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===Changes Between Versions===
 
===Changes Between Versions===
Three different versions of the game were produced for the Nintendo 64, with cartridges available in different colors outside of Japan: 1.0 (gold or gray), 1.1 (gold or gray), and 1.2 (gray). Several minor changes were made between each version, with a variety of text corrections and glitches fixed in 1.1.<ref name="OoTVersionDifferences">{{cite web |quote= |author= |published= |accessdate=2013-02-02 |url=http://zeldaspeedruns.com/oot/generalknowledge/version-differences |title=Version Differences |site=Zelda Speedruns |type=}}</ref> Further corrections were made in version 1.2, as well as the recoloring of Ganondorf's blood from crimson to green, and the alteration of the music heard in the [[Fire Temple (Ocarina of Time)|Fire Temple]] to remove a sample of an Islamic prayer chant.<ref name="GTNinResponse">{{Cite web|url=http://www.zeldainformer.com/news/nintendo-officially-talks-about-the-infamous-ocarina-of-time-fire-temple-ch|title=Nintendo Officially Talks about the Infamous Ocarina of Time Fire Temple Chant|publisher=Zelda Informer|author=Dylan James|date=2012-05-30|accessdate=2013-02-02}}</ref> The sample was taken from a commercially available sound library, but the developers did not realize it contained Islamic references. Contrary to popular belief, the chanting was not removed due to public outcry, but instead after Nintendo discovered it violated their own policy to avoid religious material in games.<ref name="OoTVersionDifferences"/><ref name=GTNinResponse/> All three Nintendo 64 versions of ''Ocarina of Time'' were made prior to the game's original release.<ref>{{Cite web|url = http://www.gametrailers.com/video/episode-9-pop-fiction/710815|title = Pop-Fiction Episode 9: Fire Temple Chants| published = February 22, 2011| site = GameTrailers}}</ref>
+
Three different versions of the game were produced for the Nintendo 64, with cartridges available in different colors outside of Japan: 1.0 (gold or gray), 1.1 (gold or gray), and 1.2 (gray). Several minor changes were made between each version, with a variety of text corrections and glitches fixed in 1.1.<ref name="OoTVersionDifferences">{{cite web |quote= |author= |published= |accessdate=2013-02-02 |url=http://zeldaspeedruns.com/oot/generalknowledge/version-differences |title=Version Differences |site=Zelda Speedruns |type=}}</ref> Further corrections were made in version 1.2, as well as the recoloring of Ganondorf's blood from crimson to green, and the alteration of the music heard in the [[Fire Temple (Ocarina of Time)|Fire Temple]] to remove a sample of an Islamic prayer chant.<ref name="GTNinResponse">{{Cite web|url=http://www.gametrailers.com/full-episodes/vzs1ku/pop-fiction-episode-09--the-fire-temple-chants|title=Episode 09: The Fire Temple Chants | Pop-Fiction Full Episodes | GameTrailers|publisher=GameTrailers|date=2011-02-22|accessdate=2015-05-16}}</ref> The sample was taken from a commercially available sound library, but the developers did not realize it contained Islamic references. Contrary to popular belief, the chanting was not removed due to public outcry, but instead after Nintendo discovered it violated their own policy to avoid religious material in games.<ref name="OoTVersionDifferences"/><ref name=GTNinResponse/> All three Nintendo 64 versions of ''Ocarina of Time'' were made prior to the game's original release.<ref name=GTNinResponse/>
   
 
A further modified version of 1.2 was produced for the [[Nintendo GameCube]] release. The [[Gerudo symbol]], as depicted on [[block]]s, [[switch]]es and the [[Mirror Shield]], was changed from an inverted crescent moon and star symbol (associated with Islam) to a unique design introduced in ''Majora's Mask''.<ref name="OoTVersionDifferences"/> Further changes and corrections were made to the game's dialogue, along with minor technical changes. The [[Virtual Console]] version of the game is identical to the version released for the GameCube, but with the Nintendo 64 button colors.
 
A further modified version of 1.2 was produced for the [[Nintendo GameCube]] release. The [[Gerudo symbol]], as depicted on [[block]]s, [[switch]]es and the [[Mirror Shield]], was changed from an inverted crescent moon and star symbol (associated with Islam) to a unique design introduced in ''Majora's Mask''.<ref name="OoTVersionDifferences"/> Further changes and corrections were made to the game's dialogue, along with minor technical changes. The [[Virtual Console]] version of the game is identical to the version released for the GameCube, but with the Nintendo 64 button colors.

Revision as of 10:58, 16 May 2015

Template:GameNav

This page is about the Nintendo 64 game. For the Master Quest version, see Master Quest. For the 3DS remake, see Ocarina of Time 3D.

Template:Game The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time, the first Template:LZS game released for the Nintendo 64, is the fifth installment in The Legend of Zelda, and was one of the most highly anticipated games of its age.[1] It is also listed by numerous websites and magazines among the greatest video games ever created.[2] Released in the United States on November 23, 1998, it was the first game in The Legend of Zelda series that was visually displayed in 3D (previous games of the series had a front or top-down view).

It is generally considered to be a classic, most famously scoring the first ever perfect 40/40 in Famitsu Magazine - a feat which only fourteen games (including The Wind Waker and Skyward Sword) have ever achieved.[3] In addition, G4 television declared it "the #1 game of all time" as well as Nintendo Power. Ocarina of Time is listed in Guinness World Records - Gamer's Edition 2008, as the highest ranked game of all time.[4] In the 2010 Gamer's Edition, Ocarina of Time was updated as "the most critically acclaimed game of all time." [5] It is also the highest scoring game of all time on Metacritic, at 99/100.[6]

Story

Events leading up to Ocarina of Time

Main article: Hyrulean Civil War

Approximately ten years before Ocarina of Time's story begins, there was a war known as the Hyrulean Civil War.[7] This war explains the origins of several characters and provides extra backstory to their motives.

