Zelda: Ocarina of Time Remake’s ESRB Rating Change Sparks Fan Curiosity

Last month, Nintendo revealed the long-anticipated remake of The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time with a brief teaser. While details about the remake and its release date later this year remain scarce, a new ESRB rating has sparked speculation among fans regarding potential changes to the iconic Great Fairies.

On July 29, Nintendo updated the official store page for the upcoming Ocarina of Time remake, now featuring an ESRB rating of E10+. The page outlines the content that contributed to this rating, noting “Animated Blood, Fantasy Violence.” This aligns with the original game and its 3DS remaster, both of which included combat and swordplay.

However, the new ESRB rating lacks a notable element. The 3DS version of Ocarina of Time also carries an E10 rating but includes “Animated Blood, Fantasy Violence, and Suggestive Themes.” The original game was rated E, but that rating system didn’t account for E10 when it launched on the N64 in 1998. This discrepancy has led some fans to worry that Nintendo might alter the remake, particularly the design of the fairies, which could be seen as too risqué in a more modern art style.

This theory isn’t entirely far-fetched. The ESRB description for the Ocarina of Time 3DS remaster mentions that Link encounters female characters depicted from low angles and dressed in outfits that reveal moderate cleavage, hinting at the source of the suggestive themes warning.

Some fans have speculated that certain scenes or dialogue might be toned down to reduce darker or more adult elements. However, it’s worth noting that when Ocarina of Time was re-released on the Wii’s Virtual Console, it received an E rating without any mention of suggestive themes, and the fairies remained unchanged in that version. Plus, considering the fairies in Breath of the Wild, who were quite bold in their design and inspired a wealth of fan art, it’s possible that the Ocarina fairies could take on a similar look, which many fans would likely appreciate.

For now, concerns may be unfounded, or the fairies could indeed be redesigned or covered up. Until more information about the game is revealed, we can only speculate as we await its arrival on Switch 2 later this year.