It appears fans of The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time are still discovering little quirks in the beloved title even after 24 years. The revered Ocarina of Time is considered a masterpiece by Zelda fans and critics for introducing a new generation of players to a 3D action-adventure experience and setting the groundwork for many 3D action titles to come. The Strong National Museum of Play recently added Ocarina of Time to its Hall of Fame for its technical and critical achievements.
Ocarina of Time has embedded itself within the heart of modern video game culture. At the time of its release in 1998, Ocarina of Time took the world by storm with its 3D world and revolutionary action gameplay, refined for the 3D experience. Since then, captivated fans have consistently celebrated the title and still consider it one of the best in the franchise. Ocarina's impact even reverberated throughout the industry, with many developers citing the title as a primary inspiration for such works as Legacy of Kain: Soul Reaver, Darksiders, Grand Theft Auto, and The Witcher. As expected of such an acclaimed adventure, the world of Ocarina of Time is brimming with content, and many players likely won't experience it all on their first playthrough. While this makes a 100 percent run of Ocarina of Time daunting, it also gives fans something fresh to discover each playthrough.
Reddit poster Kirbyeatsyou recently posted a video revealing a tidbit some Ocarina of Time fans might have missed the first time through. Left idle in the frigid Ice Caverns, Link will start to shiver and eventually sneeze. Fans on the subreddit were helpful in pointing out that Link shivers in the Royal Family Tomb, Dampé’s Tomb, and its neighboring windmill as well. Since most players actively move Link throughout their time in Hyrule or leave the game paused during breaks, this quaint little detail is easy for players to miss. While Link shivering is all that the video showed, it's worth noting that Link possesses unique idle animations in other parts of Hyrule. For example, Link sweats in places like Death Mountain and the Fire Temple, pets Epona when mounted, and yawns in temperate places.
[OoT] It's weird how I've been playing this game for so long yet I didn't know Link had this cold animation from zelda
No matter what version of Zelda: Ocarina of Time one prefers, it’s safe to say its decades-old graphics don’t hold up like they used to. During a time when graphics alone couldn’t be relied on to convey personality, developers resorted to quaint little animations like these to give their games that extra spark of charm. Two of the most memorable idle animations would be Sonic the Hedgehog impatiently tapping his foot and Mario falling asleep in Super Mario 64. This detail, while small, helped even the crudest games seem much more polished and became essential in preserving that personality through the ages where graphics inevitably fail over time.
When players can still discover things in a title as well-known and impactful as Ocarina of Time years later, it always serves as a testament to its design. While its graphics have certainly aged, the amount of things to explore and experience in Ocarina is still ever-present for those who wish to engage in it. With such attention to detail poured into simple things like dynamic idle animations, Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time will always have something for players to treasure for years to come.
Sources: Kirbyeatsyou/Reddit