The Boy Without a Fairy

KokiriVillage1

The Kokiri Forest

In the Kokiri Forest, all the forest children have their own guardian Fairies, bestowed upon them by the Great Deku Tree, except for one boy.[8][9] This boy who has been plagued by nightmares of a girl fleeing from an evil man clad in black[10] is named Link. For as long as he could remember, the boy had been ostracized by the other children and has never quite fit in.[11] One day, as he neared death, the Great Deku Tree sends Navi the fairy to summon the boy to him.[12] In order to test young Link’s courage, the Great Deku Tree bids Link to venture inside his hollow and break the death curse cast upon him by a wicked man dressed in black.[13][14]

Link complies, but his efforts are for naught; the Great Deku Tree's death was sealed in the pages of fate before Link's attempt had even begun.[15] With his final breath, the Great Deku Tree bestows upon Link the Spiritual Stone of the Forest, the Kokiri's Emerald, and entreats him to travel to Hyrule Castle and seek an audience with Princess Zelda.[16]

MeetingPrincessZeldaOOT

Link meets the young Princess Zelda

After traveling across Hyrule Field and passing through the Castle Town, Link does not take long to realize that speaking to the princess of Hyrule would not be a simple matter; many guards stand watch, alert and ready to catch any trespassers. However, he manages to infiltrate the castle, bypassing the front gate and evading all the guards in his path.[17] When he reaches the castle itself, the raised drawbridge seems an insurmountable obstacle. However, Link discovers an unguarded water drain by the castle moat and manages to crawl through the hole, emerging within the castle garden. Many more guards are on patrol here, but Link is able to dodge around all of them and sneak into the castle courtyard.

In this courtyard his fate converges with that of the young princess of Hyrule.

Princess Zelda tells Link of her prophetic dreams, explaining that she had seen him come from the forest and break through a veil of darkness, accompanied by a fairy guide and bearing a green and shining stone.[18] She also warns him about Ganondorf, the desert man clad in black whom Zelda believes is symbolized by the dark clouds of her dreams,[19] and his evil intention to steal the Triforce of Legend from the Sacred Realm.[20] With the power of the goddesses, his desire to subjugate the world would be realized. In order to do this, Ganondorf would require not only the three Spiritual Stones of Hyrule, but also the mystical Template:It.

Zelda insists that Link track down the other two Spiritual Stones, so that they might beat Ganondorf to the Triforce and put an end to his plot.[21]

Link sets out for Death Mountain and Zora's Domain, where he succeeds in assisting both the Gorons and the Zoras in quelling the calamities that Ganondorf had wrought in his pursuit of the Triforce and is awarded with the other two Spiritual Stones, the Goron's Ruby and Zora's Sapphire[22][23][24][25] for his efforts.

Escapezelda

Zelda and Impa flee from Ganondorf

He returns to Hyrule Castle to inform Zelda of his success, only to witness his nightmare come to pass. Ganondorf attacked Hyrule Castle in an attempt to steal the Ocarina of Time, and Princess Zelda was forced to flee with her loyal attendant Impa in order to keep the sacred relic from Ganondorf’s hands. As she passes Link on the drawbridge of Hyrule Castle Town, she throws the ocarina into the moat to give him the chance to enter the Sacred Realm and retrieve the Triforce. In hot pursuit, Ganondorf charges across the drawbridge, blasting Link with dark magic when he tries to stand in his way.[26] Dismissing Link as no credible threat to his power, he speeds off in his pursuit of the princess.

Ootmastersword

Link draws the Master Sword

When Link retrieves the Ocarina of Time from the moat, he receives a telepathic message from Zelda, bidding him to play the Song of Time in front of the Temple of Time's altar.[27] Link makes his way to the Temple of Time, and proceeds to use the four keys to open the Door of Time. Beyond it lies the Master Sword, the blade of evil’s bane, resting in the Pedestal of Time. Link draws the blade, unlocking the gateway to the Sacred Realm. But then the Master Sword, though accepting Link as its wielder, seals him away in the Sacred Realm.[28] Ganondorf, who had suspected that Link might have already held the keys to the Sacred Realm, mocks him for practically giving him the Triforce.[29] Link watches helplessly as Ganondorf passes him by and crosses over into the Sacred Realm.

The Hero of Time

File:Ocarina of Time poster.jpg

A dramatic poster depicting several key characters from Ocarina of Time

The Triforce is a scale that measures the three virtues ruled by the Goddesses, Power, Wisdom, and Courage. If the heart of one who holds the sacred triangle carries all three of these forces in balance, that one will acquire the Triforce intact, the divine authority to govern all.[30] If one’s heart is not in balance, the Triforce will separate into three parts, and only one part will remain for the one who touched the Triforce: that part which embodies the force that one most believes in.[31]

If an unbalanced heart would seek the Triforce, then that one must strive to acquire the two lost parts, which will rest within two others chosen by destiny who will hold the crest of the goddesses on the backs of their hands.[32]

When Ganondorf laid his hands upon the Triforce, the prophecy came to pass. The Triforce split into its three parts, and only the Triforce of Power remained in Ganondorf's hands.[33]

Ganondorf proceeded to conquer the Sacred Realm, and became the self-proclaimed King of Evil,[34][35] but his lust for power was not yet satisfied. In order to gain complete mastery of the world, Ganondorf started hunting for those chosen by destiny to hold the other two Triforce parts that had escaped his grasp.

