Unveiling the Unmatched Majesty: Why Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom Reigns Supreme over Ocarina of Time
Unparalleled in its lasting impact and influence, Ocarina of Time stands as the pinnacle of the Legend of Zelda franchise, no game has come close to dethroning its legacy
Highlights
Released in 1998, Ocarina of Time revolutionized the Zelda franchise and the gaming industry with its innovative gameplay and epic storyline.
Ocarina of Time revolutionized the concept of open-world games with its expansive game world encompassing numerous towns, diverse species, and captivating side quests. Despite the subsequent advancements in titles like Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom, Ocarina of Time continues to stand as the definitive masterpiece of the Zelda series.
Released in November 1998, The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time became the epitome of 3-D action-adventure gaming. In the early days of 3-D games, Ocarina of Time not only revolutionized The Legend of Zelda franchise, but also the entire video game industry. As the fifth installment in the Zelda series, it completely redefined everything that had been done before and paved the way for future possibilities. Even after 25 years, Ocarina of Time still stands as the ultimate representation of what The Legend of Zelda embodies. The most recent titles, Breath of Wild and Tears of the Kingdom, draw inspiration from the foundations laid by Ocarina of Time. While the series constantly reinvents itself and introduces fresh concepts with each new release, in many ways, no game will ever surpass Ocarina of Time.
Widely regarded as one of the greatest video games of all time, The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time's influence cannot be overstated. It defined the immersive experience players can have in a vast, open game world, featuring multiple towns and diverse species to interact with as they navigate through temples. Each of these non-playable characters offered distinct "side quests" and hidden secrets to discover, sometimes completely independent of the main storyline. All of these elements are seamlessly tied together by an epic narrative, memorable characters, innovative gameplay that evolves as the game progresses, and a breathtaking Koji Kondo score, establishing Ocarina of Time as the blueprint for modern adventure games.
The Most Influential Zelda Game To Date
Every Zelda game released after Ocarina of Time has drawn inspiration from its predecessor. While games like Majora's Mask, Wind Waker, and Twilight Princess introduced something new, they still followed the Ocarina of Time formula. These games included a specific number of dungeons, each with a unique item to uncover, and required players to complete side activities to access them. The fundamental elements of The Legend of Zelda have existed since the first game in 1987, with further development in A Link to the Past. However, it was Ocarina of Time that established the 3-D era trend.
Updates to the Zelda formula have occurred over time. Side games like Four Swords, The Minish Cap, and Phantom Hourglass offer a distinct approach to the franchise's universe. Among the mainline games, Skyward Sword marked a significant departure from tradition. It introduced changes in dungeon progression, item management, and the approach to weapons. Skyward Sword laid the foundation for the most significant innovation since Ocarina of Time: Breath of the Wild.
Breath of the Wild marked a significant milestone for The Legend of Zelda franchise as it ventured into the realm of modern open-world games. By focusing solely on the essential elements of storytelling, the game adopted a more enigmatic approach. Notably, it introduced a progressive and customizable gameplay, offering players a wider array of options. While Breath of the Wild is widely acclaimed and innovative, it can still be argued that it has yet to surpass the recognition and impact of Ocarina of Time.
Even the recent release Tears of the Kingdom, which revolutionized the ability to build and personalize, and made bold narrative choices, falls short of surpassing Ocarina of Time as a whole. Elements from Ocarina of Time continue to be incorporated into Zelda games even after all these years. It appears that, although future Zelda games may bring innovation and establish their own legacy, they will always be overshadowed by Ocarina of Time as the most cherished entry in the series.
