As players look ahead to a new version of The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time, Nintendo Life invited readers to look back on the 1998 game and the memories they still associate with it. Their stories span childhood scares, hard-won victories and friendships built around the N64 adventure.
For Broosh, getting stuck in the Lost Woods led to a lasting friendship. A classmate overheard him discussing the game on the bus, offered advice and later lent him a strategy guide. Broosh says the experience helped make Ocarina of Time not only his favourite Zelda game but one of his favourite games overall.
Tom Charnock remembered playing after college lessons for roughly three weeks, with the game taking over his afternoons and evenings. Finishing the main quest left him with what he described as a hollow feeling, as he wondered what could fill the gap left by the adventure.
Other readers recalled specific moments that shaped their experience. Arkay said his first fight against Dark Link made him wonder whether Link could be evil, while defeating Ganon prompted him to call his best friend and share the news. Mattock1987 remembered feeling especially capable while fighting two Stalfos in the Shadow Temple at age 10.
Some memories were less triumphant. Brandon Silva accidentally erased his father’s save file after turning on the N64 late at night and exploring the title screen. His father grounded him for a month. Jake, meanwhile, first watched an older neighbour play and found the well dungeon frightening; even after getting his own copy, the Shadow Temple remained daunting. He says the game’s varied atmospheres stayed with him.
Sources: Nintendo Life.