One of the most beloved video game franchises of all time is The Legend of Zelda, which has spanned multiple decades on multiple Nintendo consoles. Ocarina of Time, one of the best games of the series due to its groundbreaking graphics, can be seen on multiple Nintendo platforms ever since its initial release in 1998. But what is the best way for you to play Ocarina of Time?
The best way for you to play The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time is to play it in its original form, which can only be found on the Nintendo 64. That way, you will be able to appreciate the original form of the game and how truly groundbreaking it was to the point that it became one of the greatest games of all time.
The Legend of Zelda is a fun and amazing franchise to get into even if you are someone who may be on the younger side of things. And if you want to truly appreciate this franchise, you may want to try out Ocarina of Time since it is considered one of the greatest video games of all time. So, that said, it is best to experience it in its original format to truly appreciate the game.
What systems can you play Ocarina of Time on?
Even if you often look at Mario as one of the poster boys for Nintendo considering Super Mario is indeed one of the greatest video game franchises of all time, The Legend of Zelda is just as amazing and as iconic as any of Nintendo’s other first-party licensed franchises. That’s why there are plenty of different Zelda games that span multiple consoles which were released in different decades.
As popular as all of the Zelda games may be, one of the most popular and arguably the most groundbreaking titles of the franchise is the fifth game, which is Ocarina of Time. And the reason why Ocarina of Time is as popular as it is can be attributed to how it changed the entire franchise with its 3D graphics and massive gameplay improvement.
Because of how Ocarina of Time was so popular, it was released on multiple consoles and systems since its initial release date in 1998. Here are the consoles where Ocarina of Time is available on:
The first and original Ocarina of Time was released for the Nintendo 64 system, which featured 64-bit graphics that were capable of rendering this Zelda game with 3D graphics. This made Ocarina of Time a pioneer in the Zelda franchise as it changed the entire landscape since its initial release in 1998. At that time, the N64 release was the highest-selling Zelda game.
Because the Nintendo 64 featured the first and original release of Ocarina of Time, it is best for you to enjoy the game in its N64 format because this is how you will truly understand why the game is as popular as it is. Secondhand N64 consoles can be found on amazon and ebay.
The GameCube, which followed the N64 as Nintendo’s next flagship home console, received a release of Ocarina of Time but it was a ported release that was part of what was The Legend of Zelda: Collector’s Edition, which essentially is a compilation of all of the previous Zelda games that were enhanced to be playable on the GameCube’s more advanced graphics.

Not a lot of people know about the iQue Player, which is a console that was almost exclusively released in China only. This is a console that is actually a joint venture between Nintendo and a Chinese-American scientist named Wei Yen. The iQue Player is capable of playing downloadable games that were available to the console. Ocarina of Time was one of the games that you could play on the iQue Player.
While not exactly the original Ocarina of Time, an enhanced and remastered version of The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time was released for the Nintendo 3DS but it was named Ocarina of Time 3D. This marked the first and only time that Ocarina of Time became available on a handheld console. Everything about it was the same except that it comes with the dungeons that you could see in Ocarina of Time Master Quest as well as improved graphics that fit well with the graphics capabilities of the 3DS.
A lot of people would also say that you could also best enjoy Ocarina of Time in its 3DS version because of the very fact that it is on a handheld console that you can bring almost anywhere. On top of that, you will love the improved graphics that come with it. Of course, because the 3DS is a newer console, it might be easier for you to get your hands on a copy of the game if you played with a 3DS or even a 2DS. Another benefit of the newer consoles is the variety of available accessories, such as a Hylian Shield 3DS Case, a limited edition Zelda 3DS, or an adventurers pouch with Zelda-themed styluses; all of which would enhance the gameplaying experience even more.
Is Ocarina of Time Easy?
The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time was not meant to be an easy game that kids could enjoy. That’s because this game is full of puzzles that would require you to put in some mental work to truly enjoy and finish the game. However, it wasn’t rare for children to finish the game in its original N64 release.
That said, it isn’t an easy game but it isn’t the hardest Zelda game out there. There are Zelda games that are more difficult than this one but Ocarina of Time could be challenging for people who are unfamiliar with the kind of gameplay that is common in most Zelda games. Of course, the game is much easier in its 3DS version because the puzzles come with hints that are absent in the original release.
How long does it take to finish Ocarina of Time?
If you are simply looking at finishing the game’s story, then it might take you around 25 to 27 hours to finish Ocarina of Time. It could be faster or slower depending on how quick you are at getting yourself through the game’s different dungeons.
Meanwhile, if you want to play the extra parts of the game alongside its main story, then it might take you around more than 30 hours to finish it. But for those who want to 100% the game, you may want to spend around 40 or more hours on it.
Is Ocarina of Time worth playing?
Simply put, Ocarina of Time is more than worth your time and effort because it is one of the greatest games of all time and was considered to be the best Zelda game when it was released. On top of that, Ocarina of Time is still often regarded as one of the greatest games of all time. And the numbers would prove it because it was the highest-selling Zelda game at one point and is so popular that it actually received a remake on a newer console.