Connect with us
DAPA Banner

NewsBeat

The six ways the war in Middle East will hit UK household bills

Published

on

Manchester Evening News

Here are six ways the conflict in the Middle East could hit the pockets of Brits

The US and Israeli war on Iran has now surpassed two weeks – and there is no end in sight. Shockwaves from events unfolding thousands of miles away in the Middle East are already being felt here in the UK.

Advertisement

Fuel prices have shot up in recent weeks due to a rise in the cost of oil, the costs of a new mortgage have risen, and the conflict has the potential to drive up the cost of energy bills, goods in shops, flight prices, and motor insurance premiums.

The Mirror has explored what the cost to Brits has already been so far over the past two weeks, and how ‘Trumpflation’ could impact us here in the UK if the conflict continues.

Get MEN Premium now for just £1 HERE – or get involved in our WhatsApp group by clicking HERE. And don’t miss out on our brilliant selection of newsletters HERE.

Little over two weeks ago, inflation was easing, wage growth was slowing and the smart money was on its Monetary Policy Committee voting to reduce its base rate from 3.75% to 3.5% – with the hope of more to come as 2026 went on. Lenders were busy reducing fixed rate mortgages in anticipation, in welcome news for those looking for a new home loan or coming off often cheap deals and needing to re-mortgage.

Advertisement

Now, an interest rate cut next week looks unlikely, with talk of possible rate rises later in the year. This in itself has been a blow for borrowers with variable rate mortgages or home loans linked to the Bank’s base rate.

Meanwhile, lenders have been rapidly pulling cheap fixed-rate deals and replacing them with ones that cost more. Industry experts Moneyfacts says the average new five-year fixed rate mortgage has now hit a near 12-month high of 5.19%, up from 4.95% just before the conflict erupted.

The average two-year fix has jumped to 5.10%, from 4.83% a couple of weeks ago. For someone applying a typical two-year fixed rate deal, and borrowing £180,000, that means an extra £336 on their annual repayments. With all important swap rates – which determine lenders’ costs – rising, the hit to borrowers will likely worsen.

Advertisement

And to make matters worse, the number of fixed deals on offer has crashed by 530 since the chaos caused by the conflict began on February 28..

Adam French, Head of Consumer Finance at Moneyfacts, said: “Even the very cheapest deals are shooting higher, with the lowest available mortgage rate climbing from 3.51% at the start of March to sit at 3.78% today, its highest level since April 2025.

“It’s unwelcome news for borrowers, as hopes of steadily falling mortgage rates have collapsed and given way to a much more uncertain outlook. The destination is now heavily dependent on how global markets and inflation expectations evolve in response to the conflict the Middle East.”

Estate agents fear the war could shatter hopes of a fragile recovery in the housing market. A survey from the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors showed new buyer enquiries had already weakened further in February.

Advertisement

Tarrant Parsons, RICS’ head of market research and analytics, said: “The recent rise in oil and energy prices has increased the likelihood that mortgage rates will remain higher for longer.”

Here are six ways the Iran war could affect UK household costs.

House prices and rents

Drone strikes on Dubai has spooked British expats living there, leading to speculation that they – along with property investors – may look for safe havens to put their money. That could include the UK, and especially London, which has the potential to push up house prices.

Advertisement

Even in the short term, it could lead to a spike in rents in some upmarket areas. According to reports, Brit who settled in Dubai are contacting luxury property agents to arrange emergency £5,000-a-week rentals in London.

If even a few thousand of the wealthiest British expats among 240,000 who live in the UAE come home as a result of the war, it could have a big impact property prices and rents in certain postcodes.

Fuel prices

Petrol and diesel prices have risen sharply, causing fresh misery for motorists here in the UK. And the price of heating oil has doubled, with households in rural areas among those left reeling.

Data from the RAC revealed the nationwide average for unleaded has reached 140.60p a litre. Diesel has risen even faster, surging to 158.23p. The surge has added nearly £9 to the cost of a typical fill-up for a diesel driver, and £3.85 a go for unleaded.

