View source for The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time

{{Short description|1998 video game}}
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{{Infobox video game
| title = The Legend of Zelda:<br>Ocarina of Time
| image = The Legend of Zelda Ocarina of Time.jpg
| alt = A sword and shield - the latter which bears both the three triangles of the Triforce and the bird-like Hyrule crest—are positioned behind the game's title.
| caption = North American box art
| developer = [[Nintendo EAD]]
| publisher = [[Nintendo]]
| series = ''[[The Legend of Zelda]]''
| platforms = {{Unbulleted list|[[Nintendo 64]]|[[GameCube]]|[[iQue Player]]}}
| released = {{collapsible list|title={{nobold|November 21, 1998}}
    | '''Nintendo 64'''
    | {{Video game release|JP|November 21, 1998|NA|November 23, 1998|EU|December 11, 1998|AUS|December 18, 1998}}
    | '''GameCube'''
    | {{Video game release|JP|November 28, 2002|NA|February 18, 2003|PAL|May 3, 2003}}
    | '''iQue Player'''
    | {{vgrelease|CHN|November 18, 2003}}
    }}
| genre = [[Action-adventure]]
| modes = [[Single-player]]
| director = {{Unbulleted list
  | Toru Osawa
  | Yoichi Yamada<!--game system director-->
  | [[Eiji Aonuma]]<!--game system director; credited as Eiji Onuzuka-->
  | [[Yoshiaki Koizumi]]<!--3D systems director-->
  | Toshio Iwawaki<!--program director-->
  }}
| producer = [[Shigeru Miyamoto]]
| designer = 
| programmer = Kenzo Hayakawa
| artist = {{Unbulleted list
  | Yoshiaki Koizumi
  | Yusuke Nakano
  }}
| writer = {{Unbulleted list
  | Toru Osawa
  | [[Kensuke Tanabe]]
  }}
| composer = [[Koji Kondo]]
}}

{{nihongo foot|'''''The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time'''''|ゼルダの伝説 時のオカリナ|Zeruda no Densetsu: Toki no Okarina|lead=yes|group=lower-alpha}} is a 1998 [[action-adventure game]] developed and published by [[Nintendo]] for the [[Nintendo 64]]. It was the first ''[[Legend of Zelda]]'' game with [[3D graphics]]. It was released in Japan and North America in November 1998 and in [[PAL region]]s the following month. 

''Ocarina of Time'' was developed by Nintendo's [[Entertainment Analysis & Development]] division. It was led by five directors, including [[Eiji Aonuma]] and [[Yoshiaki Koizumi]], produced by series co-creator [[Shigeru Miyamoto]], and written by [[Kensuke Tanabe]]. Series composer [[Koji Kondo]] wrote its soundtrack. The player controls [[Link (The Legend of Zelda)|Link]] in the realm of [[Hyrule]] on a quest to stop the evil king [[Ganon]]dorf by traveling through time and navigating dungeons and an overworld. The game introduced features such as a target-lock system and context-sensitive buttons, which have since become common in 3D adventure games. The player must play songs on an [[ocarina]] to progress.

''Ocarina of Time'' was acclaimed by critics and consumers, who praised its visuals, sound, gameplay, soundtrack, and writing. It has been ranked by numerous publications as the [[greatest video games of all time|greatest video game of all time]] and is the highest-rated game on the review aggregator [[Metacritic]]. It was commercially successful, with more than seven million copies sold worldwide. In the United States, it received more than three times more pre-orders than any other game at the time. 

A sequel, ''[[The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask]]'', was released in 2000. ''Ocarina of Time'' has been rereleased on every one of Nintendo's home consoles since and on the [[iQue Player]] in China. An enhanced version for the [[Nintendo 3DS]], ''[[The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time 3D]]'', was released in 2011. ''Master Quest'', an alternative version including new puzzles and increased difficulty, is included in one of the [[GameCube]] releases and the ''3D'' version.

== Gameplay ==
{{Multiple image
 | align = right
 | direction = vertical
 | header = Gameplay examples

 | image1 = ZELDA OCARINA OF TIME.jpg
 | alt1 = The child version of the game's protagonist, Link, stands in Hyrule field wearing his distinctive green tunic and pointed cap. In each corner of the screen are icons that display information to the player. In the upper left-hand corner, there are hearts, which represent Link's health, in the lower left-hand corner is a counter that displays the number of Rupees (the in-game currency) possessed by the player. There is a mini-map in the lower right-hand corner, and five icons in the upper right-hand corner, one green, one red, and three yellow, which represent the actions available to the player on the corresponding buttons of the N64 controller.
 | caption1 = The player navigates the vast Hyrule Field, the central hub of the world. The on-screen display shows actions mapped to [[Context-sensitive user interface|context-sensitive]] buttons.

 | image2 = OcarinaOfTimeBattle.JPG
 | alt2 = The adult version of Link, armed with a sword and shield and wearing a green tunic, is fighting a bipedal wolf in front of the Forest Temple. Link's fairy companion, Navi, has turned yellow and hovers above the creature, which is now surrounded by yellow crosshair-like arrows.
 | caption2 = When the player uses Z-targeting, the view shifts to a [[Letterboxing (filming)|letterbox]] format and arrows indicate the targeted enemy. The player can then [[Strafing (gaming)#Circle strafing|circle strafe]] around the enemy to keep their sight on them. In this particular screenshot, adult Link is fighting a Wolfos "miniboss" at the entrance to the Forest Temple.
}}

''The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time'' is a fantasy [[action-adventure game]] set in a three-dimensional world with an expansive environment.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.gamedeveloper.com/design/game-design-essentials-20-open-world-games|title=Game Design Essentials: 20 Open World Games|website=[[Game Developer (website)|Game Developer]]|date=September 26, 2007|access-date=September 12, 2024|archive-date=September 13, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240913010459/https://www.gamedeveloper.com/design/game-design-essentials-20-open-world-games|url-status=live}}</ref> The game world is mostly rendered in [[Real-time computer graphics|real-time]] [[Polygon (computer graphics)|polygonal 3D]], while a few areas make use of [[pre-rendered]] backgrounds.<ref name=GamersRepublic>{{Cite Q|Q130467423}}</ref><ref name=IGNRemembering>{{Cite Q|Q130467402}}</ref><ref name=Screenrant>{{Cite Q|Q130467701}}</ref><ref name=UrbanPlay>{{Cite Q|Q130467777|chapter=Chapter 5: Learning from Video Games}}</ref> The player controls series protagonist [[Link (The Legend of Zelda)|Link]] from a third-person perspective. Link primarily fights with a sword and shield but can also use other weapons such as projectiles, bombs, and magic spells.<ref name="instruction booklet">{{cite book|title=The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time instruction booklet|publisher=[[Nintendo]]|url=https://cdn02.nintendo-europe.com/media/downloads/games_8/emanuals/nintendo_8/Manual_Nintendo64_TheLegendOfZeldaOcarinaOfTime_EN.pdf|year=1998|location=United States|id=U/NUS-NZLE-USA|access-date=September 24, 2015|archive-date=February 2, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230202024322/https://cdn02.nintendo-europe.com/media/downloads/games_8/emanuals/nintendo_8/Manual_Nintendo64_TheLegendOfZeldaOcarinaOfTime_EN.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref>{{rp|22–25}} The control scheme introduced techniques such as [[Context-sensitive user interface|context-sensitive]] actions and a targeting system called "Z-targeting",<ref name="Essential 50"/>{{efn|So named because it was executed by the Z button; Z-targeting is referred to as L-targeting in the GameCube and Nintendo 3DS rereleases.<ref>{{cite book | publisher=[[Nintendo]] | year=2003 | title=The Legend of Zelda: Collector's Edition instruction booklet | location=USA | pages=16–17}}</ref><ref>{{cite book | publisher=[[Nintendo]] | year=2003 | title=The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time/Master Quest instruction booklet | location=USA | pages=14–15}}</ref>}} which allows the player to have Link focus on enemies or objects.<ref name="instruction booklet"/>{{rp|11–12}}{{efn|In the [[GameCube]] [[Porting#Porting of video games|port]] of ''Ocarina of Time'' and the [[Wii]]'s [[Virtual Console]] version, targeting is done with the L button instead of the Z button due to the position of the Z button on the [[GameCube controller]] and [[Classic Controller]].}} When using this technique, the camera follows the target and Link constantly faces it. Projectile attacks are automatically directed at the target and do not require manual aiming. Context-sensitive actions allow multiple tasks to be assigned to one button, simplifying the control scheme. The on-screen display shows what will happen when the button is pushed and changes depending on what the character is doing. For example, the button that causes Link to push a box if he is standing next to it will have him climb on the box if the analog stick is pushed toward it.<ref name="Essential 50"/> Much of the game is spent exploring and fighting, but some parts require [[Stealth game|stealth]].

Link gains abilities by collecting items and weapons found in dungeons or in the overworld, including several optional side quests and minor objectives. Side quests can reward new weapons or abilities. In one side quest, Link trades items with [[non-player character]]s in a trading sequence that features ten items and ends with him receiving the two-handed Biggoron Sword, the strongest sword. In another side quest, Link can acquire a [[Characters of The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time#Epona|horse]] who allows him to travel faster but restricts him to only attacking with arrows while riding.<ref name="instruction booklet"/>{{rp|38}}

Link is given an [[ocarina]] near the beginning of the game, which is later replaced by the [[Musical instruments from The Legend of Zelda series#Ocarina of Time|Ocarina of Time]]. Link learns twelve melodies that allow him to solve music-based puzzles and teleport to previously visited locations.<ref name="instruction booklet"/>{{rp|30}} The Ocarina of Time is also used to claim the [[Master Sword]] in the Temple of Time, which causes Link to be transported seven years into the future and become an adult. Young Link and adult Link have different abilities.<ref>{{cite magazine |title=The RPG Revolution|magazine=[[Electronic Gaming Monthly]] |issue=106 |publisher=[[Ziff Davis]] |date=May 1998 |page=95}}</ref> For example, only adult Link can use the Fairy Bow, and only young Link can fit through certain small passages. After completing certain tasks, Link can travel freely between the two time periods by replacing and taking the sword.<ref name="NintendoPower">{{cite magazine |last1=Hoffman |first1=Christopher |title=Better Than the Best |magazine=[[Nintendo Power]] |publisher=[[Nintendo of America]] |issue=267 |date=May 2011 |page=51 |quote=...the boy hero, now grown into a young man... will continue his quest——riding on horseback, gaining new items....}}</ref>

== Plot ==
===Setting===
{{Further|The Legend of Zelda#Fictional chronology|label1=Fictional chronology of The Legend of Zelda}}
''Ocarina of Time'' is set in the fictional kingdom of [[Hyrule]], the setting of most ''[[Legend of Zelda]]'' games. Hyrule Field serves as the central hub, and is connected to several outlying areas with diverse topography which are home to the [[Universe of The Legend of Zelda#Races|races of Hyrule]].<ref name="instruction booklet"/>{{rp|7–8}} On the eastern outskirts of Hyrule are the Kokiri, a forest-dwelling race living as children with fairies, and the Zora, fish-like creatures in the middle of a crisis. North is Hyrule Castle and its surrounding town, where the royal family and most Hylians reside, and Kakariko Village and Death Mountain, home of the Gorons, rock-consuming creatures. The secluded western desert belongs to the Gerudo, a population mostly consisting of women who serve the king, a man that is born once every century. Lon Lon Ranch, a ranch renowned for its horses and high-quality milk, sits in the center of Hyrule Field, and Lake Hylia to the south serves as a touristic fishing attraction where the [[Water Temple (Ocarina of Time)|Water Temple]] resides.

=== Characters ===
Players control Link, a young boy living in the Kokiri Forest, which is also home to his Kokiri friend Saria and guarded by the Great Deku Tree. Unlike other Kokiri, Link does not have a fairy companion until the Great Deku Tree instructs the fairy Navi to be his guide. Navi is used to contextualize Z-Targeting for the player, and also provides hints and advice. On his quest, Link befriends Malon, daughter of Lon Lon Ranch's owner, Talon; Darunia, the leader of the Gorons; and Ruto, the Zora princess. Link also meets Princess Zelda, who is under the watch of her Sheikah caretaker, Impa, and encounters the King of the Gerudo, Ganondorf. In his adulthood, Link meets Rauru, the Sage of Light, and Nabooru, the ''de facto'' leader of the Gerudo in Ganondorf's absence. Along the way, Link is aided by Sheik, a mysterious young Sheikah. Link is also aided by great fairies who give him magical abilities.

===Story===
[[Navi (The Legend of Zelda)|Navi]] awakens Link from a nightmare in which he watches a man in black armor pursuing a young girl on horseback, and is brought to the [[Great Deku Tree]], who has been cursed by a "wicked man of the desert". Before dying, the Great Deku Tree gives Link the Spiritual Stone of the Forest and sends him to Hyrule Castle to speak with Hyrule's princess.<ref name="instruction booklet"/>{{rp|6}} At the Hyrule Castle garden, Link meets Princess Zelda, who believes [[Ganondorf]], the evil [[Gerudo]] king, is seeking the [[Triforce]], a holy relic that gives its holder godlike power. Zelda asks Link to obtain the three Spiritual Stones to enter the Sacred Realm and claim the Triforce before Ganondorf reaches it.<ref>{{cite video game |title=The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time |developer=[[Nintendo Entertainment Analysis & Development]] |date=November 23, 1998 |publisher=[[Nintendo]] |platform=[[Nintendo 64]] |quote='''Princess Zelda''': 'You go find the other two Spiritual Stones! Let's get the Triforce before Ganondorf does, and then defeat him!'}}</ref> Link collects the other two stones: the first from Darunia, leader of the Gorons, and the second from Ruto, princess of the Zoras. Link returns to Hyrule Castle, where he sees Ganondorf pursue Zelda and her caretaker [[Impa]] on horseback, like in his nightmare, and unsuccessfully attempts to stop him.<ref>{{cite video game |title=The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time |developer=[[Nintendo Entertainment Analysis & Development]] |date=November 23, 1998 |publisher=[[Nintendo]] |platform=[[Nintendo 64]] |quote='''Ganondorf''': 'Arrrrgh! I lost her! You, over there! Little kid! You must have seen the white horse gallop past just now&nbsp;... Which way did it go?! Answer me!! So, you think you can protect them from me&nbsp;... You've got guts, kid. Heh heh heh&nbsp;... 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!'}}</ref> Inside the Temple of Time, he uses the Ocarina of Time, a gift from Zelda, and the Spiritual Stones to open a door. There, he finds the Master Sword, but as he pulls it from its pedestal, he is incapacitated. Ganondorf, who snuck into the Temple after Link, appears and claims the Triforce. Ganondorf reveals that when Link pulled the Master Sword, he opened the Sacred Realm, allowing Ganondorf to take the Triforce.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Tieryas|first=Peter|date=September 22, 2020|title=A Return To ''The Legend Of Zelda: The Ocarina Of Time'' Reminded Me Why It's Special|url=https://kotaku.com/a-return-to-the-the-legend-of-zelda-the-ocarina-of-tim-1845132043|access-date=February 4, 2021|website=[[Kotaku]]|language=en-us|archive-date=February 9, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210209014909/https://kotaku.com/a-return-to-the-the-legend-of-zelda-the-ocarina-of-tim-1845132043|url-status=live}}</ref>