However, there also existed a prophecy of deliverance from evil. It spoke of five Sages, who dwelt in five temples. Together with a hero chosen by the goddesses, the awakened ones would bind the evil power and return the light of peace to the world.[36][37][38][39]

Because of the evil power that now flowed from the sacred temples, however, the Sages could not hear the awakening call from the Sacred Realm,[40] and so over seven brutal years Ganondorf’s powers of darkness, enhanced by the Triforce of Power, ran unchecked across all of Hyrule.[41]

However, his hunt for the other two pieces was in vain, for their bearers had all but disappeared from the world. His search for Princess Zelda was futile, for she had gone into hiding, and Link was sealed within the Sacred Realm. Still, Ganondorf’s power went virtually unopposed and in seven short years he transformed the once pristine land into a world of monsters and darkness.[41]

OoT Finale

The final confrontation

When it seems that all hope has died, Link appears as if from nowhere. A mysterious man named Sheik, one of the survivors of the ancient Sheikah tribe, tells him of Ganondorf’s conquest over the last seven years, and of the legend of the Sages.[42] Wielding the blade of evil’s bane, Link sets out to break the curse on all of the sacred temples.

After freeing the six Sages, Link returns to the Temple of Time and discovers that there is in fact a seventh Sage: Sheik, who is in fact Princess Zelda herself in disguise as a Sheikah to avoid Ganondorf’s pursuits, and was awaiting Link’s return all along.[43]

The ending and credits of Ocarina of Time

Princess Zelda had been the one chosen to receive the Triforce of Wisdom,[44] and Link in turn had received the third piece, the Triforce of Courage.[45] Link had been completely unaware of this. In revealing herself to him, however, Zelda also exposes herself to Ganondorf, who has been waiting for just such a moment and promptly kidnaps her, bringing her to his tower fortress, constructed where Hyrule Castle had stood before its destruction.[46]

Link breaks the barrier around the fortress with the help of the six awakened Sages.[47] Storming the keep, he confronts Ganondorf, and a climactic battle unfolds over the fate of Hyrule and the Triforce.

Without a strong and righteous mind, Ganondorf could not control the power of the gods, and so he was felled by Link's hand.[48] The Sages, their power now restored, cast the evil incarnation of darkness into the void of the Evil Realm that had been the Sacred Realm before becoming stained by Ganondorf's evil. Princess Zelda herself then seals the gateway, and thus, Ganondorf the dark lord vanishes from Hyrule.[49]

Zelda instructs Link to lay the Master Sword to rest and close the Door of Time, closing the road between times, and she sends him to his original time.[50]. After Link goes back to his original time, he retains knowledge about Hyrule's fate. With this information, he visits Princess Zelda in order to prevent such a fate from ever occurring. Link, who traveled through time to save the land, would be forever known in legend as the Hero of Time.[51]

Gameplay

Third Dimension

The gameplay of Ocarina of Time was revolutionary for its time.[52] It has arguably made more of an impact on later games in the series than any of its predecessors, even though they had the same cores of exploration, dungeons, puzzles and item usage. The Z-targeting mechanic introduced by Ocarina of Time has retained its core values in later 3D console games, as well as having been introduced in other video game series. Another key feature is the introduction of the "Action button," which has different uses depending on Link's environment; for instance, standing next to a door prompts the Action button to change to "Open," allowing Link to open the door.

The three-dimensional environment, enhanced sound, and greater graphical capacity of the Nintendo 64 allowed Nintendo to create a truly immersive environment beyond what had ever been done before, allowing for greater separation between cheerful environments, such as Hyrule Castle Town and Kokiri Forest, and comparatively dark areas such as Ganon's Tower and the Shadow Temple.

Time Travel

Among the game's particular gameplay mechanics, one of the most noteworthy is the time-traveling system. The game is divided into two periods. In the first, the protagonist Link is a child, and his mission is to retrieve sacred stones that are the key to open the Door of Time, where the blade of evil's bane, the Master Sword, lies. As a child, he explores a peaceful Hyrule, the dangers he faces aren't too concerning, and the dungeons aren't too complex. In the second period, Link is an adult, and has to visit temples to free the ancient Sages whose goal is to seal Ganon from the world of light. This is because the Gerudo King turned Hyrule into a much fiercer land, thus most regions of it suffer from curses that affect the inhabitants in one or another way. Other differences between these two periods are based on the tools, items and treasures available. Because of this, some parts cannot be accessed by child Link or adult Link, the sidequests vary, child Link cannot use adult-appealed weapons, and adult Link cannot enter on small holes. Both periods, from a point of the game onwards, can be alternated anytime; in fact the only way to clear the game is to properly make the actions corresponding to each version of Link. This is similar to the Dark/Light dichotomy from A Link to the Past, and thanks to its notability in the game, adult Link became for most players a trademark image for the young hero, despite most Zelda games featuring Link as a child.[53]

Music and Transportation

Ocarina of Time also introduces the use of music to solve puzzles. This mechanic would later appear in Majora's Mask, The Wind Waker, Twilight Princess and Spirit Tracks. As new songs are learned, they can be used to solve puzzles, gain access to new areas and warp to different locations.

The game also introduces Epona, a horse Link can travel with after retrieving her from captivity in Lon Lon Ranch; she is very useful for travel in Hyrule Field, and there are certain sidequests that require her assistance. Epona can only be used in the adult parts of the game, as she is too young even to carry children in the child portions.

