The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time - Title Theme / Forest Temple | Reacting To Video Game Music!
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 28 ส.ค. 2024
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So fun fact about the ocarina melody in the title theme - it's actually a slowed down rendition of a tune that plays in the ORIGINAL Zelda from a flute item you play to unlock a dungeon. Zelda has and always will love it's musical callbacks.
Also, said tune showed up in Super Mario Bros. 3 as the warp whistle theme so Koji Kondo REALLY liked the tune
For those curious, here is a link to how it sounded in the original Legend of Zelda: th-cam.com/video/KUdU2tsvDVg/w-d-xo.htmlsi=Kk7swChMoXCZmCSB
Oh that's cool! Hopefully I can remember that the next time I cover LoZ.
@@JessesAuditorium It's just a few notes in the mentioned NES games.
lol came down here to mention that very fact. I actually didn't learn that myself until many years later.
“I bet that note right there made a bunch of people nostalgic.”
Dude… you have no idea. In one second I’m 10 again, playing the N64 with my friend and his brothers, eating popcorn and soda under a fort we made from the bedpost, a couch, and bedsheets.
… Simpler times…
dude that sounds like it was the best thing ever
The Forest Temple has ghosts and skeletons in it, and the boss is a “phantom”, so your “Halloween forest” comment was on point. It’s an overgrown temple, lots of vines and greenery but definitely a creepy vibe.
And the main objective is basically chasing down four ghosts.
I will never unhear the edit done by Super Gaming Bros. with Pennywise's laugh.
This title theme is really reflective for some reason, it plays along with a little demo waiting for you to go to the file select. You can sit and watch it loop as long as you want. It's really nice
Those little demos before playing are called "attract mode," coming from arcade games where the objective was to attract players.
To answer your question about Ganon and Ganondorf. Ganon is his beast form while Ganondorf is his human form and he isn't the only villain throuought the Zelda franchise but he is the most re-occurring one and is in canon THE villain as he holds the Triforce of Power while Zelda holds the Triforce of Wisdom and Link holds the Triforce of Courage
yeah, he is in the majority of Zelda games but I think he is NOT in Majora's Mask, Skyward Sword, Link's Awakening, Minish Cap, Oracle of Ages, Oracle of Seasons. I think he is either main baddie or appears in every other official mainline Zelda game.
@@hepwo91222i believe he does appear i the oracle games
@@dou5397 only if you link the games
@@hepwo91222 You could make a case for both Skyward Sword and Link's Awakening, as the villain of the former is essentially Ganondorf's original incarnation, and the latter's draws upon your memories of Ganon and transforms into him.
@@Tingle457 both are spoiler territory talking about the last boss of those games as Skyward Sword was sort of an origin story of Hyrule and Link's Awakening ending is somewhat of a big plot twist. But either way, not really Ganon in either game IMO.
You always talk about the games that built you into a vgm lover, this has got to be THE game for tons of nintendo kids. Not only because the music is legendary but because the game makes you play songs on Link's ocarina so the music is really emphasized. My guess for "why ocarina" is the shape just makes sense with the music note controls, idk. But yeah the title theme is insanely nostalgic, and it feels weird to hear it without the in game horse gallops lol. So glad to see more nintendo show up on the channel lately!
The Zelda series, Ocarina of Time in particular intertwines music in with it's gameplay. The Ocarina is an actual item that you use to solve puzzles, fast travel, summon, and do many things.
Most of the themes in the game are used in this way which makes the game feel more connected to it's music.
In terms of why is it considered one of the best games of all time, it's incredibly well paced. It has controls that have defined gaming with the 'lock on system' and a masterful soundtrack. It's also massive in size without being bloated or including filler. It has real emotional impact and really sticks it's ending.
IMO It's a perfect video game.
Pacing is something I never cared about until my adult years funny enough. As a kid I just kinda played whatever / whenever. I can appreciate pacing more now as a grown-up with schedules, work etc. Good point to bring up.
@@JessesAuditorium could probably finish Ocarina of Time in 20-25 hours, depending on how many sidequests you do. I think it barely has 10 real dungeons maybe? Its overworld isn't insanely big or anything as it was an early polygon based action-adventure game.
@@hepwo91222 'barely has 10 real dungeons'
Well considering the highest number of dungeons in a Zelda game so far is 12.... Also, how do you define 'real' dungeons? If it's by the existence of a dungeon item then there's 12. If it's by the existence of a dungeon map and compass then there's 10. If it's by the existence of a boss then there's 9. If it's by the existence of keys then there's 8. If it's by the existence of a boss key (doubtful) then there's 6.
@@devonm042690 wasn't meant to be a criticism, dungeons overall are really good in OOT, only one I am having hard time remembering was that strange ice dungeon, does that one count? Either way my point was the game is not unusually long like many modern Zelda games.