Advertisement

RAC head of policy Simon Williams said: “Households, especially those that depend on the car, are under increasing financial pressure as a result of the conflict in the Gulf.

“The average price of a litre of unleaded has now risen by 6%, or nearly 8p, to 140.6p since the start of the conflict and is it at its highest in 18 months. Diesel has rocketed by 12% – or almost 17p – to 159.18p a litre, a price we’ve not seen since November 2023. Filling a family car is now £4 and £9 more than it was less than two weeks ago.

“The fact the cost of a barrel of oil has exceeded $100 and wholesale fuel prices continue to rise is concerning, but it’s the speed at which drivers are feeling the effects which is under the spotlight now.

“Drivers deserve – and should expect – to be treated fairly when it comes to filling up, especially with pump prices still heading north.”

Advertisement

To add to concerns, a report from experts at Fathom Consulting warned a prolonged blockage of the Strait of Hormuz could lead to oil prices above $170 per barrel and a global recession.

Energy bills

Another big threat is a potential surge in energy bills for both households and businesses. As it is, most households are protected for now because of Ofgem’s price cap, which limits how much suppliers can charge per unit of energy.

The cap will actually fall from April 1, with average annual bill coming down by on average £117 a year, to £1,641. That’s mostly due to Chancellor Rachel Reeves’ announcement in the last Budget that an average £150 worth of policy costs were being removed from what customers pay.

This was before events in Middle East blew up, and wholesale costs – which account for the biggest chunk of customers’ bills – soared. The problem will hit when Ofgem’s price cap next changes, in July. It’s early days but the surge in wholesale costs is likely to mean the cap going back up.

Advertisement

The price cap is determined by the average cost of wholesale gas over the next three months. Industry experts Cornwall Insight has estimated the cap could jump back up by £186 a year to around £1,827. That was based on the closing price of gas on March 3, since when prices have risen a further 10%.

Holidays

Even many families’ precious week or so in the sun could cost more this year. The cost of jet fuel has leapt by about 80% since the start of the Middle East crisis a week ago.

The Middle East and its Gulf states is a major source of aviation fuel, accounting for about 50% of Europe’s imports, meaning ticket prices could rise, further fuelling inflation.

Some Brits are putting holiday plans on hold and making big changes because of the Middle East crisis. Leading holiday firm On the Beach reported a “significant” drop in demand from families for getaways to normally popular hotspots Turkey, Greece, Cyprus, and Egypt.

Advertisement

While higher jet fuel prices will put upward pressure on fares, falling demand for certain destinations could work the other way.

Data from the website Travelsupermarket shows people are already making different booking decisions because of events in the Middle East. Online searches for holidays to the Dominican Republic in the Caribbean soared 123% in the first 11 days of March, it said, with Cape Verde and Antigua both doubling. Higher prices for foreign breaks could prompt more people to holiday at home.

Richard Young, chief executive of holiday company selfcatering.co.uk, told the Mirror: “Global uncertainty and rising fuel prices can quickly influence how people plan their holidays, and when overseas trips become more expensive and potentially dangerous, many start looking closer to home. We saw this during the pandemic, periods of airline disruption and previous fuel price spikes, and at times like this interest in self catering breaks tends to rise as they offer families a chance to enjoy a proper getaway with more space and flexibility, without the stress, anxiety, rising costs and unpredictability of travelling abroad.

”Yorkshire Dales and Norfolk – not always at the top of people’s list, but likely to see a spike as people venture out of the hot spots. Northumberland always popular (Alnwick, Bamburgh), Devon popular and crowded (Salcombe, Dartmouth), Cotswolds (expensive anyway but will likely see a further increase), anywhere around the Lakes and Highland hot spots such as Braemar, Fort William and Inverness.”

Advertisement

Insurance

It might not be an obvious impact, but it is claimed the conflict could also drive up the cost of getting your motor insured.

