Entertainment · Gaming · 58 mins ago
Ocarina of Time Remake Keeps a Castle Town Soldier Alive
In the Ocarina of Time remake, a soldier in Hyrule Castle Town remains alive when Link finds him.
In the original game, he dies after warning Link that Ganondorf betrayed the king and telling him to go to the Temple of Time.
The scene takes place after Zelda and Impa flee and before Link travels through time.
In the remake, the soldier can repeat the directions, leading some players to say the game has softened a dark moment.
Later, when Link returns as an adult, the town is in ruins and its square is filled with Redead enemies.
The writer argues that the remake’s version is still haunting, because players know what will happen to the town and its people.
In the remake of The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time, a Castle Town soldier who dies in the original remains alive.
The soldier can be spoken to repeatedly and continues directing Link to the Temple of Time.
The Kotaku writer says the change has led some people to argue that the remake softens the original game’s dark themes.
The writer disagrees, saying the remake makes the visit to Castle Town haunting in a different way.
As Adult Link, players find Castle Town in ruins under Ganondorf’s rule.
- Who
- The Castle Town soldier and Link. The article also discusses Nintendo and people commenting on the remake.
- What
- The remake keeps a soldier alive who dies in the original game, and he continues directing Link to the Temple of Time.
- When
- After Zelda and Impa flee from Ganondorf, but before the time skip.
- Where
- The back alleys of Hyrule Castle Town.
- Why
- Not stated
People who say the remake softens the original
Kotaku writer
Change to the soldier’s scene
People who say the remake softens the original
They see the soldier staying alive as evidence that the remake has blunted the original’s darkness or censored itself.
Kotaku writer
The writer says the scene has not lost its power and that the remake makes the Castle Town visit haunting in a different way.
Possible reason for the change
People who say the remake softens the original
Some suggest Nintendo was concerned about exposing children to grim themes or about ratings.
Kotaku writer
The writer argues the change may instead reflect concern that players could get lost and need repeated directions.
Link can find the soldier in the Castle Town back alleys before the time skip.
In the original, the soldier tells Link that Zelda escaped and directs him to the Temple of Time before collapsing.
As Adult Link, the player emerges in Castle Town, which is in ruins and under Ganondorf’s rule.
- Original soldier’s fate
- He collapses and dies after directing Link to the Temple of Time.
- Remake soldier’s fate
- He stays alive and can be spoken to repeatedly.
- Location
- Hyrule Castle Town back alleys
- Next destination
- Temple of Time
- Adult Link’s Castle Town
- In ruins under Ganondorf’s rule
What people are saying
He’s not moving anymore….
the soldier lives, yes.
for me, the remake transforms visiting Castle Town between Zelda’s departure and Link’s first experience of time travel in a way that makes it one of the most haunting and sad moments in the entire game…especially if you know what’s coming.