
The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time turns 20 years old today. It's older than this site; in fact, it's older than most gaming sites. Despite its age, Ocarina's influence can be found in games big and small to this day. It's also still the highest rated game of all time according to Metacritic. It's still an incredible game by 2018's exacting standards of quality and presentation, but in 1998, it was legendary. To truly understand its cultural impact, you had to be there. I was, and I want to tell you all about it.
The story of Ocarina of Time begins years before its release, in late 1995. That year, Nintendo held what was then an annual event all their own, known as Shoshinkai, or Spaceworld. The 1995 show served as the Nintendo 64's coming out party: Nintendo showed off the hardware and over a dozen games, but for me, there was only one thing shown that mattered: the Zelda 64 tech demo. It was a scant 10-second video, but it was all my 13-year-old-self cared for. I decided at that moment that I had to have a Nintendo 64 and that I had to have it on day one, as I was convinced that surely Zelda would release alongside the ground-breaking console.
Oh, how I was wrong. The following June the Nintendo 64 released in Japan. I gathered up my year's savings from doing whatever odd jobs I could and ordered one as soon as possible. When I received it, there was, of course, no new Zelda for me to play, but there was something nearly as good in Super Mario 64. It defined my love of the series, though even as I played my way through Mario's Mushroom Kingdom adventure, I continued to dream of taking up my sword and saving Hyrule from the clutches of Ganon. Super Mario 64 had changed how I looked at Mario titles, but Ocarina of Time would eventually change how I thought about games as a whole.
In late 1996, after I'd finished Super Mario 64, I was back to waiting impatiently for Zelda. The internet was still in its infancy, and I'd spend every moment I could on it hunting for new information about the game that would become Ocarina of Time. Nintendo would release screenshots in a seemingly scattershot fashion, meaning I was glued to the sites and message boards of the day to check in. I watched Link evolve from the brown-haired, beady-eyed guy shown in that original tech demo, to the blonde-haired, blue-eyed Hero of Time we've all come to know and love. New pieces of Zelda information came in all manner of medium and I was keen to devour it whether it was in a magazine, in short, grainy video clips online or delivered on VHS tapes, I would watch them over and over, obsessively, much to my parents' dismay.

By 1998, the Zelda hype machine was in full effect. Nintendo had released a new trailer for the game which was running in movie theatres. When I found this out, I hopped on my bike and made a trip to the theatre and bought a ticket. I watched the trailer which ended with the date: 23rd November 1998. Finally, I knew when I would get my hands on the game. After nearly three years of waiting, the end was in sight.
After years of waiting, the fated day had arrived. I woke up, got ready and headed off to school. As my professor droned on about whatever I was supposed to be learning that day. After my first class of the day, I escaped my collegiate life to find my brother waiting outside. I hopped in his car and we were on our way. In a matter of moments I'd have the gold cart I felt I'd been waiting an eternity for, or so I thought. When I arrived at the mall, I walked as fast I could without actually running to Software Etc, my community's de facto game store of choice. When I arrived I excitedly placed my pre-paid receipt on the counter and asked for my copy of Zelda.
"We don't have it," the cashier replied, clearly expressing the kind of exhaustion I wouldn't come to understand until I worked on his side of the counter, years later. He told us to come back in 20 minutes, so we did. On our third return, the cashier had had enough. "We'll have it out when we have it," he said this time, dropping any former pretense of cordiality in the process. Offended by the cashier's inability to deal with an over-excited teenager, I did what any over-excited teenager would do: I sat on the floor and proclaimed the line started behind me. My brother sat with me in an act of solidarity. Little did we know that we had started something. Before long another anxious purchaser arrived asking about their copy and sat behind me in line. One after another, gamers slowly trickled into the store to take their place in line; it was the first time in my life I'd seen so many people gather for, well, anything. The line stretched out the door and to the mall's exit. Local news showed up to ask us what so many people were waiting for. Fellow classmates from the now-destroyed town I lived in at the time were all congregated in this one shop impatiently waiting for our golden cartridges.