Seven years later, an older Link awakens in the Sacred Realm and is met by Rauru, one of the seven Sages who protect the entrance to the Sacred Realm. Rauru explains that Link's spirit was sealed for seven years until he was old enough to wield the Master Sword and defeat Ganondorf, who has taken over Hyrule.<ref>{{cite video game |title=The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time |developer=[[Nintendo Entertainment Analysis & Development]] |date=November 23, 1998 |publisher=[[Nintendo]] |platform=[[Nintendo 64]] |quote='''Rauru''': 'The Master Sword is a sacred blade which evil ones may never touch&nbsp;... Only one worthy of the title of "Hero of Time" can pull it from the Pedestal of Time&nbsp;... However, you were too young to be the Hero of Time&nbsp;... Therefore, your spirit was sealed here for seven years.&nbsp;... Though you opened the Door of Time in the name of peace&nbsp;... 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&nbsp;... His evil power radiated from the temples of Hyrule, and in seven short years, it transformed Hyrule into a world of monsters.'}}</ref> The seven sages have the ability to imprison Ganondorf in the Sacred Realm, but five are unaware of their identities as sages. Link is returned to the Temple of Time and meets the mysterious Sheik, who guides him to free five temples from Ganondorf's control and allow their sages to awaken.<ref>{{cite video game |title=The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time |developer=[[Nintendo Entertainment Analysis & Development]] |date=November 23, 1998 |publisher=[[Nintendo]] |platform=[[Nintendo 64]] |quote='''Sheik''': 'You must look for the five temples and awaken the five Sages&nbsp;... One Sage is waiting for the time of awakening in the Forest Temple.&nbsp;... Because of the evil power in the temple, she cannot hear the awakening call from the Sacred Realm&nbsp;...'}}</ref> Link befriended all five sages as a child: his childhood friend Saria, the Sage of the Forest Temple; Darunia, the Sage of the Fire Temple; Ruto, the Sage of the [[Water Temple (Ocarina of Time)|Water Temple]]; Impa, the Sage of the Shadow Temple; and Nabooru, leader of the Gerudo in Ganondorf's absence, the Sage of the Spirit Temple. After the five sages awaken, Sheik reveals himself to be Zelda in disguise and the seventh sage. Zelda explains that Ganondorf's heart was unbalanced, causing the Triforce to split into three pieces. Ganondorf acquired only the Triforce of Power, while Zelda received the Triforce of Wisdom and Link the Triforce of Courage.<ref>{{cite video game |title=The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time |developer=[[Nintendo Entertainment Analysis & Development]] |date=November 23, 1998 |publisher=[[Nintendo]] |platform=[[Nintendo 64]] |quote='''Sheik''': '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. The Triforce separated into three parts. Only the Triforce of Power remained in Ganondorf's hand.'}}</ref>

Ganondorf then magically captures Zelda and teleports her to his castle, imprisoning her in a large crystal. He telepathically explains to Link that the Triforce can be reunited and used properly if the three people holding each piece of it are brought together in one place. The other six sages help Link enter the stronghold, where he frees Zelda after defeating Ganondorf, who destroys the castle in an attempt to kill Link and Zelda. After they escape the collapsing castle, Ganondorf emerges from the rubble and transforms into a boar-like beast named Ganon using the Triforce of Power. He knocks the Master Sword from Link's hand, but with Zelda's aid, Link retrieves the Master Sword and defeats Ganon. The seven sages seal Ganondorf in the Sacred Realm, but he vows revenge on their descendants using the Triforce of Power.<ref>{{cite video game |title=The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time |developer=[[Nintendo Entertainment Analysis & Development]] |date=November 23, 1998 |publisher=[[Nintendo]] |platform=[[Nintendo 64]] |quote='''Ganondorf''': 'Someday... When this seal is broken.... That is when I will exterminate your descendants!! As long as the Triforce of Power is in my hand...." '''Zelda''': "Thank you, Link... Thanks to you, Ganondorf has been sealed inside the Evil Realm!'}}</ref> Zelda uses the Ocarina of Time to send Link back to his childhood. Navi departs and young Link meets Zelda in the castle garden once more, where he retains knowledge of Hyrule's fate, preventing its decline.<ref>{{cite video game |title=The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time |developer=[[Nintendo Entertainment Analysis & Development]] |date=November 23, 1998 |publisher=[[Nintendo]] |platform=[[Nintendo 64]]}}</ref>

== Development ==
[[File:64DD-Attached.jpg|thumb|The Nintendo 64 with [[64DD]] attached]]
''Ocarina of Time'' was developed concurrently with ''[[Super Mario 64]]'' and ''[[Mario Kart 64]]'' for the [[Nintendo 64]] by Nintendo's [[Entertainment Analysis & Development]] (EAD) division in 1994,<ref name="NP 89">{{Cite magazine|date=October 1996|title=Miyamoto Speaks|url=https://archive.org/stream/NintendoPower1988-2004/Nintendo%20Power%20Issue%20089%20%28October%201996%29#page/n69/mode/2up|magazine=[[Nintendo Power]]|issue=89|pages=64–67}}</ref> for more than $12 million with a staff of more than 200.<ref name="budget">{{cite web|first=Jason|last=Rich|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-1998-11-12-9811120369-story.html|title=Zelda Hits A Bullseye|newspaper=[[Chicago Tribune]]|date=November 12, 1998|access-date=October 31, 2021|archive-date=April 7, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220407011646/https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-1998-11-12-9811120369-story.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

Development was migrated from the [[64DD]] disk drive peripheral<ref name="GS History of Zelda">{{cite web|url=http://www.gamespot.com/gamespot/features/video/hist_zelda/page14.html |work=History of Zelda |title=The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time |publisher=[[GameSpot]] |first1=Andrew |last1=Vestal |first2=Cliff |last2=O'Neill |first3=Brad |last3=Shoemaker |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130204141027/http://www.gamespot.com/gamespot/features/video/hist_zelda/page14.html |archive-date=February 4, 2013}}</ref><ref name="GamePro Issue 103">{{cite magazine|url=https://archive.org/details/GamePro_Issue_103_Volume_09_Number_04_1997-04_IDG_Publishing_US/page/n105/mode/2up?view=theater|title=The Legend of Zelda 64|magazine=[[GamePro]]|date=April 1997|issue=103|page=102}}</ref> to cartridge due to the high data throughput of streaming 500 [[Motion capture acting|motion-captured]] character animations throughout gameplay.<ref name="Iwata Asks OoT 3D Original"/> Initially targeting 16-[[megabyte]]s, it was increased to 32 megabytes, as Nintendo's largest game ever.<ref>{{cite magazine |first=John |last=Ricciardi |title=Nintendo Goes Large |magazine=[[Electronic Gaming Monthly]]|issue=100 |publisher=[[Ziff Davis]]|date=November 1997|page=28}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.ign.com/articles/1997/08/22/zelda-64-news-the-biggest-cartridge-game-ever |title=Zelda 64 News: The biggest Cartridge Game Ever |website=[[IGN]] |date=August 21, 1997 |access-date=October 23, 2007 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140330173842/http://www.ign.com/articles/1997/08/22/zelda-64-news-the-biggest-cartridge-game-ever |archive-date=March 30, 2014}}</ref> Early in development, the team had concerns about the data storage constraints of the cartridge; in the worst-case scenario, ''Ocarina of Time'' would follow a similar structure to ''Super Mario 64'', with Link restricted to Ganondorf's castle as a central hub, using a portal system similar to the paintings that Mario uses to traverse the realm.<ref name="Paint">{{cite web |url=http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/news/26851 |title=Ocarina of Time Had Mario 64-Esque Paintings Early in Development |author=Walker, Matt |date=June 15, 2011 |website=Nintendo World Report |access-date=June 21, 2011 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110620165919/http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/news/26851 |archive-date=June 20, 2011}}</ref> An idea that arose from this stage of development, a battle with a doppelganger of Ganondorf that rides through paintings, was used as the boss of the Forest Temple dungeon.<ref name="Paint" />

While series co-creator [[Shigeru Miyamoto]] had been the principal director and producer of ''Super Mario 64'', he was involved in the game's production and now in charge of five directors by acting as a producer and supervisor of ''Ocarina of Time''.<ref name="IGN Sensei">{{cite web|url=https://www.ign.com/articles/1999/01/30/sensei-speaks |title=Sensei Speaks |date=January 29, 1999 |website=[[IGN]] |access-date=May 8, 2008 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130820235938/http://www.ign.com/articles/1999/01/30/sensei-speaks |archive-date=August 20, 2013}}</ref><ref name="IGN E3">{{cite web|title=E3: Through the Eyes of Miyamoto Pt. 2 |website=[[IGN]] |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/1997/06/19/e3-through-the-eyes-of-miyamoto-pt-2 |date=June 18, 1997 |access-date=December 17, 2008 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131022214940/http://www.ign.com/articles/1997/06/19/e3-through-the-eyes-of-miyamoto-pt-2 |archive-date=October 22, 2013}}</ref> Different parts were handled by different directors, a new strategy for Nintendo EAD. Four or five initial teams grew over time, each working on different basic experiments, including scenario and planning, Link's actions, transforming classic 2D items into improved 3D form, camera experiments, motion capture, sound, special effects, and the flow of time.<ref name="GDC: Miyamoto Keynote" /> The dungeons were designed by [[Eiji Aonuma]].<ref name="eijidungeon" />

{{multiple image|align = right| total_width = 275| image1 = Beeindruckende Fachwerkhäuser säumen den historische Marktplatz in Miltenberg.jpg| image2 = Miltenberg östl. Tor.jpg| footer = Miyamoto drew inspiration for the market around Hyrule Castle from [[Timber framing|half-timbering]] in [[Lower Franconia]].}} Although the development team was new to 3D games, assistant director Makoto Miyanaga recalled a "passion for creating something new and unprecedented".<ref>{{Cite magazine |magazine=[[Nintendo Power]] |title=Inside Zelda Part 12: The Role of the Sidekick |date=June 2000 |pages=76–78}}</ref> The towns in ''Ocarina of Time'' were based on [[medieval Europe]].<ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://archive.org/details/64-dream-june-2000-06-600dpi-ozidual/64Dream%202000%2006%20%28J%20OCR%29/page/n85/mode/2up |title=Nintendo Double Header Interview |language=Japanese |magazine=The 64Dream |date=January 1999 |page=85 |quote=[[Yoshiaki Koizumi|Koizumi]]: [...]So anyway, [[The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask|this time]] the focus was on where to show how the game was different from Ocarina of Time. Even if this is the same grassy field, we wanted to do something different with it... Something like using a more vibrant color palette or making strangely shaped trees. The towns, which were inspired by medieval Europe in Ocarina of Time, have more of a Southeast Asian style [[The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask|this time]].}}</ref> When creating Hyrule Castle's market, Miyamoto traveled to [[Germany]] for inspiration of its [[Timber framing|half-timbered architecture]] in [[Lower Franconia]], spending a few weeks in northern [[Bavaria]].<ref>{{cite magazine |magazine=[[Club Nintendo#Europe|Club Nintendo]] |volume=Special |issue=9 |title=The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time Special |language=de |date=1998 |page=5 |publisher=[[Nintendo of Europe]] |url=https://archive.org/details/zines_club_nintendo_1998_de/page/n4/mode/1up?view=theater |quote=[...an even more realistic representation of the Hylian land is possible for the first time, according to Tanabe and Miyamoto's ideas. For example, the developers designed Hyrule's Market based on Lower Franconian half-timbered architecture. (Two years ago, Miyamoto spent a few weeks in northern Bavaria to brainstorm the design!)].}}</ref> Despite the setting being a "medieval tale of [[sword and sorcery]]", Miyamoto used the [[chanbara]] ([[samurai]]) genre of Japanese sword fighting as a model for the combat and was content with the positive worldwide reception.<ref name="Iwata Asks OoT 3D Miyamoto" /> The development involved more than 120 people, including [[stunt performer]]s used to capture the effects of sword fighting and Link's movement.<ref>{{Cite magazine |magazine=[[Nintendo Power]] |url=https://archive.org/details/NintendoPower1988-2004/Nintendo%20Power%20Issue%20111%20%28August%201998%29/page/n59/mode/2up?view=theater |title=The Legend of Miyamoto |date=August 1998 |issue=111 |pages=52–55}}</ref> Miyamoto initially intended ''Ocarina of Time'' to be played in a first-person perspective<ref name="Kotaku-Miyamoto-interview-2013">{{cite web|url=http://www.kotaku.com.au/2013/07/why-are-you-here-miyamoto-and-the-ocarina-of-time/|title=Why Are You Here? Shigeru Miyamoto And The Ocarina Of Time|author=Mark Serrels|date=July 10, 2013|website=[[Kotaku Australia]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131002000040/http://www.kotaku.com.au/2013/07/why-are-you-here-miyamoto-and-the-ocarina-of-time/|archive-date=October 2, 2013|url-status=dead|access-date=October 11, 2013}}</ref> to enable players to take in the vast terrain of Hyrule Field better and let the team focus more on developing enemies and environments. The concept was abandoned once the idea of a child Link was introduced, and Miyamoto believed it necessary for Link to be visible on screen.<ref name="Iwata Asks">{{cite web|url=https://iwataasks.nintendo.com/interviews/wii/crossbow/0/0/|title=Iwata Asks: Link's Crossbow Training|date=May 8, 2008|publisher=[[Nintendo of America]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240429032835/https://iwataasks.nintendo.com/interviews/wii/crossbow/0/0/|archive-date=April 29, 2024|url-status=live|access-date=September 12, 2024}}</ref> Originally Z-targeting involved a generic marker, but Koizumi changed the design to that of a fairy to make it less "robotic". The fairy gained the name of the "Fairy Navigation System" amongst staff, and ultimately, this turned into the nickname "Navi", which in turn resulted in the "birth" of Navi's character. The "birth" of Navi was a pivotal point in the story's development.<ref name=":0">{{Cite book|title=[[The Legend of Zelda Encyclopedia]]|publisher=[[Dark Horse Comics]]|year=2018|isbn=978-1-5067-0638-2|pages=241}}</ref>

[[File:20150412 French Chanbara Championship 079.jpg|thumb|left|The developers were inspired by [[chanbara]] ([[samurai]]) sword techniques, as seen in this photo.]]
Miyamoto wanted to make a game that was cinematic yet distinguished from films.<ref name="IGN Sensei"/> Takumi Kawagoe, who creates [[cutscene]]s for Nintendo, said that his priority was to have the player feel in control of the action.<ref>{{Cite magazine |magazine=[[Nintendo Power]] |date=December 2005 |issue=198 |title=Inside Zelda Part 7: An Honest Perspective on Hyrule |pages=70–72}}</ref> To promote this instantaneous continuity of cinematic gameplay, the cutscenes in ''Ocarina of Time'' are completely generated with [[real-time computing]] on the Nintendo 64 and do not use prerendered [[full-motion video]].<ref name="IGN Sensei"/> Miyamoto's vision required this real-time architecture for the total of more than 90 minutes of cutscenes, regardless of whether the console had a vast medium like CD-ROM on which to store prerendered versions.<ref name="GDC: Miyamoto Keynote">{{cite web | title=GDC: Miyamoto Keynote Speech | date=March 18, 1999 | author1=IGN Staff | first2=Shigeru | last2=Miyamoto | url=https://www.ign.com/articles/1999/03/19/gdc-miyamoto-keynote-speech | website=[[IGN]] | access-date=October 23, 2017 | archive-date=October 24, 2017 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171024043859/http://www.ign.com/articles/1999/03/19/gdc-miyamoto-keynote-speech | url-status=live}}</ref> Toru Osawa created the story based on an idea by Miyamoto and [[Yoshiaki Koizumi]].<ref name="miyastory1" /><ref name="miyastory2" /><ref name="koistory1" /><ref name="koistory2" /><ref name="staffcredits">{{cite video game|title=The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time |developer=[[Nintendo Entertainment Analysis & Development]] |publisher=[[Nintendo of America]] |date=November 23, 1998 |scene=Staff credits}}</ref> He was supported by ''[[A Link to the Past]]'' and ''[[Link's Awakening]]'' script writer [[Kensuke Tanabe]].<ref name="staffcredits" /><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.gpara.com/contents/creator/bn_101.htm |title=クリエイターズファイル 第101回 |date=February 10, 2003 |publisher=Gpara.com |access-date=April 26, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110930045013/http://www.gpara.com/contents/creator/bn_101.htm |archive-date=September 30, 2011}}</ref> Miyamoto said the real-time rendering engine allowed his small team of 3 to 7 cinematic developers to rapidly adjust the storyline and to focus on developing additional gameplay elements even up to the final few months of development, instead of waiting on a repeated prerendering process.<ref name="GDC: Miyamoto Keynote"/>

