10, so if you want it on day one, you’ll need a physical copy or a foreign eShop account.
Kung isa ka sa mga lumaki sa N64 era, or you first met Link on the 3DS version, ito na ‘yon. Nintendo revealed the release date at the Zelda 40th Anniversary Direct back in September, and the game is finally here, two weeks before GTA VI eats everyone’s free time on November 19.
What’s new in the remake
This isn’t a Breath of the Wild-style reimagining. The dungeons, the quest items, the Z-targeting combat, nandiyan pa rin lahat. What Nintendo rebuilt is everything around it:
- All-new visuals and an orchestral soundtrack. Kokiri Forest, Hyrule Field and Hyrule Castle Town got a full glow-up.
- Voice acting for the cutscenes, a first for this game.
- Hum the ocarina songs. You can sing Zelda’s Lullaby or Epona’s Song into the Switch 2’s built-in mic instead of pressing buttons. Buttons still work, so walang pressure kung sintunado ka.
- A real jump button and proper camera controls, instead of Link auto-jumping off ledges.
- A quest log that shows your progress and your next objective. Perfect for players who drop the game for a week and forget kung saan na sila.
- Faster item swapping, closer to how modern Zelda games handle it.
- Zelda Notes support in the Nintendo Switch app, the companion feature that debuted with the Switch 2 editions of Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom.
One important note: it’s Switch 2 only. It won’t run on the original Switch.
Price and editions
- Digital: US$59.99
- Physical: US$69.99, with a limited-quantity textured foil cover
There are no pre-order bonuses. Nintendo also released a Zelda 40th Anniversary Edition Switch 2 last October 29, along with a matching Pro Controller and carrying case, but the game isn’t bundled with that console.
Official Philippine peso pricing hasn’t been announced, so check with your suki game shop before you go.
How to play it on day one in the Philippines
Dito medyo tricky for Pinoy players. The Nintendo eShop and Nintendo Switch Online only go live in the Philippines on November 10, five days after launch. So your options are:
- Buy a physical copy. Switch games are region-free, so an imported or locally distributed copy will work on your console. Ask your go-to store about stock and SRP muna, since local pricing isn’t confirmed.
- Use a foreign eShop account. If you already have a US, Hong Kong or Japan account (like most of us, matagal na), you can buy it there on launch day using that region’s eShop cards.
- Wait for the PH eShop on November 10. You’ll need your Nintendo Account set to the Philippines and a Philippine-issued card. Nintendo hasn’t said how existing foreign accounts will be handled, so don’t switch regions until the details are out.
Is it worth it?
If you’ve only played Ocarina of Time through Nintendo Switch Online or the 3DS, this is the most complete version of it yet. And if you’ve never played it at all, this is the game that defined 3D Zelda, now without the clunky 1998 camera. Sulit na entry point.
The real question is your schedule. Between this, WoW: Forever, and GTA VI on November 19, November is shaping up to be a very expensive month for gamers. Budget wisely, mga ka-PGN.
Will you be humming Saria’s Song into your Switch 2 tomorrow? Sound off in the comments.
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