Ocarina of Time Remake Beginner Guide: Opening Route, Early Items & Mistakes

Practise four things first

The remake controls more like a modern action game than the N64 original. Spend the first half hour in Kokiri Forest with these four actions before pushing the story.

1. Jumping is manual now

The remake removes the original auto-jump and gives you a jump button you can use anywhere.Official

In the original, Link jumped automatically at specific ledges, which builds muscle memory that no longer helps. In the remake, turn the camera, judge the gap, then press jump. Jump too early and you fall; too late and you clip the edge.

Jump attack defaults to two steps: jump, then attack. If you prefer the original one-button jump attack, switch to that option in the settings.

2. Dash and roll

Hold the roll button to dash, while the original forward roll remains available for travel.Official

The dash is good for long distances and chasing enemies, but it is not invulnerability: running into an enemy still hurts. Caves are narrow and the dash overshoots easily, so walk first and accelerate once you can see the floor ahead.

3. Free camera and locking on

Use the right stick to move the camera. In caves, spin it around before walking so you do not miss an entrance or a platform above. In combat, still use the lock-on: circle the enemy, keep the shield up and strike when it is stunned.

If you prefer an inverted camera, change it in the settings before the first boss, not during the fight.

4. The ocarina: buttons or humming

The ocarina accepts button input, or you can hum the melody into the Switch 2's built-in microphone.Official

Learn the song on buttons first, then try humming. Buttons are consistent and repeatable; humming is fun but sensitive to the room. You can switch between them at any time.

Switch 2 controls in one line

Jump is X, dash is hold A, and ZL locks on. That covers almost every gap and fight in the opening. The full Switch 2 controls page has the complete button table, the microphone settings and the first settings to change.

First dungeon: the Great Deku Tree

The Great Deku Tree is the tutorial dungeon. It walks you through the whole loop:

1. Get the map and compass. The map shows floors; the compass marks chests and the boss.
2. Find small keys. Note locked doors before spending a key on the first one you see.
3. Get the slingshot. It is the key item for the boss.
4. Get the boss key and open the boss door.
5. Beat the one-eyed spider. Hit its eye with the slingshot, then attack while it is down. Clear or avoid the small spiders when they close in.

The Great Deku Tree is the first dungeon, teaching the map, compass, small keys, boss key and boss-fight loop.Official

Clearing it gives you the first Spiritual Stone and opens Hyrule Field. Later dungeons repeat the same loop at a larger scale with more items.

Early items worth grabbing

• Deku Shield: buy it in Kokiri Forest. Wood burns, so replace it before Death Mountain.
• Slingshot: found in the Great Deku Tree, your first ranged option.
• Bombs: on the Death Mountain route, useful for puzzles and combat.
• Fairy Ocarina: obtained after leaving Kokiri Forest, used to play songs.
• Zelda's Lullaby: learned during the castle story, opens several mechanisms.
• Epona's Song: learned at Lon Lon Ranch, summons your horse as an adult.
• Saria's Song: learned from Saria, used for contact and puzzles.
• Sun's Song: learned at the graveyard, switches day and night and affects some enemies.

Pick up Heart Pieces and bottles when they are on your path, but do not stop the story for a full collection. The route is in the collectibles guide.

Six common beginner mistakes

1. Expecting a new story: this is a remake. The story and dungeon structure follow the original; the new parts are visuals, voice, music and controls.
2. Waiting for auto-jump: Link no longer jumps at ledges by himself. Press jump.
3. Humming in a noisy room: move somewhere quiet or switch back to buttons.
4. Wasting a key on the first locked door: note every locked door before spending keys.
5. Flipping Water Temple switches blindly: understand the water-level logic first. The route is in the story walkthrough.
6. Entering Ganon's Castle empty: restock potions, arrows and bombs before the final run.

Practical ocarina humming

• Quiet room: fans, TVs and other people all interfere with recognition.
• Hum, do not shout: keep a steady pitch and follow the rhythm the game shows.
• Confirm the melody on buttons first: if you are not sure you are humming the right notes, play it once with buttons.
• Check the microphone settings: make sure the in-game microphone input is not muted and any sensitivity option is set sensibly.
• Fall back to buttons: button input always works, so do not fight the microphone mid-puzzle.

Next

Once the controls feel natural, read the story walkthrough for the Child and Adult eras, or go straight to the ocarina songs.