The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time

The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time

Systems:

• N64
• GameCube
• Nintendo Virtual Console
• Releases:
  • Original Release: 1998
  • GameCube Release: 2003
  • Virtual Console Release: 2007

Publisher:

• Nintendo

Developer:

• Nintendo EAD

ESRB Rating:

• Everyone 10+ (E10+)
• Reasoning:
  • Fantasy Violence
  • Animated Blood
  • Suggestive Themes

The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time, colloquially called Ocarina of Time, is a major installment in the fantasy/adventure series The Legend of Zelda. The game follows Link, a young boy who has been tasked by the benevolent spirits that inhabit the fictional realm of Hyrule to investigate the dark machinations of a man named Ganondorf. Aided by his friends and Hyrule's princess, Link must master time itself to save Hyrule from utter darkness.

General Comments

The ESRB rating for this review is from the Nintendo 3DS version of the game. The original rating of Ocarina of Time was Everyone (E).

Animal Abuse

It is possible to whip the Player Character's horse to the point of exhaustion. This is avoided by paying attention to the number of carrots on screen and not running out of them.

Wolfos enemies are wolves will howl in pain and make dog-whining noises when hit.

It is possible to attack chickens with the sword and other weapons and to trample them with the horse. This will not kill the chickens, but will result in their distress.

In the Future part of the game, Lon Lon Ranch is taken over by an abusive man. No abuse of the horses is shown on screen but it is threatened.

Aquatic Violence

In multiple areas (Hyrule Family Crypt, Forest Temple, Shadow Temple, Under the Well) there are areas that have green, toxic water that will harm the Player Character if they fall in.

In Jabu-Jabu's Belly and the Water Temple there are aquatic enemies. These include jellyfish, fish, stingrays, etc.

In the Water Temple there is a room immediately after receiving the Longshot that has spinning vortexes that will drag the Player Character down underwater and result in a black screen. The Player Character will reappear at the beginning of the room missing some hearts.

The Water Temple's boss is a giant water tentacle.

Avians

In Kakariko Village and Lon Lon Ranch there are chickens that will wander around the map. The chickens are not initially hostile, though they will attack in large groups if they are attacked. There are optional mini-games that involve interacting with these chickens. The player is rewarded with a bottle for completing this mini-game.

Throughout the world map there are crow-like enemies that will attack the Player Character.

Blood

Under the Well and the Shadow Temple both use blood as decoration. In particular, one of the rooms in the Shadow Temple's illusory maze is liberally coated in blood.

In the first edition versions of the Nintendo 64 game, Ganondorf is shown coughing up red blood. However, in all subsequent releases the blood is colored green.

Body Horror

In Kakariko Village there is a family that has been cursed to turn into half-Skulltula, half-human hybrids. Their bodies are twisted to mostly resemble Skulltula enemies with human faces and arms poking out in random places. This family can be avoided by not going into the dark brown house to the right of the village's entrance. However, it is required to enter this house to receive a piece of heart, the adult wallet, and the big wallet.

Bones

Stalchildren and Stalfos are both enemies that are reanimated corpses. The Stalfos only appear in dungeons, while the Stalchildren appear in Hyrule Field at night.

The Fire Temple, Shadow Temple, Hyrule Family Crypt, and Under the Well all use bones as decoration. Some of the bones form human skeletons.

Brainwashing

In the Spirit Temple, one of the mini-bosses is Nabooru who had her memory wiped and brainwashed into assuming a giant suit of armor and attacking the Player Character.

Canines

There are enemies called Wolfos found throughout the game that resemble wolves and will attack the Player Character. They make wolf howling noises.

In Castle Town there are stray dogs that run around at night. The dogs are not aggressive and will not attack the Player Character. However, if the Player Character gets too close to a dog, the dog will follow the Player Character around until the Player Character leaves Castle Town.

There is an optional sidequest that involves the Player Character returning a lost dog to its owner. The sidequest reward is a piece of heart but it is optional. To return the dog the Player Character must make a specific dog in Castle Town follow them.

Claustrophobia

There are multiple small areas that the Player Character must crawl through to progress. The camera changes to first-person view during these areas.

In the Forest Temple, there is a checkerboard room where the ceiling will fall on top of the Player Character. This room is required to progress through the temple.