After a few hours, a visibly relieved manager appeared to inform us they had personally driven to the UPS centre in town and procured our games. One by one we cashed out and hurried to our homes to discover if the years-long wait for Link's latest adventure would be worth it. For the first time in my life, I had skipped on reading detailed previews and completely skipped any reviews of the game. I didn't want even the most minute details of Ocarina's story spoiled for me. I checked the review scores handed down at various outlets, which further fueled my excitement, but when I turned the game on for the first time, I didn't know what I was in for.

Much like Mario 64 did for me two years prior, my first few minutes in Ocarina of Time took my breath away. Kokiri Forest was the perfect starting area. My first time seeing Link realised in 3D was incredible. I collected the Kokiri Sword, bought the shield and made my way to the Deku tree. It was an amazing experience, but what really blew me away was seeing Hyrule Field for the first time. It was incredible. Hyrule Castle seemed impossibly far off in the distance, Death Mountain and its ring-shaped cloud loomed in the distance.
For the next several days I played as much as possible. I ran across the map to Castle Town and talked to Princess Zelda. I saved Ruto from Jabu Jabu. I saved the Gorons from Volvagia. I traveled through time and awakened the sages. I stormed Hyrule Castle, found Ganon and rescued Zelda, but all of that was just the beginning. Once the credits rolled it was time to discover what else Hyrule had in store for me. I was obsessed with finding every secret the game had to offer.
I spent months on message boards debating whether the Triforce could be found in the game. I scoured every inch of Hyrule looking for anything I missed while playing through the story: I hunted down all every Big Poe, found every heart piece, killed all 100 Golden Skulltulas and even achieved a perfect score on the Gerudo horseback archery minigame. After a few months, I was confident I'd found all there was to find in the game. My adventure with Link was at an end.
Even two decades later, I still vividly remember the first time I saw that gold cart. And I can see its influences in so many games I play today. Last year's Breath of the Wild bears Ocarina's imprint, from simple things like the game's modern take on Z-targeting, to the evolution of Link's design, which still resembles how he was re-envisioned for his first 64-bit outing. If you've played a modern 3D action game, odds are there's at least one thing in it that can be traced back to the N64's magnum opus.
Every few years I feel the need to revisit Ocarina, to further appreciate its masterful pacing, artful storytelling and wondrous sense of adventure. Many games have improved on Ocarina or Time in nearly every way, but it's impossible to overstate its importance as a piece of gaming history. In another two decades, I'm sure my appreciation for this game will have only grown stronger.
Comments 63
ALttP is better, fight me! Nah, in all seriousness Ocarina of Time is a masterpiece and even if it isn't my favorite Zelda game, it is probably the most important. The game floored me as a young boy and it still holds up surprisingly well today.
I first played OoT when I got my N64 Christmas morning when I was 10. It was one of the first games I beat and I felt so accomplished afterwards.
I wish they'd make a nice shiny HD remake of this and Majora's Mask - the 3D versions still had some pretty rough edges graphically in my opinion.
I'm surprised Nintendo hasn't done a 20th anniversary remaster of this game on to the Switch. Would be glorious to replay this classic on Switch.
The 3DS version is a good alternative though.
So much love for this game! A innovative and inspiring game. When I was a kid I hated this game cause I saw it as a competitor of Final Fantasy (At the time there was a lot of discussion around that). Now older, I had the opportunity to play this and several franchise games, and I can say that it was responsible for my love for Nintendo.
That gold cart (and plastic bag) and that glossy box still makes me feel that special something. The music and sound effects alone carry such a nostalgic feeling for me. I didn’t wait in line for this game but I did get it for Christmas on the year of release. Oh what memories.
Really enjoyed reading your experience on this! I might have to play it this weekend now. It’s that time of the season after all
First played it outside of the emulation scene (kill me) as the one game I bought my 3DS with. I definitely don't regret playing this game, but - especially if compared to A Link Between Worlds - its lack of intuitiveness does show the title's age. When I gave up and played the game with a guide, I was ultimately glad to make it to its end, feeling like I got my money's worth and generally understanding the appeal that was perceived by others. However, I do get a bittersweet taste knowing I couldn't make it without a guide. The "joy of getting stuck" Aonuma summed up the first new Zelda for 3DS with (in a NL article I'd link to if only I could find it) was definitely there in ALBW; in OOT, it was more like plain frustration.
