Nintendo announced on April 4, on its new news app, Nintendo Today, that it will take a big step forward for the Legend of Zelda franchise with an upcoming live-action movie. Although the movie plans to introduce Zelda to a new, breathtaking on-screen medium, the franchise has a history of taking its characters in unexpected directions. One of the franchise’s most significant changes saw the adventures of Link get more depth both metaphorically and literally.
In 1998, Nintendo released to the world its first-ever three-dimensional Zelda game, The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time. The game tells the story of a newly incarnated Link, the series’ protagonist, as he ventures across the kingdom of Hyrule to prevent its conquest by the evil warlock Ganondorf. However, Link unknowingly sends himself seven years into the future, forcing him to save the now dystopian Hyrule.
Ocarina of Time emphasizes the titular musical instrument for solving puzzles and memorizing numerous melodies. It also introduced a new targeting combat system that allows players to have more in-depth battles than in the series’ previous 2D games. Even for less experienced players, each problem Ocarina of Time provides has a satisfying yet manageable solution.
Link’s adventures across time establish a major plot point, as the player’s ability to defeat Ganondorf determines the chronology of the franchise. In one scenario, the player unwittingly creates two timelines: one where Link is a child and the other a hero-less dystopian future. There is also the possibility of having Hyrule descend into a nightmarish land known as the Dark World. No matter the results of this adventure, its events are referenced throughout and affect all installments of the franchise, going back as far as the story of the original game.
Ocarina of Time’s incarnation of Link, also known as the Hero of Time, is one of the few characters to make repeated appearances throughout the franchise. He returns as the main character of Ocarina of Time’s direct sequel, The Legend of Zelda: Majora’s Mask, as well as having a brief role in The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess. The Hero of Time is one of Zelda’s most fleshed-out characters, as the young hero’s multi-game story teaches players about the dangers of loneliness and fame, all with barely any dialogue at all.
Ocarina of Time’s Hero of Time has become such a staple to gaming that he earned his own spot on the Super Smash Bros. roster as Young Link. The game itself was so successful that Nintendo decided to remake it for the Nintendo 3DS as The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time 3D.
The game is often ranked among the greatest games of all time by critics, with Metacritic listing it as its highest choice. Elements like the aforementioned combat system as well as a daylight cycle have been implemented and improved in numerous modern games, from the gritty fantasy of Dark Souls to more casual adventures like Minecraft.
While Ocarina of Time may not be as contemporary as Zelda’s newer installments, its deep story and revolutionary gameplay have allowed players of any generation to enjoy this timeless classic.