Updated
Updated · Kotaku · Jun 11
Nintendo Fixed Ocarina Water Temple’s 2 Biggest Flaws in 3DS Version
Updated
Updated · Kotaku · Jun 11

Nintendo Fixed Ocarina Water Temple’s 2 Biggest Flaws in 3DS Version

3 articles · Updated · Kotaku · Jun 11

Summary

  • Two long-criticized Water Temple pain points were already addressed in Ocarina of Time 3D, offering a template for the upcoming remake.
  • The 3DS version let players map Iron Boots to a button instead of reopening menus every few seconds, removing the dungeon’s most tedious mechanic.
  • Nintendo also made 1 notoriously missed Small Key easier to spot by lingering the camera on the opening beneath the central tower when water levels changed.
  • Those 2 changes left the temple’s core design intact—its three-level hub, branching routes and Shadow Link fight—shifting the challenge from interface friction to navigation.

Insights

Did 'fixing' the Water Temple erase the shared struggle that made it so iconic for players?
What does the Water Temple's redemption reveal about 'good' versus 'bad' difficulty in game design?
With AI now creating game content, how can the unique design of a dungeon be legally protected?