What the New Jump Button Means for Ocarina of Time Fans

Players who started with Breath of the Wild will feel right at home with the new jump button, while longtime fans get the option to use classic controls for the Jump Attack. It's a thoughtful balance…

Players who started with Breath of the Wild will feel right at home with the new jump button, while longtime fans get the option to use classic controls for the Jump Attack. It's a thoughtful balance…

Key points - The Switch 2 remake of Ocarina of Time adds a dedicated jump button, replacing the original auto-jump system. - Nintendo made the change to avoid jarring players accustomed to Breath of the Wild and later Zelda titles. - The new jump required extensive environment adjustments to account for player freedom and different jump distances for Young and Adult Link. - The Jump Attack now offers both a single-button and a two-step control scheme to satisfy fans of both old and new styles. - A proposed Breath of the Wild-style warp point system was scrapped after Aonuma felt it ruined moments of discovery.

Timeline - 28 years after original release: Nintendo announces and develops a Switch 2 remake of Ocarina of Time with a new jump button. - During development: Devs remove auto-jump and implement a single-button jump, leading to terrain and control adjustments. - In a recent Ask the Developer interview: Nintendo staff explain the reasoning behind the jump button and other changes.

FAQ

Q: Why did Nintendo add a jump button to the Ocarina of Time remake? A: To make the game feel less jarring for players used to modern Zelda titles like Breath of the Wild, where jumping is a standard action.

Q: Does the remake still have auto-jump? A: No, auto-jump has been removed. Link can now jump anywhere with a single button press, similar to recent Zelda games.

Q: Will the Jump Attack control change? A: The remake includes both a single-button and a two-step control scheme for the Jump Attack, so fans of the original and newer players can choose what feels best.