Ocarina Of Time Remake Producer Explains Why Mario Easter Eggs Were Cut

Ocarina Of Time Remake Cut Mario References To Not “Interrupt” Immersion Published Nov 5, 2026, 1:00 PM EST George is the Lead News Editor for TheGamer, and has been working in the industry since 2021 after graduating from the University of South Wales with a bachelor's degree in Journalism. He has also previously written for RPG Site, WhatCulture, and PlayStation Lifestyle. George is an expert on platformers, action games, and fighters, but tends to play as many releases as possible. This hands-on experience lets him dive into gaming communities and follow the latest trends. Some of the games George has extensively covered first-hand include Dead Rising, Dragon Ball: Sparking Zero, Assassin's Creed Shadows, and Ninja Gaiden 4. Sign in to your TheGamer account The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time has removed some of the original game’s Super Mario easter eggs to make sure players are as immersed as possible. If you’re a Zelda veteran or just an easter egg aficionado, then you no doubt know that Ocarina of Time included a few cheeky references to Nintendo’s other juggernaut series, Super Mario. Talon’s design and the Bowser pendant that he and his daughter wear are the obvious ones, but the real treat is a bunch of Mario portraits that can be seen through the windows of Zelda’s courtyard. Even though the easter egg is really just a few images from Super Mario 64 and Mario Kart 64, it’s still a beloved secret from the original game. Sadly, those portraits are nowhere to be found in the Ocarina of Time remake, which the series’ producer has explained was done to keep players focused on being immersed in Hyrule. Ocarina Of Time Remake Is So Focused On Immersion That It Removed The Mario Portraits “Why Is Yoshi There?” As pointed out by GameXplain founder Andre Segers on Twitter, looking through the windows of Zelda’s courtyard in the Ocarina of Time remake will no longer treat you to some pixely Mario artwork. IGN points out that the windows now give you a sneak peek at the full Threads of Time tapestry, which, while gorgeous, is a bit of a downgrade. GoNintendo actually had the chance to ask Zelda series producer Eiji Aonuma about the Mario portraits being removed from the remake. Aonuma said that some of the game’s developers asked about adding nods and references to the overall timeline, which he shot down so they could focus on making “the best version of Ocarina of Time that we can”. The producer went on to say that including the portraits in the original game wasn’t “too big a deal”, but that it could “interrupt” the player’s immersion and sense of worldbuilding in the more detailed remake. As Aonuma puts it, if players walk into the courtyard and think “Why is Yoshi there?”, then it could take away from the moment. Considering how much effort has gone into updating Ocarina of Time and making it more detailed and immersive for a new generation, it’s a fair point. I don’t think the Mario portraits would have really impacted anyone’s experience all that much, but at least we know why they’re missing in action. The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time Systems 5.0/5 Released November 5, 2026 ESRB Everyone 10+ / Animated Blood, Fantasy Violence Developer(s) Nintendo Publisher(s) Nintendo Genre(s) RPG, Action, Adventure