The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time

 Nintendo 64
User Score
9.0

Universal acclaim- based on 8290 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 7,394 out of 8290
  2. Mixed: 307 out of 8290
  3. Negative: 589 out of 8290
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  1. AshleyC
    Dec 6, 2009
    10
    I just went back and played this game again, and it really was just as amazing as the first time. I've been a fan of the game for a decade now, and it really is one of the greatest games of all time.
  2. SeanK
    Mar 11, 2009
    10
    Ocarina of Time Is without a doubt my favorite game I have ever played. When I was little all we had was a N64 I played less than an hour a day back then. When I got this game I started playing probaly 3hours. The first time I even just watched the game my eyes were glued to the screen. It had good graphics for its day, an amazing plot line, lovable characters, wonderful puzzles, Ocarina of Time Is without a doubt my favorite game I have ever played. When I was little all we had was a N64 I played less than an hour a day back then. When I got this game I started playing probaly 3hours. The first time I even just watched the game my eyes were glued to the screen. It had good graphics for its day, an amazing plot line, lovable characters, wonderful puzzles, frightning monsters and reat fighting mechanics. I've never played a better game and probably never will.… Expand
  3. EirikM.
    Apr 12, 2009
    10
    This game will, without a doubt, go down in history as the greatest game ever made. It's in every way perfect, with great controls, great graphics, and something for each and every one. The amount of secrets in this game will astound you. I, personally lost my n64 game, but luckily I got a new one in the Wind Waker collectors edition package. If you are skeptical to even try this This game will, without a doubt, go down in history as the greatest game ever made. It's in every way perfect, with great controls, great graphics, and something for each and every one. The amount of secrets in this game will astound you. I, personally lost my n64 game, but luckily I got a new one in the Wind Waker collectors edition package. If you are skeptical to even try this game, give it 5 minutes. No matter what, you will be hooked. Enjoy.… Expand
  4. ProfessorF.
    Nov 26, 2003
    10
    I'm writing this in Nov. of 2003, so I guess most people don't play this anymore, what with the GC version out. This, is simply, a masterpiece. You marvel how someone could create a storyline so rich and full. The graphics are excellent too, for a N64 game. Truly, this will live on as a classic.
  5. ErdemB.
    Nov 25, 2004
    10
    Gaming nirvana. I fell in love with this masterpiece as soon as I started playing it. Truly absorbing, eutophian gameplay.
  6. AlexandreC.
    Dec 11, 2006
    10
    This is the greatest game I've ever experienced. I'm not a video game player, but this one was worth playing, just like Harry Potter books are worth it to book non-readers. This game is the perfect example to show how video games are the next step in story telling.
  7. ChrisA.
    Dec 29, 2006
    10
    Just finished playing the game again, after 2 years of playing PS2, Xbox, and PC games and i got to say after 2 yeras of not playing , 2 this day I have not played any thing that cames close to THE GAME OF GAMES im 40 years old and I have played a LOT a LOT of games
  8. Stontonious
    Nov 11, 2007
    10
    Very few games reach the perfection that this one easily achieves, but when they reach it, their universally known as masterful games with revolutionizing changes that shake the foundation of it's genre and the industry as a whole. Do yourself a favor, buy this game, play it, and find out why this game is always used as a measuring stick to separate the good games from the ones that Very few games reach the perfection that this one easily achieves, but when they reach it, their universally known as masterful games with revolutionizing changes that shake the foundation of it's genre and the industry as a whole. Do yourself a favor, buy this game, play it, and find out why this game is always used as a measuring stick to separate the good games from the ones that define that generation.… Expand
  9. Andrewthe6Yrgamer.
    Nov 24, 2007
    10
    This game will hold a special place in my heart for all time. I was not playing video games when OoT came out, but I did eventually play it, and was smitten. . Twilight Princess is good, but it doesn't come close. to Ocarina. Everybody else has commented on the sound, gameplay, and story, so I won't. I'll just say this: Ocarina of Time is the best game I have ever played. This game will hold a special place in my heart for all time. I was not playing video games when OoT came out, but I did eventually play it, and was smitten. . Twilight Princess is good, but it doesn't come close. to Ocarina. Everybody else has commented on the sound, gameplay, and story, so I won't. I'll just say this: Ocarina of Time is the best game I have ever played. If you don't own it, buy it (On Virtual console for Wii, Master Quest or Collector's edition for Gamecube, or buy an N64 off Ebay and track down a copy of the game) It's that good. If you think Ocarina is a bad game, you fail at life and don't deserve to play video games. That's all I have to say about that.… Expand
  10. BenF
    Nov 27, 2009
    10
    No game makes me happier than this game. Best game ever! Haven't played it. From what I saw, it was awesome.
  11. EvanL
    Dec 31, 2009
    10
    Undoubtedly the greatest game ever created. For such an amazing game to be released so early in the lifetime of console games is a feat nothing short of miraculous and has yet to be repeated. Nintendo conceived this game with such pure brilliance that all future games will stand upon its shoulders in attempts to duplicate its massive successes. The art of gaming has never felt so amazing Undoubtedly the greatest game ever created. For such an amazing game to be released so early in the lifetime of console games is a feat nothing short of miraculous and has yet to be repeated. Nintendo conceived this game with such pure brilliance that all future games will stand upon its shoulders in attempts to duplicate its massive successes. The art of gaming has never felt so amazing and probably never will again. Simply perfect.… Expand
  12. Sadikusama
    Aug 23, 2017
    10
    There will never be a game that could revolutionize gaming the same way Ocarina of Time did almost 20 years ago. The combination of gameplay, visuals, music, and story is perfect. Many people believe this to be the best game ever made, and it's easy to see why.
  13. ost8fan
    Jan 16, 2022
    10
    Perfect in its time and still a nostalgic delight. One of the best games ever made
  14. Swagnum
    Sep 4, 2011
    10
    This game is the definition of perfection, the zelda series has always been a console seller for nintendo, meaning people buy an entire console just so they can play the legend of zelda on it. the graphics were a bit iffy but the gameplay was excellent and has a storyline that was unlike anything seen at the time. very few games back in the late 90's had highly developed storylines andThis game is the definition of perfection, the zelda series has always been a console seller for nintendo, meaning people buy an entire console just so they can play the legend of zelda on it. the graphics were a bit iffy but the gameplay was excellent and has a storyline that was unlike anything seen at the time. very few games back in the late 90's had highly developed storylines and characters and zelda 64 is right up there at the top of the list. there is a reason that even after almost 13 years, it is still universally considered to be the best game ever made. me and a good number of my friends, who are big fans of the series, still own the N64 consoles we bought back in the 90's for the sheer purpose of playing ocarina of time and it's sequel, majora's mask, i even go so far as to own a functional NES to play the original zelda because of how much the series entertains me. find one other game in the world that people own 10+ year old consoles to play, and i will give you a pat on the back. zelda is by far one of the most impressive games ever made, and i have no doubt in my mind that it deserves a full 10/10, the fact that people are still even trying to compare it to modern games shows how timeless a classic it truly is.… Expand
  15. CarsonRGB
    Oct 3, 2011
    9
    Story: 9
    Characters: 9
    Graphics: 8
    Setting: 10
    Multiplayer: N/A
    Soundtrack: 10
    Audio: 7
    Gameplay: 7
    Re-Playability Value: 9
    Fun Factor: 10