@@hepwo91222Ice Cavern and Bottom of the Well are mini dungeons, preceding the Water Temple and the Shadow Temple.
The Forest Temple was taken over by Ganondorf and filled with monsters, so it is a dungeon. It creeped me the hell out as a kid. As soon as you enter the main hall of the temple you see 4 ghosts that take off and you have to find them in this run down haunted building.
Originally a Mansion too
Even as someone who didn't play OoT until I was probably 15, that title theme just evokes such a sense of nostalgia. A different era where this game was a life changing experience.
I don't know the reason they went with an ocarina, but it also appeared as a key item in Link to the Past in '91, though it was just called a "flute." It was clearly a weird shaped lil blue one, which I and many others learned the real name of when OoT came out.
ohh, so a callback years later. TIL!
original Zelda game in 1987 as English translation I think it was known as a recorder in the instruction manual but looked like a flute. And if you watch the title screen long enough it scrolls all the items to collect.
Maybe an ocarina was chosen because it's easier to represent in pixel art @@hepwo91222
it was called an ocarina in the japanese version. another princess toadstool/koopa troopa situation.
@@GalekC yeah, it may have been called whistle in the US instruction manual for the OG LOZ.
Watching you react to these songs impresses me on both ends, both your ability to interpret the image being enforced and the composer’s ability to convey it. You got a lot of things that happen in the temple spot on.
Funny considering I was going into it with the thought of a "forest vibe" initially. Was expecting chants, hand percussion, etc lol
You're KIDDINGG I just tapped on two Zelda songs and then the next video in my recommended section was your reaction to Zelda music from the same game I was just listening to, posted 22 minutes ago! XD
Thank you, Jesse and requesters!
5:20 To answer, yes they stated in an interview why they chose the ocarina. They wanted to re-use an object from A Link to the Past, the flute (which was an ocarina) which was rarely used in the game, and center the next game around this object. The flute is an object present as early as Zelda 1, but was reused in A Link to the Past in the form of an ocarina because it looked cool.
12:50 some of it. gerudo valley is an example of a song that doesn't use an ocarina. Generally, the ocarina replaces the flute in songs where it should have been there. Flute are used in more "orchestral" musics (like Hyrule Field for example)
25:40 Ganondorf/Ganon is the MAIN bad guy of the Zelda franchise. He often returns throughout games, even hundreds of years after his birth. Long story short, he was Ganondorf, a human like being (I'm not telling his species because that might spoil it a little bit), then after some Triforce-related things, he became Ganon (the pig form).
I'm glad you listened to title theme. This is one of my favourite song of Ocarina of Time❤
Rarely Used? I would typically play that thing all the time to get around and usually try to pick it up as soon as I can.
@@porgy29 I meant in the ost not in the game my bad
The moment the Title Theme played I had a tear in my eye. Zelda OOT was the first game I played as a kid, so the rush of nostaglia was real.
To answer your question near the end, Ganondorf is able to transform into a pig monster after obtaining the Triforce of Power. There's no real reason for this distinction, but the man is called Ganondorf, and the monstrous form he assumes is called Ganon.
IMO Ocarina of Time has a very interesting blend of being very kid-friendly and light-hearted, and dark/sinister/moody/ambient. There always felt like there was some unease in the game with certain music tracks and enemies. Even the grass and forests in the game are very muted and shrouded in fog.
I was already an adult the first time I played OoT, but even still, the bottom of the well gives me the creeps just thinking about it!
And if you think Ocarina has some creepy moments, Majora's Mask is a straight horror movie in comparison.
Now I want to see Jesse play ocarina of time
I would LOVE to see him play this
Oh man. That title theme. I can't truly put it into words, but the mood of this song. The melancholic, reflective emotions it instantly puts into your mind. The way it makes you long for something. It really feels like it was made to be nostalgic. Like something you hear after the credits when you roll back to the main screen and feel older, just like link. Wishing for times to return to when they were simple and easy. It's really inspired a lot of my personal themes in my own storytelling. And every time I hear it it reminds me how perfect it was.
Ocarina of Time isn't even remotely close to the first video game I played, but it was the first game my parents bought for my sister and I, along with Mario Kart. Those low piano notes are part of a core memory for my video game journey.
Orchestrated albums were surprisingly common even back in the 90s, though maybe not outside of Japan. It wasn't out of place at all to see a game have a soundtrack CD or symphonic covers. I only recently discovered the Ocarina of Time symphony and it's really interesting hearing how they approach the music because of the bigger emphasis on strings, this one was lovely.
I believe I'm the one who initially mentioned Forest Temple back during VGM vibes 1. Unfortunately the audio in the video was a little scuffed, it seemed a lot louder than it should've been.