Equipment

In this game, Link can also change his equipment by using a pause subscreen dedicated to that. Over the course of his adventure, he finds different swords, shields, boots and tunics or suits. It is learned that each equipment item gives Link a special property, and most dungeons and zones can only be properly explored when the hero is correctly equipped. The standard goes for the Kokiri Tunic, the Kokiri Boots, the Deku Shield and the Kokiri Sword. As a matter of fact, along with the Hylian Shield, these are the only items child Link can be equipped with (and even then, the Hylian Shield cannot be properly used because of its size). Adult Link, while unable to use the standard sword and shield, not only can still use his original tunic and boots; he can swim underwater indefinitely with the Zora Tunic, and stay in extremely hot places with the Goron Tunic; he can walk on the bottom of a body of water with the Iron Boots, and walk briefly on air with the Hover Boots; he can make full use of the Hylian Shield, and reflect light with the Mirror Shield; and both the Master and Biggoron's Swords are stronger than the Kokiri Sword. Although it is encouraged to have, the Biggoron's Sword is not a required item against Ganon or his minions.

Other equipment items, which remain stacked for a permanent effect on Link, include the Goron Bracelet and Gauntlets (each allowing him to lift stronger objects, from Bomb Flowers to giant chunks of rock), Zora Scales to dive deeper underwater, and an extended collection of bag upgrades for Bombs, Arrows, Bullet Seeds, and Rupees.

Game Information

Development

Ocarina of Time was originally intended and designed for the Nintendo 64DD peripheral for the Nintendo 64 game console. It was supposed to be the flagship title of the 64DD, while the Super Mario 64 was to be the counterpart for the main system itself. However, as the release of the 64DD became progressively delayed, Nintendo chose to move Ocarina of Time to a standard N64 cartridge with 32 MB of storage, only half the size of the 64DD disks, however it is still the largest cartridge ever produced for Nintendo systems up to that time, which saved most of the important content. This shift from 64DD disk to N64 cartridge contributed to the game being delayed significantly.[54]

In early stages of development, the game was structured similarly to Super Mario 64, with Ganon's Castle as the only setting, and various different rooms in the castle serving as the dungeons.[55]

Graphics

Being the first 3D Zelda game, a new engine was used for both this game and eventually Majora's Mask.[56] Because this engine is based on polygonal graphics, they would require a significant amount of memory in the cartridge, and generating the graphics with simultaneity and consistency would imply the sacrifice of other aspects, such as music or textures. To solve this difficulty, some techniques were used so that the game wouldn't have any problems in this regard: When the camera is facing forward, the game only loads the memory of what is in that direction, be it enemies, characters or simply the space of the territory placed there. This means that there is literally nothing currently loaded on the sides not being witnessed by the camera angle.

Audio

Despite being a 3D game, there is almost no voice acting from the characters, with some slight exceptions, Navi when she is calling Link, Link when he yawns, sneezes, when he is shocked or when he sustains damages. A few characters scream, such as Ganondorf and Sheik and Link when he falls from a height, or laugh, such as Ganondorf, Saria and Malon.

Like most Zelda games, Ocarina of Time has its music composed by Koji Kondo.[57] Surprisingly, the main theme of the Zelda series is absent in this game, as the overworld tune for this game is new. The game also uses interactive music: Normally, a background theme correspondent to where Link is can be heard; when an enemy is close to him, however, a particular combat theme can be heard, and won't stop until the enemy is defeated. In a similar way, the aforementioned overworld theme changes (not only in presence of an enemy, but also when Link is standing on a place). Koji Kondo composed the Ocarina melodies with only five tones of the first three musical notes[58].

Setting

Ocarina of Time is the first title in the series to show Hyrule in three dimensions. The sacred land is a vast region that portrays various different ecosystems, which are populated by Hylians and other races. Hyrule Field is the central territory, and is connected to the other areas. It also surrounds Lon Lon Ranch, where milk is produced and numerous animals are raised. Located at east from the field is Kokiri Forest, where Link lives (and where the game begins) along with the Kokiri race (who inhabit the place and, as long as they do so, won't grow up); the forest is governed by the Great Deku Tree until his death. Found north of the field is Hyrule Castle Town, where most of the Hylians live, and where Princess Zelda is raised until her turn comes to lead Hyrule. It's also where the Temple of Time was built to house the legendary Master Sword.

East from Hyrule Castle Town is Kakariko Village, a place formerly inhabited by the Sheikah tribe until Impa made it public for people to live in there, and where the Graveyard houses the remains of the deceased Royal Family members. Kakariko Village itself is the starting point to reach Death Mountain, the rocky home for the proud Goron race, as well as the fierce Dodongo population, and where an active volcano can be accessed. Northeast from Hyrule Field is Zora's Domain, a crystalline river and fountain inhabited by the Zoras and governed by the King Zora until Princess Ruto takes the throne to accept her royal duty. Lake Hylia in particular, found south from the field, is not ruled by any race, but the Zoras did build a temple in there. Finally, Gerudo Desert is located west from the field, and consists of a valley, a fortress, a desert, and the surroundings of a temple; it is inhabited by the Gerudo tribe, and is considered to be a ground isolated from the rest of Hyrule.

Initially, most of these areas are relatively safe from evil, and the few exceptions (Kokiri Forest, for example) have problems too specific to cause any major impact on its inhabitants, mostly having to do with the search of the Spiritual Stones. Seven years later, however, every single part of Hyrule is affected greatly by Ganondorf's evil influence, so Link must visit the sacred temples so that the sages can be awakened and the curses can be undone, one by one.