    Score: 8.7/10
  16. Mikau94
    Nov 8, 2011
    10
    Even after 13 years after its 1998 release Ocarina of Time is still legendary. First off, the controls were the best back then and even now they hold up to today's high standards. One part of the control scheme that made the game play so smooth was the intuitive Lock-on system. This may seem like it would make Ocarina of Time a snap, but there is still a great difficulty level. TheEven after 13 years after its 1998 release Ocarina of Time is still legendary. First off, the controls were the best back then and even now they hold up to today's high standards. One part of the control scheme that made the game play so smooth was the intuitive Lock-on system. This may seem like it would make Ocarina of Time a snap, but there is still a great difficulty level. The graphics aren't up to par with today's standards but they aren't bad at all as the graphics were ahead of their time. One of the best things about the Ocarina of Time is the story. It seems simple and to the point, but it is riddled with plot twists that keep you coming back for more. One aspect of video games that many overlook is the music. Ocarina of Time has one of the best game soundtracks I have ever heard. And the variety of music styles is amazing! There aren't just one or two great tracks, every soundtrack is unique and great.

    Overall, this is the best game I have ever played.    … Expand
  17. Noshotskill
    Sep 9, 2012
    10
    Now I never give a game a perfect score... But I simply cannot give Ocarina of Time anything lower then a 10. This game is on a level of its own. Perhaps the best game to come out on a Nintendo System, this game raised the bar for 3D gaming and still stands at the top. When OoT came out I immediately begged my parents for this game. Nintendo power raved about this game, and every person INow I never give a game a perfect score... But I simply cannot give Ocarina of Time anything lower then a 10. This game is on a level of its own. Perhaps the best game to come out on a Nintendo System, this game raised the bar for 3D gaming and still stands at the top. When OoT came out I immediately begged my parents for this game. Nintendo power raved about this game, and every person I knew with a Nintendo 64 owned it. Once I got a hold of this game I sat in front of my television for weeks until I beat everything this bad boy offered. 13+ years later and I still re-beat this game at least once a year. Any person willing to call themselves a gamer HAS to play this game. From a designer perspective this game was about 10 years ahead of its time in terms of quality gameplay. For those of us old enough to remember video games prior to current and last gen consoles, we all remember the classic side scrollers and there leap to 3D. Unfortunately, most of those series died with the jump to 3-D. Zelda, on the other hand, took that leap and then some with Ocarina of Time. The game is just that good.