Some of Miyamoto's ideas were instead used in ''Super Mario 64'', since it was to be released first.<ref name="NP 89" /> Other ideas were not used due to time constraints.<ref name="IGN Sensei" /> A storytelling shopkeep character named "[[Hobbit]]" that was initially to be cut was eventually repurposed as the Deku Scrubs later in development.<ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://archive.org/details/64dream-january-1999-ozidual/64Dream%201999%2001/page/n87/mode/2up |title=Shigeru Miyamoto Long Interview |language=Japanese |magazine=The 64Dream |date=January 1999 |pages=87–97}}</ref> ''Ocarina of Time'' originally ran on the same [[Game engine|engine]] as ''Super Mario 64'' but was so heavily modified that Miyamoto considers the final products different engines.<ref name="Interview with Shigeru Miyamoto">{{cite magazine|date=November 19, 1998|title=Interview with Shigeru Miyamoto<!-- actual article title needed -->|url=http://www.miyamotoshrine.com/theman/interviews/111998.shtml|magazine=[[Nintendo Power]]|publisher=[[Nintendo of America]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040619165414/http://www.miyamotoshrine.com/theman/interviews/111998.shtml|archive-date=June 19, 2004|access-date=April 26, 2014}}</ref> One major difference between the two is camera control; the player has a lot of control over the camera in ''Super Mario 64'', but the camera in ''Ocarina of Time'' is largely controlled by the AI. Miyamoto said the camera controls for ''Ocarina of Time'' are intended to reflect a focus on the game's world, whereas those of ''Super Mario 64'' are centered on the character of [[Mario]].<ref name="IGN Sensei" /> Miyamoto wanted the difficulty level to be accessible to all players, and in particular he wanted it to be easier than ''Super Mario 64''.<ref name=GPro114>{{cite magazine |title=Inside the Mind of Shigeru Miyamoto|magazine=[[GamePro]]|issue=114 |publisher=[[IDG]]|date=March 1998|pages=54–55}}</ref>

=== Music ===
''Ocarina of Time''{{'s}} music was written by [[Koji Kondo]], the composer in charge of music for most ''Zelda'' games.<ref name="Inside Zelda 4"/> In addition to characters having musical themes, areas of Hyrule are also associated with pieces of music.<ref name="GameSpot soundtrack">{{cite web |url=http://www.gamespot.com/features/vgs/universal/tenspot_soundtrack/page11.html |title=Top Ten Video Game Soundtracks |website=[[GameSpot]] |last=Trueman |first=Doug |page=11 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130125130413/http://www.gamespot.com/features/vgs/universal/tenspot_soundtrack/page11.html|archive-date=January 25, 2013}}</ref> This has been called [[leitmotif]] in reverse—instead of music announcing an entering character, it now introduces a stationary environment as the player approaches.<ref name="Whalen">{{Cite journal|title=Play Along — An Approach to Video Game Music |first=Zach |last=Whalen |journal=The International Journal of Computer Game Research |date=November 2004 |url=http://www.gamestudies.org/0401/whalen/ |access-date=September 24, 2006 |volume=4 |issue=1 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061003122633/http://www.gamestudies.org/0401/whalen/ |archive-date=October 3, 2006}}</ref> In some locations, the music is a variation of an ocarina tune the player learns, related to that area.<ref name="Whalen"/>

Beyond providing a backdrop for the setting, music plays an integral role in gameplay. The button layout of the Nintendo 64 controller resembles the holes of the ocarinas in the game,<ref name="IGN review">{{cite web |last=Schneider |first=Peer |title=Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time review |website=IGN |date=November 25, 1998 |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/1998/11/26/the-legend-of-zelda-ocarina-of-time-review |access-date=January 29, 2006 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121009233109/http://www.ign.com/articles/1998/11/26/the-legend-of-zelda-ocarina-of-time-review |archive-date=October 9, 2012}}</ref> and players must learn to play several songs. All songs are played using the five notes available on an ocarina, although by bending pitches via the analog stick, players can play additional tones.<ref name="IGN review"/> Kondo said that creating distinct themes on the limited scale was a "major challenge" but feels that the result is very natural.<ref name="Inside Zelda 4">{{Cite magazine|magazine=[[Nintendo Power]] |title=Inside Zelda Part 4: Natural Rhythms of Hyrule |volume=195 |date=September 2005 |pages=56–58}}</ref> The popularity of ''Ocarina of Time'' led to an increase in ocarina sales.<ref>{{Cite news|first=Sharon R.|last=King|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1999/02/15/business/compressed-data-can-you-play-feelings-on-the-ocarina.html|title=Compressed Data; Can You Play 'Feelings' On the Ocarina?|work=[[The New York Times]]|date=February 15, 1999|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090707214037/http://www.nytimes.com/1999/02/15/business/compressed-data-can-you-play-feelings-on-the-ocarina.html|archive-date=July 7, 2009|url-status=live|access-date=August 25, 2009}}</ref>

The official soundtrack of ''Ocarina of Time'' was published by [[Pony Canyon]] and released in Japan on December 18, 1998.<ref name="Pony Canyon">{{cite web|script-title=ja:ゲームミュージック(パッケージ表記ナシ)「ゼルダの伝説・時のオカリナ」オリジナルサウンドトラック |url=http://hp.ponycanyon.co.jp/pchp/cgi-bin/PCHPM.pl?TRGID=PCHP_SKH_1010&CMD=DSP&DSP_SKHBNG=199800001494&DSP_SKHKETSEQ=001 |publisher=[[Pony Canyon]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080508235755/http://hp.ponycanyon.co.jp/pchp/cgi-bin/PCHPM.pl?TRGID=PCHP_SKH_1010&CMD=DSP&DSP_SKHBNG=199800001494&DSP_SKHKETSEQ=001|archive-date=May 8, 2008 |language=ja |access-date=April 17, 2013}}</ref> It comprises one compact disc with 82 tracks.<ref name="Pony Canyon"/><!--Please read if a more reliable source is found: lasting 76 minutes and 14 seconds.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.rpgfan.com/soundtracks/zeldaootost/index.html |title=RPGFan Soundtracks&nbsp;— The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time OST |publisher=[[RPGFan]] |access-date=April 5, 2008}}</ref>--> A U.S. version was also released, although with fewer tracks and different packaging artwork. Many critics praised the music in ''Ocarina of Time'', although ''[[IGN]]'' was disappointed that the traditional ''Zelda'' overworld theme was not included.<ref name="IGN review"/> In 2001, three years after the initial release of ''Ocarina of Time'', ''[[GameSpot]]'' labeled it as one of the top ten video game soundtracks.<ref name="GameSpot soundtrack"/> The soundtrack, at the time, was not released in Europe or Australia. In 2011, however, a 51-track limited edition soundtrack for the 3DS version was available in a free mail out through a [[Club Nintendo]] offer to owners of the 3DS edition, as an incentive to register the product. The original musical theme for the Fire Temple area contained a [[Sampling (music)|sample]] of the [[Islamic call to prayer]] and was altered in later revisions of the game, due to Nintendo's policy of not including real religious references in their products; the altered theme simply removed the sample.<ref>{{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 |website=Zelda Informer |access-date=November 13, 2016 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161123100704/http://www.zeldainformer.com/news/nintendo-officially-talks-about-the-infamous-ocarina-of-time-fire-temple-ch |archive-date=November 23, 2016}}</ref>{{rs|date=August 2025}}

''Hero of Time'', an orchestral recording of ''Ocarina of Time''{{'}}s score performed by the Slovak National Symphony Orchestra, was released by video game label Materia Collective in 2017. A vinyl version was published by [[iam8bit]].<ref>{{cite web|last1=Crecente |first1=Brian |title=The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time soundtrack vinyl in the works |url=http://www.polygon.com/2016/12/8/13885136/legend-of-zelda-ocarina-of-time-vinyl |website=[[Polygon (website)|Polygon]] |publisher=[[Vox Media]] |date=December 8, 2016 |access-date=December 8, 2016 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161209024515/http://www.polygon.com/2016/12/8/13885136/legend-of-zelda-ocarina-of-time-vinyl |archive-date=December 9, 2016}}</ref> It was nominated for "Best Game Music Cover/Remix" at the 16th Annual Game Audio Network Guild Awards.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.audiogang.org/2018-awards/ |title=2018 Awards |website=Game Audio Network Guild |access-date=April 14, 2018 |archive-date=April 14, 2018 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20180414040621/http://www.audiogang.org/2018-awards/ |url-status=live}}</ref>

==Release ==
''Ocarina of Time'' was first shown as a technical and thematic demonstration video at Nintendo's [[Nintendo Space World|Shoshinkai]] trade show in December 1995.<ref name="Essential 50">{{cite web |url=http://www.1up.com/features/essential-50-ocarina-time |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120718054136/http://www.1up.com/features/essential-50-ocarina-time |url-status=dead |archive-date=July 18, 2012 |title=The Essential 50 Part 40: The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time|website=[[1UP.com]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine|date=February 1996|title=Legend of Zelda|url=https://archive.org/details/nextgen-issue-014/page/n55/mode/2up|magazine=[[Next Generation (magazine)|Next Generation]]|issue=14|page=55|quote=Well, the fact is that the videotape sequences shown at Shoshinkai bear very little resemblance to what the final product will actually look like. Spectacular scenes of a surprisingly large Link clad in polished armor are most likely to end up in cut-scenes rather than representing the actual play.}}</ref> Nintendo planned to release ''Super Mario 64'' as a [[launch game]] for the Nintendo 64 and later release ''Ocarina of Time'' for the 64DD, a disk drive peripheral for the system that was still in development.<ref name="GS History of Zelda"/><ref name="GamePro Issue 103"/> Problems with performance of the 64DD peripheral led to development being moved from disk to cartridge media,<ref name="Iwata Asks OoT 3D Original"/> and thus the game would miss its scheduled 1997 holiday season release and was delayed into 1998.<ref name="Iwata Asks OoT 3D Miyamoto" /> They planned to follow its release with a 64DD expansion disk.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/1997/03/08/zelda-officially-goes-to-cart |title=Zelda Officially Goes to Cart |website=IGN |date=March 7, 1997 |access-date=April 23, 2008 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141025074408/http://www.ign.com/articles/1997/03/08/zelda-officially-goes-to-cart |archive-date=October 25, 2014}}</ref> Miyamoto additionally attributed the delay to Nintendo prioritizing development efforts to ''[[Yoshi's Story]]'' after that game missed its planned second quarter release slot,<ref name=GPro114/> as well as the desire to better compete with ''[[Banjo-Kazooie (video game)|Banjo-Kazooie]]''.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.gamesradar.com/games/platformer/shigeru-miyamoto-thought-banjo-kazooie-was-so-great-it-helped-convince-him-to-delay-zelda-ocarina-of-time-its-so-amazing-that-we-dont-want-to-be-outdone/ |title=Shigeru Miyamoto thought Banjo-Kazooie was so great it helped convince him to delay Zelda: Ocarina of Time - "It's so amazing that we don't want to be outdone" |website=[[GamesRadar+]] |last=Bailey |first=Dustin |date=October 22, 2024 |access-date=February 28, 2025 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20250301004120/https://www.gamesradar.com/games/platformer/shigeru-miyamoto-thought-banjo-kazooie-was-so-great-it-helped-convince-him-to-delay-zelda-ocarina-of-time-its-so-amazing-that-we-dont-want-to-be-outdone/ |archive-date=March 1, 2025}}</ref>

Throughout the late 1990s, the Nintendo 64 was said to lack hit first-party games. ''Next Generation'' wrote that "Nintendo absolutely can't afford another holiday season without a real marquee title"; they further wrote that ''Zelda'' was "one of the most anticipated games of the decade", upon which the Nintendo 64's fate depended.<ref name="Next Generation #44"/> Nintendo spent $10 million on ''Ocarina of Time''{{'}}s marketing.<ref>{{cite web|first=Eve|last=Tahmincioglu|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/90913497/tampa-bay-times/|title=Zelda|newspaper=[[Tampa Bay Times]]|page=59|date=December 5, 1998|access-date=December 21, 2021|via=[[Newspapers.com]]|archive-date=December 21, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211221051002/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/90913497/tampa-bay-times/|url-status=live}}</ref> In March 1998, it was the most anticipated Nintendo 64 game in Japan.<ref>{{cite news|title=What Japan Wants|url=https://www.ign.com/articles/1998/04/23/what-japan-wants|access-date=April 1, 2018|work=IGN|date=April 22, 1998|archive-date=June 17, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180617192958/http://www.ign.com/articles/1998/04/23/what-japan-wants|url-status=live}}</ref> Chairman [[Howard Lincoln]] insisted at E3 1998 that ''Zelda'' ship on time and become Nintendo's reinvigorating blockbuster, akin to a hit Hollywood movie.<ref name="Next Generation #44">{{cite magazine | title=Nintendo 64 | magazine=Next Generation | issue=44 | date=August 1998 | pages=40–41 | url=https://archive.org/stream/ng_unedited/ng_44_unedited#page/n41/mode/2up | access-date=December 14, 2015}}</ref>

Customers in North America who [[pre-order]]ed the ''Ocarina of Time'' received a limited-edition box with a golden plastic card reading "Collector's Edition". This edition contained a gold-colored cartridge,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.ign.com/articles/1998/08/27/zeldas-future-is-golden |title=Zelda's Future is Golden |date=August 26, 1998 |website=IGN |access-date=September 24, 2007 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140220140653/http://www.ign.com/articles/1998/08/27/zeldas-future-is-golden |archive-date=February 20, 2014}}</ref> a tradition that began with the original ''[[The Legend of Zelda (video game)|Legend of Zelda]]'' (1986) for the [[Nintendo Entertainment System]]. Demand was so great that [[Electronics Boutique]] stopped presales on November 3, 1998.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.ign.com/articles/1998/11/04/ye-snoozed-ye-loozed |title=Ye Snoozed, Ye Loozed |date=November 3, 1998 |website=IGN |access-date=September 24, 2007 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141025074405/http://www.ign.com/articles/1998/11/04/ye-snoozed-ye-loozed |archive-date=October 25, 2014}}</ref>

Several versions of ''Ocarina of Time'' were produced, with later revisions featuring minor changes such as [[glitch]] repairs, the recoloring of Ganondorf's blood from crimson to green, and the alteration of the music heard in the Fire Temple dungeon to remove a sample of an Islamic prayer chant.<ref name="OoT MQ review at IGN">{{cite web|url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2003/02/27/legend-of-zelda-ocarina-of-time-master-quest|title=Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time / Master Quest|last=Schneider|first=Peer|date=February 27, 2003|website=IGN|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150129135809/http://www.ign.com/articles/2003/02/27/legend-of-zelda-ocarina-of-time-master-quest|archive-date=January 29, 2015|url-status=live|access-date=February 1, 2015}}</ref><ref name="GTNinResponse">{{cite web |author=Dylan James |date=May 30, 2012 |title=Nintendo Officially Talks about the Infamous Ocarina of Time Fire Temple Chant |url=http://www.zeldainformer.com/news/nintendo-officially-talks-about-the-infamous-ocarina-of-time-fire-temple-ch |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130212030730/http://www.zeldainformer.com/news/nintendo-officially-talks-about-the-infamous-ocarina-of-time-fire-temple-ch |archive-date=February 12, 2013 |access-date=February 2, 2013 |publisher=Zelda Informer}}</ref>{{rs|date=August 2025}} The sample was taken from a commercially available sound library, but the developers did not realize it contained Islamic references. Although popularly believed to have been changed due to public outcry, the chanting was removed after Nintendo discovered it violated policy of avoiding religious material,<ref name="GTNinResponse" /> and the altered versions of ''Ocarina of Time'' were made prior to the original release.<ref>{{cite video|url=http://www.gametrailers.com/full-episodes/vzs1ku/pop-fiction-episode-09--the-fire-temple-chants |title=Pop-Fiction Episode 9: Fire Temple Chants |publisher=[[GameTrailers]] |format=Flash video |date=February 22, 2011 |access-date=April 27, 2011 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130121121846/http://www.gametrailers.com/full-episodes/vzs1ku/pop-fiction-episode-09--the-fire-temple-chants |archive-date=January 21, 2013}}</ref>

