I Finally Beat Ocarina of Time, It Truly Is One of the Greats

The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time is massive and has been since its release in 1998. Many consider it not only one of the best games in the Zelda franchise, but also one of the greatest games ever. That’s saying something, especially with how many decades gaming spans. Plus, with all of the other games that have come and gone. My family had one of the golden Ocarina of Time cartridges for Nintendo 64, and I used to watch my brother go through it. However, after all of these years, I finally took the reins myself and went through the game in its entirety. I can say without a shadow of a doubt that it’s definitely still one of the best games ever made.

A Story For The Ages

When Nintendo released Ocarina of Time, it became obvious that it was about good versus evil. However, besides the title, as you dive deep, it’s about time. And, as a certain Sheikah says, the flow of time is always cruel. In this Zelda entry, the story still holds up incredibly well. The land of Hyrule is under threat from Ganondorf, the lone male Gerudo who is the King of Darkness. Starting as a kid, players journey as Link to find the three Spiritual Stones to open the Door of Time. However, things aren’t as simple as they seem, and Ganondorf is granted access to the Sacred Realm. Because of this, things go from bad to worse for Hyrule, and Link must travel to the future to help free the Sages of the Temples.

Without going into too much detail, the story spans across 7 years (and back). And it’s not hard to keep up with what is going on. Players have to combat the evil that Ganondorf has unleashed across time in Hyrule. The dialogue, even back in the day for this game, was fantastic. Seeing the details of characters, with their past and future selves and their experiences throughout time, is incredible to read. Not only that, but seeing the landscape change throughout time was an incredible touch to the story.

Overall, the story of the game is one that resonates with me still. While you beat some games and the narrative becomes forgotten, I can’t shake the impression Ocarina of Time left on me, story-wise. It left a big impression overall, and I know how big the game was for gaming in general. But the story is something special, and seeing a classic trope done like it is in Ocarina of Time was great.

Iconic Combat That Holds Up

When it comes to the combat, it’s easy to see where many games got their inspiration from. Ocarina of Time uses a Z-targeting system to lock on to opponents and essentially fight them one-on-one. On a game as old as this one, the combat feels great to play. While the camera is not the most amazing, being able to attack and have clearer sightlines on enemies is great. Plus, being able to strike at foes with just the push of a button is just fantastic to be able to do.

Furthermore, the way the defence and attack switch-ups feel shows the game’s earlier Souls-like DNA. It was a lightbulb moment for me and made me see how important the game is. The Z-targeting combat isn’t forced on players, which is nice. However, it makes things much easier and much more cinematic, especially when it comes to mini-bosses and the actual dungeon bosses.

When you add in the fact that you can use the various other items in your inventory in Z-targeting, it feels fantastic. For example, rather than needing to change your whole camera perspective to shoot a bow, Link just draws and fires the arrow. Something that became even more useful in fights where the enemy can move around faster than I can.

An Unskippable Soundtrack

One of the most amazing parts of Ocarina of Time, to me, is actually its music. Developed by Koji Kondo, the music for the game is spectacular and something I listen to almost daily. Way back, even before I thought about doing my playthrough of the game, I used to listen to the tunes. Let’s be real, one of the greatest video game songs of all time is Gerudo Valley. And it’s one of the most recognizable as well. Each of the different songs in the game does a great job of sending shivers down your spine, even years later. This isn’t to say the songs are terrifying or anything, but they just hit the nostalgia perfectly and bring out all of the emotions from playing the game.

The game doesn’t just have catchy music, but Kondo did a great job of portraying the way you could or should feel in that situation. The best example of this comes from the Shadow Temple. The way that music is designed is meant to make you feel uncomfortable. Which makes sense considering just how horrific the backstory of that temple is. And just visually, you can see all of the terror that dungeon holds. So when the music starts to play, you feel uneasy and like something is always stalking you. It portrays the environment perfectly. Kondo does well with the music, and each tune is perfectly placed in the game to be memorable on the journey.

Plus, the game’s sound effects are also something to give credit to. Whether it’s a Redead’s scream or the sound a Lizalfos makes when attacking, the sounds are ingrained in my mind. And that of many other players as well, I bet. Some games will recycle sound effects that can take away from the identity of the game over time. But when it comes to Ocarina of Time, it just further accents the game. In the process, making it something that has still stood the test of time almost 30 years later.

Ocarina of Time is Immortal

My journey with Ocarina of Time has left a major imprint on me. I have dabbled in other titles in the series before. Whether it was Majora’s Mask or Skyward Sword, even. Recently, having gone through Breath of the Wild on the Switch 2 (still my favorite entry in the series) and the remake of Link’s Awakening. But the way that Ocarina of Time has struck me is something I haven’t felt with some games in a long while. Part of it could be nostalgia for the earlier days of gaming. But mostly, it’s the journey that the game sets you on.

Furthermore, the story is touching, and the characters combine to create a gripping narrative about good versus evil as you travel through time. The unique dungeons that you have to trek through to awaken the sages are fantastic. Each of them presents its own themes and challenges, with none being like the other. Add in the exceptional soundtrack and sound effects, and the game doesn’t feel like it has any faults. Instead, you get a wonderfully crafted experience from start to finish as you step into the role of Link, saving the world.

Sure, many joke about Navi being a pain to deal with in the game sometimes. But as I was playing, it reminded me that, as kids, the iconic fairy was a companion and friend. One that was aiming to help us on our quest, even if we knew what to do. The world of Ocarina of Time and everything in it is beautiful. And while I was late to seeing it all, I’m glad I did. Because not only does it feel like an amazing game, it feels like one of the greatest of all time. One that is important for all players and for gaming in general.