Ocarina of Time was a drastic shift in the series, introducing 3D graphics, deeper storytelling, developed characters and NPCs, an omnipresent villain, and adult Link. Tanner and Tyson delve deeper into each of these topics to try and pinpoint why this game was an absolute bombshell on the Zelda fandom.

The new-and-improved 3D capabilities allowed the developers to achieve a new level of worldbuilding. The regions of Hyrule felt more realistic, and the inspired music that harmonized with each location made them truly immersive. The Child Link portion of the game was intentionally slower to force players to walk through several major areas of Hyrule, creating the opportunity to interact with the characters and soak up the amazing 3D world. The dungeons and puzzle solving were also more developed, opening the door to fan theories and Easter eggs like never before.

The villain of this game, Ganondorf, was present from just after completing the first dungeon. In previous games, the villain was more distant, even to the point where you didn't meet them until the very last battle of the game. But in Ocarina of Time, Ganondorf frequently confronts Link, and his presence is felt through the dungeons, the characters in Hyrule, and his devastation of Castletown Market. This made the conflict with evil more personal and more invigorating, especially after he kidnaps Zelda right in front of you. This culminates in a more satisfying victory upon completion of the game.

Characters in this game were more engaging due to the combination of 3D animation and backstories. Even Link himself was given a backstory that allowed us to see his growth into the Hero of Time. We were also introduced to Adult Link, a fully matured hero that starkly contrasted the child featured in all past Zelda titles, and this archetype of Link would continue in future games.

All-in-all, this game will always be considered one of greatest games of all time. It is a fantastic combination of 3D graphics, music, storytelling, worldbuilding, character development, and culture. The video game elements it introduced have cascaded into all the Zelda titles that have come after it, and its legacy will continue to spread as the series continues to develop.

References:

Link: The Faces of Evil, Philips Interactive Media (for the CD-i), 1993

This episode is rated Casual. Discussion topics are intended for those who have played the games and are familiar with the stories, gameplay, and lore. There’s will also likely be spoilers to those who haven’t played through the games. We recommend spending a couple hours playing the games from this episode before listening.

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As the next few episodes will be focusing on Ocarina of Time, this short episode serves as a quick overview of the game for those who have never played it before, as well as a beginner’s Q&A. So if you’ve played the game before, skip right over to Episode 3.

This episode is rated Beginner. Discussion topics are broad and tailored to all levels of gamer, especially those who have never played Zelda. Spoilers for games are at a minimum.

Who is Link?

The series has evolved through the years since its inception in 1986, and the main character, Link, has undergone similar evolution. The lifetime of The Legend of Zelda can be broken down into three distinct eras, each approximately 12 years long:

Era One: The Original and the Immature (1986-1998)

Link is a boy in a tunic similar to Peter Pan, and he is already established as the hero set out to save the princess. In this era, only four games are produced: The Legend of Zelda, Zelda: The Adventure of Link, A Link to the Past, and Link's Awakening. Link's character concept remains essentially the same (with minor changes for A Link to the Past). This inspires cultural works around the series such as the animated TV show and the Phillips CD-I spinoff games of an immature hero.

Era Two: Adult Link and Toon Link (1998 to 2011)

Ocarina of Time is a major factor in changing the trajectory of the series. We meet Adult Link, a fully matured hero, and we also start looking into Link's backstory in each game made in this era. This era is known to us as "The Golden Age" of the Zelda franchise as fans flock to the series. Nintendo produces nearly triple the amount of games with 11 new titles in this era as opposed to the previous four. For the handheld and 2D games, Toon Link becomes the new face of Link, replacing the original Link design. As a character, Link is less established at the beginning of each game, and players are more immersed in the Hero's Journey as they develop Link into the hero. This era ends poetically with Skyward Sword, the origin story of Link and Zelda.

Era Three: Legacy and the True Link (2011 to present)

After Skyward Sword, Nintendo remakes several games for newer consoles, reigniting interest in some of the classic games in the series. These games solidify the legacy of the series within the fandom. Then, Breath of the Wild breaks the conventional linear storytelling and introduces an open-world adventure through Hyrule. This allows players to become Link themselves and embark on a choose-your-own-adventure quest. This makes Link a literal "link" between the players and Hyrule, bridging reality and fantasy. This seems to be the trajectory of the series leading in the sequel, which could potentially mark the beginning of a new era of Zelda.

References:

YouTube - Four Swords at Camp

Hyrule Historia Timeline (scroll down to "The History of Hyrule"): The official home for The Legend of Zelda - About

This episode is rated Casual. Discussion topics are intended for those who have played the games and are familiar with the stories, gameplay, and lore. There’s will also likely be spoilers to those who haven’t played through the games. We recommend spending a couple hours playing the games from this episode before listening.

Welcome to the show! Everyone has a different journey through life; likewise, The Legend of Zelda isn't the same from person to person. For our first episode, we are sharing with you our experiences playing the games and becoming fans of the series. Meet our host, Tanner Short, his sister, Timmi Short, and their cousin, Tyson Anderegg!Tanner and Timmi grew up with the Nintendo 64 and GameCube consoles. They sat and watched their dad go head-to-head against Ganondorf in Ocarina of Time, and they've been hooked ever since. Nowadays, Tanner is a Main Quest adventurer, and Timmi is a Side Quest tycoon.Tyson wasn't allowed to play video games until he was 10, so his exposure to Zelda was from friends and his two closest cousins, Tanner and Timmi. When he finally got a GameCube, he started with Four Swords Adventures. Eventually, he grew to love Ocarina of Time and Twilight Princess the most because of their strong connections with the Lord of the Rings series.Why do people love this series so much? Listen in and find out!

This episode is rated Beginner. Discussion topics are broad and tailored to all levels of gamer, especially those who have never played Zelda. Spoilers for games are at a minimum.