My favourite Zelda game besides Majora's Mask and Twilight Princess but Ocarina of Time was the first. It was the game that impressed me the most in all my life.
Ughhhh i was really hoping you wouldn't write an anniversary article so i wasn't tempted to go back and beat it again. I have too much to play at the moment. Stop toying with my emotions!!
This game deserves a reimagining!!! The ethos in this game is simply amazing! It needs an overworld that is more dangerous and dungeons filled with nasty and powerful monsters and more difficult boss fights!!
Playing it back in ‘98 was an amazing experience.
All the hot takes calling OoT "dated" or stating that people love it only because of nostalgia won't change the fact that it is one of the most revolutionary games ever created. Still a perfect 10 in my book.
Maybe it's the fact that I was too young when I first played it but the feeling it gave me has never been replicated by any other game.
I really enjoy this kind of columns. Great job.
I and a group of college friends attended what I still consider the greatest E3 of all time: 1997 in Atlanta. MGS, Final Fantasy VII, and ... "Zelda 64". Nintendo had, by far, the most impressive section of the floor. We spent a few hours at their enormous booth repeatedly playing their demo of this eventual masterpiece, which included the archery mechanic. You just knew this was going to something completely, exceptionally different. I had played the FF7 import already, so the US release was a bit diminished for me. But this game? I was counting the days.
Fun fact - that really questionable, never published S&M fighter, "Thrill Kill" was also being demoed (I forget the publisher, EA?).
Any time I play OoT, I always sit through the intro. That music is happy times, indeed.
I played it around when it was first released. It's a good game but I don't really hold it on a pedestal like many people seem to. Even within the series I think Link to the Past and Majora's Mask both are a lot better.
While I admit that objectively, it had a huge influence in the history of 3D gaming, it was far from my favorite Zelda. I only played beyond Jabu Jabu a couple times as a kid and was pretty indifferent to the title... but Majora’s Mask came along and blew my mind. I excitedly counted down the days to release, it was the first game I followed news of before release! And to this day, MM is my favorite game of all time. Of course I have OoT to thank for MM, but OoT doesn’t even make my top 10 list of favorite games... probably even is 4th or 5th in my favorite Zelda games. I see the appeal, I just only really bother to replay it when it gets a rerelease. On the other hand, I play MM every year or two. Sometimes even more than once in a year. Each time feels as magical to me.
I have no nostalgia for Ocarina of Time; in fact, I was late to the Zelda party by some standards (Twilight Princess was my first one). Ocarina of Time 3D was the initial reason why I bought a 3DS back in early 2012. The game was and still is epic. Definitely worth a 10/10. I just played through the Master Quest side of the game a couple of months ago and loved it.
I raise my glass to one of my favorite video game franchises of all time. OoT was and still is a great influence on the series.
To this day I still have never completed OoT. Sad but true.
I still recall seeing family playing this back in the day and thinking it looked absolutely stupid, dumb and childish as they were running around in Kokiri Forest. And now it's one of my favourite games of all time. ...similar to how it went with Yoshi's Island for me actually. Funny how that goes huh?
@ShadJV you are not alone... MM > OOT to me too...
That was a fun story to read. I sort of fell out of gaming briefly during that time but a friend of mine had Ocarina of Time, and it blew me away. Definitely the best game ever made for its time.
I wasn’t even old enough to speak when OoT was a thing, so I don’t really carry that childhood nostalgia.
My first experience with Zelda was OoT on the 3DS (while I was in high school) and that’s what got me into the series. It was an amazing game and became one of my favourite games of all time.
Playing Breath of the Wild inspired me to play this one. Honestly, I’d tried a few times in my life, but this past Feb, I played through the whole thing in a few days and loved it. It’s not my favorite since Breath of the Wild surpasses it on nearly every front, but I was glad to recognize its contribution to gaming.