=== Rereleases ===
Nintendo [[ported]] ''Ocarina of Time'' to its next console, the [[GameCube]], as part of ''[[The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker#Release|The Legend of Zelda: Collector's Edition]]'', a compilation of ''Zelda'' games. This port is an [[Video game console emulator|emulation]] of the original Nintendo 64 version. The emulated port runs at a resolution of 640×480, quadruple that of the original, and supports [[progressive scan]].<ref name="OoT MQ review at IGN" /><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.ign.com/games/the-legend-of-zelda-collectors-edition/gcn-608263|title=The Legend of Zelda Collector's Edition|website=IGN|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120929062330/http://www.ign.com/games/the-legend-of-zelda-collectors-edition/gcn-608263|archive-date=September 29, 2012|url-status=dead|access-date=April 23, 2008}}</ref> Another GameCube release included the original game and a second, more difficult version titled ''[[#Master Quest|Master Quest]]'' that was included as a pre-order bonus with ''[[The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker]]'' (2002) in Japan and North America<ref>{{cite web|title=Zelda Bonus Disc Coming to US |website=IGN |date=December 4, 2002 |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2002/12/04/zelda-bonus-disc-coming-to-us |access-date=September 24, 2007 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141025074420/http://www.ign.com/articles/2002/12/04/zelda-bonus-disc-coming-to-us |archive-date=October 25, 2014}}</ref> and included in GameCube [[Product bundling|bundles]] worldwide. It was also given to those who registered certain hardware and software or subscribed to official magazines and clubs.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2003/04/15/limited-edition-zelda-in-europe|title=Limited Edition Zelda in Europe|date=April 15, 2003|website=IGN|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141025074424/http://www.ign.com/articles/2003/04/15/limited-edition-zelda-in-europe|archive-date=October 25, 2014|url-status=live|access-date=September 24, 2007}}</ref><ref name="Zelda 99">{{cite web|url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2003/11/04/zelda-bundle-at-99|title=Zelda Bundle at $99|date=November 4, 2003|website=IGN|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130713123456/http://www.ign.com/articles/2003/11/04/zelda-bundle-at-99|archive-date=July 13, 2013|url-status=live|access-date=September 24, 2007}}</ref> In November 2003, ''Ocarina of Time'' was ported to China's [[iQue Player]] as one of the five games available on its release.<ref name="iquereleasedate">{{cite web|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051225021132if_/http://www.ique.com/news/game_news_031118.htm|url=http://www.ique.com/news/game_news_031118.htm|title=iQue PLAYER优惠套装上海试卖，五款精品游戏同步发售！|trans-title=iQue Player Discount Set Trial Sale in Shanghai, Five High-quality Games Released Simultaneously!|language=Chinese|access-date=March 31, 2022|archive-date=December 25, 2005|publisher=[[iQue]]}}</ref><ref name="iquegame">{{Cite web|url=https://www.avclub.com/meet-the-ique-player-a-nintendo-console-that-was-only-1798244884|title=Meet the iQue Player, a Nintendo Console That Was Only Available in China|last=Blevins|first=Joe|date=March 4, 2016|access-date=March 31, 2022|website=[[The A.V. Club]]|publisher=[[G/O Media]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210711174800/https://www.avclub.com/meet-the-ique-player-a-nintendo-console-that-was-only-1798244884|archive-date=July 11, 2021|url-status=live}}</ref>

In February 2007, ''Ocarina of Time'' was released for the [[Wii]] [[Virtual Console]] service for 1000 Wii Points.<ref>{{cite web|first=Tim |last=Surette |website=[[GameSpot]] |date=February 24, 2007 |url=http://www.gamespot.com//news/ocarina-of-time-to-blow-on-vc-6166385? |title=Ocarina of Time to blow on VC |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120306063937/http://www.gamespot.com/news/ocarina-of-time-to-blow-on-vc-6166385 |archive-date=March 6, 2012}}</ref> This version is also an emulation of the Nintendo 64 version. Because this version does not support controller vibration, the "Stone of Agony" item{{spaced ndash}}which employs vibrations via the [[Rumble Pak]] controller accessory{{spaced ndash}}has no function.<ref name="GameSpot VC review">{{cite web | url=http://www.gamespot.com/wii/adventure/legendofzeldaootn64/review.html | title=The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time (Virtual Console) review | last=Gerstmann | first=Jeff | website=[[GameSpot]] | date=March 5, 2007 | access-date=October 27, 2007 | archive-url=https://archive.today/20071015124957/http://www.gamespot.com/wii/adventure/legendofzeldaootn64/review.html <!--Added by H3llBot--> | archive-date=October 15, 2007}}</ref> A five-minute demo can be unlocked in ''[[Super Smash Bros. Brawl]]'' (2008). ''Ocarina of Time'' was rereleased on the [[Wii U]] Virtual Console worldwide on July 2, 2015,<ref name="Wii U VC" /> this time including the original controller vibration.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Town|first1=Jonathan|title=The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time (Wii U eShop / N64) Review|url=http://www.nintendolife.com/reviews/wiiu-eshop/legend_of_zelda_ocarina_of_time_n64|website=Nintendo Life|publisher=[[Gamer Network]]|access-date=July 26, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150706102602/http://www.nintendolife.com/reviews/wiiu-eshop/legend_of_zelda_ocarina_of_time_n64|archive-date=July 6, 2015|url-status=live|date=July 3, 2015}}</ref> It was also released on the [[Nintendo Classics]] service on October 25, 2021.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Bankhurst |first=Adam |date=October 26, 2021 |title=Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack Is Now Live |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/nintendo-switch-online-expansion-pack-release-date-pricing-n64-sega-games |access-date=February 18, 2023 |website=IGN |language=en |archive-date=February 18, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230218084112/https://www.ign.com/articles/nintendo-switch-online-expansion-pack-release-date-pricing-n64-sega-games |url-status=live}}</ref>

==== Nintendo 3DS remake ====
{{main|The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time 3D|l1=The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time 3D}}
In June 2011, Nintendo released ''Ocarina of Time 3D'', an [[enhanced port]] for the [[Nintendo 3DS]] handheld console.<ref name="ocarina3dsreleasedates" /> It was developed by Nintendo EAD with [[Grezzo]], an independent Japanese studio headed by [[Koichi Ishii]].<ref name="ocarina3dsreleasedates">{{cite web|url=http://vgreleases.com/3ds/ReleaseDate-814373.aspx |title=Ocarina of Time 3DS Release Dates |publisher=N4G Network |access-date=October 18, 2011 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111015084634/http://vgreleases.com/3ds/ReleaseDate-814373.aspx |archive-date=October 15, 2011}}</ref> It includes ''Master Quest'' and adds features including touchscreen and gyroscope controls,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bestnintendo3dsgames.com/?p=74|title=Zelda Ocarina of Time 3DS Preview: Everything About This Masterpiece! - Best Nintendo 3DS Games|work=Best Nintendo 3DS Games|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141028084654/http://www.bestnintendo3dsgames.com/?p=74|archive-date=October 28, 2014|url-status=dead|access-date=December 31, 2014}}</ref> a "Boss Challenge" mode,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.gamerzines.com/ds/news-ds/master-quest-included-in-oot3d.html |title=Master Quest Included In Oot3d, DS News – GamerZines: Free Digital Games Magazines |work=GamerZines |access-date=October 10, 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141102110727/http://www.gamerzines.com/ds/news-ds/master-quest-included-in-oot3d.html |archive-date=November 2, 2014}}</ref> instructional videos to guide stuck players,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2011/04/20/boss-mode-coming-to-ocarina-of-time-3d |title=Boss Mode Coming to Ocarina of Time 3D – Nintendo 3DS News at IGN |work=IGN |date=April 20, 2011 |access-date=October 10, 2014 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170129233404/http://www.ign.com/articles/2011/04/20/boss-mode-coming-to-ocarina-of-time-3d |archive-date=January 29, 2017}}</ref> and a modified version of the Water Temple with reduced difficulty.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.edge-online.com/features/retrospective-the-legend-of-zelda-ocarina-of-time/ |title=Retrospective: The Legend Of Zelda: Ocarina Of Time |date=April 21, 2014 |publisher=Edge |access-date=October 9, 2014 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140423215836/http://www.edge-online.com/features/retrospective-the-legend-of-zelda-ocarina-of-time/ |archive-date=April 23, 2014}}</ref>

==''Master Quest''==
After completing ''Ocarina of Time'', which was designed to be able to access data stored on a 64DD disk,<ref name="Zelda DD: The Other Adventure" /> Nintendo developed a new version for the then-unreleased 64DD peripheral with the working title ''Ura Zelda'',<ref name="IGN: GDC 2004: The History of Zelda">{{cite web|url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2004/03/26/gdc-2004-the-history-of-zelda?page=3|title=IGN: GDC 2004: The History of Zelda|website=[[IGN]]|date=March 26, 2004 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150213041405/http://www.ign.com/articles/2004/03/26/gdc-2004-the-history-of-zelda?page=3|archive-date=February 13, 2015|url-status=live|access-date=October 10, 2014}}</ref> commonly translated as "Another Zelda".<ref name="Gaiden and Ura Zelda Split">{{cite web|url=https://www.ign.com/articles/1999/08/21/gaiden-and-ura-zelda-split|title=Gaiden and Ura Zelda Split|author=<!--Not stated-->|date=August 20, 1999|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150220231500/http://www.ign.com/articles/1999/08/21/gaiden-and-ura-zelda-split|archive-date=February 20, 2015|url-status=live|access-date=February 1, 2015}}</ref> Described as a second version of ''Ocarina'' with rearranged dungeons,<ref name="IGN: GDC 2004: The History of Zelda" /> it contains new content, some that had been cut from ''Ocarina'' due to time and storage constraints.<ref name="Nintendo Sequel Rumblings">{{cite web|url=https://www.ign.com/articles/1999/05/12/nintendo-sequel-rumblings|title=Nintendo Sequel Rumblings|date=May 11, 1999|website=IGN|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150220231501/http://www.ign.com/articles/1999/05/12/nintendo-sequel-rumblings|archive-date=February 20, 2015|url-status=live|access-date=January 20, 2015}}</ref><ref name="Zelda DD: The Other Adventure">{{cite web|url=http://ign64.ign.com/news/5775.html|title=Zelda DD: The Other Adventure|date=November 17, 1998|website=IGN|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/19990909162617/http://ign64.ign.com/news/5775.html|archive-date=September 9, 1999}}</ref><ref name="urazelda">{{cite web|url=http://www.unseen64.net/articles/lo-sviluppo-di-zelda64/|title=Info on Ura Zelda at Unseen64|work=Unseen 64: Beta, Cancelled & Unseen Videogames!|date=April 2, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130527233612/http://www.unseen64.net/articles/lo-sviluppo-di-zelda64/|archive-date=May 27, 2013|url-status=live|access-date=October 10, 2014}}</ref> In an interview with IGN in 1998, Miyamoto said that he expected ''Ura Zelda'' to be released in 1999 under the assumption that the 64DD would be released that year, but acknowledging that he was uncertain over whether the 64DD would actually be released, said that a special edition release may be necessary if the 64DD wasn't released.<ref name="Zelda DD: The Other Adventure" /> The 64DD's release outside of Japan was indeed cancelled, preventing a release on that format, and though ''Ura Zelda'' had been finished by August 2000 and other ways to release the game such as via tie-ups with game magazines considered, it was never released on the N64 due to the expense of manufacturing cartridges.<ref name="Miyamoto Roundtable">{{cite interview|last=Miyamoto|first=Shigeru|interviewer=IGN Staff|title=Miyamoto Roundtable: Game designer Shigeru Miyamoto talks to the press about Gamecube, N64 and GBA|url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2000/08/29/miyamoto-roundtable|access-date=August 8, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160812153604/http://www.ign.com/articles/2000/08/29/miyamoto-roundtable|archive-date=August 12, 2016|url-status=live|work=IGN|date=August 28, 2000}}</ref><ref name="IGN: Miyamoto and Aonuma on Zelda">{{cite web|url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2002/12/04/miyamoto-and-aonuma-on-zelda?page=5|title=IGN: Miyamoto and Aonuma on Zelda|work=IGN|date=December 4, 2002|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150213041447/http://www.ign.com/articles/2002/12/04/miyamoto-and-aonuma-on-zelda?page=5|archive-date=February 13, 2015|url-status=live|access-date=October 10, 2014}}</ref> In August 2000, Miyamoto stated that no online functions had ever been planned for ''Ura Zelda''.<ref name="Miyamoto Roundtable">{{cite interview|last=Miyamoto|first=Shigeru|interviewer=IGN Staff|title=Miyamoto Roundtable: Game designer Shigeru Miyamoto talks to the press about Gamecube, N64 and GBA|url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2000/08/29/miyamoto-roundtable|access-date=August 8, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160812153604/http://www.ign.com/articles/2000/08/29/miyamoto-roundtable|archive-date=August 12, 2016|url-status=live|work=IGN|date=August 28, 2000}}</ref>

The release of ''Ura Zelda'' became more feasible after the release of the GameCube, which used less expensive [[Nintendo optical discs|optical discs]], and it was released on the GameCube in 2002 in Japan as {{nihongo|''Zeruda no Densetsu: Toki no Okarina GC Ura''|ゼルダの伝説 時のオカリナ GC裏}} and in 2003 in North America and Europe as ''The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time Master Quest''.<ref name="IGN: GDC 2004: The History of Zelda" /><ref name="IGN: Miyamoto and Aonuma on Zelda" /><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2010/08/27/ign-presents-the-history-of-zelda?page=3|title=IGN Presents the History of Zelda|last1=Fahs|first1=Travis|last2=Thomas|first2=Lucas|date=August 27, 2010|work=[[IGN]]|publisher=[[Ziff Davis]]|page=3|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140224173937/http://www.ign.com/articles/2010/08/27/ign-presents-the-history-of-zelda?page=3|archive-date=February 24, 2014|url-status=live|access-date=December 30, 2015}}</ref> According to Miyamoto, ''Ura Zelda'' was simple to port as it used few of the 64DD features.<ref name="IGN: Miyamoto and Aonuma on Zelda" /> ''Master Quest'' uses the same engine and plot of ''Ocarina of Time'', but with increased difficulty and altered dungeons and puzzles.<ref name="OoT MQ review at IGN" />

IGN's Peer Schneider gave ''Master Quest'' a mostly positive review, likening the concept to the second quest of the original ''Legend of Zelda''. He said that some redesigned areas were poorer than the original ''Ocarina of Time'' and speculated that they may have been constructed from "second choice" designs created during development. He described the port as graphically improved but containing no substantial improvement to the frame rate. He also expressed that controls translated to the GameCube controller felt clumsy. Nonetheless, he summarized ''Master Quest'' as a "sweet surprise for any ''Zelda'' fan" and wrote that he would have recommended it even at full price.<ref name="OoT MQ review at IGN" /> Zachary Lewis of RPGamer praised the revised puzzles, which require precise timing and find new uses for the ''Ocarina'' items, but wrote that players would be enthralled or frustrated by the increased difficulty.<ref name="rpgamer">{{cite web|url=http://www.rpgamer.com/games/zelda/urazelda/reviews/z5mqstrev1.html|title=Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time Master Quest - Review|last=Lewis|first=Zachary|work=RPGamer|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030620053508/http://www.rpgamer.com/games/zelda/urazelda/reviews/z5mqstrev1.html|archive-date=June 20, 2003|url-status=dead|access-date=October 2, 2008}}</ref>