Changes Between Versions

Three different versions of the game were produced for the Nintendo 64, with cartridges available in different colors outside of Japan: 1.0 (gold or gray), 1.1 (gold or gray), and 1.2 (gray). Several minor changes were made between each version, with a variety of text corrections and glitches fixed in 1.1.[59] Further corrections were made in version 1.2, as well as the recoloring of Ganondorf's blood from crimson to green, and the alteration of the music heard in the Fire Temple to remove a sample of an Islamic prayer chant.[60] The sample was taken from a commercially available sound library, but the developers did not realize it contained Islamic references. Contrary to popular belief, the chanting was not removed due to public outcry, but instead after Nintendo discovered it violated their own policy to avoid religious material in games.[59][60] All three Nintendo 64 versions of Ocarina of Time were made prior to the game's original release.[60]

A further modified version of 1.2 was produced for the Nintendo GameCube release. The Gerudo symbol, as depicted on blocks, switches and the Mirror Shield, was changed from an inverted crescent moon and star symbol (associated with Islam) to a unique design introduced in Majora's Mask.[59] Further changes and corrections were made to the game's dialogue, along with minor technical changes. The Virtual Console version of the game is identical to the version released for the GameCube, but with the Nintendo 64 button colors.

Timeline Placement

Template:Main list When it comes to the chronology of the Legend of Zelda series, Ocarina of Time is one of the most vital and decisive installments, which is attested by both its placement and the connections with past and future games. According to the book Hyrule Historia, it's indicated to be the final Zelda game in the pre-split timeline era, which starts with Skyward Sword (which, short after its official announcement, was confirmed to take place before Ocarina of Time).[61] The other games preceding Ocarina of Time are The Minish Cap and Four Swords. Regardless, Ocarina of Time has always been one of the centerpoint games in the chronology, with the events at the end of the game, where Zelda sends Link back to his youth, splitting the timeline. When the official timeline was revealed in Hyrule Historia, the placement of Ocarina of Time in the series was revealed to be of even greater value, as the events of the game actually split the series's timeline into three branches.

"Downfall Timeline"

Related page: Imprisoning War

At the end of Ocarina of Time, there was one outcome in which Ganondorf actually defeated Link, which resulted in the formation of the "Downfall Timeline".[62] It starts with the Hero of Time, Link, failing to defeat Ganondorf, which allowed him to obtain the remaining Triforce pieces from Link and Zelda. The seven Sages proceeded to quickly seal him within the corrupted Sacred Realm.[63][64] Years later, greedy people entered the Dark World seeking the Triforce, turning into monsters and becoming part of Ganon's army. In the war that ensued, the Knights of Hyrule protected the Sages of that era from Ganon's minions, while they cast a seal to close off the entrance to the Dark World.[65] This marked the conclusion of the Imprisoning War, which laid the foundation for the events of A Link to the Past. After A Link to the Past, the Oracle series, Link's Awakening, A Link Between Worlds, The Legend of Zelda and The Adventure of Link take place, in that order.

"Child Timeline"

If Link succeeds in defeating Ganondorf, the timeline branches of into one of two more timelines. When Zelda sends Link back in time, the "Child Timeline" is formed. Although Ganondorf is not granted access to the Sacred Realm, it is very possible that unbeknownst to him, he acquired the Triforce of Power as a result of Link returning back with the Triforce of Courage in his possession. Link goes to inform Zelda of the "future" events and shortly afterwards he leaves Hyrule for the events of Majora's Mask to take place, while Ganondorf is executed several years later according to the backstory of Twilight Princess.[66] Ages following the events of Twilight Princess, another incarnation of Ganondorf and Vaati return for Four Swords Adventures.

"Adult Timeline"

In a third branch of the events in Ocarina of Time, the "Adult Timeline" continues, after Link defeats Ganondorf and the Sages seal him in the Sacred Realm with the Triforce of Power in his possession.[37] Link is send back to his childhood, leaving this branch without a Hero, as told in the prologue to The Wind Waker. Ganondorf eventually overcomes the Sages' seal and attempts to take over Hyrule, but with no Hero to face the evil, the Goddesses flood Hyrule, leading up to the events of The Wind Waker and consecutively Phantom Hourglass, and later in the timeline, Spirit Tracks.

Completion Records

Main article: Speedrun Records
Time Performer Date Notes

Listings

Characters

Bosses and Mini-Bosses

Enemies

Places

Dungeons

Inventory, Songs, Equipment, Upgrades, and Quest Items

Translations

Credits

Glitches

Hacks

Reception

Sales

Ocarina of Time is currently the highest selling Zelda game, with 7.6 million copies sold worldwide.[67]

Reviews

The game was universally praised by critics when it was first released,[68] receiving perfect scores from many reviewers, such as Famitsu, Gamespot, IGN, and Edge. Metacritic gives the N64 version of the game a score of 99/100, and the GameCube re-release 91/100. Features such as the Z-targeting system and context-sensitive Action button were well-received - the game was labeled a "walking patent office" by the editors of GameTrailers.[69] The GameCube and Wii versions of the game were praised as well.[70][71]

The game's graphics were called "beautiful" by IGN reviewer Peer Schneider, who commented that "rarely is there such a perfect mixture of graphics, sound and gameplay,"[72] giving the game a 10/10. Gamespot editor Jeff Gerstmann agreed, also giving the game a perfect score, saying that "this is the masterpiece that people will still be talking about ten years down the road."[73] Criticism on the game focused on the occasional slow pace associated with some parts, such as the Water Temple, as well as the use of MIDI for the music quality.

Nonetheless, Nintendo Power placed it first in their list of best The Legend of Zelda games and stated that, despite its age, is still a great game and called it a "masterpiece".