    For those of you who never played a Zelda game before, the Zelda series is composed of Action/Adventure games that put the gamer in a fantasy world known as Hyrule. The gamer always plays as the protagonist, Link, and is almost always sent on a task of rescuing the Princess Zelda from the clutches of the Dark Lord Ganon. Ocarina of Time is no different. The entire story in a nut shell is the "fairy boy" Link is sent on a quest to save Hyrule from the clutches of Ganon. During your adventure you must dwell thru 8-9 dungeons, slay massive bosses, and save Princess Zelda. You can expect a great story and about 30 hours of gameplay for your first playthrough. Obvious, those of you wishing to 100% the game will probably need to spend well over 30 hours to complete the entire game without the use of a guide. Moving forward, the gameplay is the "bread and butter" of the series. In Ocarina of Time you can expect to tackle hundreds of puzzles, slay tons monsters, obtain dozens of items, and complete many minigames during your adventure. The combat system really shines in this game with the use of "Z-Targeting." Z-targeting basically allows the players to lock onto a monster or item with a simple tap of the Z button. This allows the player to stay focused on the enemy they want to be fighting (this was also one of the first games to introduce such a feature). The general idea of Ocarina of Time is to find and complete 8 dungeons before confronting Ganon in a final battle. These dungeons are big and packed with puzzles that test the players skill and knowledge. Each dungeon requires the player to find a certain item and boss key before battling the dungeon's final boss. On top of these dungeons, OoT has a massive overworld where the player can interact with citizens of Hyrule, play minigames, hunt for heart pieces and treasure, or just explore the terrain. As I mentioned before this was a massive game for its time. Most players will spend 30-50 hours completing this game.

    Finally, the Zelda series is probably most known for its music. OoT continues not to disappoint us and delivers dozens of memorial tunes. From the overworld theme to the magical songs you unlock to help Link in his quest, the music leaves no disappointment. Even 14 years after this game came out, these songs still sound beautiful. Lets just say this game alone made the sales of Ocarina musical instruments soar. There is no words to describe how much I love this game. I'm a typical gamer that enjoys the big shooters that most people play today (CoD, Halo, Gears of War, etc...) Even though I have literally days-weeks of playing time on those games, I still do not consider them anywhere near Zelda; Especially Ocarina of Time. As I said before, I still go back to beat this game at least once a year. The game has aged extremely well and is still a blast to play. Although the graphics and technology may be old, Ocarina of Time still remains the highest scored game by critics world wide. Do yourselves a favor and buy this game for N64, Gamecube, Wii-Virtual Console, or 3DS. Its well worth the $10-30.

    Graphics 10/10 (for its time)
    Sound 10/10
    Gameplay 10/10
    Re-playability 10/10    … Expand
  18. cromeros
    Mar 19, 2012
    10
    It's a masterpiece. A perfect game. Amazing graphics, great story and characters, brilliant soundtrack. It's my favourite game, my Top 1 after several great games.
  19. GameDude2030
    Nov 23, 2014
    10
    There really isn't much to be said that has not already been said about this legendary game. This game pushed the franchise into new heights as it transitioned into the third dimension. Hyrule is bigger than ever and the characters you meet appear fleshed out and it's almost surreal that you could interact with them in ways you could not before. The story is incredible and it leaves usThere really isn't much to be said that has not already been said about this legendary game. This game pushed the franchise into new heights as it transitioned into the third dimension. Hyrule is bigger than ever and the characters you meet appear fleshed out and it's almost surreal that you could interact with them in ways you could not before. The story is incredible and it leaves us with a great mystery that would dwell within the minds of theorists until recently. Without this game, where would we be today? Ocarina of Time will forever endure as among video games' finest achievements.… Expand
  20. KittyCat13
    Nov 30, 2011
    9
    Ocarina of Time is a great game, even today it's being hailed as one of the best out there, and it's one I would recommend to anyone who wants to get into Zelda. It's definitely a classic, and it and it's sequel are 2 games everyone should play at least once.
  21. Semrosto
    Sep 9, 2022
    10
    After the release of FFVII I believed that a game at the same level would not be released anytime soon. Glad I was wrong. The Legend of Zelda Ocarina of Time is a amazing game and didn't copy mechanics or the style of FF or Resident Evil. "Ocarina of Time" was indeed a starting point to influence many games later and remains at the top. Link the hero of time!!
  22. UKTone
    Dec 5, 2011
    10
    This is considered the best game of all time. There should be no negative feedback for the game majority of gamers considers the best game of all time, and since it has been out, only been rivaled with Super Mario, Zelda Majora's Mask, Zelda Twilight Princess, Super Mario Galaxy, Super Mario Galaxy 2, Uncharted 2, Grand Theft Auto IV, and now Skyward Sword and Skyrim. IGN say that SkywardThis is considered the best game of all time. There should be no negative feedback for the game majority of gamers considers the best game of all time, and since it has been out, only been rivaled with Super Mario, Zelda Majora's Mask, Zelda Twilight Princess, Super Mario Galaxy, Super Mario Galaxy 2, Uncharted 2, Grand Theft Auto IV, and now Skyward Sword and Skyrim. IGN say that Skyward Sword has surpassed Ocarina of Time. IGN and GameInformer both rated Skyward Sword a 10 and Skyrim a 9.5. IGN and GI are a lot of times biased towards Nintendo, but can't deny Skyward Sword is great.