== Reception ==
{{Video game reviews
<!-- Aggregators -->| GR = 98%<ref name="GameRankings">{{cite web|url=http://www.gamerankings.com/n64/197771-the-legend-of-zelda-ocarina-of-time/index.html |title=The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time reviews |publisher=[[GameRankings]] |access-date=November 26, 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090306073307/http://www.gamerankings.com/n64/197771-the-legend-of-zelda-ocarina-of-time/index.html |archive-date=March 6, 2009}}</ref>
| MC = 99/100<ref name=metacritic/>{{efn|Based on 22 reviews}}
<!-- Reviewers -->| Allgame = 5/5<ref name="allgamereview">{{cite web |url=http://www.allgame.com/game.php?id=11686&tab=review |title= The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time - Review |last=Marriott |first=Scott Alan |publisher = [[AllGame]] |access-date=December 15, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141114113343/http://www.allgame.com/game.php?id=11686&tab=review |archive-date=November 14, 2014}}</ref>
| CVG = 5/5<ref name="CVG_review">{{Cite magazine |date=December 1999 |title=The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time |magazine=[[Computer and Video Games]] |pages=44–47 |issue=206}}</ref>
| Edge = 10/10<ref name="edge review"/>
| EGM = 10/10, 10/10, 10/10, 10/10<ref name="EGM review"/>
| Fam = 10/10, 10/10, 10/10, 10/10<ref>{{cite magazine|magazine=[[Famitsu|Weekly Famitsu]]|title=ゼルダの伝説 時のオカリナ|issue=519|date=November 27, 1998|page=34|language=Japanese}}</ref>
| GI = 9.75/10<ref>{{Cite magazine |date=December 1998 |title=Cover Story: The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time |magazine=[[Game Informer]] |pages=16–17 |volume=9|issue=12|issn=1067-6392|author1=John|author2=Paul|author3=Reiner}}</ref>
| GamePro = 5/5<ref name="GamePro_review">{{cite web | url=http://www.gamepro.com/nintendo/n64/games/reviews/121.shtml | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080705035405/http://www.gamepro.com/nintendo/n64/games/reviews/121.shtml | archive-date=July 5, 2008 | title=Review: Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time | work=gamepro.com | date=November 24, 2000 | author=Airhendrix}}</ref>
| GameRev = A<ref name="GameRevolution review"/>
| GSpot = 10/10<ref name="GameSpot review"/>
| IGN = 10/10<ref name="IGN review"/>
| NGen = 5/5<ref name="NG"/>
| NLife = 10/10<ref name="NLife_review">{{Cite news |title=The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time |last=Dillard |first=Corbie |date=February 24, 2007 |url=https://www.nintendolife.com/reviews/n64/legend_of_zelda_ocarina_of_time |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240922130458/https://www.nintendolife.com/reviews/n64/legend_of_zelda_ocarina_of_time |archive-date=September 22, 2024 |access-date=January 6, 2025 |work=[[Nintendo Life]]}}</ref>
| NP = 9.5/10<ref>{{Cite magazine | date=November 1998 | title=Now Playing | magazine=[[Nintendo Power]] | volume=114 | page=122}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://zeldadungeon.net/gallery/displayimage.php?album=570&pid=15768#top_display_media |title=Nintendo Power Vol. 114, p. 122 |access-date=October 10, 2014 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130724051314/http://zeldadungeon.net/gallery/displayimage.php?album=570&pid=15768 |archive-date=July 24, 2013}}</ref>
<!-- Custom reviewers -->| rev1 = ''RPGamer''
| rev1Score = 5/5<ref name="rpgamer"/>
<!-- Awards -->| award1Pub = [[Japan Game Awards|CESA Award]],<ref>{{cite web |title=3rd CESA Awards |url=http://awards.cesa.or.jp/1998/jyushou.html |publisher=[[Japan Game Awards]] |access-date=February 13, 2012 |year=1998 |archive-date=January 20, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120120230643/http://awards.cesa.or.jp/1998/jyushou.html |url-status=live}}</ref> ''[[Edge (magazine)|Edge]]'',<ref name="Edge-Awards">{{cite web|url=http://retrocdn.net/index.php?title=File:Edge_UK_067.pdf&page=72|title=File:Edge UK 067.pdf - Retro CDN|website=retrocdn.net|access-date=December 9, 2015|archive-date=June 28, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190628131008/https://retrocdn.net/index.php?title=File:Edge_UK_067.pdf&page=72|url-status=live}}</ref> ''[[Electronic Gaming Monthly|EGM]]'',<ref>{{cite magazine|title=1998 Gamers' Choice Awards |magazine=[[Electronic Gaming Monthly]] |date=April 1999|issue=117|pages=107–114 [114]}}</ref> ''[[Games (magazine)|Games]]'',<ref>{{cite web |title=Previous Game of the Year Awards |url=http://gamesmagazine-online.com/gameslinks/archives.html#previousawards |work=[[Games (magazine)|Games]] |access-date=February 13, 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120209012019/http://www.gamesmagazine-online.com/gameslinks/archives.html#previousawards |archive-date=February 9, 2012}}</ref> ''[[GameSpot]]'',<ref>{{cite web|title=Overall Best Game of the Year|url=http://www.videogames.com/features/universal/awards98/sec15.html|website=[[GameSpot]]|access-date=February 13, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/19990508222939/http://www.videogames.com/features/universal/awards98/sec15.html|archive-date=May 8, 1999|year=1998}}</ref> [[2nd Annual Interactive Achievement Awards]],<ref name="IAA_GOTY" /> [[Japan Media Arts Festival]],<ref name="JMAF"/> MMCA,<ref name="CVG Sales"/> [[Video Software Dealers Association|VSDA&nbsp;Award]]<ref>{{cite web|title=Home Entertainment Awards – Video Games |url=http://www.entmerch.org/industry/awards/emavsda-home-entertainment-/home-entertainment-awards-v-2.html |publisher=[[Entertainment Merchants Association]] |access-date=February 5, 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120502200505/http://www.entmerch.org/industry/awards/emavsda-home-entertainment-/home-entertainment-awards-v-2.html |archive-date=May 2, 2012}}</ref>
| award1 = [[List of Game of the Year awards|Game of the Year]]
| award2Pub = ''[[Computer and Video Games]]'',<ref name=CVG2001>''[[Computer and Video Games]]'', issue 240, November 2001, pages 59-65</ref><ref name="best_games">{{cite web|url=http://www.filibustercartoons.com/games.htm |title=The Best Video Games in the History of Humanity |publisher=Filibustercartoons.com |access-date=September 12, 2010 |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100921125121/http://www.filibustercartoons.com/games.htm |archive-date=September 21, 2010}}</ref> ''[[Edge (magazine)|Edge]]'',<ref name="edge100-2000"/><ref name="edge100-2007"/><ref name="edge-200-online"/><ref name="edge-top20"/> ''[[Entertainment Weekly]]'',<ref name="best_games"/> ''[[GameTrailers]]'',<ref name="best_games"/> ''[[IGN]]'',<ref name="ign_top_2006"/><ref name="ign_top_2008"/> [[Metacritic]],<ref name="NP Top 200"/> ''[[Next Generation Magazine|Next Generation]]'',<ref name="best_games"/> ''[[Nintendo Power]]'',<ref name="NP Top 200"/><ref name=NinPowerBestofBest>''[[Nintendo Power]]'', issue 231, August 2008</ref><ref name=NinPowerTop285>{{cite web|url=http://nintendoeverything.com/nintendo-power-ranks-the-top-285-nintendo-games-of-all-time/ |title=Nintendo Power ranks the top 285 Nintendo games of all time |date=December 26, 2012 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161102123720/http://nintendoeverything.com/nintendo-power-ranks-the-top-285-nintendo-games-of-all-time/ |archive-date=November 2, 2016}}, [[Nintendo Power]], 2012</ref> ''[[GameStats]]'',<ref name="gamestats">{{cite web |title=All Games By GameStats Score |url=http://www.gamestats.com/index/gs/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130209002055/http://www.gamestats.com/index/gs/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=February 9, 2013 |website=[[GameStats]] |publisher=[[IGN]] |date=February 9, 2013}}</ref> ''[[GameFAQs]]'',<ref name=GF2009>{{cite web|title=Spring 2009: Best. Game. Ever. |url=http://www.gamefaqs.com/features/bge09.html |website=[[GameFAQs]] |access-date=December 13, 2014 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160102045041/http://www.gamefaqs.com/features/bge09 |archive-date=January 2, 2016}}</ref> ''GamingBolt'',<ref name="GamingBolt">{{cite web|url=http://gamingbolt.com/top-100-greatest-video-games-ever-made |title=Top 100 greatest video games ever made |website=Gamingbolt.com |publisher=GamingBolt |date=April 19, 2013 |access-date=December 30, 2014|url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141026161536/http://gamingbolt.com/top-100-greatest-video-games-ever-made |archive-date=October 26, 2014}}</ref> ''[[:fr:VideoGamer.com|VideoGamer]]'',<ref name="videogamer">{{cite web |title=Top Games of All Time |url=http://www.videogamer.com/top-games/games-all-time/3/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110815193837/http://www.videogamer.com/top-games/games-all-time/3/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=August 15, 2011 |website=[[:fr:VideoGamer.com|VideoGamer.com]] |access-date=August 15, 2011}}</ref> ''[[Game Informer]]'',<ref name=GI1999>[https://web.archive.org/web/19970811115309/http://www.gameinformer.com/topten.html GI Top Ten List], ''[[Game Informer]]'', 1999</ref> ''[[Slant (magazine)|Slant]]'',<ref name=Slant>[https://www.slantmagazine.com/features/article/100-greatest-video-games-of-all-time/P10 100 Greatest Video Games of All Time] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150712044110/http://www.slantmagazine.com/features/article/100-greatest-video-games-of-all-time/P10 |date=July 12, 2015}}, [[Slant Magazine|Slant]], 2014</ref> ''[[FHM]]'',<ref name=FHM>[https://web.archive.org/web/20130430073137/http://www.fhm.com/reviews/console-games/fhms-100-greatest-games-of-all-time-20090901 The 10 Greatest Games of All Time], ''[[FHM]]'', 2010</ref> ''Joystik'',<ref name=Joystik>{{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20171004035619/http://www.joystikentertainment.com/daily-debate/top-100-video-games-of-all-time-100-to-91 Top 100 Video Games of All Time]}}, Joystik, 2017</ref> ''PALGN''<ref name=PALGN>[https://web.archive.org/web/20111225064328/http://palgn.com.au/2976/the-greatest-100-games-ever-5-1/ The Greatest 100 Games Ever], ''PALGN'', 2005</ref> ''[[VGChartz]]'',<ref name=VGChartz2009>{{cite web |title=The VGC Top 100 Best Games of All Time, #10-1 |url=https://news.vgchartz.com/news.php?id=3742 |website=VGChartz |publisher=VGChartz Ltd. |date=June 1, 2009 |access-date=March 11, 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090601172906/https://news.vgchartz.com/news.php?id=3742 |url-status=dead |archive-date=June 1, 2009}}</ref> ''[[Easy Allies]]'',<ref name=EasyAllies2020>{{cite web |title=The EZA Top 100 Videogames |url=https://forums.easyallies.com/topic/1751/the-eza-top-100-videogames/2 |website=Easy Allies |publisher=Easy Allies Community |date=August 14, 2020 |access-date=March 11, 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200814023717/https://forums.easyallies.com/topic/1751/the-eza-top-100-videogames/2 |url-status=dead |archive-date=August 14, 2020}}</ref>''[[The Ringer (website)|The Ringer]]'',<ref name=Ringer2018>{{cite web |title=Why 'Ocarina of Time' Is Still the Greatest Game Ever Made |url=https://www.theringer.com/2018/10/23/video-games/legend-of-zelda-ocarina-time-best-game-ever-1998 |website=The Ringer |date=October 23, 2018 |access-date=March 11, 2025}}</ref> ''[[iHeartRadio]]'',<ref name=iHeartRadio2019>{{cite web |title=The 50 Best Video Games of All Time |url=https://www.iheart.com/content/2019-08-23-the-50-best-video-games-of-all-time/ |website=iHeartRadio |publisher=iHeartMedia |date=August 23, 2019 |access-date=March 11, 2025}}</ref>'' [[Game Informer]]'',<ref name=GameInformer2024>{{cite magazine |title=Game Gauntlet 2024 |url=https://www.gameinformer.com/GameGauntlet2024 |magazine=Game Informer |publisher=Game Informer |date=July 16, 2024 |access-date=March 11, 2025 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240716115359/https://www.gameinformer.com/GameGauntlet2024 |archive-date=July 16, 2024}}</ref> ''[[MobyGames]]'',<ref name=MobyGames>{{cite web |title=MobyGames Critic Scores |url=https://www.mobygames.com/game/sort:critic_score/page:1/ |website=MobyGames |access-date=March 11, 2025 |archive-date=April 4, 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250404011357/https://www.mobygames.com/game/sort:critic_score/page:1/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
| award2 = Greatest Game of All Time
| award3 = Greatest Game of All Time (Runner Up)
| award3Pub = ''[[Computer and Video Games]]'',<ref name=CVG1999>{{cite web |title=CVG UK Issue 218 |url=https://retrocdn.net/images/c/c3/CVG_UK_218.pdf |website=Retrocdn |publisher=Computer and Video Games |date=1999 |access-date=March 11, 2025 |archive-date=January 6, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230106223949/https://retrocdn.net/images/c/c3/CVG_UK_218.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref> ''[[IGN]]'',<ref name=IGN2003>{{cite web |title=Top 100 Games of All Time (11-20) |url=http://top100.ign.com/2003/11-20.html |website=IGN |publisher=IGN Entertainment |date=February 4, 2012 |access-date=March 11, 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120204175028/http://top100.ign.com/2003/11-20.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=February 4, 2012}}</ref> ''[[The Age]]'',<ref name=TheAge2005>{{cite web |title=The 50 Best Games |url=https://www.theage.com.au/technology/the-50-best-games-20051006-gdm6uh.html |website=The Age |date=October 6, 2005 |access-date=March 11, 2025 |archive-date=December 23, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181223073458/https://www.theage.com.au/technology/the-50-best-games-20051006-gdm6uh.html |url-status=live }}</ref> ''[[IGN]]'',<ref name=IGNReaders2005>{{cite web |title=Top 99 Games |url=https://microsites.ign.com/kfc/top99games/10.html |website=IGN |publisher=IGN Entertainment |access-date=March 11, 2025 |archive-date=September 10, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240910224847/https://microsites.ign.com/kfc/top99games/10.html |url-status=live }}</ref> ''[[IGN]]'',<ref name=IGN2005>{{cite web |title=Top 100 Games of All Time |url=http://top100.ign.com/2005/ |website=IGN |publisher=IGN Entertainment |date=January 14, 2006 |access-date=March 11, 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060114052327/http://top100.ign.com/2005/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=January 14, 2006}}</ref> ''[[GameFAQs]]'',<ref name=GameFAQs>{{cite web |title=GameFAQs 10-Year Anniversary |url=https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/features/10year |website=GameFAQs |publisher=GameSpot |access-date=March 11, 2025 |archive-date=February 14, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180214073729/https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/features/10year |url-status=live }}</ref> ''[[Entertainment Weekly]]'',<ref name=EW2008>{{cite magazine |title=Top 100 games |url=https://ew.com/ew/gallery/0,,20210005,00.html |magazine=Entertainment Weekly |publisher=EW.com |date=August 28, 2008 |access-date=March 11, 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080828054909/https://ew.com/ew/gallery/0,,20210005,00.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=August 28, 2008}}</ref> ''[[Stuff Magazine]]'',<ref name=StuffMag2009>{{cite web |title=Stuff Magazine's 100 Greatest Games |url=http://www.destructoid.com/blogs/Batthink/stuff-magazine-s-100-greatest-games-scans--103398.phtml |website=Destructoid |publisher=Stuff Magazine |date=November 19, 2009 |access-date=March 11, 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091119061642/http://www.destructoid.com/blogs/Batthink/stuff-magazine-s-100-greatest-games-scans--103398.phtml |url-status=dead |archive-date=November 19, 2009}}</ref> [[Game (retailer)]],<ref name=GameRetailer2008>{{cite web |title=Greatest Games |url=http://www.game.co.uk/greatestgames/ |website=Game (retailer) |publisher=Game Retail Ltd |date=October 6, 2008 |access-date=March 11, 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081006105557/http://www.game.co.uk/greatestgames/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=October 6, 2008}}</ref> ''[[Official Nintendo Magazine]]'',<ref name=ONM2009>{{cite web |title=The 100 Greatest Nintendo Games |url=http://www.officialnintendomagazine.co.uk/article.php?id=7327 |website=Official Nintendo Magazine |publisher=Future Publishing |date=March 3, 2009 |access-date=March 11, 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090303184519/http://www.officialnintendomagazine.co.uk/article.php?id=7327 |url-status=dead |archive-date=March 3, 2009}}</ref> ''[[Empire Online]]'',<ref name=EmpireOnline2015>{{cite web |title=The 100 Greatest Games |url=http://www.empireonline.com/movies/features/100greatestgames/ |website=Empire Online |publisher=Empire |date=December 24, 2015 |access-date=March 11, 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151224233541/http://www.empireonline.com/movies/features/100greatestgames/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=December 24, 2015}}</ref> ''[[Stuff Magazine]]'',<ref name=StuffMagazine2015>{{cite web |title=The 20 Greatest Games of All Time |url=https://www.stuff.tv/my/features/best-games-ever-20-greatest-games-all-time |website=Stuff |publisher=Stuff Magazine |date=February 16, 2015 |access-date=March 11, 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150216014907/https://www.stuff.tv/my/features/best-games-ever-20-greatest-games-all-time |url-status=dead |archive-date=February 16, 2015}}</ref> ''[[GameFAQs]]'',<ref name=GameFAQsBGE>{{cite web |title=Best Game Ever 20 |url=https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/features/bge20 |website=GameFAQs |publisher=GameSpot |access-date=March 11, 2025 |archive-date=February 10, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180210120929/https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/features/bge20 |url-status=live }}</ref> ''[[Power Unlimited]]'',<ref name=PU2018>{{cite web |title=Top 100 Games Aller Tijden |url=https://www.pu.nl/artikelen/feature/top-100-games-aller-tijden/ |website=Power Unlimited |date=March 16, 2018 |access-date=March 11, 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180316202451/https://www.pu.nl/artikelen/feature/top-100-games-aller-tijden/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=March 16, 2018}}</ref> ''[[IGN]]'',<ref name=IGN2018>{{cite web |title=Top 100 Games |url=http://www.ign.com/lists/top-100-games/20 |website=IGN |date=June 14, 2018 |access-date=March 11, 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180614021412/http://www.ign.com/lists/top-100-games/20 |url-status=dead |archive-date=June 14, 2018}}</ref> ''[[USA Today]]'',<ref name=USAToday2024>{{cite web |title=Best Video Games of All Time: From Zelda to Mario |url=https://ftw.usatoday.com/story/tech/gaming/2024/01/26/best-video-games-all-time-list-zelda-mario/80581864007/ |website=USA Today |date=January 26, 2024 |access-date=March 11, 2025}}</ref> ''[[Screen Rant]]''<ref name=ScreenRant>{{cite web |title=Best Video Games of All Time, Ranked |url=https://screenrant.com/best-video-games-all-time-ranked/ |website=Screen Rant |date=April 20, 2024 |access-date=March 11, 2025 |archive-date=April 20, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240420185846/https://screenrant.com/best-video-games-all-time-ranked/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
}}
<!-- Since the OoT Master Quest article has been merged into this one, the average scores for the GCN port are included in the rereleases section below. -->
<!--If you have a source for this, please add it to the above table: *being the second game to receive the Platinum Award from [[Electronic Gaming Monthly]], meaning that all four reviewers gave it a score of 10/10-->

