The announcement that The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time would be getting a remake was a genuinely big moment for gamers who grew up playing the original back in the 1990s. It remains one of the greatest games of all time, and if the remake can replicate that with some shiny new graphics and quality-of-life features, then Nintendo should be on to a winner.
As such, it's fairly likely that a lot of people are going to want to get in on the action on day one, even with the release dates proximity to the impending arrival of the terrifying behemoth that is GTA VI. Unfortunately, some of those who were planning to buy the game as soon as it came out are set to be left out in the cold, after a major retailer took steps to cancel their launch plans for Ocarina of Time.
Those of you who grew up playing games in the 1990s and 2000s will know that midnight launches were once a staple part of video game releases. Queuing up in the middle of the night to pick up a copy of Halo or Mario was a rite of passage back then, and it forged thousands of friendships with like-minded individuals who lived in the same area.
Given the fact that this latest Zelda release is bringing the nostalgia back in spades, several major retailers worldwide are running midnight launches once again, to recapture a little bit of that old magic. Unfortunately, one of the biggest of those retailers has now had to step back from their plans, though it's likely for reasons entirely outside of their control.
As first reported by GameRant, French video game retailer Micromania announced that it is canceling their previously scheduled midnight launch plans for The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time. The company didn't go as far as explaining their sudden decision, but most are assuming that it could be related to the widespread unrest in several major cities in the country right now.
Interestingly, their original midnight launch plans included the idea of giving away an exclusive box designed to replicate the PAL box for the original N64 game. That obviously can't be given out in the same way anymore, so the store has pivoted to ensure that some can still get their hands on the bonus.
Now, if you pre-order the game via their website, you will be entered into a random draw for the additional prize. Though that means those who buy will be less likely to get one, there are 5000 available, so chances should still be pretty reasonable.
All of this comes around a week before the launch of The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time, which is set to arrive on November 5. Though it's obviously a huge shame that those in France won't be able to join the nostalgic fun that comes with a midnight launch, it's good that they'll still be able to secure the game and associated bonuses online.