In the illusory maze room in the Shadow Temple there is a door that leads to a room where spiked walls will begin to close in on the Player Character. They are easily dispatched with fire. This room is required to get a key for the temple.

Darkness

There are multiple areas throughout the game where low lighting is used, including some where the Player Character must light torches to see. Some of these areas will have enemies that are made more difficult to see because of the lighting conditions. However, it is never so dark that the player cannot see at least outlines of objects.

Dead Bodies

When killed, Gibdos and Redead enemies do not disappear.

The Fire Temple, Shadow Temple, Hyrule Family Crypt, and Under the Well all use bones as decoration. Some of the bones form human skeletons.

Redead enemies resemble corpses.

Death of Family/Friends

It is revealed in the game that the Player Character's mother is dead.

Zelda's father dies off-screen in the game.

Depiction of Disaster

Death Mountain depicts a volcano eruption. This includes the ground shaking and rocks and fire falling from the sky.

Castle Town becomes a ghost town in the Future because of Ganondorf's influence. The town is completely deserted and is only populated by Redead (corpse) enemies.

Disruptive Home Life

In the Future part of the game, Lon Lon Ranch is taken over by Ingo, who forces Malon to work by threatening to abuse the horses. Her father is thrown out of the ranch but she is not allowed to leave with him. The abuse is not present on screen.

Drowning

Before receiving the Blue Tunic, if the Player Character spends too long underwater they can drown.

The majority of the Water Temple takes place completely underwater. It is not possible to drown with the Blue Tunic on.

In the Water Temple there is a room immediately after receiving the Longshot that has spinning vortexes that will drag the Player Character down underwater and result in a black screen. The Player Character will reappear at the beginning of the room missing some hearts.

Electrocution

In Jabu-Jabu's belly there are jellyfish enemies that will electrocute the Player Character if touched. Electric sparks are shown on the Player Character's body and the Player Character will shake momentarily.

The boss of Jabu-Jabu's belly uses electricity to fight.

The boss of the Forest Temple uses electricity to fight.

The final boss uses electricity to fight.

Explosions

The Player Character must use bombs throughout the game. The use of bombs begins in Goron Caverns, and is required to be used during the game to progress through temples.

The Hyrule Family Crypt in the Graveyard explodes when first opened.

Dodongo's Cavern is heavily bomb-themed; almost every room uses some sort of explosion to progress the game.

The fire-dancer mini-boss explodes after being defeated.

Armos enemies explode after being defeated.

All enemies in Dodongo's Cavern explode after being defeated.

Eye Horror/Eye Trauma

There are eye switches throughout the game that must be shot to progress.

The boss of the Deku Tree is defeated by attacking her eye.

The boss of the Shadow Temple is defeated by attacking his eye.

Fire

Multiple flashbacks include fire spreading and the screen being filled with an uncontrollable fire.

Fire is used as part of multiple puzzles throughout the game, usually as a barrier.

Dodongo's Cavern and the Fire Temple are fire-themed dungeons that include lava and enemies that breathe fire.

The player can choose to use Din's Fire, an attack that creates a sphere of fire around the Player Character and harms enemies.

There are multiple enemies throughout the game that use fire as an attack. If the Player Character is hit with these attacks they will be temporarily set on fire.

The boss of the Spirit Temple uses fire as an attack. This attack will set the Player character on fire.

After the final boss is defeated, the area will catch on fire and the Player Character must do a timed escape from the castle.

The second form of the final boss is fought within a ring of fire.

Ghosts

Poes are enemies found in the Kakariko Graveyard that resemble ghosts. They will only appear at night in the Past but appear at any time of day in the Future.

There are four poes in the Forest Temple that must be fought to progress. They are larger and more aggressive than normal poes.

In the Future the Player Character must interact with the ghost of Dampé the grave keeper. He appears as a floating version of his living character model with a halo over his head.

The Player Character is led through the desert by a non-aggressive poe.

Heights

There are multiple platforming sections that take place over great heights.

There are multiple seemingly bottomless holes throughout the game that the Player Character must jump through or can fall into during platforming sections. In particular, the Shadow Temple has many bottomless pits that the Player Character can fall into.

In the opening cinematic, you have a flying fairy's perspective, flying high above the village.

In the Deku Tree, the Player Character must jump from a high place to the floor to progress.

The Fire Temple is at the top of a volcano, and Link can see the village below from at the top of it.

