Zelda: Ocarina of Time Remake Adds Jump Button—But N64 Original Almost Had One

Did you know that Link almost had a jump button back in 1998? It's true—and it's all coming full circle with the upcoming Zelda: Ocarina of Time remake.

The remake's trailer recently revealed a dedicated jump button, a modern twist on the classic formula. Instead of relying on auto-jump prompts at ledges, you'll be able to leap manually. But here's the kicker: this feature was actually in the original N64 game during early development, according to a resurfaced 2011 Iwata Asks interview.

In that chat, Nintendo veteran Yoshiaki Koizumi and late president Satoru Iwata discussed how Mario and Zelda games were often "made as a pair." Iwata noted that Zelda is the one where you don't press a button to jump—but Koizumi corrected him: "Even when it comes to that, you had to press a button to jump when we first started making The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time." Iwata confirmed: "At first, it didn't have autojump."

So why the change? Koizumi explained that while developing Super Mario 64, the team was thinking about Ocarina of Time "the whole time," which led to discussions about "decreasing the action element in The Legend of Zelda and increasing the puzzle elements." The exact reason for the switch to auto-jump isn't explicitly stated, but it seems Nintendo wanted to tilt the balance toward puzzle-solving rather than action.

Fast forward to today, and the remake is bringing back the jump button—big time. Set to launch on November 5, the remake also adds new sidequests, harder minigames, and subtle dungeon tweaks. It's a fresh take on a classic, and for many fans, the jump button alone is a game-changer.

Whether you're a purist or a newcomer, this change could alter how you navigate Hyrule's puzzles and platforms. Will you be picking up the remake and jumping for joy? Let us know what you think!