Kara Gammell, car insurance expert at MoneySuperMarket, explains: “The conflict could disrupt supply chains, which in turn could lead to higher shipping costs and make some raw materials used in car parts harder to source. If replacement parts become more expensive or take longer to arrive, repair costs could rise too.

“When insurers set premiums, they look at how much it costs to repair vehicles and settle claims, so any increase in those areas may put some upward pressure on what drivers pay. You might not notice any big changes straightaway, but if your renewal is coming up, it’s always worth shopping around.”

Source link

Advertisement
Continue Reading
Click to comment

You must be logged in to post a comment Login

Leave a Reply

NewsBeat

60 people injured after ‘structural collapse’ at football stadium in Peru

Published

on

Daily Mirror

The Ministry of Health has stated that there are multiple injuries and local hospitals have been put on high alert to treat those who have suffered injuries in the incident

At least 60 people have been injured after a ‘structural collapse’ at a football stadium in Peru.

Advertisement

Hospitals are on high alert after the incident which has taken place at the Alejandro Villanueva Stadium.

The Estadio Alejandro Villanueva, popularly known as Matute, is a football stadium located in the Matute neighborhood of the La Victoria district in Lima, Peru. Club Alianza Lima play their home games at the stadium.

Those injured are currently being evaluated by medics on scene, according to the authorities.

In a statement on X, the Ministry of Health for Peru said: “The Ministry of Health (Minsa) reports that, following the report of a structural collapse at the Alejandro Villanueva Stadium, in the La Victoria district, eight units were mobilised through the Mobile Emergency Medical Service (SAMU) to provide prehospital care to those affected, in coordination with the General Volunteer Fire Department of Peru.

Advertisement

“According to the preliminary report, 60 people have been recorded as injured, who are currently being evaluated and treated. Three of them have been transferred to the National Hospital Arzobispo Loayza.

“Additionally, an alert has been issued at the National Hospital Dos de Mayo and other hospitals in anticipation of the possible arrival of more injured individuals. The Health Emergency Operations Center (COES Salud) continues with permanent monitoring of the event and coordination of the health response.”

According to reports, the incident took place during an Alianza Lima gathering ahead of a match against Universitario.

Advertisement

Source link

Continue Reading

NewsBeat

M6 traffic LIVE as motorway closed near Standish due to ‘police incident – latest updates

Published

on

Manchester Evening News

The M6 motorway is closed tonight (Good Friday, April 3) due to a police incident.

The southbound carriageway is shut to traffic at Junction 27 (Standish).

The closure was first reported at around 10.20pm.

Advertisement

A National Highways spokesperson said: “The M6 is closed southbound at J27 Standish because of a police incident. Traffic is being taken off at the exit slip and can rejoin on the entry slip. There are delays of 10 minutes on the approach.”

Inrix, the traffic data company, said: “All traffic being temporarily held due to police incident on M6 Southbound at J27 A5209 Crow Orchard Road (Standish).”

This is a breaking news incident. We will bring you further updates as they become available on our dedicated feed below.

Source link

Advertisement
Continue Reading

NewsBeat

‘Iran shoots down US jet’ and ‘race to find pilot’

Published

on

'Iran shoots down US jet' and 'race to find pilot'
"Iran shoots down first American fighter jet" reads the headline on the front page of the Daily Telegraph.

The Daily Telegraph reports that one of the helicopters involved in the rescue of the F-15 crew member was trailing smoke as it returned to Iraqi territory but landed safely. Closer to home, the paper says Labour are “to unleash up to 12,000 shoplifters” under new laws “scrapping most prison sentences of under one year”. The paper quotes a spokesman for the justice ministry saying the the move is “part of a wider, urgent reform to ensure our prison system isn’t pushed to the brink of collapse ever again”.