Fan Reception

The game stands as a fan favorite, currently holding an average reader score of 9.6 at IGN,[74] as well as a current average user score of 9.7 on GameSpot.[75]

Years after its release, Ocarina of Time continues to be a popular game, frequently being featured on compiled lists of all-time best games (and on GameRankings, it is currently fighting for 1st place with Super Mario Galaxy 2).[76] For some players, the game's high success has overshadowed the potential success of later Zelda games, therefore becoming a tough act to follow,[77] and marking in a certain way the downfall of the series.[78] There is also a debate regarding whether the game is overrated or not, with IGN editor Levi Buchanan analyzing this subject from a historical and technical perspective;[79] this debate was revisited when current Zelda director Eiji Aonuma said that he wouldn't quit working on the franchise until creating a superior game,[80] as well as when he said that the game hasn't aged very well.[81]

Ports and Remakes

See also: Changes Between Versions

Template:Sources

GameCube Ports

Ocarina of Time was ported to the GameCube twice. Once was for a pre-order bonus for The Wind Waker, in which customers would receive Template:OoTMQ (The Wind Waker/Ocarina of Time/OoT: Master Quest bundle was available as a "limited edition" general release in the UK, in addition to preorders). The second time was for a special GameCube bundle that came with Collector's Edition.

iQue Player

Ocarina of Time was ported to the Chinese iQue Player (a localized version of the Nintendo 64) released in 2003. The dialogue was fully translated to Chinese. This marked the first Zelda game to become available in China. The game is downloaded to the iQue Player using a points card. The iQue version of Ocarina of Time is based on version 1.2. Lag is virtually non-existent due to iQues more powerful hardware than the Nintendo 64. The absence of lag is most noticeable during the collapse of Ganon's Castle. In the cutscene, the castle falls at such a speed that the audio falls out of sync with the video. In addition, the Chinese dialogue scrolls faster than any other version of the game. Due to these time-saving advantages, the iQue is desirable for Speedruns. The current world record speedrun was performed on the iQue.

Virtual Console

The 1.2 Nintendo 64 version is available for download on the Wii's Virtual Console for 1000 Wii Points. The Virtual Console does not support the rumble feature, which renders the Stone of Agony useless. This version is based on the Nintendo 64 1.2 version rather than the GameCube one. Although it still contains the changed moon and star symbols. This is due to a patch which was put in the Virtual Console emulator which changes them.

3DS Remake

A Nintendo 3DS remake of Ocarina of Time was announced by Nintendo during the E3 2010 conference. There are other tweaks made to the popular title besides improved graphics, including a new system for equipping items, specifically the Iron Boots and the constant swapping necessary in the Water Temple,[82] and the introduction of the Shard of Agony in place of the Stone of Agony, which alerts Link of hidden caves using a sound effect rather than a rumble.[83]

Legacy

Design Influence

Ocarina of Time introduced many design elements that would be repeated in later games:

  • Character models: Ocarina of Time was the first game in the series to feature an in-game blond-haired Link (although the official art of previous games had depicted Link with blond hair, none of the character sprites displayed this characteristic). It also produced the first detailed model of Zelda's character, particularly her dress designs which have been the same ever since. It was also the first to portray a human form of Ganondorf. Many of the character models of Ocarina of Time were reused in its sequel, Majora's Mask.
  • Races: Many races also made their debut in Ocarina of Time. The Kokiri, Gorons, Gerudo, Hylians, Deku Scrubs and Sheikah all originated or were at least identified in Ocarina of Time. The Zoras technically appeared first in the original game and were given the ability to walk in A Link to the Past, but their widely accepted character model - the slender, sky-blue, aquatic design - was first made in Ocarina of Time.

Other

  • Ocarina of Time, while not being the first game in the series to feature a musical item or a list of songs, is the first game to allow the player to play the songs note by note rather than simply selecting the item or the song being used.
  • As mentioned before, it introduced the Targeting system, eliminating difficulty for camera control, and also helping to focus visually on very distant spots, enemies or characters.[84]
  • Outside of the Zelda franchise, the game caused an unprecedented impact on the video game industry, to the point that other games and series were influenced by the gameplay style from the game.[85]
  • Many properties of this game were borrowed by both Super Smash Bros. and Super Smash Bros. Melee, including several characters, stages, soundtracks, and numerous trophies.

Trivia

  • With the release of Ocarina of Time, the original Japanese Zelda logo was discarded in favor of the now-classic western logo (first seen in A Link to the Past).
  • The first three dungeons lack small and big keys. The concept of different-sized keys is not introduced until the Forest Temple, and the only place Link can find and use them until reaching said temple is during a minigame found in Market.
  • Ocarina of Time was the first game to include quarter units of health; previous games only featured half units of health.
  • Ocarina of Time runs on a heavily modified version of Super Mario 64's engine.[86]

Gallery

Illustrations

Box Art

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Related Articles

  • Template:OoTMQ
  • Template:Manga: The manga adaptation of the game by Akira Himekawa.
  • The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time (comic): A German comic meant to act as a prequel to the game.
  • Community:Ocarina of Time Beta Restoration Project: A complete overhaul of Legend of Zelda Ocarina of Time, meant to restore, and complete the 64DD Zelda which Ocarina of Time was originally intended to be.

