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From hidden fairies and secret attacks to fascinating development stories, dive into the fascinating world of Hyrule's most iconic adventure! Discover amazing secrets about Navi, Ganondorf, and even how Banjo-Kazooie influenced the game's development. Join us as we explore the hidden depths of this Nintendo 64 masterpiece!
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00:05Welcome to WatchMojo, and here are 25 things you may or may not know about Ocarina of Time.
00:19It began life as a remake.
00:28Ocarina of Time is a seminal entry in the Zelda series, so it's strange to think that
00:33its production started as a remake.
00:35Before the Nintendo 64 was released, the team used the same Super FX chip that simulated
00:413D in the original Star Fox, and the plan was for it to be a remake of Zelda II The
00:51Adventure
00:51of Link, with more emphasis on swordplay inspired by Chanbara, a Japanese style of filmmaking
00:57that focused on samurai.
00:58This would turn out to be just an experiment as the project evolved into its own story,
01:03but the focus on sword combat was still retained in Ocarina of Time.
01:13Safe Travels
01:21As young Link wanders Hyrule Field at night, he'll be confronted by Stahlchildren, small
01:26skeletal creatures that spawn in groups of two and attack him.
01:30They're not difficult to deal with, but you can make it so they don't spawn at all
01:34if you don't want to deal with the bother.
01:36They only spawn when Link is walking in the grass.
01:39As long as you only walk on the dirt path, they won't show up.
01:43They also won't appear if Link is wearing the bunny hood, which he can rent from the Happy
01:47Mask Salesman.
01:48It can be useful when exploring the area, so that enemies don't distract from whatever
01:53you're trying to do.
01:59Banjo-Kazooie caused a delay.
02:12Originally intended for the 64DD, a disc-based add-on for the Nintendo 64, Ocarina of Time
02:19was delayed when development switched back to cartridge following the add-on's failure
02:23in Japan.
02:24But that wasn't the only reason the game was delayed.
02:27Nintendo was finishing up development of Yoshi's Story at the time.
02:31But Shigeru Miyamoto also admitted that Rare's Banjo-Kazooie was of such high quality that
02:37he felt more time was needed for one of Nintendo's flagship franchises.
02:41In his own words, Miyamoto claimed it was so amazing that they didn't want to be outdone.
02:52Almost no fishing.
03:01Although it wasn't the first Zelda game to feature fishing, the minigame almost wasn't
03:05in Ocarina of Time at all.
03:07It came about when designer Kazuaki Morita was working on the Morpha boss fight.
03:12He got distracted, placing a fish inside Morpha's pool and trying to catch it for his own enjoyment.
03:26It wasn't long before more team members found out about it and liked it enough to request
03:31it to be put into the final game.
03:32The team then forced it into a corner of Lake Hylia, with Morita leading its entire design
03:38down to the smallest detail.
03:46King Zora's Kiss
03:56The Zora King is one of the odder NPCs in Ocarina of Time, if only for that ridiculous animation
04:02where he scoots across his throne.
04:04But he also has a secret interaction most players won't see.
04:08In the future, when Link goes to Zora's domain, he's meant to bring some blue fire from the
04:13ice cavern and thaw the king out.
04:15As a reward, he'll offer Link the Zora Tunic, which allows him to breathe underwater and
04:20is highly useful for the water temple.
04:23However, if you choose to purchase a Zora Tunic at the domain's shop beforehand, the king
04:28will offer you a kiss instead.
04:30You can't accept this backup offer, but it's a silly bit of dialogue regardless.
04:49It's tradition for Nintendo to hide rupees in unexpected places in each Zelda game, so here's
04:56a few of them in Ocarina of Time.
04:58Young Link can walk up the chains attached to the drawbridge leading into Hyrule Castle
05:02town, and hop off at the top to earn 20 rupees.
05:06If you're able to ride the bridge up as the sun sets, you can earn some more.
05:11Furthermore, at the actual Hyrule Castle, shooting the unlit torches by the moat can also get
05:16you a red rupee.
05:17After getting the light arrows late in the game as adult Link, killing most enemies with
05:22them will yield a purple rupee, worth 50.
05:25Finally, also as adult Link, if you're able to kill Skull Kid before he disappears, a tricky
05:31accomplishment, you'll get an orange rupee, worth 200.
