NPR Review of Zelda Remake Leaks Early
A review of The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time remake was posted to NPR's site by mistake before being deleted.
Updated on Nov. 4, 2026 in Gaming
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NPR published a review of The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time remake, then deleted it after it was uploaded by mistake. A Reddit user posted the review text to the GamingLeaksandRumors subreddit.
Why it matters
The leaked review offers an early look at the remake's reception, including praise for its visual overhaul and quest log alongside criticism of the targeting system. Participants in the Reddit thread believe it signals how reviews for the remake as a whole will turn out.
Famitsu rated the remake 37/40, against a perfect 40/40 for the 1998 original, which holds a Metacritic score of 100. The NPR review's full scoring was not included in the extraction, leaving the remake's overall critical standing unconfirmed.
The players
NPR
National Public Radio is a US nonprofit media organization that publishes news and reviews across its digital platforms.
Famitsu
Famitsu is a Japanese video game magazine whose review scores are widely followed in the gaming industry.
The details
The NPR review, written by James Perkins Mastromarino, praised the quick item menu, the Threads of Time quest log and the visual overhaul, while calling the targeting system clumsy. It also noted that several characters veer too far into the uncanny valley and that the Water Temple has been made less aggravating.
Timeline
November 4, 2026: The NPR review leak was reported.
Season Trajectory
The 1998 original set a Metacritic benchmark of 100, and Famitsu's 37/40 for the remake sits below its own 40/40 rating for the original. Early reactions such as the leaked NPR review will be measured against that reference point as more reviews are published.
Readers deciding whether to buy the remake can weigh the leaked NPR review's praise for the quick item menu and quest log against its complaints about the targeting system. Famitsu's 37/40 score provides a second critical data point for that decision.
The takeaway
Early reviews can surface before official publication, so readers may want to wait for consolidated critical scores before deciding on a purchase. Comparing a remake's scores against the original's benchmark gives a clearer picture of how it has been received.
Further reading
For more coverage of game releases and reviews, see the Gaming section.
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Do you think remakes of classic video games are worth buying?
