The new look for Link in the remake of The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time initially repelled one reviewer. A few days later, he rewatched the demo on a larger screen, noticed character design details he had previously overlooked, and changed his opinion on the new art style. Nintendo showcased about 15 minutes of remake content during The Legend of Zelda series' 40th anniversary event on September 8.
In the demo, producer Eiji Aonuma introduced features such as the original's smaller world and traditional dungeons, while the visuals displayed the refreshed Kokiri Forest and Link. Upon first seeing Link, the author was particularly uncomfortable with the dense details and glossy finish, feeling it reminiscent of the generative images common in recent years, as well as the realistic-style fan-made series artwork.
While rewatching the demo, the author noticed a couple continuously spinning and dancing in the town square. In his view, while the environment and camera presentation had clearly expanded, these two characters still allowed him to recognize their original counterparts. He also discovered that the facial angles and hairstyles of adult ordinary residents differed from the rounder facial treatment given to Link and Zelda.
These details made the author realize that he had been too quick to dismiss the new art style at first glance, overlooking the design choices within. He also reflected on past artistic decisions in the series that sparked discussion, including the realistic impression left by the 2000 GameCube demo. This change of heart was the author's personal feeling after rewatching the footage.