Since The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time debuted on the Nintendo 64 in 1998, it has received numerous re-releases, including significant variations for different systems, including a remake coming to the Switch 2. Each is perfectly playable, and will deliver an experience still widely considered to be one of the best in video game history, but the different versions of Ocarina of Time are not equal.
For Nintendo as a whole, Super Mario 64 is the quintessential 3D milestone, but Ocarina of Time was Zelda‘s first foray into that new era of gaming. To this day, many consider it still an unmatched masterpiece. It remained in high regard through 2002, when Nintendo offered an enhanced GameCube version (along with Master Quest, which changed Ocarina of Time’s original formula) as a pre-order bonus for The Wind Waker.
It’s Impossible To Predict How Good The Switch 2 Version Will Be
Full Remaster Holds Plenty Of Potential
The latest version of Ocarina of Time is a full remake/remaster coming to the Nintendo Switch 2, with a planned release in 2026. As of this time of writing, only small footage of the game has been shown, depicting completely overhauled 3D visuals with a new model for Link and the game’s entire world. A sleeping Link was shown at the end of a cinematic trailer, which narrated some of the details shared at the beginning of Ocarina of Time.
Fans are somewhat divided on how they feel about this version of Ocarina of Time, with many having their own opinions on Link’s redesign for the game. Regardless, this could easily be the most “modern” rendition of Ocarina of Time yet, perhaps changing major systems from the original title. At this point, it’s impossible to tell whether the Switch 2 Ocarina of Time will keep gameplay elements from the original, or completely re-invent the game from the ground up.
Already, a brief tease of Link’s hand showing the TriForce of Courage implies that story elements could change in the Switch 2 version as well. The unpredictable nature of this game, as well as the fact that no gameplay has been shown, automatically puts it at the bottom of this list. That could easily change, however, if the eventual release gives players a stellar version of Ocarina of Time they’ve never seen before.
NSO Has Ocarina Of Time’s Worst Version
Performance Issues And Emulation Problems Create A Lackluster Experience
The newest version of Ocarina of Time is also sadly its worst. In a cruel bit of fate a la The Monkey’s Paw, the game finally came to the Switch — as so many had been hoping for — but came as part of the NSO Expansion Pack. Ultimately, this port is a technical inferiority to earlier iterations, with a significant amount of input lag that comes from the game’s emulation. The NSO version is not just disappointing, it can be downright insulting.
Although the original version of Ocarina of Time had input lag too, it wasn’t nearly as bad as the NSO version. There are also a host of graphical drawbacks, including missing atmospheric effects, Switch Ocarina of Time’s water textures looking worse than the original. A number of missing reflections, issues with lighting and shadows, and other performance issues also caused this game to have its infamous 3D graphics represented poorly.
The Wii and Wii U Virtual Console also have similar adaptions to the 3DS, but those more faithfully emulated the original N64 version, and have been omitted from this list for the sake of brevity.
The availability of the NSO version was also egregious, as it was locked behind Nintendo Switch Online’s new, too-expensive Expansion Pack subscription tier. Many had been hoping for Ocarina of Time and Majora’s Mask to be bundled on the Switch — just like The Wind Waker and Twilight Princess were on Wii U — the best fans got was this haphazard emulation. The NSO version of Ocarina of Time is still perfectly playable, but it still doesn’t quite stack up to the original release.
Original Ocarina Of Time Is Held Back By The N64
Older Hardware Comes With Its Own Pros And Cons
Retro video game enthusiasts would proclaim that the only true way to experience Ocarina of Time is on its original hardware. There may be some incredible sentimental value in playing it on an N64, but that also comes with hardware limitations that have been solved by later versions of the game. Unique restrictions tied to the N64 make it difficult to play the game, especially if you don’t appreciate the restrictions that come from Ocarina of Time‘s original system.
The packaging notes that Ocarina of Time is “Designed For N64 Rumble Pak,” which was a separate peripheral to bring rumble to the N64 controller. Without the Rumble Pak, the Stone of Agony (admittedly a non-essential item) was useless. The dated nature of the original N64 version also has some modern concerns over resolution and frame rate, though neither of these were particularly bad for the time.