Source link

Continue Reading

NewsBeat

Volume 2 explores money and kinship in the Edo underworld

Published

on

Volume 2 explores money and kinship in the Edo underworld

At high noon on a scorching summer day, retired samurai Kohei finds the fearsome Kumagoro writhing around a field in agony. The stricken man’s name translates as “demon bear”, and he’s the proprietor of a bar of the same name. Kohei finds him next to a temple famous for a tragic legend of familial loss and despair.

This setting frames the second instalment of The Samurai Detectives, written by Shōtarō Ikenami between 1972 and 1989 and newly translated by Yui Kajita. The novel is steeped in mystery, legend, and the ties and tensions of blood kin, fierce loyalty and pride.

Returning to 18th-century Edo Japan, we leave behind the complex machinations of political assassination plots of the first book. This volume explores the seedier underbelly of the city that became modern-day Tokyo, with a new cast of characters.

Advertisement

A depiction of an onikuma (demon bear) by Shunsensai Takehara in the Ehon Hyaku Monogatari (1841).
WikiCommons

In addition to the “demon bear” bar owner, these include an upwardly mobile but corrupt samurai willing to hew down innocent passersby, an aged father-warrior seeking his missing son, a street-vendor looking to “muscle-up”, a beloved merchant’s daughter who keeps disappearing, and a kosamebo (“demon drizzle monk”) who visits in the rain.

In the centre of all this is Kohei, the protagonist samurai-detective, and his son, the upright warrior Daijiro. They’re joined by some familiar faces from their previous adventures.

Life is looking up for the two, with a bit more money and food for Daijiro. But at heart, Kohei is still the wily old samurai whose age belies his mental and physical abilities.

There are also the familiar temptations of cosmopolitan Edo: the easy sex, the allure of money and, underpinning it, the ever-present violence – all of which threaten to topple any one of the characters that succumb to it. Sex and love make for powerful motivators but it’s money that provides the lubricant for the inevitable violence.

Advertisement

Family betrayals and fatherly care

Ultimately, the second Samurai Detective volume is a meditation on the ties of parent-child relationships – and what happens when they go wrong. Satelliting Kohei and Daijiro’s admirable father-son, master-pupil, warrior-comrade dynamic of respect and care are other examples that range from love to despair.

As with the last book, the tension of law verses morality forms the basis of thesde stories. In a city of complex fealty and interconnected relationships, it asks: what does doing the right thing mean?

Social, moral and natural justice all play their part in this complex society – though in a pinch, the rough justice of the warrior code will do. This is clear through the number of arms, legs and noses that go flying during the many sword fights.

Advertisement
Painting of a busy street in Edo Japan.

Suruga Street by Utagawa Hiroshige (1836).
Moma

In this volume, Kohei and Daijiro unravel mysteries shaped by complicated family relationships. At the heart of these stories are contrasts between care, respect, love and loyalty – and on the other side, neglect, abandonment, betrayal and abuse.

The ensuing resolutions use revenge as their motivator. But there are underlying concerns of power, hierarchy and money that structure the intricate society of Edo.

book cover of The Samurai Detectives: Volume 2

The Samurai Detectives: Volume 2, The Killer on the Streets by Shōtarō Ikenami, translated by Yui Kajita.
Penguin

Towards the end of the book, another tragic, unresolved character from the previous volume returns: a figure of doomed, forbidden love. While portrayed as monstrous, we come to understand that worse still was the cruelty of parental abandonment that sets the chain of events in motion. Ultimately, these are also about the abandonment of the samurai code, something that underpins all the stories in this book.

Balancing all this is the fatherly care of Kohei – not only for Daijiro, who he continues to train, but for all the characters who come his way.

From the continuing concern for Mifuyu, the warrior-daughter of the most powerful lord in Edo, to the disappeared son of his own son’s former teacher, Kohei feels the pull of a collective responsibility to the younger ones. Even the lower-status merchant daughters and unagi eel sellers on the street are not below his level of concern.

Advertisement

They fuel an inquisitiveness that leads Kohei to undignified actions, such as hiding in toilets to overhear plots of intrigue – and ultimately investigate.