Upon its initial Nintendo 64 release, ''Ocarina of Time'' received unprecedented critical acclaim. It garnered perfect review scores from the majority of gaming publications that reviewed it,<ref name="GameRankings"/><ref name="NP Top 200"/> including ''[[AllGame]]'',<ref name="allgamereview"/> ''[[Computer and Video Games|CVG]]'',<ref name="CVG_review"/> ''[[Famitsu]]'',<ref name="Famitsu">{{cite web|title=Zelda Receives Highest Ever Famitsu Score |website=IGN |date=November 13, 1998 |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/1998/11/14/zelda-receives-highest-ever-famitsu-score |access-date=April 13, 2008 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121011072318/http://www.ign.com/articles/1998/11/14/zelda-receives-highest-ever-famitsu-score |archive-date=October 11, 2012}}</ref> ''[[Next Generation (magazine)|Next Generation]]'',<ref name="NG">{{cite magazine|date=December 1998|title=Finals|url=https://archive.org/details/NEXT_Generation_48/page/n115/mode/2up|magazine=[[Next Generation (magazine)|Next Generation]]|publisher=[[Imagine Media]]|issue=48|pages=114–116}}</ref> ''[[Edge (magazine)|Edge]]'',<ref name="edge review">{{Cite magazine|date=December 1998|title=Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time review|url=https://retrocdn.net/images/c/c5/Edge_UK_066.pdf|magazine=[[Edge (magazine)|Edge]]|location=Bath|issue=66|pages=84–87|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191016114432/https://retrocdn.net/images/c/c5/Edge_UK_066.pdf|archive-date=October 16, 2019|url-status=live}}</ref> ''[[Electronic Gaming Monthly]]'',<ref name="EGM review">{{cite magazine |url=https://archive.org/details/electronicgamingmonthlyissue115february1999/page/n179/mode/2up |title=Review Crew: ''Zelda: Ocarina of Time'' |last1=Ricciardi |first1=John |last2=Boyer |first2=Crispin |last3=Hsu |first3=Dan |last4=Davison |first4=John |magazine=[[Electronic Gaming Monthly]] |publisher=[[Ziff Davis]] |date=February 1999 |page=166}}</ref> ''[[GameSpot]]'',<ref name="GameSpot review">{{cite web|last=Gerstmann |first=Jeff |title=The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time review |website=[[GameSpot]] |date=November 23, 1998 |url=http://www.gamespot.com/reviews/legend-of-zelda-ocarina-of-time-the-review/1900-2543677/ |access-date=January 29, 2006 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131015174726/http://www.gamespot.com/reviews/legend-of-zelda-ocarina-of-time-the-review/1900-2543677/ |archive-date=October 15, 2013}}</ref> ''[[GamePro]]'',<ref name="GamePro_review"/> ''[[GameRevolution]]'',<ref name="GameRevolution review"/> ''[[Nintendo Life]]'',<ref name="NLife_review"/> and ''[[IGN]]''.<ref name="IGN review"/> The review aggregator websites [[Metacritic]] and [[GameRankings]] both rank the original Nintendo 64 version as the highest reviewed game of all time,<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.metacritic.com/browse/games/score/metascore/all/all/filtered |title=Best Video Games of All Time |work=[[Metacritic]] |publisher=[[Red Ventures]] |access-date=June 10, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210609213004/https://www.metacritic.com/browse/games/score/metascore/all/all/filtered |archive-date=June 9, 2021 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.gamerankings.com/browse.html |title=All Time Best |work=[[GameRankings]] |publisher=[[CBS Interactive]] |access-date=June 10, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180321231639/http://www.gamerankings.com/browse.html |archive-date=March 21, 2018 |url-status=live}}</ref> with average scores of 99/100 from Metacritic{{efn|The game earned a 'Metacritic: Must-Play' certification in 2018.<ref name="metacritic"/>}} and 98% from GameRankings.<ref name=metacritic>{{cite web|url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/the-legend-of-zelda-ocarina-of-time/critic-reviews/?platform=nintendo-64 |title=The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time reviews |website=[[Metacritic]] |access-date=December 20, 2010 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101121132259/http://www.metacritic.com/game/nintendo-64/the-legend-of-zelda-ocarina-of-time |archive-date=November 21, 2010}}</ref><ref name="GameRankings"/> The reviews praised multiple aspects, particularly the [[Level (video games)|level]] design, gameplay mechanics, sound, and cinematics. ''GameSpot'' reviewer [[Jeff Gerstmann]] wrote that ''Ocarina of Time'' is "a game that can't be called anything other than flawless",<ref name="GameSpot review"/> and ''IGN'' called it "the new benchmark for interactive entertainment" that could "shape the action RPG genre for years to come".<ref name="IGN review"/> Editors of ''[[GameTrailers]]'' called it a "walking [[patent office]]" due to the number of features it contains that became "industry standard".<ref name="Game Trailers">{{cite web|url=http://www.gametrailers.com/videos/vd0xxz/gt-countdown-top-ten-best-and-worst-games-of-all-time |title=Top Ten Best and Worst Games of All Time |publisher=[[GameTrailers]] |date=November 17, 2006 |access-date=January 19, 2009 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120819223742/http://www.gametrailers.com/videos/vd0xxz/gt-countdown-top-ten-best-and-worst-games-of-all-time |archive-date=August 19, 2012}}</ref> Scott Alan Marriott of ''[[AllGame]]'' described it as "completely unforgettable" and "an incredible adventure".<ref name="allgamereview"/>

The graphics were praised for their depth and detail, although reviewers noted they were not always the best the console had to offer. ''[[GameRevolution]]'' noted the characters' faces, the "toughest graphical challenge on 3D characters", saying that the characters' expressions and animation featured "surprising grace".<ref name="GameRevolution review">{{cite web|author=Baldric |title=Without a fairy, you're not even a real man |url=http://www.gamerevolution.com/review/the-legend-of-zelda-ocarina-of-time |publisher=GameRevolution |access-date=April 9, 2008 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130704013859/http://www.gamerevolution.com/review/the-legend-of-zelda-ocarina-of-time |archive-date=July 4, 2013}}</ref> ''IGN'' believed that ''Ocarina of Time'' improved on the graphics of ''Super Mario 64'', giving a larger sense of scale.<ref name="IGN review"/> Impressive [[draw distance]]s and large [[Boss (video games)|boss]] characters were also mentioned as graphical highlights.<ref name="IGN review"/> Although excelling in the use of color and the visibility and detail of the environment, reviewers noted that some graphical elements of ''Ocarina of Time'' did not perform as well as ''[[Banjo-Kazooie (video game)|Banjo-Kazooie]]'',<ref name="IGN review"/><ref name="EGM review"/> a game released for the same platform earlier that year. ''IGN'' said that the [[frame rate]] and textures of ''Ocarina of Time'' were not as good as those of ''Banjo-Kazooie'', particularly in the marketplace of Hyrule Castle, which was called "blurry".<ref name="IGN review"/>

Gameplay was generally praised as detailed, with many side quests to occupy players' time. ''IGN ''said players would be "amazed at the detail" of the environment and the "amount of thought that went into designing it". ''IGN'' praised the cinematics, citing great emotional impact and "flawless camera work".<ref name="GDC: Miyamoto Keynote"/> ''EGM'' enjoyed that Nintendo was able to take the elements of the older, 2D ''Zelda'' games and "translate it all into 3D flawlessly".<ref name="EGM review"/> ''[[Nintendo Power]]'' cited ''Ocarina of Time'', along with ''Super Mario 64'', as two games that "blazed trails" into the 3D era.<ref>{{Cite book|title=Nintendo Power 250th issue! |year=2010 |location=South San Francisco, California |page= 48}}</ref> The context-sensitive control system was seen as one of the strongest elements of the gameplay.<ref name="IGN review"/> Reviewers noted that it allowed for simpler control using fewer buttons but that it occasionally caused the player to perform unintended actions.<ref name="Essential 50"/><ref name="IGN review"/> The camera control was quoted as making combat "second nature",<ref name="IGN review"/> although the new system took time for the player to get used to.<ref name="IGN review"/><ref name="EGM review"/>

The audio was generally well received, with ''IGN'' comparing some of Koji Kondo's pieces to the work of [[Philip Glass]].<ref name="IGN review"/> Many atmospheric sounds and [[surround sound]] were designed to effectively immerse the player in the game world. Some reviewers complained that the audio samples sounded dated;<ref name="IGN review"/> others considered this a benefit, calling them "retro".<ref name="GameRevolution review"/> ''GameRevolution'' called the sound "good for the Nintendo, but not great in the larger scheme of things" and noted that the cartridge format necessitated "[[MIDI]] tunes that range from fair to terrible".<ref name="GameRevolution review"/> ''[[Pitchfork Media|Pitchfork]]'' gave the official soundtrack album a 9 out of 10.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/koji-kondo-the-legend-of-zelda-ocarina-of-time/|title=Koji Kondo: The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time {{!}} Pitchfork Media|website=pitchfork.com|date=July 7, 2019|access-date=May 30, 2021|last=Szatan|first=Gabriel|archive-date=November 8, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201108191735/https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/koji-kondo-the-legend-of-zelda-ocarina-of-time/|url-status=live}}</ref>

=== Sales ===
Assisted by a large marketing campaign, ''Ocarina of Time'' was a commercial success. In the United States, over 500,000 pre-orders were placed, more than tripling the number of pre-orders for any previous game,<ref name="Business Wire promises">Editors, Business. "Nintendo Promises More 'Zelda' on the Way; Retail Shortages of Video Game should be Rectified Soon". Business Wire: 1. November 27, 1998. ProQuest. Web. July 23, 2013.</ref> for which it was awarded the [[Guinness World Record]] for Most Advance Orders for a Game.<ref>{{cite book |chapter=Computer Games: Most Advance Orders for a Game |title=[[Guinness World Records|Guinness World Records 2001]] |date=2000 |publisher=Guinness |isbn=978-0-85112-102-4 |page=121 |chapter-url=https://archive.org/details/guinnessworldrec00enfi/page/121}}</ref> Upon release, more than 1 million copies were sold there in less than a week.<ref name="CVG Sales">{{cite magazine|title=Zelda Sales Go (Deku) Nuts! |magazine=[[Computer and Video Games]] |publisher=[[Emap]] |date=January 13, 1999 |issue=207 (February 1999) |page=8 |url=https://archive.org/details/Computer_and_Video_Games_Issue_207_1999-02_EMAP_Images_GB/page/n7 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160404172843/https://archive.org/details/Computer_and_Video_Games_Issue_207_1999-02_EMAP_Images_GB |archive-date=April 4, 2016}}</ref> In 1998, 2.5 million copies were sold, although it was released only 39 days before the end of the year; it earned {{US$|150,000,000|long=no|year=1998|round=-7}} in U.S. revenues, higher than any [[Hollywood film]] in the last six weeks of 1998.<ref name="IGN best-sell">{{cite web|url=https://www.ign.com/articles/1999/01/08/zelda-breaks-all-records |title=Zelda Breaks All Records |website=[[IGN]] |date=January 7, 1999 |access-date=September 20, 2007 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140509061432/http://www.ign.com/articles/1999/01/08/zelda-breaks-all-records |archive-date=May 9, 2014}}</ref> It was the best-selling [[1998 in video games|video game of 1998]] in the United States.<ref name="NPD">{{cite news |title=U.S. Top 20 Best-Selling Games in 1995-1999 ranked on dollar sales |url=https://twitter.com/npdgames/status/1217971911973658625 |access-date=October 11, 2021 |website=[[Twitter]] |publisher=[[The NPD Group]] |date=January 17, 2020 |archive-date=January 17, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200117023530/https://twitter.com/npdgames/status/1217971911973658625 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |title=The Veronis, Suhler & Associates Communications Industry Forecast |date=1999 |publisher=[[Veronis, Suhler & Associates]] |page=247 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=hrbjAAAAMAAJ |quote=While Nintendo 64 titles dominated the top-10 best-seller list in 1997, PlayStation software rebounded in 1998, occupying six of the top-10 spots. Nevertheless, the leader in sales, ''Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time'', is the continuation of a popular fantasy series manufactured by Nintendo. |access-date=October 23, 2021 |archive-date=February 2, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230202024333/https://books.google.com/books?id=hrbjAAAAMAAJ |url-status=live}}</ref> In Japan, 920,000 copies were sold in 1998, becoming the eighth best-selling game of that year;<ref name="1998 sales">{{cite magazine |title=1998年のコンシューマーゲームソフトの売上Top100 |trans-title=1998 Consumer Game Software Sales: Top 100 |magazine=[[Dengeki Oh]] |publisher=[[MediaWorks (publisher)|MediaWorks]] |lang=ja |url=http://www.rnac.ne.jp/~zangel/1998.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20010921202950/http://www.rnac.ne.jp/~zangel/1998.htm |archive-date=September 21, 2001 |access-date=September 16, 2021}}</ref> a reported 386,234 copies were sold in its first week there, surpassing the 316,000 first-week sales of ''[[Metal Gear Solid (1998 video game)|Metal Gear Solid]]''.<ref>{{cite magazine |author=<!-- no byline --> |title=N64 saviour gathers momentum |url=http://retrocdn.net/images/1/1a/Edge_UK_067.pdf#page=11 |magazine=[[Edge (magazine)|Edge]]  |date=December 23, 1998 |issue=67 (January 1999) |location=United Kingdom |page=11 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151209025736/https://retrocdn.net/images/1/1a/Edge_UK_067.pdf |archive-date=December 9, 2015 |url-status=live}}</ref>

