Link, a young Kokiri raised in the forest without a fairy, is one day visited by Navi and discovers that the Great Deku Tree has been struck by a curse. His quest soon leads him to Princess Zelda, who suspects the Gerudo king Ganondorf of seeking the Triforce. By gathering the Spiritual Stones and opening the door to the Temple of Time, Link instead sets in motion the events Ganondorf had been waiting for. Placed into a seven-year sleep, he awakens as an adult in a Hyrule now ruled by the King of Evil and must find the Sages in order to restore their power and confront Ganondorf.
Video game
1998
Action
Adventure
Fantasy
Puzzle
Open world
Sandbox
The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time
- Gradiente Publisher
- Nintendo Publisher
- Nintendo Entertainment Analysis & Development Developer
- iQue Publisher
Explore Hyrule as both child and adult, master the Ocarina of Time and gather the Sages to confront Ganondorf.
Details
- Type
- Video game
- Release
- 1998-11-21
- Genres
- Action, Adventure, Fantasy, Puzzle, Open world, Sandbox
- Platforms
- Nintendo Wii U, Nintendo Wii, Nintendo 64
- Engine
- Super Mario 64 Engine
- Game modes
- Single player
Synopsis
The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time
Trailer
Watch the trailer
Overview
Presentation
The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time is an action-adventure game developed by Nintendo for the Nintendo 64. It marks the series' transition to 3D, adapting Zelda's exploration, dungeons, combat and puzzles to a fully three-dimensional world.
The player controls Link, first as a child and later as an adult. Moving between these two periods becomes one of the foundations of the adventure: certain areas, characters and situations change after the seven-year time jump, while some obstacles can only be overcome at a specific age.
The world of Hyrule connects several distinct regions, including Kokiri Forest, Kakariko Village, Zora's Domain, Death Mountain and the Gerudo Desert. The central field serves as the main route linking these different territories.
The Ocarina of Time plays a central role. Link learns different melodies that can notably open certain passages, alter time, teleport him to specific locations or trigger events tied to progression.
The dungeons combine exploration, combat and puzzles. New items are regularly obtained within them and later open access to new areas or solutions: the bow, Hookshot, bombs and other equipment function both as combat tools and as means of exploration.
The Z-targeting system allows players to lock onto an enemy, keep Link facing them and move around the target during combat. The mechanic also helps with certain interactions involving characters or environmental elements.
Combat relies on the sword, shield and various items, with dodges, jump attacks and defensive movements adapted to locked-on targets.
The game also expands exploration through numerous optional activities. Link can notably ride Epona, fish, collect Gold Skulltulas, search for Heart Pieces or complete different side quests.
The day/night cycle also changes certain characters, enemies and events present in the world, giving Hyrule another layer of change beyond the main progression.
Key points
- The first fully 3D The Legend of Zelda.
- An adventure set in the kingdom of Hyrule.
- Child Link and adult Link, separated by a seven-year time jump.
- The Temple of Time and the Master Sword at the heart of the change between eras.
- The Ocarina of Time and its melodies are used to progress and interact with the world.
- A Z-targeting system designed for 3D combat and interaction.
- Dungeons combining puzzles, exploration and combat.
- Items used both in battle and to unlock new exploration possibilities.
- A structure centered on finding the Sages.
- Epona allows Link to travel more quickly across certain parts of Hyrule.
- A day/night cycle changes several events in the world.
- Numerous side activities, collectibles and secrets complement the main quest.
Conclusion
The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time adapts the foundations of the series to three dimensions by building the adventure around exploration, targeted combat and dungeons designed for 3D spaces.
Travel between childhood and adulthood structures both the story and progression, transforming Hyrule across the seven years separating the two periods.
The Ocarina, various items and Z-targeting also provide new ways to interact with the world, while the quest for the Sages gradually leads Link toward the final conflict with Ganondorf.
Good to know
The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time was developed by Nintendo EAD and published by Nintendo.
It was released for the Nintendo 64 on November 21, 1998 in Japan, November 23, 1998 in North America and December 11, 1998 in Europe.
It is the fifth main entry in The Legend of Zelda series and the first to feature a fully three-dimensional world.
The game is designed for one player.
The original version uses the Nintendo 64 controller and its Z button for the targeting system, a mechanic specifically developed to make combat and interaction easier in a 3D environment.
The title was later re-released on several Nintendo platforms, including GameCube, Wii and Wii U.
A reworked version, The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time 3D, was released for Nintendo 3DS in 2011, with redesigned graphics, an adapted interface and stereoscopic 3D display.
This entry covers only the original 1998 Nintendo 64 game. The specific features of Ocarina of Time 3D, Master Quest and other re-releases remain separate.