As a sequel, The Samurai Detectives: The Killer on the Streets does more than paint an ongoing series of mysteries in Edo Japan. It highlights the necessity of respect, love and care in the creation of a stable society.

This article features references to books that have been included for editorial reasons, and may contain links to bookshop.org. If you click on one of the links and go on to buy something from bookshop.org The Conversation UK may earn a commission.

Advertisement

Source link

Continue Reading

NewsBeat

Scarborough allotments ‘abandoned, derelict, or unused’

Published

on

Scarborough allotments 'abandoned, derelict, or unused'

​Since its creation last year, Scarborough Town Council has been in ​“ongoing discussions” regarding the transfer of North Yorkshire Council-managed allotment sites to the parish authority.

​Following an inspection of allotments in the town, councillors have said that any transfer of the allotment sites is conditional on agreeing a “fully costed and funded remediation package” or NYC undertaking necessary remedial works prior to their transfer.

​At a full meeting of the town council on Thursday, April 2, members were told that while dozens of plots are abandoned and unused, 340 people are on waiting lists for allotments in Scarborough.

​Cllr Sarah Mason placed on record “serious concerns regarding the historic and ongoing management of allotment sites within the Scarborough area and the implications this has for any proposed transfer of responsibility from North Yorkshire Council”.

Advertisement

Scarborough Allotments. Sarah Mason/Stc.

​Speaking at the full meeting, she said: “I have undertaken a recent walkabout and inspections across all five sites, and it has revealed a pattern of long-term neglect, unclear tenancy arrangements, unmanaged risks and a significant number of plots are unused or abandoned despite long waiting lists”.

​She said that one site contained “significant amounts of rubbish, including asbestos sheeting”.

​Cllr William Stuart noted that “there are some very good allotment holders in Scarborough who are really committed and they are just as frustrated as we are”.

​A motion approved at the meeting noted the financial, compliance, legal, operational, and reputational risks that the town council faced if an immediate transfer of allotments was undertaken.

Advertisement

Scarborough Allotments.. Sarah Mason/Stc.

​It stated that in their current state, the sites could not be considered fully fit for transfer without substantial remedial works or a funded plan to address the highlighted issues.

​Cllr Mason told colleagues: “There is one structure of concern on a plot which is predominantly made with asbestos sheets and is on the verge of collapse, and this has been requested on numerous occasions to be removed.

​“No regular checks have been carried out, even though this is part of the contract to the plot holders.”

Scarborough Allotments,. Sarah Mason/Stc.

​She added: “Across all sites, we have observed long-term neglect of maintenance, large numbers of unused or abandoned plots and unclear boundaries between plots, poor communication with plotholders and severe lack of management regarding clear tenancy terms, boundaries, responsibilities, and implementation”.

Advertisement

​Town councillors pledged to send a formal letter to North Yorkshire Council setting out the authority’s findings and concerns and requesting “full documentation and clarification of responsibilities and seeking a clear proposal for remediation and/or funding prior to transfer”.

Source link

Advertisement
Continue Reading

NewsBeat

Crews called to ‘deliberately’ lit bonfire on Whitby beach

Published

on

Crews called to 'deliberately' lit bonfire on Whitby beach

At 8.51pm, the Whitby crew attended a fire on the beach at Tate Hill. Shovels were used to extinguish the fire.

Then at 9.41pm, the crew re-attended the fire on the beach which had been attempted to be relit, crews dismantled the bonfire using spades and sand.

A spokesperson for North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue said: “The fire was believed to have been caused deliberately.”

Advertisement

Source link

Continue Reading

NewsBeat

Flavor Flav, a longtime supporter of women’s sports, is courtside at Final Four

Published

on

Flavor Flav, a longtime supporter of women's sports, is courtside at Final Four

Flavor Flav was among the celebrities in attendance at the women’s Final Four on Friday night, sitting courtside for the UConn-South Carolina game with former Gamecocks player Aliyah Boston.