This was a fun read. I share similar memories of being absolutely floored by this game back in the late 90s. I think Breath of the Wild and Twilight Princess have since passed this up as superior Zelda titles, but OoT will go down as the one that helped revolutionize future Zelda titles and 3D games as a whole.
This was my gold standard for Zelda games- my favorite until BOtW. Still find myself remembering this game both on N64 and 3Ds
I don't like that game. That is all.
As a kid I got this game for Christmas the year it came out. I was blown away by how immersive a game could be and it remained my favorite game of all time for 18+ years until Breath of the Wild was released alongside the Switch. While it may have moved down one slot in my all time favorites list, OoT will always hold a very special place in my heart.
The fact I changed my text tone to Navi’s “HEY! LISTEN!” is no coincidence. Charming article, yo!
Finally all that Breath of the Wild hysteria has muted.
Ocarina of Time is a gem in it's purest form. In my opinion levels above Breath of the Wild in many ways. Let's hope for a better Zelda game next time around. Bring back the magic.
Good times!
I remember back then that I didn't even want an N64. I had been seeing magazine articles of Final Fantasy VII and it was making me really want a Playstation. Everywhere I looked, there was some article on FFVII. I then started saving up my money and telling my cousins that I was gonna get a Playstation, but they kept telling me "Nah, get an Nintendo 64. They're better."
The day finally came that I was gonna put a Playstation in layaway, but as it turned out, Walmart Super Center that I went to was sold out. The lady working in the electronics department was nice enough to call over to the other Walmart Super Center across town, but they were sold out, too, so instead of waiting, I decided to put an N64 in layaway.
I got it out about 3 months later along with the only game that I was able to buy to go with it: WCW/NWO World Tour. I did end up getting other games, but I was still jealous of people who were able to get a PSX and play FFVII.
Then I started seeing a lot of articles on the Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time. The hype surrounding that game, in my eyes, was similar to that for FFVII, but I remembered playing one of the older Zelda games on NES and how I didn't like it. The controls just seemed too slow for me.
I ended up pre-ordering Ocarina of Time at BestBuy, but only so that I could tell people "Yeah, I have that game." in case anyone asked. At that time, I still would've rather been playing FFVII, so when the day came for me to go get my copy of Ocarina from the store, I brought it home and just placed it on top of my TV for at least 2 whole weeks while I played my other games like Diddy Kong Racing & WCW/NWO Revenge.
It wasn't until after beating - finally - DKR and getting bored of my other games that I finally decided to put Ocarina of Time in and give it a shot. Unfortunately for all my other games, Ocarina of Time ruled my N64 from then on. I mean it literally vary rarely came back out of that cartridge slot.
Compared to Link to the Past, I couldn't get into this when I was a kid. Still don't see all the hype.
Of the worlds that the LoZ series had built, OoT's motifs stuck (despite the flaws), and that's powerful. Clearly, it's been powerful, because Nintendo has been trying to craft new Hyrules/worlds after the fact — only to make something that doesn't have the same impact or themes.
A Link to the Past got me into Zelda. Ocarina of Time really took that game to a new level.
This game is truly a masterpiece, and there was no phone required.
I love OoT, but Link's Awakening literally celebrated its 25th anniversary of releasing in Europe on November 18. NA release was August and in Japan, it's been out since June 6, 1993.
Where's the love for Awakening?
I was 13 when I got Ocarina for Christmas in 1998. It was such a magical time. You had to have been there.
I was 13 and got it as a delayed birthday present because Nintendo kept delaying the release. I remember every single detail about how I got this game, the hype, the fact that I couldn't sleep because I wanted to play.
I guess I was already messed up as a kid
Still the best game ever made to me.
I was ten years old when I first got the chance to play OoT and it absolutely blew my mind. The N64 is my favourite console and I still go back to play it whenever I feel that pang of nostalgia.
The only game I play at least once a year. I waited for this week so I could play on it's 20th anniversary. This game still remains in my Top 3 all time favourite games.
Loved OoT on N64, one of the reasons I got the N64 after seeing my cousin playing it.
