Harbour Masters recently completed its Ocarina of Time PC port, which is leagues better than the version released through Nintendo Switch Online.
Nintendo recently included The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time in its heavily criticized Nintendo Switch Online Expansion Pack, but the unofficial PC port from Harbour Masters is significantly better. The Japanese gaming giant has gained a reputation in recent years for releasing sub-par or overpriced products, specifically ones that serve as modern-day ports or remasters of classic games. This criticism has been applied to releases like 2020’s Super Mario 3D All-Stars, which many considered akin to an emulation with little to no improvements made to its three included entries.
The Zelda franchise has not fared much better, as Ocarina of Time on Switch has save states and other minor improvements, but the port has been heavily criticized for a number of other reasons. Like with the Super Mario All-Stars collection, Ocarina of Time on Switch is more of an emulation than a proper re-release or remaster, which the award-winning game arguably deserves, especially after getting such a well-received remaster on the Nintendo 3DS. In fact, some analyses have found that the Switch version of OOT, at least at launch, actually had worse graphics that the N64 original, along with miscellaneous issues like input lag. This port’s case has not been helped by the fact that it is tied to the Nintendo Switch Online Expansion Pack, which didn’t land well with many gamers.
PC Zelda fans are faring a bit better, however, as a fan-made HD version of Ocarina of Time was completed earlier this year. Aside from the fact that this port is free thanks to the legal use of fan-sourced N64 ROMs and Harbour Masters’ proprietary Ship of Harkinian software, it is significantly better than the current Switch version in almost every regard. Thanks the hard work of dedicated developers, the PC version of Ocarina of Time functions better as both a faithful re-release of a classic game and as a standalone title than the official Switch port.
Harbour Masters’ Ocarina of Time port includes a number of contemporary features and implements that gamers have come to expect from a re-release in 2022. Ocarina of Time on PC can run at 1920×1080 resolution and has widescreen and ultra-wide support. Recent updates have further expanded these modern staples, allowing players to run the game at 60FPS. While the port isn’t quite on the level as an Unreal Engine 5 version of Ocarina of Time, it is noticeably crisper, faster, and smoother than the original N64 release. The game also loads significantly faster than its 1998 predecessor thanks to a reworked asset organization structure that is more in-line with how contemporary titles are designed.
Post-launch user-generated content and support helps this Ocarina of Time PC port as well. Mods can be added to the game that introduce even more modern technical features like ray-traced shadows and alternate textures, alongside more creative and outside-the-box implementations that can further enrich the overall experience. Thanks to the aforementioned restructuring of assets, it is much easier to create mods for this version of the game compared to emulated N64 versions. The port was only recently completed, which means that its mod support will likely continue to grow, whereas the official versions of Ocarina of Time will presumably remain stagnant.
Meanwhile, the Switch version of Ocarina of Time has key features missing and has been reported to be generally inferior to the original game and its subsequent re-releases. Ocarina of Time‘s resolution was bumped to 720p on the Switch, but the framerate has remained the same, with no reported plans to increase it any time soon. Additionally, the Switch edition lacks the other staples of modern gaming, forgoing common things like widescreen support. Even worse is the fact that the Switch port actually looks worse in some ways to the original, with Nintendo having to issue post-launch patches to fix graphical issues, with one area of the Water Temple being particularly infamous for its lack of fog. Asset pop-in and input lag have also been reported as issues in the Switch port. Granted, the Switch is not as powerful as most gaming PCs, but it is significantly more capable than a Nintendo 64, so these problems should arguably not be as prevalent as they are.
Switch games like Nintendo Switch Sports have many accessibility options, but this is not the case for the Ocarina of Time port, which doesn’t feature anything new when it comes to accessibility. Considering the fact that accessibility is a common subject of discussion in the world of modern gaming, this seems like a glaring oversight. For example, gyro controls, which can help those with motor function limitations, are not included in the Switch version of the game. This is especially strange since Ocarina of Time on the 3DS, which released in 2011, featured gyro controls, and the Switch is more than capable of implementing features such as gyro aiming.
Not only does the PC version of Ocarina of Time offer gyro aiming, it also has a number of additional accessibility options, including text-to-speech and alternate movement systems. The original Ocarina of Time was modeled after Dragon Quest‘s difficulty, which resulted in it being quite balanced, but there are still some ways that it can be improved for players with varying levels of physical or mental ability, along with those who are simply inexperienced or lack certain skills. The Ocarina of Time PC port delivers in this way, as it includes a number of GameShark-style cheats that can make the experience easier. These accessibility considerations are nowhere to be found in the official Switch port of the game, which is another way it is inferior to the PC port.
Ocarina of Time is one of the most essential pieces of gaming media ever created, and players will likely get enjoyment out of it regardless of platform, but those with the choice between playing it on PC or Switch should choose the former. The Switch version of Ocarina of Time has been fixed since launch, but it still fall short of many other versions of the game, including the Harbour Masters PC port. On top of this, the accessibility options make the new PC port a much better option for the differently abled and inexperienced. The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time on PC will continue to expand with new features and content from both Harbour Masters and independent creators, so it will likely be even better down the road.
Nick Rodriguez is a Senior Writer for Screen Rant. While vigorously passionate about books, movies, and music, he was particularly drawn to video games since he first laid eyes on Spyro the Dragon and (much to his mother’s distaste) Silent Hill. More recently, his favorites have included Disco Elysium, Red Dead Redemption II, Kentucky Route Zero, and the Mass Effect series. Presently, he spends most of his time typing away in the chilly state of Wisconsin.