Flav, a founding member of the hip-hop group Public Enemy, is also friends with Gamecocks coach Dawn Staley.

The 67-year-old Flav is a longtime supporter of women’s sports and attended various Olympic competitions this winter. He invited the U.S. women’s ice hockey team to Las Vegas after their gold medal win in February, shortly after the women turned down a trip to Washington.

___

Advertisement

AP March Madness bracket: https://apnews.com/hub/ncaa-womens-bracket and coverage: https://apnews.com/hub/march-madness

Source link

Continue Reading

NewsBeat

After 16 years in power, can Viktor Orban finally be unseated?

Published

on

After 16 years in power, can Viktor Orban finally be unseated?

A slight figure in neat shirts and jackets, Magyar seemed too slick and urbane to reach the hearts of the rural electorate, but has proven himself a strong challenger. Orban, 62, is a village boy who speaks village Hungarian, Magyar is a Budapest lawyer by training. Conscious that his status as a member of the metropolitan elite may make him less likely to appeal to rural voters, Magyar has toured the countryside indefatigably for the past two years, drawing large crowds. Unlike Orban, who waxes lyrical on global politics, Magyar focusses on domestic issues such as healthcare, education, transport and rural depopulation in his speeches.

Source link

Continue Reading

NewsBeat

Two in hospital after ‘large disturbance’ at Liverpool DJ event in Newsham Park

Published

on

Manchester Evening News

Two men suffered head injuries at the Newsham Park Hospital venue with around 15 police cars and ambulances attending the scene

Two people have been taken to hospital following a “large disturbance” at an event on Friday evening.

Police were called to a premises at Newsham Park Hospital on Orphan Drive in Liverpool just after 9pm on Friday, April 3, Liverpool Echo reports.

Advertisement

Officers confirmed two men sustained head injuries and were taken to hospital, while the venue was evacuated. Witnesses described a significant emergency response, with around 15 police cars and ambulances descending on the scene as an event was taking place inside the former asylum building.

The incident brought an abrupt end to a live set by DJ D.O.D, which had been due to continue until 10pm. Footage from inside the venue captures the moment the music was halted, as a man on stage told the crowd: “Ladies and gentlemen, unfortunately due to an incident we have to stop,” prompting boos from those in attendance.

As attendees made their way out of the venue, many reported witnessing a substantial emergency presence, with police vehicles and ambulances lining the surrounding streets.

One event-goer described the moment the night was cut short. He said: “We were all stood there and it was coming up to 9pm. We were waiting for his bangers to be played and then he just cut it short and said ‘due to an incident we need you all to get out. We won’t be playing anymore.’

Advertisement

“Then we all started booing and it just went from 0 to 100 after that.” Following the incident, DJ D.O.D apologised to fans on social media, saying: “Liverpool I’m so sorry the show was cut short, there were multiple incidents in the crowd which led to the police shutting down the show.”

“This is the last thing I wanted but your safety means more to me than carrying on the show. Music is about coming together. Hope to see you all again soon.”

Officers departed the scene at around 10.30pm. Enquiries are ongoing.

Advertisement

Anyone with information can contact Merseyside Police social media desk via X @MerPolCC or on Facebook ‘Merseyside Police Contact Centre with log 930 of Friday 3 April.

You can also report information via the police website: https://www.merseyside.police.uk/ro/report/ocr/af/how-to-report-a-crime/ or call 101.

Alternatively, contact the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111, or via their website here: https://crimestoppers-uk.org/give-information/forms/give-information-anonymously. In an emergency always call 999.

Source link

Advertisement
Continue Reading

NewsBeat

These are the changes a Zelda: Ocarina Of Time remake has to make – Reader’s Feature

Published

on

These are the changes a Zelda: Ocarina Of Time remake has to make - Reader’s Feature
How do you remake one of the best games ever? (Nintendo)

With Nintendo rumoured to be planning a remake of one of their most beloved video games, a reader suggests a number of changes for a modern version of Zelda: Ocarina Of Time.

