The iconic Legend of Zelda game Ocarina of Time has officially been inducted into The Video Game Hall of Fame. The game is hands down one of the most highly-regarded Legend of Zelda games, in close competition with Breath of the Wild for the best in the series. Originally released for the N64, the game was extremely popular, selling over 7 million copies worldwide.
Ocarina of Time was released in 1998 as the first 3D Legend of Zelda title. In it, a young Link is tasked with piecing together the mystical item known as the Triforce before the evil sorcerer Ganondorf can claim its power. After Ganondorf manages to steal the third piece of the Triforce, Link awakens 7 years later - finally old enough to wield the Master Sword - and must awaken sages of the Sacred Realm so Ganondorf can be imprisoned there. The game featured the largest map of Hyrule compared to its predecessors and is considered one of the most revolutionary games of its time due to its design, storytelling, and freedom it offers the player. Ocarina of Time has been re-released many times, most recently being added to Nintendo Switch Online.
The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time has been inducted into The Strong Museum's Video Game Hall of Fame, NintendoLife reports. The Strong Museum YouTube channel shared a video about the induction, citing the game's critical acclaim and extreme influence on the gaming industry as a whole as reasons for the addition. The Strong Museum asserts that Ocarina of Time's 3D design, auto-targeting system, and expansive environment truly set it apart from other video games of the era. Other 2022 inductees include Ms. Pac-Man, Civilization, and Dance Dance Revolution.
Ocarina of Time's addition to the Video Game Hall of Fame is something all Zelda fans can agree is well-deserved - even though the game did introduce the notoriously annoying fairy Navi. To be inducted into any sort of hall of fame, entries generally have to be more than just fan favorites - they need to be historically impactful to the industry itself, and Ocarina of Time meets that requirement in spades. The game was a true turning point for the series, and for the era of gaming as a whole. A 3D third-person perspective was revolutionary, and the game introduced several elements that would go on to be used in a myriad of games up to the present day, like its aiming system and explorable world.
The game arguably has some of the most memorable moments and environments of the series - from the legendarily difficult Water Temple to first holding the Master Sword, The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time has a lot that sets it apart from others in the series. Of course, every Legend of Zelda fan has their own favorite entry in the series, with many ranking Breath of the Wild even higher than the N64 title. However, regardless of where a player's preferences lie, Ocarina of Time is undoubtedly one of the most groundbreaking games of its time that's well deserving of a spot in the Video Game Hall of Fame.
Source: NintendoLife, The Strong Museum/YouTube