I just want an OoT and MM collection for the switch.
I don't care I have 3 versions of OoT (Original Cartridge, Virtual Console and 3DS) I would still buy it and play it to death again, and again, and again.
I was late to MM thought it looked too kiddie and then I borrowed it many years later from my friend. Damn was I wrong, great game, very very dark stroyline.
Please Nintendo release a collectors edition for switch.
Screw all the people saying it will just be a port, dont care I want it
In context, this still stands up as one of the very best games ever. I can’t think of any other game that was so far ahead of everything else at the time. Playing this in 1998 was an absolutely jaw dropping experience.
It was also the only time in my late 1990s spells of working in U.K. games retail that there was genuine excitement around the N64. Not enough copies to go around, queues outside on launch day.
Though that wasn’t helped by Nintendo U.K. getting themselves in trouble with the Advertising Standards Authority with an advert that, even in 1998, seemed outdated....
https://youtu.be/evI5pF5h8Ck
@Aneira same here. Ocarina is a master piece but I just can't get in to BOTW. Breaking weapons, no full on dungeons and imo no Zelda magic.
Playing OOT was my highlight of the year in 1998 for certain. It was closely followed by Michael Owen's goal against Argentina at the 98 World Cup! The article mentions having to be there, and not to rub it in or come across badly but it should be highlighted more as it's really, really true. This was a groundbreaking masterpiece of a game, and the sense of wonder that was achieved simply off the back of the overall 3D gaming revolution was powerful. I'm not sure we'll ever see this type of revolution again - perhaps VR. If we ever get to a point where VR really works then that has the potential to match the experience of playing OOT for the first time.
Zelda as a series through... I mean wow. It's staggering just how unbelievably good ALTTP, OOT and BOTW are as games that stood out from the pack and simply blew everyone away.
@Medic_alert I had twilight princess on the Wii and remember completing it but not really enjoying it. Got it again when it as released on WiiU and once again didn't like it that much. Ocarina will always be my ultimate Zelda I thing for alot of the reasons others have stated. I'd love a remake or port for the switch.
Bring it to switch already. I sacrified my lame 3ds for the power of the switch. I WILL sacrifice my money to.... all of my money if you throw in WW and majoras mask
Still dying, DYING to replay this on the Switch.
"Fellow classmates from the now-destroyed town I lived in at the time...."
What the hell happened your town?
Today's the 22nd, doesn't the article say it comes out on the 23rd? I'm confused
I got this gane for Christmas when I was 19 and I still do an annual play through of this and Metroid Prime
Probably my favourite 3D Zelda game still and so many ideas in gaming stemmed from this and are still felt today including in the likes of the new God of War. You only have to look at competing games at the time and for a few years later to realise how monumental both this and Mario 64 really were as they had no frame of reference back then and both of these games set standards which exist to this day.
Quite why Nintendo still hasn't remade either of these for its HD consoles is still a mystery
@Kidfunkadelic83
I pretty much feel the same way, hard as I have tried to get into BOTW. Not a fan of the fragile weapons either.
It takes away from the adventure imo. Always having to swap weapons and worry about what's going to break etc instead of just enjoying it. I didn't like the 4 champion dungeons either although I've only done 2 i feel like ive seen them all. No archery mini games etc either. Imo everything that makes a Zelda game is gone. It's almost like they have left the old formula behind on purpose but I think it was alot better. Saying that I dont like Mario odyssey either so maybe it's just me 🤣😂
I remember getting an N64 for Christmas in 1999. With it, i had a copy of Super Mario 64 and Ocarina of Time. Now, Mario 64 was great. It had a challenge, the worlds were great (to a point). But was restricted in terms of the world to explore.
However, Ocarina of Time was something else. Here, we had a game that offered near-freedom to go where you wanted and it felt like you were going on an adventure. Took me a few days to find the Kokiri Sword (i had the shield from the store on the first day), didn't know there was anything on the other side of the tunnel. I honestly thought it was in the Lost Woods (i mean, the Master Sword was in A Link to the Past as i was told).