Ganon's Castle is a tall spiraling building. The first fight against Ganondorf takes place at the top of this castle.

The final cutscene takes place in the sky.

Insects

There are small beetles that the Player Character can capture in bottles for a sidequest. They are not required to be captured, but they will appear when bushes are destroyed with the sword and when rocks are lifted.

On Death Mountain, there are Tektite enemies that resemble both insects and spiders.

There are bees and behives (brown pitted spheres) found in secret areas. If the Player Character hits them they will spawn bees to attack.

Jump Scares

Floormasters are enemies that will drop down from the ceiling and grab the Player Character. There is some warning to their approach, but their approach can be easily missed.

In multiple areas Skulltula enemies will suddenly drop down from the ceiling and hit the Player Character.

ReDead and Gibdos enemies emit a high-pitched scream when the Player Character gets close, causing the Player Character to freeze in fear as they approach.

Kidnapping

In the Future it is revealed that all the Gorons have been kidnapped to be fed to a dragon.

Princess Zelda is kidnapped by Ganondorf.

Murder

The King of Hyrule is murdered by Ganondorf off-screen during the events of the game.

Ganondorf must be killed by the Player Character to complete the game.

Rats/Rodents

There are bats called Keese in multiple areas of the game that will attack the Player Character.

The Bombchu tool resembles a rodent.

Reptiles

In Dodongo's Cavern there are dodongo enemies that are giant lizards.

Beginning in Dodongo's Cavern, Lizalfos enemies are humanoid lizards.

The boss of Dodongo's Cavern is a giant lizard.

The boss of the Fire Temple is a giant dragon. The dragon has a Chinese-style, long-bodied model.

Snakes

The boss of the Fire Temple is a giant dragon. The dragon has a Chinese-style, long-bodied model.

In the Spirit Temple there is a giant, realistic statue of a snake. The Player Character must pass through the snake's mouth to progress.

Spiders

Throughout the game there are Skulltula and Skullwalltula enemies that are giant spiders. Skulltulas will drop down from the ceiling to attack, while Skullwaltulas will stay on climbable walls and attack the Player Character if they get too close.

In Kakariko Village there is a family that has been cursed to turn into half-Skulltula, half-human hybrids. Their bodies are twisted to mostly resemble Skulltula enemies with human faces and arms poking out in random places. This family can be avoided by not going into the dark brown house to the right of the village's entrance. However, it is required to enter this house to receive a piece of heart, the adult wallet, and the big wallet.

There are Gold Skulltule enemies that the Player Character can collect as part of a sidequest. They are not required to be attacked and collected. However, this sidequest is required to receive a piece of heart, the adult wallet, and the big wallet.

Sexualization/Objectification

The Great Fairy models are scantily-clad women. The camera pans up their bodies once when they appear.

Supernatural Evil

Ganondorf is a source of pure, malevolent evil that takes over Hyrule. He transforms into a goat-like demon as is final boss form.

Undead/Zombies

Redead and Gibdos enemies are reanimated corpses. They are found beginning in the Hyrule Family Crypt and are found throughout the game, particularly in Under the Well and the Shadow Temple.

Castle Town becomes infested with Redeads in the Future.

Unreality

The beginning cutscene of the game is revealed to be the dream of the Player Character.

In the Water Temple there is a room where the Player Character must fight the illusion of his own shadow. The room itself is revealed to be an illusion and is much smaller than it appears originally.

The Shadow Temple and Under the Well are based around the idea of illusion and making the player question the reality of objects. This is helped by the Lens of Truth.

The beginning of the Shadow Temple has a maze room that has the walls speak to the Player Character. It is unclear if the walls themselves are speaking or if it is an illusion of the temple.

Link must defeat an undead monster called a Dead Hand in the bottom of the well to obtain the lens of truth. There are undead fleshy hands that grab Link in the fight, and the main part of the Dead Hand’s body is grotesquely distorted.

Violence Against Children

The Player Character is a child through the first half of the game and can be harmed and killed.

Vomiting

Ganondorf is shown vomiting blood. The blood is red in first press editions of the Nintendo 64 version, but all subsequent releases have him vomit green fluid instead.

Weapons

The Player Character uses a variety of weapons throughout the game, including a slingshot, swords, a bow, etc. All the weapons are required to be used in the game. Multiple enemies also use weapons against the Player Character; usually enemies will use swords.

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