The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time

Lore & Background

The story begins in the Kokiri Forest, where a young boy named Link lives without a fairy, a mark of shame among his peers. The Great Deku Tree, the forest's ancient guardian, summons Link and reveals that a dark warlock, Ganondorf, has placed a curse upon him. After receiving the spiritual stone of the forest, Link embarks on a quest to prevent Ganondorf from seizing the Triforce, the golden relic that grants the wishes of its holder. The journey takes Link across Hyrule—from the fiery caverns of Death Mountain to the watery depths of Zora's Domain—where he collects three spiritual stones and plays the Song of Time to unlock the Door of Time in the Temple of Time.

In Their Own Story

In the shadow of the Temple of Time, a young boy in green tunic stands before a stone door. His ocarina glows as he plays a melody learned from a mysterious princess. The door grinds open, revealing a pedestal holding a legendary sword. As he pulls the Master Sword from its resting place, time fractures. The boy is sealed away for seven years, awakening as a young man in a Hyrule now darkened by Ganondorf's rule. The Hero of Time must now undo the evil that has spread across the land.

Reader's Guide

The narrative of Ocarina of Time is split across two eras: the Child Era and the Adult Era. In the Child Era, Link, a boy, collects three spiritual stones (Kokiri's Emerald, Goron's Ruby, Zora's Sapphire) to enter the Temple of Time. He draws the Master Sword, which seals him away for seven years. In the Adult Era, Link awakens as a young man in a Hyrule conquered by Ganondorf. He must awaken six sages from their temples (Forest, Fire, Water, Shadow, Spirit, and the Temple of Time itself) to seal Ganondorf. The story culminates in a final battle within Ganon's Castle, where Link defeats Ganondorf and returns to the Child Era to warn the royal family—a choice that fractures the timeline into two parallel threads, a cornerstone of the series' mythology. The game's importance lies in its revolutionary 3D gameplay and its deep, time-traveling narrative that defined the Zelda series for decades.

Did You Know?

• The game's development was led by Shigeru Miyamoto and Eiji Aonuma, and it was originally planned as a 64DD title before being released on cartridge.
• The Ocarina of Time's musical system allowed players to play over a dozen songs, each with unique effects on the game world.
• The character of Sheik, who aids Link in the Adult Era, is a disguised version of Princess Zelda, a fact that was a major twist for players.
• The game's use of Z-targeting, a lock-on combat system, became a standard for 3D action games.