05:53There's no reason for Link to wear a specific tunic once you reach the Gerudo area, but there
05:59is a fun trick that has to do with the final Gerudo guard who offers Link proof of membership
06:04once he frees all the carpenters.
06:06The color of her clothing and lipstick will change to match the color of the tunic Link
06:11is wearing.
06:12For extra fun, you can also pull out a bomb, causing her clothing to flash at the same speed
06:17of the bomb as it prepares to detonate.
06:19This was a glitch that was never intended, and was removed from the 3DS version.
06:31Goron Tunic Resistances
06:40Although the Goron and Zora tunics each grant Link a different benefit, the former is definitely
06:45the better of the two.
06:47While it allows Link to survive in the heat of an active volcano, it also lets him stand
06:51in lava for a longer amount of time before he begins to take damage.
06:56Interestingly, lava has the same properties as poison water and spikes that are found in
07:02other parts of the game, and you'll similarly take periodic damage as Link stands in them.
07:08But with the Goron Tunic, the period between each instance of damage will be extended, just
07:13as if Link were standing in lava.
07:23The Hidden Heart
07:32Although this secret has become more well-known in recent years, there might still be a few
07:36of you out there unaware of it.
07:37In Dodongo's Cavern, the mini-boss fight is against a pair of Lizalfos, which Link must
07:43go up against twice.
07:44Neither of these fights are particularly hard, but there's a hidden bit of health during
07:49your first encounter with them.
07:50Right next to the door Link enters through is a lava fall, and at the far left end, you
07:55can jump through unscathed to find a small alcove with a single heart inside.
08:01Jumping through lava isn't something most players would think to do, and it's unclear why Nintendo
08:07decided to put this here.
08:15The Hidden Lullaby
08:25It's a commonly known fact these days, but at release, the reveal that Sheik was really
08:30Zelda in disguise was a pretty big shock, since the game convinced most of us that Sheik was
08:36male.
08:36However, there is a small musical clue that could have tipped off players.
08:41Sheik's theme, played on a harp, is one of the more peaceful pieces of music in the game.
08:55It also hides the notes that Link plays on the ocarina for Zelda's Lullaby.
09:00But since it's at a different tempo, and obviously a different instrument, it's something many
09:04of us didn't pick up on.
09:14Lan Lan Ranch's Alternate Fate
09:26Lan Lan Ranch is a charming area in Ocarina of Time and the place where Link meets Epona,
09:31who goes on to become his trusted steed.
09:34However, Shigeru Miyamoto originally had a different end in mind for the ranch questline.
09:39After beating Ingo in the race to earn Epona, he would have been driven mad and burned the
09:44ranch to the ground, with Link's horse escaping amid the flames.
09:48But when he was questioned on what would happen if players wanted to return to the ranch, Miyamoto
09:53scrapped the idea.
09:54This was for the best, as it was also nice for us to return Lan Lan Ranch to its former
10:00ownership.
10:05The Power of Deku Nuts
10:16Deku Nuts are one of the first items Link can get in Ocarina of Time.
10:21Surprisingly, they can also be used in the final encounter against Ganon.
10:25During the fight, after the boss disarms Link of the Master Sword, you're meant to use an alternative,
10:31like the Big Goron Sword or the Megaton Hammer, to deal damage to his tail.
10:35However, if you want an extra challenge, Deku Nuts also do the trick.
10:39It will take much longer, and you'll have to get the boss to smash into debris to spawn more,
10:45but it can be done.
10:52The Power of the Crouch Stab
11:01There's an interesting bit of coding when it comes to attacking a certain way with Link.
11:06Players have figured out that if you perform an attack,
11:09the amount of damage it deals is stored as data, even if it doesn't hit.
11:14And if you crouch by shielding without targeting, and then stab,
11:18it'll replicate that stored damage.
11:20So, you could perform a jump slash with the Big Goron Sword, switch to the Master Sword,
11:26and then crouch stab to deal a lot more damage than a regular attack.
11:30Or, much earlier in the game, you could jump slash with a Deku Stick, crouch stab,
11:35and deal a lot more damage than you should be able to at that point.
11:46Spin Attack Glory
11:55Speaking of powerful attacks, the spin attack is one of the strongest moves players have at their disposal.
12:01If you can manage to consistently perform one after another, Link will be unstoppable,
12:07and this is especially the case with certain bosses.