In Europe, ''Ocarina of Time'' was the fifth best-selling game of 1998, grossing more than €39,000,000 or {{US$|{{To USD|39|EUR|year=1998|round=yes}},000,000|long=no|1998|round=-6}}.<ref name="Milia">{{cite news|date=February 12, 1999|title=Milia News; ECCSELL Awards Name Winners|work=[[GameSpot]]|url=http://www.gamespot.com/milia/0212/ecc/index.html|url-status=dead|access-date=January 1, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/19990830171428/http://www.gamespot.com/milia/0212/ecc/index.html|archive-date=August 30, 1999}}</ref> In the UK, it was the fastest-ever-selling game until the release of ''[[Gran Turismo 2]]'' in 2000,<ref>{{cite news |last1=Schofield |first1=Jack |date=February 10, 2000 |title=Games watch |url=https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2000/feb/10/onlinesupplement5 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211127101327/https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2000/feb/10/onlinesupplement5 |archive-date=November 27, 2021 |access-date=November 27, 2021 |work=[[The Guardian]]}}</ref> selling 61,232 copies during its first weekend.<ref name="CVG Sales"/> 1.14 million Nintendo 64 copies were sold in Japan<ref name="japanese sales">{{cite web |title=販売本数ランキング |url=http://gameranking.jp/ranking-sale/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080411024417/http://gameranking.jp/ranking-sale/ |archive-date=April 11, 2008 |access-date=May 28, 2009 |publisher=ゲームランキング |language=ja}}</ref> and 7.6 million copies worldwide.<ref name="IGN GDC 2004">{{cite web |date=March 25, 2004 |title=GDC 2004: The History of Zelda |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2004/03/26/gdc-2004-the-history-of-zelda |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131116021311/http://www.ign.com/articles/2004/03/26/gdc-2004-the-history-of-zelda |archive-date=November 16, 2013 |access-date=April 29, 2008 |website=IGN}}</ref> By 2000, ''Ocarina of Time'' had sold 7 million cartridges and grossed about {{US$|400,000,000|long=no|1998|round=-7}} worldwide.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Carter |first1=Chip |last2=Carter |first2=Jonathan |title=New Zelda for N64 leaves them moonstruck |url=https://www.tampabay.com/archive/2000/11/06/new-zelda-for-n64-leaves-them-moonstruck/ |access-date=November 22, 2021 |work=[[Tampa Bay Times]] |date=November 6, 2000 |archive-date=November 22, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211122020349/https://www.tampabay.com/archive/2000/11/06/new-zelda-for-n64-leaves-them-moonstruck/ |url-status=live}}</ref>

=== Awards ===
In 1998, ''Ocarina of Time'' won the Grand Prize in the Interactive Art division at the [[Japan Media Arts Festival]].<ref name="JMAF">{{cite web|url=http://plaza.bunka.go.jp/english/festival/1998/|title=2nd Annual Japan Media Arts Festival|publisher=Japan Media Arts Plaza|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071013074343/http://plaza.bunka.go.jp/english/festival/1998/|archive-date=October 13, 2007|access-date=September 20, 2007}}</ref> ''Ocarina of Time'' won six awards at the [[2nd Annual Interactive Achievement Awards]]: "[[D.I.C.E. Award for Game of the Year|Game of the Year]]", "Console Game of the Year", "[[D.I.C.E. Award for Adventure Game of the Year|Console Adventure Game of the Year]]", "[[D.I.C.E. Award for Role-Playing Game of the Year|Console Role-Playing Game of the Year]]", "[[D.I.C.E. Award for Outstanding Achievement in Game Design|Outstanding Achievement in Interactive Design]]", and "[[D.I.C.E. Award for Outstanding Technical Achievement|Outstanding Achievement in Software Engineering]]"; it also received a nomination for "[[D.I.C.E. Award for Outstanding Achievement in Story|Outstanding Achievement in Character or Story Development]]".<ref name="Miyamoto_Awards">{{cite web |last1=Ewalt |first1=David |title=Miyamoto's Game of the Year |date=October 3, 2011  |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/davidewalt/2011/09/08/shigeru-miyamoto-ocarina-of-time/?sh=2262b21453bd |website=[[Forbes]] |access-date=26 June 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230626194154/https://www.forbes.com/sites/davidewalt/2011/09/08/shigeru-miyamoto-ocarina-of-time/?sh=2262b21453bd |archive-date=June 26, 2023 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="IAA_GOTY">{{cite web |title=The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time AIAS |url=https://www.interactive.org/games/video_game_details.asp?idAward=1999&idGame=633 |website=Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences |access-date=28 June 2023 |archive-date=June 1, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220601135134/https://www.interactive.org/games/video_game_details.asp?idAward=1999&idGame=633 |url-status=live }}</ref> At the [[BAFTA Interactive Entertainment Awards]], ''Ocarina of Time'' won in four categories - "The Games Award" (precursor to the British Academy's "[[British Academy Games Award for Best Game|Best Game]]" award), "Innovative Game Award", "The Interactivity Award" and "The Computer Programming Award".<ref name="IGN_1999">{{cite web | last=IGN Staff | date=1999-10-23 | access-date=2025-02-03 | title=Nintendo and Rare Sweep British Awards | website=IGN | url=https://www.ign.com/articles/1999/10/23/nintendo-and-rare-sweep-british-awards | archive-date=December 15, 2024 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241215000344/https://www.ign.com/articles/1999/10/23/nintendo-and-rare-sweep-british-awards | url-status=live }}</ref> ''[[Electronic Gaming Monthly]]'' gave it both the editors' choice and readers' choice awards for "Game of the Year for All Systems", "Nintendo 64 Game of the Year" and "Action RPG of the Year" as well as the readers' choice awards for "Best Music" and "Best Graphics", and it was runner-up for the reader's choice "Best Sound Effects" award.<ref>{{cite magazine|date=April 1999|title=1998 Gamers' Choice Awards|url=https://retrocdn.net/images/4/4d/EGM_US_117.pdf|magazine=[[Electronic Gaming Monthly]]|issue=117|pages=107–114|access-date=June 5, 2020|archive-date=December 19, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221219173205/https://retrocdn.net/images/4/4d/EGM_US_117.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref> ''[[Edge (magazine)|Edge]]'' gave it the awards for "Game of the Year" and "Gameplay Innovation" and placed it 2nd place for "Graphical Achievement" (behind ''[[Virtua Fighter#Virtua Fighter 3tb|Virtua Fighter 3tb]]'').<ref name="Edge-Awards"/>

== Legacy ==
After publication, ''Ocarina of Time'' was featured on a number of compiled lists of best or most influential games. It was ranked the greatest video game of all time by numerous publications including ''[[Computer and Video Games]]'',<ref name=CVG2001/><ref name="best_games"/> ''[[Edge (magazine)|Edge]]'',<ref name="edge100-2000"/><ref name="edge100-2007"/><ref name="edge-200-online"/><ref name="edge-top20"/> ''[[Entertainment Weekly]]'',<ref name="best_games"/> ''[[GameTrailers]]'',<ref name="best_games"/> ''[[IGN]]'',<ref name="ign_top_2006"/><ref name="ign_top_2008"/> ''[[Next Generation Magazine|Next Generation]]'',<ref name="best_games"/> ''[[Nintendo Power]]'',<ref name="NP Top 200">{{Cite magazine | title=NP Top 200 | magazine=[[Nintendo Power]] | page=66 | date=February 2006 | volume=200}}</ref><ref name=NinPowerBestofBest/><ref name=NinPowerTop285/> ''[[Game Informer]]'',<ref name="GI1999"/> ''[[Slant (magazine)|Slant]]'',<ref name="Slant"/> ''[[FHM]]'',<ref name="FHM"/> and ''PALGN''.<ref name=PALGN/> It also appeared on other lists of greatest games including those of ''Electronic Gaming Monthly''<ref name="EGM top">{{cite web | url=http://gamers.com/feature/egmtop100/index.jsp | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030620053308/http://www.gamers.com/feature/egmtop100/index.jsp | archive-date=June 20, 2003 | title=Electronic Gaming Monthly Presents Top 100 Games of All Time | author=''EGM'' staff | year=2001 | website=Gamers.com | access-date=January 2, 2008}}</ref> and ''IGN''.<ref name="ign_top_2006">{{cite web|title=Readers' Picks Top 100 Games: 1–10|url=http://uk.top100.ign.com/2006/001-010.html|website=IGN|access-date=April 26, 2014|year=2006|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131103141811/http://uk.top100.ign.com/2006/001-010.html|archive-date=November 3, 2013}}</ref><ref name="ign_top_2008">{{cite web|title=1. The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time|url=http://uk.top100.ign.com/2008/ign_top_game_1.html|work=Top 100 Games of All Time|access-date=April 26, 2014|year=2008 |url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140102064050/http://uk.top100.ign.com/2008/ign_top_game_1.html|archive-date=January 2, 2014}}</ref><ref name="IGN top">{{cite web|title=IGN's Top 100 Games of All Time|website=[[IGN]]|year=2007|url=http://uk.top100.ign.com/2007/ign_top_game_4.html| access-date=April 26, 2014|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130825020854/http://uk.top100.ign.com/2007/ign_top_game_4.html|archive-date=August 25, 2013}}</ref><ref name="Top 125 Nintendo Games">{{cite web|website=[[IGN]] |title=The Top 125 Nintendo Games of All Time |date=September 24, 2014 |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2014/09/24/the-top-125-nintendo-games-of-all-time?page=9 |access-date=September 26, 2014 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140926072042/http://www.ign.com/articles/2014/09/24/the-top-125-nintendo-games-of-all-time?page=9 |archive-date=September 26, 2014}}</ref> It was placed second in ''[[Official Nintendo Magazine]]''{{'}}s "100 greatest Nintendo games of all time", behind only ''[[Super Mario Bros.]]''<ref name="100-ONM">{{cite web |url=http://www.officialnintendomagazine.co.uk/7327/features/100-best-nintendo-games-part-6/ |title=100 Best Nintendo Games — Part Six |website=[[Official Nintendo Magazine]] |first=Tom |last=East |date=March 2, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141030210331/http://www.officialnintendomagazine.co.uk/7327/features/100-best-nintendo-games-part-6/ |archive-date=October 30, 2014}}</ref> ''[[Game Informer]]'' ranked it as its 11th favorite game of all time and described it as "untouchable".<ref>{{cite magazine |title=Game Informer's Top 100 Games of All Time (Circa Issue 100) |url=https://www.gameinformer.com/b/features/archive/2009/11/16/game-informer-s-top-100-games-of-all-time-circa-issue-100.aspx |magazine=[[Game Informer]] |last=Cork |first=Jeff |date=November 16, 2009 |access-date=December 10, 2013 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160119181519/http://www.gameinformer.com/b/features/archive/2009/11/16/game-informer-s-top-100-games-of-all-time-circa-issue-100.aspx |archive-date=January 19, 2016}}</ref> In May 2011, ''IGN'' held a tournament-style competition celebrating the 25th anniversary of the original ''The Legend of Zelda''{{'}}s release in which fans voted ''Ocarina of Time'' the greatest ''Zelda'' game; it beat ''[[Majora's Mask]]'' in the final round.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.ign.com/tournaments/greatest-zelda-game |title=Greatest Legend of Zelda Game Tournament - IGN |website=[[IGN]] |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130727221804/http://www.ign.com/tournaments/greatest-zelda-game |archive-date=July 27, 2013}}</ref> ''Ocarina of Time'' has consistently been placed at number one in ''Edge''{{'}}s "top 100 games" lists: a staff-voted list in January 2000,<ref name="edge100-2000">{{cite magazine |title=The 100 best games of all time (Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time) |magazine=[[Edge (magazine)|Edge]] |date=January 2000 |issue=80 |pages=52–71 (71) |url=https://retrocdn.net/images/6/64/Edge_UK_080.pdf#page=71 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210624195358/https://retrocdn.net/images/6/64/Edge_UK_080.pdf |archive-date=June 24, 2021 |url-status=live}}
*<!-- Published in book form, not in Edge magazine -->{{Cite book | editor-last=Mott | editor-first=Tony | title=Edge Presents The 100 Best Videogames | publisher=[[Future plc|Future]] | date=2007 | page=255}} Reprinting material from ''[[Edge (magazine)|Edge]]'' issue 80.
</ref> a staff- and reader-voted list in July 2007,<ref name="edge100-2007">{{cite magazine|url=http://www.edge-online.com/features/retrospective-the-legend-of-zelda-ocarina-of-time/|title=Retrospective: The Legend Of Zelda: Ocarina Of Time|author=Edge Staff|magazine=[[Edge (magazine)|Edge]] |publisher=[[Future plc|Future]] |date=April 21, 2014|access-date=June 1, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140423215836/http://www.edge-online.com/features/retrospective-the-legend-of-zelda-ocarina-of-time/|archive-date=April 23, 2014}}</ref> a list of "The 100 Best Games to Play Today" in March 2009,<ref name="edge-200-online">{{cite magazine|author=Edge Staff|url=http://www.edge-online.com/features/100-best-games-play-today?page=11|title=The 100 Best Games to Play Today|magazine=[[Edge (magazine)|Edge]]|publisher=[[Future plc|Future]]|date=March 9, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120326195637/http://www.edge-online.com/features/100-best-games-play-today?page=11|archive-date=March 26, 2012|access-date=November 21, 2009}}</ref> and a 2013 readers' poll selecting the 20 best games released since the magazine's launch in 1993.<ref name="edge-top20">{{cite web|last1=McFerran |first1=Damien |title=Readers Of EDGE Consider Ocarina Of Time And Mario 64 To Be The Best Games Of The Last 20 Years |url=http://www.nintendolife.com/news/2013/10/readers_of_edge_consider_ocarina_of_time_and_mario_64_to_be_the_best_games_of_the_last_20_years |website=[[Nintendo Life]] |publisher=[[Gamer Network]] |access-date=September 1, 2016 |date=October 24, 2013 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170129170016/http://www.nintendolife.com/news/2013/10/readers_of_edge_consider_ocarina_of_time_and_mario_64_to_be_the_best_games_of_the_last_20_years |archive-date=January 29, 2017}}</ref> ''Edge'' concluded its 2009 list with: "''Ocarina of Time'' is here in the list not because Nintendo had the power and wisdom to make a great game, but because it had the courage to make a unique one".<ref name="edge-200">{{Cite magazine |magazine=[[Edge (magazine)|Edge]]|publisher=[[Future plc|Future]]|date=April 2009 |issue=200|title=The 100 Best Games to Play Today |pages=59–63}}</ref> In 2022, [[The Strong National Museum of Play]] inducted ''Ocarina of Time'' to its [[World Video Game Hall of Fame]].<ref>{{cite web |title=The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time |url=https://www.museumofplay.org/games/the-legend-of-zelda-ocarina-of-time/ |website=[[The Strong National Museum of Play]] |publisher=[[The Strong]] |access-date=May 6, 2022 |archive-date=May 5, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220505204506/https://www.museumofplay.org/games/the-legend-of-zelda-ocarina-of-time/ |url-status=live}}</ref>

Reception for the ''Master Quest'' and Virtual Console rereleases was positive; while some considered aspects of the graphics and audio to be outdated,<ref name="rpgamer" /><ref>{{cite web|title=Aonuma - 'Nowadays, OoT is not that good' |last=Holmes |first=Jonathan |website=[[Destructoid]] |date=November 23, 2009 |url=https://www.destructoid.com/aonuma-nowadays-oot-is-not-that-good/ |access-date=September 12, 2024 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100127042844/http://www.destructoid.com/aonuma-nowadays-oot-is-not-that-good--155808.phtml |archive-date=January 27, 2010}}</ref> most thought that the game had aged well. The ''Master Quest'' version holds an average score of 89.50% on GameRankings and 91/100 on Metacritic.<ref name="Game Rankings GCN">{{cite web|url=http://www.gamerankings.com/gamecube/564226-/index.html |title=The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time Master Quest reviews |website=[[GameRankings]] |access-date=March 4, 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090309095105/http://www.gamerankings.com/gamecube/564226-/index.html |archive-date=March 9, 2009}}</ref><ref name="Metacritic GNC">{{cite web|url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/the-legend-of-zelda-ocarina-of-time-master-quest-2002/ |title=The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time / Master Quest |website=[[Metacritic]] |access-date=September 12, 2024 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240405173955/https://www.metacritic.com/game/the-legend-of-zelda-ocarina-of-time-master-quest-2002/ |archive-date=April 5, 2024}}</ref> ''IGN'' said in their review that "''Ocarina of Time'' has aged extremely well",<ref name="OoT MQ review at IGN"/> and noted in regard to the graphics, while the textures and models look dated, the visual presentation stood the test of time. GameRevolution said that although it has "noticeably aged compared to brand new RPGs&nbsp;... it's still a terrific game", awarding 91 out of 100.<ref name="gamerev">{{cite web|url=http://www.gamerevolution.com/review/the-legend-of-ze |title=The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time Master Quest review |last=Liu |first=Johnny |website=[[GameRevolution]] |date=February 3, 2003 |access-date=October 27, 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130704015432/http://www.gamerevolution.com/review/the-legend-of-ze |archive-date=July 4, 2013}}</ref> In 2007, former ''GameSpot'' editor [[Jeff Gerstmann]] gave the Virtual Console port 8.9 out of 10: "Even after nine years, ''Ocarina of Time'' holds up surprisingly well, offering a lengthy and often-amazing adventure".<ref name="GameSpot VC review"/>

