It is almost impossible to talk about video game history without hitting a massive, green-clad wall of nostalgia. But here is the thing: the Ocarina of Time rating isn't just about nostalgia. It is a statistical anomaly. Even now, years after the Nintendo 64 has become a retro relic and the 3DS remake has aged into "classic" status itself, this game sits at the top of Metacritic with a 99/100. It's the highest-rated game of all time.
That is wild.
Think about the games that have come since. The Last of Us, Elden Ring, Red Dead Redemption 2. All of them have better graphics. They have bigger worlds. They have voice acting that doesn't consist of "Hyaaa!" and "Listen!" yet they haven't touched that 99. Why? To understand the Ocarina of Time rating, you have to look at what was happening in 1998 and how the industry defines "perfection."
Honestly, the rating is a bit of a lightning strike in a bottle. It came out when the jump from 2D to 3D was still messy. Most developers were tripping over their own feet trying to figure out how a camera should work in a three-dimensional space. Then Nintendo drops this. It didn't just work; it set the rules for every 3D action game that followed.
What the Ocarina of Time Rating Actually Means Today
When you see that 99 score, it represents a specific moment in time where the critical consensus was unanimous. Out of the 22 reviews tracked by Metacritic for the original N64 release, 18 of them gave it a perfect 100. That’s an absurd hit rate. Even the "lower" scores were 90s.
But ratings are tricky things.
A 10/10 in 1998 doesn't mean the game is flawless by 2026 standards. It means that, at the time of its release, it provided an experience that was literally peerless. It provided a sense of "presence" that gamers had never felt. Walking out onto Hyrule Field for the first time wasn't just a gameplay beat; it was a cultural event. The Ocarina of Time rating reflects that seismic shift.
The Impact of Z-Targeting
Before Link could lock onto a Deku Scrub, 3D combat was a nightmare of swinging at empty air. Nintendo's invention of Z-Targeting—which they actually called "L-Targeting" on the 3DS—fixed the biggest problem in gaming. It gave players a focal point. This single mechanic is a huge reason why the Ocarina of Time rating stayed so high. It wasn't just a "good game"; it was a functional blueprint.
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Why Some Critics Argue the Rating is Inflated
Not everyone thinks a 99 is fair. If you go on any gaming forum today, you’ll find the "Ocarina vs. Breath of the Wild" debates. They are brutal. Some argue that the game’s pacing is slow, or that the Water Temple is a chore that ruins the flow.
They aren't entirely wrong.
The Water Temple is a headache. Navigating the pause menu to put on Iron Boots every thirty seconds is the definition of "bad UI." Yet, when reviewers look at the Ocarina of Time rating, they often weigh historical significance more heavily than modern convenience. It’s like judging a Ford Model T. You don't dock points because it doesn't have Bluetooth; you praise it because it changed how everyone gets to work.
The Controversy of the 3DS Remake
In 2011, Grezzo and Nintendo released Ocarina of Time 3D. This version currently holds a 94 on Metacritic. It’s objectively the better way to play—it has a better frame rate, cleaner textures, and that dreaded boot-swapping issue is fixed. So why is its rating lower?
Because the "wow factor" was gone.
By 2011, we had seen God of War and Gears of War. The world had moved on. The Ocarina of Time rating for the original N64 version is protected by its status as a pioneer. The remake was "just" a great version of an old game.
The Factors That Keep the Score High
It isn't just the mechanics. It’s the vibe. The music by Koji Kondo is legendary. Songs like "Zelda's Lullaby" or the "Gerudo Valley" theme are burned into the brains of millions. Music plays a massive role in emotional resonance, and emotional resonance is what leads to 10/10 scores.
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Then there’s the "Time" aspect.
The jump from Child Link to Adult Link was a narrative masterstroke. Seeing a world you spent hours in as a kid suddenly turned into a desolate, monster-infested wasteland as an adult hit hard. It gave the game stakes. It made the Ocarina of Time rating feel earned because the story felt personal. You weren't just saving a kingdom; you were trying to get your childhood back.
How Modern Games Compare
Is it possible for another game to hit a 99? Probably not.
The industry is too fragmented now. There are too many reviewers, and the standards for "perfection" have become almost impossible to reach. When Elden Ring launched, it hovered near the top but eventually settled at a 96. Breath of the Wild hit a 97. The Ocarina of Time rating acts as a ceiling that may never be broken.
- Longevity: Most games are forgotten in six months. Ocarina is discussed daily.
- Cultural Reach: It’s a touchstone for developers like Hidetaka Miyazaki and Eiji Aonuma.
- Speedrunning: The game is still one of the most popular for runners, keeping it relevant on platforms like Twitch and YouTube.
The "Nostalgia Tax"
Critics often mention a "nostalgia tax" when discussing the Ocarina of Time rating. This is the idea that we overrate things we loved as kids. While there is some truth to that, you can't ignore the technical hurdles Nintendo jumped. They built an engine that handled day/night cycles, complex AI routines for NPCs, and a musical instrument system that actually required you to learn notes. In 1998, that was witchcraft.
Analyzing the User Score vs. Critic Score
If you look at Metacritic today, you'll see the critic score at 99 and the user score at around 9.1. That gap is fascinating. Most of the "negative" user reviews come from younger players who go back to play it for the first time and find it clunky.
"The owl talks too much."
"I can't see anything in the dark."
"The combat is too simple."
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These are all valid complaints for someone used to Cyberpunk 2077. But the Ocarina of Time rating doesn't exist in a vacuum. It’s a measure of the game’s impact on the medium. Without the "clunky" combat of 1998, we wouldn't have the fluid combat of today.
Practical Steps for Experiencing Ocarina of Time Today
If you want to see if the Ocarina of Time rating holds up for you personally, don't just jump into the first version you find. Your experience will vary wildly depending on the platform.
Choose Your Hardware Wisely
The Nintendo Switch Online version had a rough start with input lag and graphical glitches, though most of that has been patched. It’s the easiest way to play, but it’s not the best. If you can, get your hands on the 3DS version. The 30fps (instead of the original 20fps) makes a world of difference in how "modern" the game feels.
Use a Guide (Sometimes)
There is no shame in looking up how to get through the Shadow Temple or where to find that one stray Gold Skulltula. Part of why the Ocarina of Time rating is so high is because it rewards exploration, but 90s game design can be cryptic. Don't let a "where do I go now?" moment ruin the pacing.
Focus on the Sound
Turn the volume up. Wear headphones. The sound design in this game—from the way Link's boots clink on stone to the distant howl of a wolf—is a huge part of why it received such high marks. It creates an atmosphere that many modern open-world games fail to replicate despite having millions of more polygons.
Acknowledge the Flaws
Go into it knowing that the camera will occasionally get stuck behind a wall. Accept that Navi is going to annoy you. When you look past the age, you start to see the bones of the masterpiece that critics fell in love with. The Ocarina of Time rating is a testament to a game that was so good, it survived its own obsolescence.
The best way to respect the legacy of this game is to play it not as a museum piece, but as a living adventure. It still has the power to surprise you, whether it's the first time you pull the Master Sword or the moment you finally figure out that one puzzle in the Forest Temple. That 99 isn't just a number; it's a challenge to every other developer to try and capture that same sense of wonder.
To truly understand the legacy of the Ocarina of Time rating, your next step should be to compare it directly with its successor, Majora's Mask. While Ocarina holds the higher rating, many hardcore fans argue Majora is the deeper game. Look at the "three-day cycle" mechanic and how it polarized critics compared to the universal acclaim of the first N64 Zelda. This comparison will give you a clearer picture of how "innovation" versus "perfection" plays out in game reviews.