23 Daily — On November 7, 2026, Eiji Aonuma, producer of the Legend of Zelda series, expressed his satisfaction with the notoriously difficult Water Temple dungeon in the classic game The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time, particularly in the new Switch 2 version after years of sequels and remakes. According to gamesradar.com, Aonuma believes the latest Water Temple offers a better gameplay experience.

Improvements in Water Temple: Simplified Controls and Camera Freedom

The original Water Temple debuted on the 1998 N64 Ocarina of Time, requiring players to equip iron boots to sink underwater, frequently toggling them through menus, which caused cumbersome gameplay. Aonuma acknowledged the dungeon's difficulty stemmed partly from how the system was presented.

In the Switch 2 remake, inspired by the 3DS remake, equipping the iron boots is simplified to a single button on-screen shortcut, allowing players to switch faster and focus more on puzzle solving rather than menu navigation.

Furthermore, the updated version features a more fluid camera system allowing players to adjust their view, aiding orientation in underwater or tight spaces—a limitation in the original version. Aonuma called this combination the best Water Temple version to date.

More Classic Levels and New Titles Expected from Nintendo

Nintendo executives have hinted at future remakes alongside original games. Producer Hidemaro Fujibayashi emphasized the importance of fresh ideas to keep the Zelda series innovative and vibrant.

Editor's take: Opportunities and Challenges in Classic Game Remakes

Aonuma’s satisfaction with the improved Water Temple highlights the trend of enhancing classic games for modern players. For game entrepreneurs, this signals the importance of revisiting legacy designs where controls or interfaces hinder player experience. Leveraging improved hardware and user interface refinements, remaking classics can satisfy nostalgic players and attract new audiences. Verifying this opportunity could involve tracking remake sales and player feedback or experimenting with interface simplification and control fluidity in original projects.