The 1990s was a wild time for the video game world, an industry that was still in its infancy, but learning all the time. The Sony PlayStation heralded in a new era of technology, while the Nintendo 64 had some of the best games of the 90s, such as Goldeneye and The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time. Speaking of Ocarina of Time, it may look severely dated at this point, but that isn't stopping one dedicated modder from imagining the beloved classic in a new engine.
User RwanLink, presumably named after the long-running series' silent protagonist, has been hard at work trying to reimagine Ocarina of Time in Unreal Engine 5. They recently uploaded a new video to YouTube, which showcases the Herculean effort they've been putting into the project, specifically Lake Hylia. The 13-minute clip shows a gorgeous rendition of the nearly 24-year-old release using modern software and techniques, acting as a sort of visual portfolio for the creator, who portrays the footage as a kind of cinematic experience rather than a game.
For those who are unfamiliar with the game, Lake Hylia is the location of the 18th heart piece, situated in Hyrule Field. The game has a total of 36 heart pieces scattered throughout the realm. In general, what RwanLink is creating is a reel of examples that show what a potential remake of the 1998 Nintendo 64 game could look like if it were redone from scratch in this engine.
Unreal Engine is one of the most powerful game development kits in the world, and is used in the production of many popular, and some more independent, titles, such as Fortnite, and upcoming releases, including Senua's Saga: Hellblade 2, and STALKER 2. The visuals that are presented in the YouTube video are an example of just how far gaming and game technology has come over the years, and anyone who is familiar with the original will no doubt see the difference immediately.
This is also not the first video that RwanLink has shown. Some more footage of Ocarina of Time done in UE5 was demonstrated back in December 2021. It doesn't appear that the modder/director is actually remaking the game itself, but instead is seemingly putting together an impassioned series of videos that show the nearly quarter of a century old release in a more filmic light. Using Unreal Engine 5 certainly allows them to stretch their creative prowess with the use of up-to-date visuals, lighting, and camera angles that really make the game look incredible.
The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time is available on Nintendo 64 and 3DS, as well as the Nintendo Switch.