A new update to the Nintendo Expansion Pack tier for Switch Online’s N64 emulation seems to have brought the classic mists of war to the… The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time, NintendoLife report.
As noticed by Twitter users like @OatmealDomeThe newly released version 2.0.0 fixed visual issues in Ocarina and other emulator N64 games, previously allegedly not visually matching the original.
[Nintendo Switch Online – N64]
Version 2.0.0 is now available. Looks like there’s a bunch of game config updates that I’ll cover in another tweet.
However, it is worth noting: the famous Water Temple room is completely repaired, as the fog has been restored. pic.twitter.com/LdYX7t4lHS
– OatmealDome (@OatmealDome) February 25, 2022
N64 Switch Online: they added the fog back. I believe Mount Choco in MK64 is also fog free? The final image is what the entrance to the Forest Temple looks like at launch. # Nintendo64 #NintendoSwitchOnline #NintendoSwitch pic.twitter.com/Cnvvpw3g4Z
– Fernando (@ Ferchou_27) February 25, 2022
“Fog of war” has several meanings: In strategy games, it is used to denote areas on the map that are covered in darkness until you explore them. In more classic games, like Ocarina of Time, fog is used to obscure distant objects that are not visible thanks to weaker hardware than we usually do in modern times. It’s a small change in the end, but as seen in the images above, it can have a noticeable impact on the visual style of the game. Previously, Ocarina of Time players using the Switch’s N64 emulator could see the Deku Tree in all its wooden glory from any distance, as illustrated in this video from Youtuber ZFG.
What Ocarina of Time’s Deku Tree would look like without the fog before 2.0. Credit: ZFG on YouTube
This update after a same improvement to the image from last monthwhen Nintendo showed up to fix the water reflection in Dark Link’s boss room.
Nintendo’s 2.0.0 update also seems to have fixed some currently unknown issues with Banjo-Kazooie.
Joseph Knoop is a writer/producer for IGN.
https://www.ign.com/articles/nintendo-switch-ocarina-of-time-patch-fog Nintendo Switch online patch brings back Ocarina of Time’s missing fog