    Ocarina of Time, is without a doubt, the funniest game of the Nintendo 64 especially for not being multiplayer, had more fun playing this than any multiplayer. It is the G.O.A.T, Zelda pathed the way for games like Skyrim, I hope Skyward Sword gets GOTY :), and possibly be considered the best of all time.    … Expand
  23. EtaYorius
    Jul 17, 2023
    10
    THE master piece of RPG's. Everything about this game is legendary.

    The story is very good, the characters are memorable and even to this day, you can listen to the music and think how good it is. It redefined the formula of Action RPGs.
  24. Carlitoxic
    Mar 20, 2012
    10
    Everything was incredible, beautiful and fascinating in Zelda: Ocarina of Time. The most awaited game turned out to be the best of all the times. It is not a video game is a legend.
  25. Goaterminator
    Mar 20, 2012
    10
    Someone **** AuraGuider, this is the best game EVER!!!, (After Skyward Sword)
  26. natsad11
    Apr 4, 2012
    10
    I have nothing to say this game is perfect. But the graphics not always correct but when you squeeze away by the atmosphere of the game you will even forget its shortcomings.
  27. Zucheto
    Feb 18, 2014
    10
    This is the best game of all time.. Any system, any time. HANDS DOWN. PERIOD! So good. If you are really playing this game for the first time, play it on the 3ds. It's so beautiful, challenging, engaging... It's just the best.
  28. LightKnight22
    May 6, 2012
    10
    The perfect mix of puzzle and action. One of the best games ever made.

    While the story wasn't as complex as some, the simplicity of it keeps the focus on the game play. It's easy to play the game just to beat it; but countless hours can be spent exploring new caves, and finding treasure to complete 100%. A must play!
  29. SlubbertKing
    May 22, 2012
    10
    This game is awsome. Played it again on my N64 a short time back and its still awsome. Awsome story and when it was new it still had some challenges in it. That something that lacks in some new games now-a-days. This game is the first game i rly loved and I still do!
  30. NoSugarTonight
    Jun 30, 2012
    9
    Sometimes I hate saying this because there are a lot of equaly wonderful games out there, but this is my favorite game of all time. It is one of my most endearing childhood memories playing this game, and whenever I replay it I get that same feeling every time. I must have beaten this over a dozen times. It's like with harry potter fans who re-read the entire series just because they loveSometimes I hate saying this because there are a lot of equaly wonderful games out there, but this is my favorite game of all time. It is one of my most endearing childhood memories playing this game, and whenever I replay it I get that same feeling every time. I must have beaten this over a dozen times. It's like with harry potter fans who re-read the entire series just because they love it so much. Sometimes when I'm stressed or angry I play this game, it just relieves all of my frustration it can be like meditation sometimes after beating it so many times. I only give it a 9 because it's impossible for anything to be absolutey perfect.… Expand
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Awards & Rankings

1
#1 Best N64 Game of 1998
1
#1 Most Discussed N64 Game of 1998
1
#1 Most Shared N64 Game of 1998

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
99

Universal acclaim - based on 22 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 22 out of 22
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 22
  3. Negative: 0 out of 22
  1. My Gamer
    Mar 24, 2016
    94
    The player will be drawn into the Zelda fantasy world from the moment the opening sequence bursts onto the screen, and the game won't let go-not even after finishing the quest.
    Read full review
  2. Happy Puppy
    Mar 24, 2016
    90
    Realism is one of the major reasons this title is so amazing. After playing for a while it feels as though you have actually been to Hyrule.
  3. Gaming Age
    Mar 24, 2016
    95
    Featuring unparalleled 3D environments, a deep and involved quest, brilliant and intuitive play controls, and a well-developed cinematic quality that enhances rather than overwhelms the whole game experience, Miyamoto's latest soon-to-be-classic title deserves to be played by each and every person who might deign to consider themselves a fan of great games.
    Read full review
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