Movement efficiency tests for The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time Remake show that while the newly added sprint is significantly faster than normal walking, Young Link can still reach destinations slightly earlier by continuously rolling. As players complete their initial experiences with the Switch 2 version, movement techniques have become a key topic of discussion.
Eiji Aonuma previously explained during a Zelda-themed Nintendo Direct that one reason for adding sprinting for Young Link in the remake was that players in the original version often used continuous rolls instead of walking. However, current test results indicate that this new action is still not the fastest way to travel.
After comparing various movement methods, speedrun channel Kethnaldo concluded that the most efficient technique is "forward jump into roll cancel." Players gain high momentum with a forward jump, immediately roll upon landing to cancel the recovery frames, and then quickly chain into the next forward jump. In a demonstration traveling from Kokiri Forest to Hyrule Castle, this technique remained about 4 seconds faster than normal running, even when mistakes were made.
This difference has limited impact on general playthroughs but may be useful for speedrun route design, record competition, and movement mechanics research. The tests were conducted on the current version of the remake, not the original; if Nintendo adjusts action parameters through future updates, the current conclusions may still change.