Links and Reviews

References

  1. Import Review: The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time - Games Are Fun
  2. The Best Video Games in the History of Humanity - Fillbuster Cartoons
  3. The Famitsu 40/40 List, The First Hour
  4. http://gamers.guinnessworldrecords.com/records/nintendo.aspx
  5. http://gamers.guinnessworldrecords.com/records/nintendo.aspx
  6. http://www.metacritic.com/browse/games/score/metascore/all/all?sort=desc Highest Scores - Metacritic
  7. "Some time ago, before the King of Hyrule unified this country, there was a fierce war in our world. One day, to escape from the fires of the war, a Hylian mother and her baby boy entered this forbidden forest. The mother was gravely injured... Her only choice was to entrust the child to the Deku Tree, the guardian spirit of the forest. The Deku Tree could sense that this was a child of destiny, whose fate would affect the entire world, so he took him into the forest. After the mother passed away, the baby was raised as a Kokiri." — Deku Tree Sprout (Ocarina of Time)
  8. "Each Kokiri has his or her own guardian fairy. However, there is one boy who does not have a fairy..." — Intro Story (Ocarina of Time)
  9. "It seems the time has come for the boy without a fairy to begin his journey..." — Great Deku Tree (Ocarina of Time)
  10. "Thy slumber these past moons must have been restless, and full of nightmares...As the servants of evil gain strength, a vile climate pervades the land and causes nightmares to those sensitive to it... Verily, thou hast felt it..." — Great Deku Tree (Ocarina of Time)
  11. "Hey you! "Mr. No Fairy!" What's your business with the Great Deku Tree? Without a fairy, you're not even a real man!" — Mido (Ocarina of Time)
  12. "Navi...go now! Find our young friend and guide him to me... I do not have much time left. Fly, Navi, fly! The fate of the forest, nay, the world, depends upon thee!" — Great Deku Tree (Ocarina of Time)
  13. "I have been cursed... I need you to break the curse with your wisdom and courage. Dost thou have courage enough to undertake this task?" — Great Deku Tree (Ocarina of Time)
  14. "Thou must never allow the desert man in black armor to lay his hands on the sacred Triforce... [...] That evil man who cast the death curse upon me and sapped my power..." — Great Deku Tree (Ocarina of Time)
  15. "Though your valiant efforts to break the curse were successful, I was doomed before you started..." — Great Deku Tree (Ocarina of Time)
  16. "Link... Go now to Hyrule Castle... There, thou will surely meet the Princess of Destiny... Take this stone with you. The stone that man wanted so much, that he cast the curse on me..." — Great Deku Tree (Ocarina of Time)
  17. "Wha-ha-ha! What a crazy guy! Can you believe this guy was crazy enough to try to sneak into the castle to see Princess Zelda? All because of this idiot, they've tightened security at the castle. Wha-ha-hah!" — Man in Castle Town (Ocarina of Time)
  18. "I had a dream... In the dream, dark storm clouds were billowing over the land of Hyrule... But suddenly, a ray of light shot out of the forest, parted the clouds and lit up the ground... The light turned into a figure holding a green and shining stone, followed by a fairy... I know this is a prophecy that someone would come from the forest... Yes, I thought you might be the one..." — Princess Zelda (Ocarina of Time)
  19. "Can you see the man with the evil eyes? That is Ganondorf, the leader of the Gerudos. They hail from the desert far to the west. Though he swears allegiance to my father, I am sure he is not sincere. The dark clouds that covered Hyrule in my dream... They must symbolize that man!" — Princess Zelda (Ocarina of Time)
  20. "What Ganondorf is after must be nothing less than the Triforce of the Sacred Realm. He must have come to Hyrule to obtain it! And, he wants to conquer Hyrule... no, the entire world!" — Princess Zelda (Ocarina of Time)
  21. "You go find the other two Spiritual Stones! Let's get the Triforce before Ganondorf does, and then defeat him!" — Princess Zelda (Ocarina of Time)
  22. "You obtained the Goron's Ruby! This is the Spiritual Stone of Fire passed down by the Gorons!" — N/A (Ocarina of Time)
  23. "You obtained Zora's Sapphire! This is the Spiritual Stone of Water passed down by the Zoras!" — N/A (Ocarina of Time)
  24. "All right! I'll give you my most precious possession: Zora's Sapphire!" — Princess Ruto (Ocarina of Time)
  25. "Her most precious possession? You don't know what she's talking about, but you've finally collected all three Spiritual Stones!! Go back to see Princess Zelda!" — N/A (Ocarina of Time)
  26. "You want a piece of me?! Very funny! I like your attitude! Pathetic little fool! Do you realize who you are dealing with?! I am Ganondorf! And soon, I will rule the world!" — Ganondorf (Ocarina of Time)
  27. "Now, Link. Play this melody in front of the altar in the Temple of Time. You must protect the Triforce!" — Princess Zelda (Ocarina of Time)
  28. "However, you were too young to be the Hero of Time....Therefore, your spirit was sealed here for seven years." — Rauru (Ocarina of Time)
  29. "Geh heh heh! Excellent work! As I thought, you held the keys to the Door of Time! You have led me to the gates of the Sacred Realm... Yes, I owe it all to you, kid!" — Ganondorf (Ocarina of Time)
  30. "If the heart of the one who holds the sacred triangle has all three forces in balance, that one will gain the True Force to govern all." — Princess Zelda (Ocarina of Time)
  31. "But, if that one's heart is not in balance, the Triforce will separate into three parts: Power, Wisdom and Courage. Only one part will remain for the one who touched the Triforce...the part representing the force that one most believes in." — Princess Zelda (Ocarina of Time)
  32. "If that one seeks the True Force, that one must acquire the two lost parts. Those two parts will be held within others chosen by destiny, who will bear the Triforce mark on the backs of their hands." — Princess Zelda (Ocarina of Time)
  33. "Seven years ago, Ganondorf, the King of Thieves, used the door you opened in the Temple of Time and entered the Sacred Realm. But when he laid his hands on the Triforce, the legend came true." — Princess Zelda (Ocarina of Time)
