Daily Debate: What is it About Ocarina of Time that Gives it So Much Staying Power?

Year after year, without fail, it seems that Ocarina of Time never loses momentum in the Zelda community. Going on almost 30 years since release, it still lands in the top spot on the official Zelda Dungeon ranking each year. It’s also one of the games that’s most frequently talked about in the fandom, with fans still trying to piece together unanswered questions and theorize about every ambiguous corner of this version of Hyrule. We know that this game made huge achievements and had a huge impact on the video game community as a whole. But what is it about this particular Zelda game that has fans both young and old so captivated? Is it truly as perfect as Zelda gets? Or are fans blinded by nostalgia?

For me, Ocarina of Time was my first Zelda game, so it will always have a special place in my heart. However, there’s more to this game than just the nostalgia factor. The dungeon design, Koji Kondo’s score, the emotional weight of the story, and the pacing is all astounding. In fact, I feel like this entry in my favorite series of all time is what perfected the formula we all grew to love, and allowed all other entries to expand on its foundation!

This masterpiece of a game takes the “coming of age” theme to a literal level that stays with you when you play, and although I am one who loves the emotional impact of all the games in the series, there is just something extra special about this one that just adds to its staying power.

I could go on and on, but what do you think? What is it about Ocarina of Time that continuously keeps Zelda fans in a chokehold? Let me know in the comments!

Chakell Herbert

Chakell (pronounced shuh-kell) is an associate editor for Zelda Dungeon! She has loved The Legend of Zelda series since she was a little girl because of its equal mix of princesses, besting bad guys, and heartfelt stories. Chakell lives in the overall tame state of Utah, but holds onto her childhood hopes to find an adventure in her backyard one day. She has a degree in English and is a full-time editor for a magazine. You can usually find her gaming (obviously), laughing with her husband, taking a long time to tell stories because she keeps getting distracted; getting sucked into books and podcasts; or snuggling her cute Cavalier King Charles Spaniel.