12:10If you trap Morpha's core in a corner and constantly perform spin attacks,
12:15the boss will be dead in a matter of moments.
12:18Use the method against Bongo Bongo, and the boss will be stuck in a constant state of stunned,
12:23unable to recover while you defeat it.
12:26This can even work against Ganondorf, and it's extremely satisfying to pull off against the big bad.
12:37In honor of…
12:45There are a few elements in Ocarina of Time that pay homage to other characters.
12:50Talon and Ingo of Lon Lon Ranch are clearly inspired by Mario and Luigi.
12:55The Keaton mask, resembling a yellow, pointy-eared character that children love, is a reference to Pikachu.
13:01Then, you have the Poe sisters inside the Forest Temple, whose names are Joelle, Beth, Amy, and Meg,
13:09the same names of the sisters in Louisa May Alcott's classic novel, Little Women.
13:20This, however, is more than a mere homage.
13:23In a 1999 interview with 64 Dream, a Japan-only magazine,
13:27character designer Satoru Takizawa stated he didn't view the Poe sisters as evil,
13:33but as ancient priestesses whose desire to protect the temple was corrupted by Ganondorf.
13:38This is why, after defeating three of the sisters, Link finds the fourth,
13:43who appears to be crying before she attacks him.
13:46Takizawa named these Poes after watching a film adaptation of Little Women,
13:50inspired by the love between the sisters.
13:59The Graveyard Boy's Faith
14:08As young Link, players can find a small boy in the Kakariko Village graveyard pretending to be the gravekeeper, Dampa.
14:15He's one of the NPCs Link can sell a mask to during his trading quest,
14:19though is mysteriously missing seven years in the future.
14:23Theories used to float around about what happened to him,
14:26but the answer was actually given in the aforementioned 64 Dream interview,
14:31which is probably why most players didn't hear about it for a long time.
14:34According to Yoshiaki Koizumi, one of the game's directors,
14:38five years after Link entered the Sacred Realm, the boy went looking for his missing father.
14:43This led him to the Lost Woods, where he, of course, got lost,
14:47and turned into a Skull Kid.
14:49Koizumi also stated that because Skull Kids don't like adults,
14:53this boy wouldn't recognize Link and would attack.
15:02Ganondorf's Different Appearance
15:15Aside from some characters aging up during the seven-year time skip like Malon and Ruto,
15:21most characters still look the same after Link exits the Sacred Realm.
15:25However, being the main villain, Ganondorf undergoes some physical changes.
15:30We doubt anyone missed that, after the jump, he now has longer hair.
15:34But there are some smaller changes that are more difficult to notice.
15:38One can be seen in his ears, which are now a bit longer and more pointed.
15:42More interestingly, his eyes are now bloodshot,
15:46as if his corruption and further descent into villainy
15:48has actually left a physical mark.
15:57Giant Enemies
16:03There are certain enemies in Ocarina of Time that,
16:07if you kill enough of them, spawn a giant version.
16:10The one most players will likely encounter is the giant Stalchild,
16:14since you'll run into many of them while traversing Hyrule Field at night.
16:18Less common is the giant Gwe.
16:21If Link kills enough of these bird-like enemies, a giant one will spawn.
16:26The third instance of this happening is with Leavers,
16:29the burrowing enemies that appear at the Desert Colossus.
16:32Sure enough, a larger version will spawn after Link defeats enough of them.
16:36We're not sure why this happens,
16:38but maybe Nintendo felt like implementing gigantic surprises for players during combat.
16:49The rarest enemies.
16:58If you've ever wondered what the rarest enemies in the game are, outside of bosses of course,
17:03well, we've got the answer for you.
17:05It's a tie between the White Wolfos and the White Bubble.
17:08There are three of each.
17:10One White Wolfos appears in the Ice Cavern,
17:13and two appear in the optional Gerudo Training Grounds.
17:16As for the White Bubbles, three of them appear together in the Spirit Temple.
17:20Interestingly, the three White Wolfos won't respawn, making them exceptionally rare.
17:26However, the White Bubble is the only enemy in the game that doesn't appear in Master Quest.
17:35The Benefit of Early Ice Arrows
17:46Earned through the Gerudo Training Grounds, the Ice Arrows are completely optional in Ocarina of Time.
17:53They're definitely worth getting though, and the sooner the better.
