Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Timehas been a fan favorite for over two decades. To this day, it offers both seasoned players and newcomers plenty of reasons to play. The celebrated series from Nintendo has won the hearts of millions worldwide, and this entry is considered a highlight of the franchise. The game focuses on the adventures of its protagonist, Link, in his quest to acquire magical artifacts and protect princess Zelda.
RELATED:Nintendo Switch Online Leak Teases More N64 Games
Since its launch in 1998,Ocarina of Timehas garnered high praise from critics and casual gamers alike. Even after playing through the game countless times, Zelda fans keep coming back for more. For those who want to learn more about this classic, take a look at these lesser-known facts aboutThe Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Timethat even hardcore fans of the series might not know.
9Initial First-Person Perspective
Ocarina of Timewas one of the earliest games from Nintendo to feature a 3D environment for its level design. Despite its much loved third-person perspective, though, Shigeru Miyamoto, the co-creator of theOcarina of Time, originally envisioned the game in first-person.
According to the initial concept, the game would have been viewed through the eyes of Link, with his sword and shield in hand. Miyamoto later changed his mind, wanting to showcase the beautiful world around Link instead.
8Speedrun Specialists Can Finish The Game In Under Ten Minutes
Players can spend days exploring the vast world withinOcarina of Time. Quests that involve obtaining artifacts such as the Fairy Ocarina, Hylian Shield, Boomerang, and Fairy Bow can take several hours to accomplish. What’s more, venturing through the Temple of Time, Fire Temple, Water Temple, and Spirit Temple can be time-consuming for new players.
RELATED:Nintendo Switch Online Expansion Pack Users Want To Remap N64 Controls
However, long-time lovers ofOcarina of Timecan finish the game within ten minutes tops. More than 1700 speedrunners have rushed through the game, with an average time of nine minutes. Thefastest speedrunner on recordcompleted the action RPG game in just six minutes and forty-nine seconds.
7Song of Time Made Music Central To The Plot
Learning melodic tunes as the player progresses is one of the most unique and enjoyable aspects ofOcarina of Time. The Song of Time has become integral toTheLegend of Zeldaseries, capturing the hearts and minds of millions. A pivotal part of the game’s plot requires players to learn the Song of Time, collect spiritual stones, and use the Ocarina of Time to open the Door of Time.
Since the game’s debut 23 years ago, The Song of Time has been covered by thousands of musicians paying homage to their favorite franchise. Recently, anOcarina of Timefan recreated a spiritual stone, Kokiri’s Emerald, to commemorate the game’s success.
6Fans Express Their Love In Creative Ways
Loyal fans of the franchise haveexpressed their love forOcarina of Timein wonderful ways. One fan made a wedding ring with the Zora’s Sapphire, a spiritual stone that Link acquires after fighting Lord Jabu-Jabu.
Another fan ofThe Legend of Zeldaseries went even further, and planned an entire wedding around the theme of the hit Nintendo game. The priest officiating the wedding was dressed as Ganondorf, while the couple walked down the aisle as Zelda and Link. The three of them together formed the Triforce, a monumental element ofOcarina of Time.
5Hylian Language Translations
Hyrule is a central location inThe Legend of Zeldaseries. Prominent places in the medieval-inspired kingdom such as Hyrule Castle, the Lost Woods, and Lake Hylia are forever etched in the minds of fans. Hyrule also has its own language, Hylian. The ancient language is spoken by beloved characters of the Zelda series such as the Great Deku Tree, Jabun, Valoo, and the King of Red Lions.
Certain Hylian scripts, including the Old Hylian Syllabary fromOcarina of Time,have been translated for fans by Nintendo. This offers audiences a glimpse into the world of Hyrule, unlike any they’d been able to see before.
4Ganon’s Impact On The Series
As the primary antagonist of theOcarina of Time, Ganondorf is a dominant character throughout the game. A highly-skilled sorcerer from the Gerudo tribe, he can also be encountered as a boar-like monster called Ganon.
His popularity grew with the success ofOcarina of Time,thus influencing the direction of the games' storylines. Ganondorf has since become a recurrent character in the series and appears inTwilight Princess, Phantom Hourglass, and Breath of the Wild. He is also included asa playable character in Nintendo’sSuper Smash Bros. Ultimate.
3Challenges For Champions
The rampant rise of game titles fromThe Legend of Zeldaseries in the last 35 years has increased the fanbase exponentially. True fans ofOcarina of Timehave come up witha number of challengesto make the game more fun.
The Three-Heart challenge involves beating the game with only three heart containers, while the Zero Death challenge involves finishing the game without ever dying. The Flying Carpet challenge dares the player to jump to the Flying Carpet without using hover boots. Finally, the short and silly Cucco Jump challenge involves using a Cucco to jump off a pike and over the Gerudo Valley gate.
2A Fighting Style Sourced From Japan
The developers at Nintendo wanted to create a game experience that was fresh and unprecedented withOcarina of Time. Since swordsmanship and sorcery are the main themes of the game, developers derived the combat system from the Japanese style of sword fighting called Chanbara.
RELATED:The Switch OLED Is Perfect For Zelda: Breath Of The Wild 2
More than 100 people,including martial artistsand stunt performers, were used to capture the authentic movements of the sword forOcarina of Time. The Chanbara style of sword fighting generally involves concealing martial abilities and movements from enemies during a fight.
1Outstanding, Influential OST
Music has played a crucial rolein the success ofOcarina of Time. Koji Kondo composed the music for many of the titles fromThe Legend of Zeldaseries, includingOcarina of Time,and the game wouldn’t be the same without his music. The tunes for each level and the songs from the game were his creations.
Following the rise in sales ofOcarina of Time, Nintendo released the game’s official soundtrack in Japan on June 27, 2025. Published by Pony Canyon, the soundtrack was launched with 82 tracks. It was also launched in the US with fewer tracks.
The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Timeis available to play on Nintendo 64, Game Cube, 3DS, Wii, and Wii U.
