The Best And Worst Parts Of The Legend Of Zelda: Ocarina Of Time

The remake of The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time comes out tomorrow (tonight, if you’re a sicko like me staying up for it), and damn, those reviews look great. It’s a historic game, a classic that people rightfully remember and love for its incredible highs and, with hindsight, in spite of some of its weirdest lows. Having played the original recently, back in January, I can confidently say it’s mostly held up, though a remake smoothing out its roughest edges makes a lot of sense in 2026. Ahead of that launch, though, why don’t we take a quick tour back through Ocarina of Time on the Nintendo 64 and remember both its best and worst moments? Let’s get some perspective on just what’s in store for us tomorrow before it hits: Great: Darunia Dancing I mean, just look at him go! I hope this looks just as ridiculous in the remake. © Nintendo Bad: Accidentally telling Kaepora Gaebora to repeat himself Yes, Kaepora Gaebora, I did get all that! Why are your options swapped?! © Nintendo Great: Seeing a Redead for the first time NOPE. © Nintendo Bad: Jabu-Jabu Forget the Water Temple, this is the real worst dungeon in Ocarina of Time. Carrying Ruto around while enemies attack, her crying and returning to the start at the slightest gust of wind touching her, and her berating you the entire time…the bit where she totally gives up if she sits in water really drives me nuts. You’re a Zora! Learn to swim, geez! © Nintendo Great: Hyrule Castle Town in the future Genuinely one of the most effective mood-setting moments I’ve ever encountered. Holy crap. © Nintendo Bad: Getting a silver or gold rupee when your wallet is maxed out What do you mean they don’t allow children to have large wallets? What prompted this law? © Nintendo Great: Encountering Dark Link God this room rules. How different it is from the rest of the temple. How eerie its emptiness seems. The way nothing happens until you cross the room. The structure draws your eye, so you check it out, and finding nothing, you turn to leave, only to see a weird movement near the tree at the center. Step forward and realize your shadow is gone. Navi’s incredible lack of any useful information. GOD THIS ROOM RULES. © Nintendo Bad: Missing a single small key in the Water Temple You know the one. I’m not even going to talk about the boots. © Nintendo Great: Riding Epona for the first time Whee! She’s so fast compared to my normal running, and I feel so majestic clop-clopping through Hyrule Field! This is the best way to travel! Bad: Riding Epona every time after that Epona, please, I am begging you to learn to turn a little. Or jump consistently. It’s honestly more efficient to just roll. © Nintendo Great: Twisty hallway in Forest Temple What a flex by the devs!! © Nintendo Bad: Doing the whole Goron sword fetch quest The frog was cute though. Great: King Zora scoot I hear this was retained in the remake and I’m so happy. © Nintendo Bad: Trying to find every Skulltula My husband told me there were 100 of these and I still don’t believe him. There’s no way. © Nintendo Great: Bongo Bongo’s appearance WHAT THE FUCK IS THAT. Bad: Fighting Bongo Bongo Ugh, I can’t aim! There’s too much going on! He’s moving too much! The floor is bouncing! Where’s my Lens of Truth?! Agh!!! © Nintendo Great: Reaching Ganondorf’s second phase An all-timer epic finale. © Nintendo Bad: Running out of magic midway through the Ganondorf fight, effectively soft-locking yourself and having to start over How was I supposed to know not to break all the pots on the bottom floor before the fight started?!