  34. "Ganondorf, the Gerudo King of Thieves, used it to enter this forbidden Sacred Realm! He obtained the Triforce from the Temple of Light, and with its power, he became the King of Evil..." — Rauru (Ocarina of Time)
  35. "He went on to invade the Sacred Realm... Ganondorf had become the Evil King, and the Sacred Realm became a world of evil." — Princess Zelda (Ocarina of Time)
  36. "But there is still hope... The power of the Sages remains. When the power of all the Sages is awakened... The Sages' Seals will contain all the evil power in the void of the Realm..." — Rauru (Ocarina of Time)
  37. 37.0 37.1 "The six Sages will open the sealed door and lure Ganondorf back into the Sacred Realm. I will then seal the door to the Sacred Realm from this world. Thus, Ganondorf the Evil King will vanish from Hyrule." — Princess Zelda (Ocarina of Time)
  38. "If all six Sages come together, we can imprison Ganondorf, the King of Evil, in the Sacred Realm. But, in order to make a perfect seal, we need the seventh Sage." — Saria (Ocarina of Time)
  39. "When evil rules all, an awakening voice from the Sacred Realm will call those destined to be Sages, who dwell in the five temples. One in a deep forest... One on a high mountain... One under a vast lake... One within the house of the dead... One inside a goddess of the sand... Together with the Hero of Time, the awakened ones will bind the evil and return the light of peace to the world..." — Sheik (Ocarina of Time)
  40. "Because of the evil power in the temple, she cannot hear the awakening call from the Sacred Realm..." — Sheik (Ocarina of Time)
  41. 41.0 41.1 "His evil power radiated from the temples of Hyrule, and in seven short years, it transformed Hyrule into a world of monsters." — Rauru (Ocarina of Time)
  42. "When evil rules all, an awakening voice from the Sacred Realm will call those destined to be Sages, who dwell in the five temples. One in a deep forest... One on a high mountain... One under a vast lake... One within the house of the dead... One inside a goddess of the sand... Together with the Hero of Time, the awakened ones will bind the evil and return the light of peace to the world... This is the legend of the temples passed down by my people, the Sheikah." — Sheik (Ocarina of Time)
  43. "I apologize for meeting you in disguise, but it was necessary to hide from the King of Evil. Please forgive me..." — Princess Zelda (Ocarina of Time)
  44. "And the other, who holds the Triforce of Wisdom... is the seventh Sage, who is destined to be the leader of them all... It is I, the Princess of Hyrule, Zelda." — Princess Zelda (Ocarina of Time)
  45. "The one who holds the Triforce of Courage is... You, Link!" — Sheik (Ocarina of Time)
  46. "Princess Zelda...you foolish traitor! I commend you for avoiding my pursuit for seven long years. If you want to rescue Zelda, come to my castle!" — Ganondorf (Ocarina of Time)
  47. "Link...can you hear me? It's Rauru, the Sage. We six will gather our power to create a bridge to the castle where Ganondorf dwells... The castle's keep, which is known as Ganon's Tower, is protected by six evil barriers. Bring down the six barriers and save Princess Zelda!!" — Rauru (Ocarina of Time)
  48. "Ganondorf...pitiful man... Without a strong, righteous mind, he could not control the power of the gods..." — Princess Zelda (Ocarina of Time)
  49. "Thank you, Link... Thanks to you, Ganondorf has been sealed inside the Evil Realm! Thus, peace will once again reign in this world...for a time." — Princess Zelda (Ocarina of Time)
  50. "You must lay the Master Sword to rest and close the Door of Time... However, by doing this, the road between times will be closed... Link, give the Ocarina to me... As a Sage, I can return you to your original time with it. When peace returns to Hyrule... It will be time for us to say good-bye... Now, go home, Link. Regain your lost time! Home... where you are supposed to be... the way you are supposed to be..." — Princess Zelda (Ocarina of Time)
  51. "As I see you standing there holding the mythical Master Sword, you really do look like the legendary Hero of Time..." — Sheik (Ocarina of Time)
  52. History of Zelda: Part 05 – Ocarina of Time. DarkZero Hour
  53. Link (The Legend of zelda) - Step by Step
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  56. Legend of zelda: majora's mask Review - MyGamer
  57. Koji Kondo’s Ocarina of Time breaks from video game soundtrack mold
  58. Cruise Elroy - Music in Ocarina of Time, part one
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  71. The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time Wii Review for IGN
  72. IGN: The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time Review
  73. The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time Review for Nintendo 64 - Gamespot
  74. IGN: The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time
  75. The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time User Reviews for GameSpot
  76. [www.gamerankings.com GameRankings.com]
  77. Trusted Reviews Top 5 Games Of All Time
  78. Dethroning Ocarina
  79. Is The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time overrated?
  80. Zelda Director won't quit until he surpasses Ocarina of Time
  81. Aonuma: Ocarina of Time "Not Very Good" Nowadays
  82. Gamespot's roundtable recap (time sig 6:54)
  83. Ocarina of Time 3D introduces the Shard of Agony - Zelda Universe
  84. The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time Review - MMGN
  85. Hystory of Zelda: Part 5 - Ocarina of Time
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TMC Forest Minish Artwork Names in Other Regions TMC Jabber Nut Sprite
Language Name Meaning
Japan Japanese Template:Japanese The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time
Federal Republic of Germany German The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time
ERROR: You must enter a country code. Korean 젤다의 전설 시간의 오카리나
Spanish-speaking countries Spanish The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time


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