That being said, there is a reason why players fell in love with this game on the N64. Ocarina of Time would not have reached its iconic status without this version, so it holds a unique status. Overall, the original iteration is essentially a baseline for comparison with the others, and is still the hallowed title which may have only recently been overtaken by Breath of the Wild as the best game ever.
The GameCube Elevates Ocarina’s N64 Version
The N64 classic was again made available on the GameCube the next year after its release, when it was bundled in The Legend of Zelda Collector’s Edition. This bundle included the original Legend of Zelda, The Adventure of Link, Ocarina of Time, and Majora’s Mask, creating a number of definitive versions of beloved titles from throughout multiple eras of the series.
Many opinions of the GameCube and N64 iterations of Ocarina of Time come down to preference, nostalgia, or simply which controller you prefer to use for the more retro experience.
In the grand scheme of comparison, the GameCube and N64 versions of Ocarina of Time are essentially the same. A major benefit to the GameCube version, however, is one of posterity. The N64 may have more trouble working on new displays, and the GameCube version’s higher resolution will look better on LED and OLEDs anyway. Coupled with a higher frame rate, the GameCube version performs better for modern sensibilities.
The GameCube controller also has built-in rumble, meaning the Stone of Agony will always work, but the controller is simultaneously the cause of a minor drawback. The C Stick is less intuitive for Ocarina of Time’s controls than the original C Buttons, and while those inputs are doubly mapped to X, Y, and Z for the GameCube as well, those are similarly confusing since Z (on top of the controller) corresponds to Down C.
The 3DS Has Ocarina Of Time’s Best Version
In 2011, Zelda‘s most iconic title got its greatest upgrade in Ocarina of Time 3D for the 3DS. This version also came with Master Quest, and had remastered graphics among other improvements, including making use of the 3DS’s glasses-less 3D screens. In many ways, Ocarina of Time 3D is the most thorough reimagining of the N64 classic, refining the experience into something equal parts nostalgic and improved.
Nintendo made significant graphical updates for this remastered version, which many fans want ported to the Switch. The 3D effects may come down to personal preference, but the overall graphical fidelity for environment textures, character models, and lighting is unmatched by any other version of Ocarina of Time. The 3DS version also makes several improvements to gameplay, with ample consideration for the hardware it was built on.
Some fans are not as fond of the 3DS version due to how it changes a variety of features from the N64 or GameCube versions of Ocarina of Time, but there’s no denying that some systems added in hindsight should have been part of the original game.
The 3DS version is also the most feature-complete of the bunch. Not only does it include Master Quest, as previously noted, but it also has a boss challenge mode where players can fight individual bosses for new record times or face all of them one after another in a gauntlet with only five hearts. Thankfully, the exclusive Stone of Agony item from other versions was fully replaced with the Shard of Agony, since the 3DS doesn’t have rumble capabilities.
Major annoyances like having to enter the pause screen to equip and remove the Iron Boots (one reason the Water Temple is the most hated Zelda dungeon) were fixed by use of the 3DS’s touchscreen as well. This allowed for more intuitive inventory management, with other features added to this version’s overhauled systems. For example, gyroscopic aiming is also available for items like the Slingshot and Fairy Bow, making them far easier to use.
When it comes to which version of this game is the “best,” everyone has their own preference at the end of the day. Yet, as fans now debate whether Ocarina of Time, Breath of the Wild, or Tears of the Kingdom are their favorites, this one will always be remembered fondly and brought back for new generations. The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time is a timeless classic, and can still be thoroughly enjoyed in its original incarnation, but the 3DS remaster might be the definitive version of the game.
- Released
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November 21, 1998
- ESRB
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E10+ for Everyone 10+: Animated Blood, Fantasy Violence, Suggestive Themes
- Developer(s)
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Nintendo
- Publisher(s)
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Nintendo
- Engine
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Zelda 64 Engine