Nintendo don’t make a lot of remakes, but it’d be wrong to say they don’t ever do them. They are usually for more minor games though, like Super Mario RPG and a few Kirby games. It’d also be wrong to say there are never leaks about their upcoming games. It’s not common, unlike with other publishers, but it does happen – with Donkey Kong Bananza having been leaked years ahead of time, even if the information was a bit vague.

The latest leak didn’t really have any information though, beyond the fact that a remake of Zelda: Ocarina Of Time is coming. There’s no hint of who’s making it or how far it’ll go in changing things. Will it be a Resident Evil 2 style deal or something closer to the 3DS version of Ocarina Of Time, which was really just a remaster.

I have no idea, but naturally I’m hoping it’s as big budget an effort as possible, which seems likely if it’s supposed to be their key Christmas game. If it is that kind of effort though that implies changes – just like the Resident Evil remakes – and I have some ideas for what they could be.

Advertisement

I will say from the start, that I’m hoping the changes will be relatively minimal. I don’t think there’s any need to change the combat or (with one exception) the dungeon designs, but there is a lot of fine tuning that would be useful. However, another thing I don’t want them to change is the creepiness and weirdness of the game, which is more extreme than most of the modern ones – so it’ll need actually scary ReDeads and keeping the Forest Temple as it is.

The first change I’d make is simple: voice-acting. The most recent games have been slowly adding more but while I absolutely agree that Link shouldn’t talk everyone else should. It just spoils the immersion when they don’t, and I don’t believe they have it that way for any reason other than Nintendo don’t like spending money on actors.

Expert, exclusive gaming analysis

Sign up to the GameCentral newsletter for a unique take on the week in gaming, alongside the latest reviews and more. Delivered to your inbox every Saturday morning.

Advertisement

Another big decision is the art style. It’s hard to tell whether the original was meant to be photorealistic or not, given the limited tech, but while it’s close I’d say it was stylised a bit and it should stay that way. Looking at character faces in particular, you can see a subtle cartoonish effect and I’d like them to keep that.

Some basic changes would be making Hyrule Field bigger and/or filled with more things and generally ensuring that the whole game is just one big open world, just with the same design as the original. That should be no problem given the last two games.

Advertisement

One of the biggest problems I can foresee is that Ocarina Of Time is a lot more complicated than a modern game, especially in terms of dungeon puzzles. It wasn’t considered particularly hard at the time but nowadays people aren’t going to be used to the lack of hand-holding.

The infamous Water Temple is going to flummox any younger gamer, so I think that either has to be changed or, and this would be my preference, they have alternative versions of the dungeons and maybe the game as a whole, with a lite mode that’s easier and simpler and the full fat version.

There’s a lot of other stuff that could be added, like new side quests (the original doesn’t actually have many), more monsters everywhere (again, there’s not many, which is probably because of the limitations of the N64), and maybe even a new dungeon (a lot of fans think there should’ve been a Light Temple).

On a story note, I’d also like some clarification on what happens to Navi at the end, hopefully leading into a tease about a Majora’s Mask remake. I never liked that her fate was never revealed.

Advertisement

Considering how beloved the game is and how many later ones copied it, especially Twilight Princess, I don’t envy whoever gets the job of doing the remake but I can definitely say that I will be there day one.

By reader Onibee

The Legend Of Zelda: Ocarina Of Time artwork of Link and main characters
Would a remake look more like the original’s artwork? (Nintendo)

The reader’s features do not necessarily represent the views of GameCentral or Metro.

You can submit your own 500 to 600-word reader feature at any time, which if used will be published in the next appropriate weekend slot.

Just contact us at gamecentral@metro.co.uk or use our Submit Stuff page and you won’t need to send an email.

Advertisement

Source link

Advertisement
Continue Reading

Trending

Copyright © 2025