The original Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time occupies a similar space in my heart as The Black Cauldron, The Last Unicorn, The Neverending Story, The Dark Crystal, and all of the other fantastical experiences of the ’80s and ’90s in that, while fundamental to creating who I am today, they were also extremely dark. Though Majora’s Mask is (understandably) referred to as the darkest Legend of Zelda game, it’s crucial to remember that Ocarina of Time had its fair share of creepy content, too. Part of this is due to the game’s themes and subtle focus on mortality, but it’s also worth noting that some of this was simply due to there being some characters and enemies in that game were horrifying.
That said, not all of Ocarina of Time’s characters permanently scarred me. On the contrary, some of them perhaps even awoken something in me, but that’s between me and the woman working at the Bombchu bowling alley. Regardless, the recent announcement of an Ocarina of Time remake has left me reminiscing about these characters, and I’ve grown increasingly eager to see how they might be reimagined in 2026. Here are the ones I am most excited to see, as well as the ones that are sure to re-haunt me once the game launches later this year.
Stay away: The Lake Scientist
In case you forgot, one of the first things this guy says to you is, “You may not have noticed, but I’ve been watching you,” which is one hell of way to begin a conversation. While that’s already enough to put a person on edge, The Lake Scientist’s distinctly skeletal appearance certainly doesn’t help things. With his Skulltula-shaped face, nearly detached jaw (which contains four equally spread apart teeth), and a distinctly haunted expression that seems to look past Link and into the very soul of the person playing the game, this man was an unreasonably frightening figure.
Excited for: Richard
I cannot wait to be reunited with Mamamu’s precious (and precocious!) pup Richard. According to Mamamu, Richard is a special dog–one with the ability to outrun all of Hyrule Castle Town’s other “mutts” and a “very special coat.” Part of this, of course, seems likely to reflect Mamamu’s own bias towards her beloved fur son, but you have to admit, the dog’s got style. One of Ocarina of Time’s most heartbreaking moments is when you see Mamamu in the future and she informs you that Richard passed away. “He was such a famous puppy,” she proclaims, as she reminisces about the small, spunky terrier. He was, Mamamu. He really was.
