Ocarina of Time is arguably the best entry in the Zelda series and it’s jam-packed full of incredible set pieces and story. Today I want to take a look back at this classic and run down the best moments from the Legend of Zelda Ocarina of Time.

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Death of the Deku Tree

This happens relatively near the start of the game. We haven’t known The Deku Tree for long, but you get the sense The Great Deku Tree is important to the culture of the people of the forest. You may expect The Great Deku Tree to last throughout the game at the start, but he dies and it’s pretty sad.

Meeting Saria

The start of the game you hear a lot about Saria, and it’s clear Link and Saria have a great relationship. But it’s time to leave the forest and you have to say goodbye to everyone, Saria included. This may not be up to the standard of cutscenes of today, but still, this one hits hard and the first time Link leaves the forest is one of the best moments early in the game.

Hyrule field

The first time you see the expanse of Hyrule field is stunning. Up until this point Zelda games had been very linear, and this is the first time you get a large open area to explore where you get to choose your next destination. Hyrule field is unique given it’s rapid day and night cycle, plus you get to meet unqiue enemies, and later you’ll get access to Lon Lon Ranch.

Spying on Ganondorf

Link has to sneak through the castle and avoid the guards, meeting a young Princess Zelda in the Castle. She encourages us to look through the window at Ganondorf, the Evil wizard who is influencing the King of Hyrule, and not in a good way. Ganondorf feels Link and Zelda’s eyes on him and turns to look, before the two children move out of the way. We know at this point this is an evil man with evil intentions, and we know that one day we’re going to face off against him one on one, although we’re going to have to get much stronger first.

Darunia dancing

Darunia is the chief of the Gorons, clearly a fearsome leader. In another great moment early in the game we make him dance by playing a tune. It’s unexpected and also shows off the great sense of humour in Ocarina of Time. Many of the story moments in the game are hard-hitting, but this shows off how funny the game can be.

Getting the Master Sword

There’s something about the music in the Temple of Time, it hits me right in the nostalgia, and it takes me back to playing the game for the first time. At this point in the game we have discovered the medallions and we use them to open the door in the Temple of Time, and Navi floats up to the mystical blade, recognising this is a something special. Link as a child is small compared to the Master Sword, he grabs it with two hands and lifts it out of the pedestal… and then, something magical happens.

Adult Link

After getting the Master Sword for the first time, we transported ahead, and we meet our Sage who’s speaking to Link. The camera pans back to reveal Link is now an adult, no longer a small child. This is the first experience of the time travel mechanic in Ocarina of Time, and it’s one mechanic that will help cement this as one of the best games of all time.

Stealing Epona

Once we make our way out of the Temple of Time and into Hyrule Field we find ourselves in Lon Lon Ranch. Only the former stable hand has taken over. We challenge him to a horse race and when we beat him we charge the fences with Epona, jumping over the fence and escaping with our new buddy. At the time riding a horse in a video game was very ambitious and the moment where Link and Epona jump the fence is a great one.

Dark Link

This isn’t the first time we’ve fought Dark Link, we also fought Dark Link in Zelda 2. However, this was in 3D and the moment in the Water Temple is very memorable. It’s a tough fight, and it’s a welcome change of scene from the Water Temple, which goes down in history as one of the hardest Zelda dungeons in history. The concept of fighting a dark or evil version of yourself will never get tired, and this is one of the best moments in the game.

Jumping into Gerudo Valley

The Gerudo are a secretive people and they especially don’t want Hyrulian men wandering around their compound. They’ve made sure that random strangers cannot enter the complex, although that’s no problem for Link and Epona. We line up with Epona, run and jump and make our way into the secluded Gerudo Town.

ReDeads scream

The first time we meet a ReDead is a terrfying experience, especially given their screams when they are moving. It’s like a nightmare, they scream, they move slowly, but Link freezes and can hardly move. Then they move quickly, jump and start hugging your face and draining your life away… It’s horrible, and definitely a very memorable moment in the game.

Bongo Bongo boss fight

At the end of the Shadow Temple is one tough boss called Phantom Shadow Beast, Bongo Bongo. To beat the boss you have to use a combination of the bow, the Lens of Truth and the trusty master sword. It’s a tricky boss fight, but mechanically very fun, and ultimately very satisfying. It goes down as one of my favourite moments in Ocarina of Time.

Sheik reveals herself

Ever since you turned up in Hyrule as Adult Link Sheik has always been there, teaching you songs and helping Link on his journey to ultimately defeat Ganon. Sheik is actually Zelda in disguise and has been hiding in plain sight all along. This reveal is very memorable, and a fantastic moment in the game.

Ganondorf transforms

We face off against Ganondorf at the end of the game, but there’s this incredible moment where Ganondorf transforms into Beast Ganon. This is a huge monster and there’s no way we’re going to be able to defeat it. It’s a scary moment in the game, and makes it all the more satisfying when we do finally take him down.

There are loads of incredible moments in Ocarina of Time, and it’s available to play on Nintendo Switch Online today.

Let me know in the comments what you think and let me know your favourite moment I may have missed.