17:56There are ways to get into the Gerudo Fortress early,
17:59and should you grab the Ice Arrows, there are several benefits to reap.
18:04They can freeze blade traps, which is especially useful in dungeons,
18:08particularly the Water Temple,
18:10which has an infamously annoying section right in front of the boss door.
18:14There's also a fun Easter egg during the fight with Bongo Bongo,
18:17where you can freeze one of his hands, causing the boss to pause his attack so he can punch it
18:22free.
18:31The Dungeon Map's Secrets
18:40The Dungeon Map is a beneficial item to find, since it reveals the layout and number of floors of the
18:46dungeon Link finds it in.
18:47But it also holds a great Easter egg.
18:50It's hard to see when looking at it in-game, but by looking at the item's model and translating the
18:56Hylian text written on it,
18:57players figured out what it actually says.
19:00Across the top, it reads,
19:02Nintendo Head Office.
19:04Some of the smaller sections are labeled after departments and areas at Nintendo's offices,
19:09like President's Office and Bicycle Parking.
19:12The very bottom even reads,
19:14short directions to reach the building,
19:16get off at Kaihan Tobikaida Station, then walk one minute.
19:21It's a fun little detail that not many players would notice.
19:27The Extra Odd Mushroom
19:36As adult Link, players can find a piece of heart on top of the Gerudo Fortress.
19:41However, as many fans have experimented with the game over the years, some eventually learned to glitch their way into
19:47the area as a child.
19:49While you might think you'd still pull that piece of heart out of the chest, that isn't the case.
19:55Instead, you'll find it on top of the jail and an odd mushroom inside the chest.
20:01The only use for this item in the game is as part of adult Link's trading quest to earn the
20:06Big Goron Sword.
20:07Why it would appear here replacing the piece of heart is a mystery.
20:14Moving Through Time
20:27There are several puzzles across the game that require either removing or summoning time blocks using the Song of Time.
20:34While many might not stop to think about it, Link isn't just adding or removing these blocks from the area.
20:40That sometimes is the case, but others, he's transporting them through time.
20:47Whenever he plays the song, the block transitions from one time period and reappears in the other.
20:52The reason you probably wouldn't think about this is because they normally show up in areas that only adult Link
20:58should have access to, like temples.
21:01The only area where you can see this happen without glitches or cheats is Goron City,
21:06in a room filled with lava that Link can cross using the time blocks to reach a group of business
21:12scrubs.
21:18Free fairies
21:19Free fairies
21:27Fairies are naturally one of the most useful items in the Zelda series.
21:31Usually, Link finds them in fountains or pots.
21:35But there are a few secret ways to earn them in Ocarina of Time.
21:39One is by getting a butterfly to land on a Deku stick, which will turn it into a fairy.
21:44Another is through Gossip Stones.
21:47If Link plays one of the non-warp songs in front of one, it will produce a fairy.
21:52But with Song of Storms, the Gossip Stone produces a big fairy, which can't be placed in a bottle, but
21:58gives a lot more health and completely refills the magic meter.
22:02You can also play Song of Storms in front of a magic bean plant as Young Link, which will make
22:07it stretch into the sky and produce three fairies once it shrinks back down.
22:15Additionally, you'll find spots where Navi turns green, but with nothing to target.
22:20If you play the Sun Song or Song of Storms at one of these locations, you'll get another big fairy.
22:26Navi's Feelings
22:36Navi is far from anyone's favorite companion in the Zelda series,
22:39but there is a certain nostalgic charm we feel for her shrill, hey-listens.
22:45Still, there is a way where she could have been more annoying.
22:48In a 1997 interview with Famimaga64,
22:52Miyamoto claimed that Navi held romantic feelings for Link and would actually grow jealous of Zelda.
22:58However, when the game was released, it seems that idea was, thankfully, removed.
23:03What's interesting is that when designer Takashi Tezuka created Link's sprite for the original Legend of Zelda,
23:09he drew inspiration from Peter Pan.
23:11We can't help but think of Tinker Bell, who grew jealous of Wendy over her own romantic feelings for Peter
23:17in the classic Disney film.
23:20What did she say?
23:21She says you're a big ugly girl.
23:24Oh, well, I think she's lovely.
23:30Of course, there are plenty of other fun facts and secrets about Ocarina of Time.
23:35If there are any you love that you feel most players don't know about, be sure to share them in
23:41the comments.
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