ZELDA MARATHON- 5/20
What is there to say about Ocarina of Time that hasn't already been said? It's one of the most influential games ever made, brought one of Nintendo's biggest franchises into the 3D era with a near-flawless transition and holds up nearly 25 years later.
OoT's shadow looms large over the Zelda series, and for nearly 20 years the franchise's big console releases were based on the template of Ocarina. Majora's Mask was only made because of the runaway success of it. Wind Waker was a deliberate departure from the style of it. Twilight Princess is a step further, directly following on from the story of Ocarina, developing on the game's art style with a more powerful system and even having the Link from OoT as a side character. Ocarina of Time is the lynchpin of the infamously complicated Zelda timeline- the only game that can reasonably be argued as more important is Skyward Sword (the game designed to be the first instalment chronologically, setting up future entries). Characters properly established in Ocarina of Time such as Impa and Ganondorf (the humanoid form of the beast fought in previous games) become series mainstays. It's only with Breath of the Wild that Zelda was able to break away from the formula that Ocarina of Time knocked it out of the park with, 4 console generations and 20 years later.
So why did Ocarina of Time resonate so deeply back then, and why does it still hold up so well today?
Let's start with the biggie- the change to three dimensions. A Link to the Past was a phenomenal game with a large open world just waiting for the player to be explored, and OoT takes that winning formula and translates it perfectly into 3D. Hyrule remains a large land packed with charming characters ,secrets and collectibles that reward exploration. The identity of the series kept totally intact, the graphical leap from ALttP to OoT is outstanding. The fantasy aesthetic of older games kept perfectly but just shifted to three dimensions is incredibly impressive.
Hyrule's open world is less of the big grid with rough zones from other games and more of individual areas connected by the central hub of Hyrule Field. Fast travel and the welcome addition of Epona allow for quick trips between varied areas like Death Mountain and Zora's Domain. The huge world of Hyrule feels connected in a way it just hasn't before thanks to being able to take Epona back and forth across Hyrule Field to visit different areas. You could fast travel in A Link to the Past, but the addition of a defined companion who takes you across Hyrule is a significant improvement over having some random bird just scoop you up.
The world design's upgrade has come with the side benefit of better dungeon design. Translation of the top-down dungeon crawling to the in-the-action camera in a 3D environment is flawless- the halls and chambers that make up the dungeons feel just like a natural evolution of the classic dungeons. Earlier Zelda games' dungeons all feel kinda samey- central gimmicks carry across different dungeons and don't have a distinct identity for the most part. In Ocarina of Time the series establishes a winning formula that gets used and reused for the majority of the series' lifespan. Each dungeon has a central gimmick that an item revolves around- the Lens of Truth and Hover Boots in the Shadow Temple, the Boomerang in Jabu Jabu's Belly, the Mirror Shield in the Spirit Temple (which also has the blessing of jumping between past and future). These item gimmicks are also the only way to tackle the bosses in each dungeon, which utilise the items in a way that every boss has a different strategy beyond "hit it with your sword a lot".
The combat in Ocarina is also massively improved as a direct result of being moved to the third dimension. Less relentless sword swinging and more an interesting proto-Dark Souls combat. Targeting one enemy with the Z button and waiting for openings becomes the core combat loop for big enemies. It's a little rough in comparison to most modern games, but gets the job done without feeling too dated- the combat system's DNA is felt all across the gaming landscape which makes it all the more impressive that OoT's combat system has stood the test of time relatively well.
Ocarina's plot has a notable advantage over most of its predecessors with the child-adult twist. About a third of your way into the game, Link sleeps for seven years and becomes a full-grown adult. In this time, Ganondorf conquers Hyrule, and Link sets out to stop him. The core plot isn't as engaging as Link's Awakening, but more than makes up for it by having the narrative directly impact the overworld. The overworld is the same in design in the future, but every area has changed because of Ganondorf's reign- Zora's domain is frozen over, Goron City is empty and bleak, Kokiri Village is filled with monsters, its residents not leaving their homes. Jumping back to the past and causing actions that have ripples in the future is engaging and invites a sense of wanting to explore the whole world in both timelines.
The part of Ocarina of Time that I would argue has held up best is the soundtrack. Zelda games' soundtracks are often packed with iconic songs, but OoT takes it to the next level in a way that only Wind Waker is really able to match. Tracks such as the beautiful and melancholy main theme (which contains a cute reference to Zelda 1's flute track), Gerudo Valley, Song of Storms, Lost Woods, Forest Temple and Lon Lon Ranch are all some of the most iconic pieces of gaming music ever composed (the last one being my personal favourite song from the series), all stemming from OoT. Even tracks that make a return from older games, such as the Great Fairy Fountain music and Ganondorf's theme are more recognised from their OoT covers than the original tracks.
There are a scant few games able to match Ocarina of Time's legacy- there's a reason it's still considered one of the best games of all time nearly a quarter-century after its release. It shaped the gaming landscape that only a handful of other games have ever really done before or since, built off of A Link to the Past's foundations to make an even greater entry that defined the series for years and, along with Mario 64, proved that Nintendo's juggernaut franchises did far more than simply work in three dimensions- they excelled in it.
Ocarina of Time is, to me, the definitive Zelda. All of the series' hallmarks either start here or are improved here from previous entries and it strikes the tonal balance between childlike and a little more mature that the series is known for. An absolutely outstanding game in pretty much every aspect.
The Water Temple still kinda sucks, though.
