Yeah, they look different alright.

“Despite some minor blemishes, this is comfortably the most visually stunning work Nintendo has ever put out”

More than that, it’s the most visually stunning game ever. Somehow they managed to undersell the richness of the environments, especially Kakariko Village.

3DS version's aesthetics are definitely my favorite of the three. The Switch 2 one's certainly the most technically impressive but still not really that fond of how glossy everyone is and think most of the areas are overdesigned. Game also can't really seem to make up its mind if it's trying to expand on the look of the original, trying to look like BotW, or trying to do its own thing and it feels inconsistent at times as a result.

Good example of that off the top of my head, Ruto's overall look - especially her face - being very clearly retooled to more closely resemble the BotW Zoras, while Nabooru has a giant square nose and round eyes that while they kinda align with BotW are a lot more stiff and puppet-like to the point she more closely resembles her N64 model. The two designs just do not look like they belong together.

I love how pulling back the camera in the remake gives you a top-down angle like 2D Zelda. I ran around in 2D for a good 15 minutes when I discovered it.

While I'm loving the Switch 2 remake, I still really like the 3DS version. It looks like what one remembers of the 64 version after many years without checking it because the mind makes it look better in memories, I don't know how to explain it.

I have played the 3ds version but wasn't aware of how much better it looks than the OG. I thought it was just down to being on a smaller screen so looked better. To be fair tho, whatever console you play it on, what a belter of a game.

Oh, delicious.

Wow, never checked out the 3DS version properly before and didn’t realise what an upgrade it was over the original (I only got a 3DS way late and only for playing Bravely Default or such). Looks like it struck a perfect balance - lovely!

Remake is obviously stunning.

It’s interesting how empty the original environments are. Not how I remember it in my mind at all but obviously makes total sense from a power point of view.

The remake is a visual masterpiece, and I can’t wait to play it many many times.

3ds version looks the best for me. It’s not over designed and is stunning in 3D

The remake looks unbelievable. I'm not sure if this is hyperbole but I'm struggling to think of a game that looks better on any console. Alan Wake 2 perhaps?

Hmm. It might be my eyes getting older but they all look basically identical. I can't really pick which one looks best - I think I'll have to wait until DF make a video showing which one is running at the best frame rate.

If DF can tell me that one of them is running at 29 FPS and the others are running at 28 FPS I'll immediately be able to make my decision as to which has the best graphics...

@Jey887 Death Stranding 2 if you can stay awake long enough to appreciate it.

@Lizuka Yes, overdesigned is the word. Sometimes it just looks like they tried to cram in as much detail as possible and then some. There are lots of things which are beautiful if looked at separately and from time to time I think "they really nailed this design here", but rarely on a whole unfortunately. It's easy to be impressed by technical fidelity. It might be harsh to say the art direction is all over the place, but it's not uniform as you point out and has some other serious flaws.

The 3DS version is a bit oversaturated in some instances but is very faithful to the original which laid a foundation with good art direction even if limited by the graphics at the time. There's no ultimate version in my eyes, but I'll always favor solid art direction over the technical side.

N64 is the most consistent, 3DS is an improvement with some drawbacks and Switch 2 is the biggest leap but a bit fatiguing and has a few too many distracting design choices.

As per usual deadhand is... deadhand, I love the 3ds port but something always pulled me away from my 3ds (maybe its that its the original model). Switch 2 looks great but technically its not the original n64 title, 3DS port on something like a new 2DS xl (or a different new 3ds model) could make my experience better though.

This remake makes the game look so beautiful

It's quite a nice reimagining and does look beautiful but it's not remotely as cutting edge as the N64 version when it came out. There is plenty of more visually striking games on every platform: there were almost none when the original came out.
Still, it's such a treat to immerse in a game so dear and so beautiful.

@roy130390 You're exactly right. OoT3D is Ocarina 'how people remember it,' vs the blurry mess that capped out at 20fps on N64. It's a great way to experience the original's artistic vision without the original's hardware limitations. Whereas this Switch 2 remake is more of a re-envisioning of OoT: broadly the same game, but with wildly different aesthetics.

@Nei OoT is the godfather of all 3D action adventure games, period. Nothing Nintendo or anybody else makes will ever be a fraction as cutting edge as that game was in its time. The medium is simply too evolved at this point.

I was playing last night and as I left Lake Hyrule I just stopped and positioned the camera to look out across the field to Death Mountain. I just had to stop for a few seconds and just marvel at just how good everything looked!

I’ve said this so many times by now but it never really clicked how unlike a forest Kokiri Forest was until I saw the new Kokiri Forest in the Zelda Direct. It’s night and day—I can’t believe how little foliage there was before 😂

My NintendoLife is broken! It's all Zelda now!!

@Nergil I have been having trouble staying awake to appreciate DS2...I got the collector's edition too... 😓

@Zeeba I want to love it, I've started 3 times and not gotten very far. Gorgeous game though especially PS5 Pro with cool ideas, but so much of it feels like work. Maybe someday I'll be in just the right mood for it.