From clearing the Deku Tree, was onto Hyrule Field and the Castle. First time going into Hyrule Field, that's when i knew this game would be special. And it clearly was, loved every minute of the game. Took me a while to get all Golden Skulltulas, Poes and a perfect score on the Gerudo Training Grounds.
I've owned this on every Nintendo home console ever since, and i recently finished it again on the 3DS.
Ocarina of Time still tops my list of Zelda games. It wasn't my first Zelda game, that goes to Links Awakening. But this was the first Zelda game i completed.
Now, if Breath of the Wild didn't have breakable weapons then it would be topping Ocarina as the best Zelda game.
Still one of the best games of all time for me. I first played it aged about 13 as part of the Collector's Edition on the GameCube at my neighbour's house. He hadn't even got round to trying it, dismissing it as some random bonus disc that came with his Mario Kart: Double Dash!! console bundle. Having heard of how amazing Ocarina of Time and Majora's Mask were supposed to be, I immediately suggested we play them and from then on I could instantly tell, despite the blocky graphics, that these games, particularly OoT, were special. Kokiri Forest and the Deku Tree took way too long - particularly getting the sword at the beginning - prompting my neighbour to sell the game to me soon after. I never regretted the purchase.
Actually getting round to beating Ocarina of Time took years; the Water Temple in particular caused me to throw in the towel for a long time. Last year I finally made my way through the last few temples and defeated Ganon, and only a couple of weeks ago went about getting all 100 Gold Skulltula Tokens. The shooting mini-games still prove frustratingly insurmountable, but what a joy this game is overall. It just 'feels right' in every department. The graphics are so limited now but the sense of adventure and grandeur has never faded away. In my opinion, it still remains the blueprint for how to make an adventure game, or any 3D game.
Bet you were missing the small key under the spiked block in the centre chamber? That temple caused me misery and that key was the cause of it as it was to so many people after reading some threads 🤣
This is my 2nd favourite Zelda game after LTTP and I finished both games over and over. OoT has the best characters and two amazing plot twists. I am hoping that the next Zelda will be in many ways a back to form as botw is a good open world but one of the worst Zelda games in the series in my opinion (and I say that after putting over 150h into it)
@blockfight I lived in Paradise, California which was recently completely destroyed by a fire.
@Steve_Bowling Ugh, that's terrible. I hope your friends and family are okay. If you know a good place to donate to help, you should let us know...
There’s something about the world of Ocarina that just makes it feel more alive and real than other games, even something like the Elder Scrolls. Everything seems steeped in history, and important. The various symbols you see on doors, chests, clothing etc. throughout the game are not throw-away designs - they always have a meaning that seems rooted in history. The eye of the Sheikah. The crescent moon for the Gerudo. These things feel ancient, and significant. You don’t get detailed, and boring, timelines or backstories a-la Bethesda or BioWare - you’re left to wonder. What’s that eagle on Link’s shield? Why do demons haunt the village, and who built the Shadow Temple? Hints are given, but no answers are forthcoming. While some of the pieces are missing, it doesn’t feel as if the world was put together just to make the game fun (although, it was!). It feels as if you are a stranger to this world, and the world has no particular desire to give up its secrets
@Steve_Bowling Apologies. I didn't put 2 and 2 together. Hope everyone you know is safe.
I just finished that game for the first time close to a week ago.. There were some moments where I got confused or frustrated, but I realized just how much I enjoyed it while watching throuh the credits.
And so far, my favorite ocarina reference is in Rise of the Tomb Raider. No spoilers, but when I found it I got a big kick out of it!
@Valdney Well when you beat the 3ds version for the first time you unlock the master quest version, which is supposedly a harder version (idk know though I haven't tried it yet)
Super Mario 64 and Ocarina of Time are true legends. They were the first games for me that truly made controlling a character in 3D feel fluid. More so since dual analog sticks wasn't even a pipe dream back then.
P.S. I was late to the N64 party. What I had was a Playstation and only got around experiencing the N64 when I spent a vacation overseas in my cousin's place, who had the console and games.
Show Comments
Leave A Comment
Hold on there, you need to login to post a comment...