- Primary Subject: The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time (Switch 2 Remake)
- Key Update: A complete visual and navigational overhaul of the infamous Water Temple could turn Zelda’s most frustrating dungeon into a modern masterpiece.
- Status: Opinion
- Last Verified: September 29, 2026
- Quick Answer: The Ocarina of Time Switch 2 remake can redeem the Water Temple by adding distinct visual landmarks, fluid currents, and seamless equipment controls.
The Water Temple is the most infamous dungeon from The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time.
It was definitely one of the most irritating dungeons during my playthrough. Like most people, I missed the floating block that uncovered a hidden passage, which meant I was running around aimlessly in this flooded maze. It didn't help that the texture variety was limited and had barely any landmarks - I was constantly getting lost. Link was also extremely hard to control underwater - the fact that he was so heavy while I was trying to maneuver through spiked Tektites was not fun.
We've already seen that Nintendo is planning to majorly upgrade Ocarina of Time for its Switch 2 remake. This is the perfect time to redeem the Water Temple.
I Hope the Ocarina of Time Remake Fixes the Water Temple
The Water Temple has definitely earned a reputation among Zelda gamers. Not only was the layout confusing, but the fact that you had to open the pause menu every thirty seconds to equip Iron Boots only made it worse. I remember being a kid and almost quitting the game altogether because of how fatigued I was from everything - and I played it on the 3DS, where the controls were just slightly better.
The Ocarina of Time remake has the power to do something major: fix the Water Temple.
If we think about it, the Water Temple fundamentals aren't that bad. The game is basically asking you to perceive the dungeon as a single, shifting 3D area. It just failed in execution - every hallway looked identical, making it easy to miss a hidden passageway and forcing you to start all over again.
READ MORE: Nintendo Rejecting a Ganondorf-Led Zelda Game Is a Heartbreaking Loss
The modern remake can fix this by giving us more lighting, distinct coral growths to create different elevation levels, and fluid water currents. Doing this will still give us that same spatial challenge, but will finally stop players from walking around mindlessly and backtracking whenever they realize they've already been in a certain hallway.
If Nintendo gets the UI hurdles out of the way and focuses instead on making the dungeon's atmosphere shine, then the Water Temple wouldn't just be redeemed - it would be celebrated online for being a glow-up and a masterpiece.
This would be a major fix, because the Water Temple actually gives us one of the greatest moments in The Legend of Zelda history - the duel against Dark Link. Imagine skipping that just because you were frustrated by this dungeon (like I almost did). Nintendo should want to avoid that at all costs, because even back then, stepping into that room with the lone tree felt magical.
I also hope that Nintendo amplifies the atmosphere of that duel with the Ocarina of Time remake. Add modern lighting and real-time water reflection underfoot to add to the immersion. Make that fight even more heart-pounding by refining the combat mechanics to mirror your exact inputs with no delay. There's so much potential here!
The Water Temple has spent decades being the worst part of Ocarina of Time. With the new remake, Nintendo doesn't need to redesign it - it just needs the tender, loving care it deserves.
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