Next- The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask
Previous- The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening DX
What is there to say about Ocarina of Time that hasn't already been said? It's one of the most influential games ever made, brought one of Nintendo's biggest franchises into the 3D era with a near-flawless transition and holds up nearly 25 years later.
OoT's shadow looms large over the Zelda series, and for nearly 20 years the franchise's big console releases were based on the template of Ocarina. Majora's Mask was only made because of the runaway success of it. Wind Waker was a deliberate departure from the style of it. Twilight Princess is a step further, directly following on from the story of Ocarina, developing on the game's art style with a more powerful system and even having the Link from OoT as a side character. Ocarina of Time is the lynchpin of the infamously complicated Zelda timeline- the only game that can reasonably be argued as more important is Skyward Sword (the game designed to be the first instalment chronologically, setting up future entries). Characters properly established in Ocarina of Time such as Impa and Ganondorf (the humanoid form of the beast fought in previous games) become series mainstays. It's only with Breath of the Wild that Zelda was able to break away from the formula that Ocarina of Time knocked it out of the park with, 4 console generations and 20 years later.
So why did Ocarina of Time resonate so deeply back then, and why does it still hold up so well today?
Let's start with the biggie- the change to three dimensions. A Link to the Past was a phenomenal game with a large open world just waiting for the player to be explored, and OoT takes that winning formula and translates it perfectly into 3D. Hyrule remains a large land packed with charming characters ,secrets and collectibles that reward exploration. The identity of the series kept totally intact, the graphical leap from ALttP to OoT is outstanding. The fantasy aesthetic of older games kept perfectly but just shifted to three dimensions is incredibly impressive.
Hyrule's open world is less of the big grid with rough zones from other games and more of individual areas connected by the central hub of Hyrule Field. Fast travel and the welcome addition of Epona allow for quick trips between varied areas like Death Mountain and Zora's Domain. The huge world of Hyrule feels connected in a way it just hasn't before thanks to being able to take Epona back and forth across Hyrule Field to visit different areas. You could fast travel in A Link to the Past, but the addition of a defined companion who takes you across Hyrule is a significant improvement over having some random bird just scoop you up.
The world design's upgrade has come with the side benefit of better dungeon design. Translation of the top-down dungeon crawling to the in-the-action camera in a 3D environment is flawless- the halls and chambers that make up the dungeons feel just like a natural evolution of the classic dungeons. Earlier Zelda games' dungeons all feel kinda samey- central gimmicks carry across different dungeons and don't have a distinct identity for the most part. In Ocarina of Time the series establishes a winning formula that gets used and reused for the majority of the series' lifespan. Each dungeon has a central gimmick that an item revolves around- the Lens of Truth and Hover Boots in the Shadow Temple, the Boomerang in Jabu Jabu's Belly, the Mirror Shield in the Spirit Temple (which also has the blessing of jumping between past and future). These item gimmicks are also the only way to tackle the bosses in each dungeon, which utilise the items in a way that every boss has a different strategy beyond "hit it with your sword a lot".
The combat in Ocarina is also massively improved as a direct result of being moved to the third dimension. Less relentless sword swinging and more an interesting proto-Dark Souls combat. Targeting one enemy with the Z button and waiting for openings becomes the core combat loop for big enemies. It's a little rough in comparison to most modern games, but gets the job done without feeling too dated- the combat system's DNA is felt all across the gaming landscape which makes it all the more impressive that OoT's combat system has stood the test of time relatively well.
Ocarina's plot has a notable advantage over most of its predecessors with the child-adult twist. About a third of your way into the game, Link sleeps for seven years and becomes a full-grown adult. In this time, Ganondorf conquers Hyrule, and Link sets out to stop him. The core plot isn't as engaging as Link's Awakening, but more than makes up for it by having the narrative directly impact the overworld. The overworld is the same in design in the future, but every area has changed because of Ganondorf's reign- Zora's domain is frozen over, Goron City is empty and bleak, Kokiri Village is filled with monsters, its residents not leaving their homes. Jumping back to the past and causing actions that have ripples in the future is engaging and invites a sense of wanting to explore the whole world in both timelines.
The part of Ocarina of Time that I would argue has held up best is the soundtrack. Zelda games' soundtracks are often packed with iconic songs, but OoT takes it to the next level in a way that only Wind Waker is really able to match. Tracks such as the beautiful and melancholy main theme (which contains a cute reference to Zelda 1's flute track), Gerudo Valley, Song of Storms, Lost Woods, Forest Temple and Lon Lon Ranch are all some of the most iconic pieces of gaming music ever composed (the last one being my personal favourite song from the series), all stemming from OoT. Even tracks that make a return from older games, such as the Great Fairy Fountain music and Ganondorf's theme are more recognised from their OoT covers than the original tracks.
There are a scant few games able to match Ocarina of Time's legacy- there's a reason it's still considered one of the best games of all time nearly a quarter-century after its release. It shaped the gaming landscape that only a handful of other games have ever really done before or since, built off of A Link to the Past's foundations to make an even greater entry that defined the series for years and, along with Mario 64, proved that Nintendo's juggernaut franchises did far more than simply work in three dimensions- they excelled in it.
Ocarina of Time is, to me, the definitive Zelda. All of the series' hallmarks either start here or are improved here from previous entries and it strikes the tonal balance between childlike and a little more mature that the series is known for. An absolutely outstanding game in pretty much every aspect.
The Water Temple still kinda sucks, though.
Next- The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask
Previous- The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening DX