In November 2021, enthusiasts fully [[decompile]]d ''Ocarina of Time''<nowiki />'s [[ROM image|ROM]] into human-readable [[C (programming language)|C]] code.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.videogameschronicle.com/news/zelda-64-has-been-fully-decompiled-potentially-opening-the-door-for-mods-and-ports/|title=Zelda 64 has been fully decompiled, potentially opening the door for mods and ports|website=[[Video Games Chronicle]]|last=Robinson|first=Andy|date=November 27, 2021|access-date=November 27, 2021|archive-date=November 27, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211127130733/https://www.videogameschronicle.com/news/zelda-64-has-been-fully-decompiled-potentially-opening-the-door-for-mods-and-ports/|url-status=live}}</ref> In March 2022, a group called "Harbour Masters"<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.videogameschronicle.com/news/exclusive-a-fully-functioning-zelda-64-pc-port-is-90-complete/|title=Exclusive: A fully functioning Zelda 64 PC port is '90% complete'|website=[[Video Games Chronicle]]|date=January 24, 2022|access-date=January 24, 2022|last=Robinson|first=Andy|archive-date=January 24, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220124174506/https://www.videogameschronicle.com/news/exclusive-a-fully-functioning-zelda-64-pc-port-is-90-complete/|url-status=live}}</ref> publicly released a PC port under the name [[Ship of Harkinian]], which includes widescreen support and an increased framerate, among other features.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.videogameschronicle.com/news/zelda-ocarina-of-time-pc-port/|title=A full Zelda: Ocarina of Time PC port is now complete and available online|website=[[Video Games Chronicle]]|date=March 22, 2022|access-date=March 23, 2022|last=Robinson|first=Andy|archive-date=March 22, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220322234919/https://www.videogameschronicle.com/news/zelda-ocarina-of-time-pc-port/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.gamesradar.com/an-unofficial-ocarina-of-time-pc-port-is-out-now-with-hd-graphics-and-mods/|title=An unofficial Ocarina of Time PC port is out now with HD graphics and mods|website=[[GamesRadar+]]|date=March 23, 2022|access-date=April 7, 2023|last=Gerblick|first=Jordan|archive-date=April 7, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230407073431/https://www.gamesradar.com/an-unofficial-ocarina-of-time-pc-port-is-out-now-with-hd-graphics-and-mods/|url-status=live}}</ref>

===Impact===
''Ocarina of Time'' popularized features such as a target lock system and context-sensitive buttons that have since become common elements in 3D adventure games.<ref name="Essential 50"/><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ign.com/articles/2010/08/27/ign-presents-the-history-of-zelda?page=5 |title=IGN Presents the History of Zelda |first=Travis |last=Fahs |website=[[IGN]] |date=December 17, 2008 |access-date=January 16, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160408010133/http://www.ign.com/articles/2010/08/27/ign-presents-the-history-of-zelda?page=5 |archive-date=April 8, 2016 |url-status=live}}</ref> Its credited with increasing the popularity and sales of the ocarina.<ref>{{Cite news |last=King |first=Sharon R. |date=February 15, 1999 |title=Compressed Data; Can You Play 'Feelings' On the Ocarina? |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1999/02/15/business/compressed-data-can-you-play-feelings-on-the-ocarina.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090707214037/http://www.nytimes.com/1999/02/15/business/compressed-data-can-you-play-feelings-on-the-ocarina.html |archive-date=July 7, 2009 |access-date=January 1, 2025 |work=[[The New York Times]]}}</ref>

Multiple members of the [[video game industry]] have expressed how the game influenced them and the industry. Former [[Rockstar Games]] vice president of creativity [[Dan Houser]] stated in 2012 that "anyone who makes 3-D games who says they've not borrowed something from ''Mario'' or ''Zelda'' [on the Nintendo 64] is lying".<ref name="Americana">{{cite interview | title=Americana at Its Most Felonious: Q. and A.: Rockstar's Dan Houser on Grand Theft Auto V | interviewer=Chris Suellentrop | first=Dan | last=Houser | subject-link=Dan Houser | date=November 9, 2012 | url=https://www.nytimes.com/2012/11/10/arts/video-games/q-and-a-rockstars-dan-houser-on-grand-theft-auto-v.html | work=[[The New York Times]] | access-date=July 30, 2015 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121110091527/http://www.nytimes.com/2012/11/10/arts/video-games/q-and-a-rockstars-dan-houser-on-grand-theft-auto-v.html | archive-date=November 10, 2012 | url-status=live}}</ref> Rockstar founder and ''Grand Theft Auto'' director [[Sam Houser]] described ''[[Grand Theft Auto III]]'' as "Zelda meets ''[[Goodfellas]]''".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://ign.com/articles/2001/09/10/rockstars-sam-houser-mouths-off|title=Rockstar's Sam Houser Mouths Off|author=<!--Not stated-->|date=September 10, 2001|website=[[IGN]]|access-date=October 21, 2021|archive-date=November 8, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121108073851/http://www.ign.com/articles/2001/09/10/rockstars-sam-houser-mouths-off|url-status=live}}</ref> ''[[Ōkami]]'' director [[Hideki Kamiya]] ([[Capcom]], [[PlatinumGames]]) said that he had been influenced by ''Zelda'' when he developed ''Okami''.<ref>{{cite web | last = Davies | first = Jonti | title = Okami creator 'disappointed' by Twilight Princess | website = [[Engadget]] | date = March 2007 | url = https://www.engadget.com/2007-03-06-okami-creator-disappointed-by-twilight-princess.html | access-date = October 21, 2021 | archive-date = October 21, 2021 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20211021213206/https://www.engadget.com/2007-03-06-okami-creator-disappointed-by-twilight-princess.html | url-status = live}}</ref> ''[[Soul Reaver]]'' and ''[[Uncharted]]'' director, [[Amy Hennig]] ([[Crystal Dynamics]] and [[Naughty Dog]]), cited ''Zelda'' as an influence for the ''[[Legacy of Kain]]'' series, noting ''Ocarina of Time''{{'}}s influence on ''[[Soul Reaver]]''.<ref name="IASIG">{{cite web |first=Alexander |last=Brandon |url=http://www.iasig.org/pubs/interviews/eidosjh.shtml |publisher=IASIG |title=Interactive Composition Column 1.2 |access-date=October 31, 2012 |archive-date=February 14, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120214185917/http://www.iasig.org/pubs/interviews/eidosjh.shtml |url-status=live}}</ref>

''[[Dark Souls]]'' creator [[Hidetaka Miyazaki]] ([[FromSoftware]]) said that "''The Legend of Zelda'' became a sort of textbook for 3D [[action game]]s".<ref name="RollingStone">{{cite magazine|last1=Mielke|first1=James|title='Dark Souls' Creator Miyazaki on 'Zelda', Sequels and Starting Out|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/culture/news/dark-souls-creator-miyazaki-on-zelda-sequels-w443435|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161005123700/http://www.rollingstone.com/culture/news/dark-souls-creator-miyazaki-on-zelda-sequels-w443435|url-status=dead|archive-date=October 5, 2016|magazine=[[Rolling Stone]]|access-date=October 6, 2016}}</ref> ''[[Ico]]'' director [[Fumito Ueda]] ([[Team Ico]]) cited ''Zelda'' as an influence on ''[[Shadow of the Colossus]]''.<ref>{{cite web|title=Shadow of the Colossus|last=Rogers|first=Tim|website=Insert Credit|url=http://archives.insertcredit.com/reviews/wanda/|date=October 25, 2005|access-date=October 21, 2021|archive-date=February 21, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170221110345/http://archives.insertcredit.com/reviews/wanda/|url-status=dead}}</ref> ''[[Darksiders]]'' director [[David Adams (video game designer)|David Adams]] ([[Vigil Games]]) cited ''Zelda'' as an influence on his work.<ref name="gamespot-legacy">{{cite web|url=http://www.gamespot.com/articles/the-legacy-of-zelda/1100-6434921/|title=The Legacy of Zelda|first=Mike|last=Mahardy|website=[[GameSpot]]|date=February 19, 2016|access-date=October 21, 2021|archive-date=October 24, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211024135923/https://www.gamespot.com/articles/the-legacy-of-zelda/1100-6434921/|url-status=live}}</ref> [[CD Projekt Red]] (''[[The Witcher (video game)|The Witcher]]'', ''[[Cyberpunk 2077]]'') cited ''Zelda'' as an influence on ''The Witcher'' series, including ''[[The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt]]'' (2015).<ref>[http://www.gamertagradio.com/2015/04/episode-478-the-witcher-3-wild-hunt-interview-with-cd-projekt-red/ Episode #478 – The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt Interview with CD Projekt Red] {{Webarchive|url=https://archive.today/20170611125104/http://www.gamertagradio.com/2015/04/episode-478-the-witcher-3-wild-hunt-interview-with-cd-projekt-red/ |date=June 11, 2017}} (48:45)</ref> ''[[Final Fantasy]]'' and ''[[The 3rd Birthday]]'' director [[Hajime Tabata]] ([[Square Enix]]) cited ''Ocarina of Time'' as inspiration for the seamless [[open world]] of ''[[Final Fantasy XV]]''.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.psu.com/news/final-fantasy-xv-inspired-by-zelda-ocarina-of-time/|title=Final Fantasy XV inspired by Zelda: Ocarina of Time|last=Harradence|first=Michael|website=PlayStation Universe|date=April 1, 2016 |access-date=October 21, 2021|archive-date=August 15, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220815165735/https://www.psu.com/news/final-fantasy-xv-inspired-by-zelda-ocarina-of-time/|url-status=live}}</ref>

== Notes ==
{{notelist}}

== References ==
{{Reflist|refs=
<ref name="Iwata Asks OoT 3D Miyamoto">{{cite interview|url=https://iwataasks.nintendo.com/interviews/3ds/zelda-ocarina-of-time/4/4/ |interviewer=[[Satoru Iwata]] |subject-link=Shigeru Miyamoto |first=Shigeru |last=Miyamoto |title=Iwata Asks: The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time 3D: Mr. Shigeru Miyamoto |publisher=[[Nintendo of America]] |access-date=September 12, 2024 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230224033509/https://iwataasks.nintendo.com/interviews/3ds/zelda-ocarina-of-time/4/4/ |archive-date=February 24, 2023 |quote=And I was really happy that we here in Japan could make a medieval tale of sword and sorcery liked by the people of the world. Despite using a historical drama at Toei Kyoto Studio Park as reference! (laughs) It was received well overseas.}}</ref>

<ref name="Iwata Asks OoT 3D Original">{{cite interview|url=https://www.nintendo.com/en-gb/Iwata-Asks/Iwata-Asks-The-Legend-of-Zelda-Ocarina-of-Time-3D/Vol-2-Original-Development-Staff-Part-1/5-What-We-Couldn-t-Do-with-Ocarina-of-Time/5-What-We-Couldn-t-Do-with-Ocarina-of-Time-231818.html |title=Iwata Asks: The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time 3D: What We Couldn't Do with Ocarina of Time |interviewer=[[Satoru Iwata]] |first1=Toshio |last1=Iwawaki |first2=Eiji |last2=Aonuma |subject-link2=Eiji Aonuma |first3=Takumi |last3=Kawagoe |first4=Yoshiaki |last4=Koizumi |subject-link4=Yoshiaki Koizumi |first5=Toru |last5=Osawa |publisher=[[Nintendo]] |access-date=September 12, 2024 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240913015631/https://www.nintendo.com/en-gb/Iwata-Asks/Iwata-Asks-The-Legend-of-Zelda-Ocarina-of-Time-3D/Vol-2-Original-Development-Staff-Part-1/5-What-We-Couldn-t-Do-with-Ocarina-of-Time/5-What-We-Couldn-t-Do-with-Ocarina-of-Time-231818.html |archive-date=September 13, 2024}}</ref>

<ref name="Wii U VC">{{cite web|last1=Ronaghan|first1=Neal|title=This Week in the Nintendo Downloads|url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2015/07/02/this-week-in-the-nintendo-downloads|website=[[IGN]]|publisher=[[Ziff Davis]]|access-date=July 3, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150703040944/http://www.ign.com/articles/2015/07/02/this-week-in-the-nintendo-downloads|archive-date=July 3, 2015|url-status=live|date=July 2, 2015}}</ref>

<ref name="eijidungeon">{{cite web|url=https://iwataasks.nintendo.com/interviews/ds/zelda/0/0/ |title=Iwata Asks: The Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks: The Previous Game Felt As Though We'd Given Our All |publisher=[[Nintendo]] |access-date=September 12, 2024 |quote='''Eiji Aonuma''': Our first 3D ''The Legend of Zelda'' game for the N64 turned out to be ''The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time''. I did some direction on that one, although it was only partial: I was in charge of dungeon design. |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240818005331/https://iwataasks.nintendo.com/interviews/ds/zelda/0/0/ |archive-date=August 18, 2024}}</ref>

<ref name="miyastory1">{{cite web|url=https://www.nintendo.com/home/features/e3_98/mqna.html |title=Question and Answer Session with Mr. Miyamoto |publisher=[[Nintendo]] |access-date=May 30, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/19980530122635/http://www.nintendo.com/home/features/e3_98/mqna.html |archive-date=May 30, 1998 |quote='''Shigeru Miyamoto''': However, the scenario and game modes are only about 50% my idea.}}</ref>

<ref name="miyastory2">{{Cite magazine|date=August 1998 |title=Interview mit dem Meister |magazine=[[Club Nintendo#Europe|Club Nintendo]] |publisher=Nintendo of Europe GmbH |issue=Ausgabe 4 |page=17 |language=de |quote='''Shigeru Miyamoto''': Die komplette Story ist von mir. / The entire story is from me.}}</ref>

<ref name="koistory1">{{cite web |first=Chris|last=Kohler |url=https://www.wired.com/2007/12/interview-super/ |title=Interview: Super Mario Galaxy Director On Sneaking Stories Past Miyamoto |date=December 4, 2007 |website=[[Wired (website)|Wired]] |publisher=[[Condé Nast Digital]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090615082049/http://www.wired.com/gamelife/2007/12/interview-super/ |archive-date=June 15, 2009 |url-status=live |access-date=September 12, 2024}}</ref>

<ref name="koistory2">{{cite magazine|url=http://www.edge-online.com/features/interview-nintendo%C3%ADs-unsung-star |title=Interview: Nintendo's Unsung Star |date=February 6, 2008 |magazine=[[Edge (magazine)|Edge]]  |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120820032259/http://www.edge-online.com/features/interview-nintendo%C3%ADs-unsung-star|archive-date=August 20, 2012 |access-date=July 11, 2010}}</ref>
}}

== External links ==
{{Commons category}}
{{Wikiquote}}
{{Wikibooks|The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time}}
* {{official|https://www.nintendo.co.jp/n01/n64/software/zelda/index.html}} {{in lang|ja}}
* {{MobyGames|id=/legend-of-zelda-ocarina-of-time}}
* {{IMDb title|0184666}}

{{The Legend of Zelda|state=expanded}}
{{Shigeru Miyamoto}}
{{BAFTA Games BG}}
{{DICE GOTY}}
{{JGA GOTY}}
{{Portal bar|Video games|1990s|Japan|Fantasy}}
{{Authority control}}

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