"Lone temple in a vast forest" pretty much exactly what this place is, you picked up on a lot of the vibes for the most part, it's ambient, and spooky, the main mechanic of this temple is defeating a group of ghosts to proceed and the final boss is a phantom. This temple also first introduces Stalfos as an enemy which are armoured skeleton monsters. It is very much a spooky temple located in the deepest part of a forest.
Ganon is a pig demon king that is the main antagonist for most of the series, he was the bad guy in the first game. Ganondorf is his reincarnated human form, Gerudo are a mostly female race, though very rarely a male is born and becomes the king of the Gerudo.
I think Ocarina of Time is considered the best game of all time because it marked a turning point, where games were no longer 2D sprites on a TV but instead more like an experience, you could see the characters and the worlds they were in and it was that much easier to immerse yourself into it. On top of, of course, of being a solid game with good controls, exciting combat and challenging puzzles, backed by one of the most memorable soundtracks ever. Just a combination of the game being excellent on its own and good timing that have contributed to people always looking back on it in a positive light.
Forest Temple was beautiful and creepy at the same time, and I feel like they captured that in the track.
Oot is one of the first games i ever remember beating, me and my mom played it together and it's a very special game for me. that first piano note always sends me somewhere cozy
I got this game for Christmas in 1998. It was my first Zelda game, and honestly it wasn't something I particularly wanted. I remember walking into a KB Toys a short time earlier in the year, and hearing my dad trying to tell me what a big deal this "Zelda" was. I took a brief look at the strategy guide, saw artwork of some elf guy holding a bow and arrow, and quickly decided it wasn't for me. The whole medieval fantasy thing wasn't that interesting to me as a kid, and renting Quest 64 not long ago definitely didn't help in changing that sentiment. The games I liked the most at the time were cartoony 3D platformers like Mario 64 and Banjo-Kazooie, and the only "mature" property I was super into was Mortal Kombat. Still, I wasn't upset when I unwrapped my presents and saw Ocarina of Time. A new game was a new game, and this one came in a shiny gold cartridge, so I popped it into my N64 to see what it was all about.
This game (along with its sequel, Majora's Mask) has probably had the biggest impact on me, more than any game before or since, the only exceptions maybe being EarthBound/Mother 3. I had never experienced a game that was this cinematic before, or a soundtrack that was so atmospheric, or a world that was so big, or a story where things were actually happening beyond an introductory cutscene and ending. I remember watching the intro that this title theme accompanies, along with the little previews they show of the game, and the sense of curiosity and mystery it instilled. I remember the feeling of going through my first dungeon, solving all the puzzles, the satisfaction I had beating the boss. The way things are set into motion, and then you're off on this long episodic journey with twists and turns. It's as much as a coming-of-age game for me as it is a coming-of-age story. And yeah, the music is REALLY good.
The only difference I can think of from your OOT story to mine, is that I also got the N64 system along with the game, so it was my first game ever on it. And my exception (if I had one) would be Super Mario World (SNES).
Everything else pretty much is exactly the same for me, dude, that's wild. LOL
It really felt like I was reading my own text or smth.
1997 & 1998 are both known as two of the greatest years in gaming. It was a golden age.
MAN, the opening to OOT is always gonna be nostalgic to me.
It's not my favourite Zelda game, but it was my first so everytime I hear a track from OOT, it really hits me in the childhood nostalgia LMAO
The Forest Temple always creeped me out, even now. The enemies, the atmosphere, the music all combine perfectly to unnerve me.
Can't go without calling out Jillian Aversa's cover of the Forest Temple theme is absolutely amazing
The Forest temple is the first dungeon you do after some major in-game events and the music really sets the vibe as you explore.
Your comment could be clearer. It's the first dungeon in the game's second act.
The original Zelda theme, the one every one knows, IS in almost every single game in some form/variation. It's in all of the major ones and most of the smaller games as well. The ocarina is indeed prominent in most of the songs and Song of Storms and Song of Time are from this game! The songs in Ocarina of Time were meant to be simple, catchy and easy to remember because you "play" a few notes of each song in the game to trigger certain things. I'd love to explain why the Forest Temple song is the way it is, but thats spoilers (but you were right with dungeon). Ganon is Ganondorf, it just Ganon is his beast form and Ganondorf is his human name. Like Distant Worlds, there was a touring concert called Symphony of the Goddess, i think they stopped in 2023 even tho the website is still live, but Nintendo did put out a Zelda orchestral concert online this year. I wasnt expecting to be hit in the feels so deeply this morning lol. As to why i would think its the best game, its hard to say specifically. I think it just did a really good job of drawing you in to that fantasy world. The puzzles were fun(i might be the only person who enjoyed the water temple iykyk), the combat felt well balanced, the story was obviously great, and the music you can pinpoint the second you hear the first note. Hope you get to experience it yourself someday, its not too long of a game in itself, but its definitely memorable.
The title theme is one of the only tracks that, listening to it again as an adult after many years, hit me with so much nostalgia that I cried. So beautiful.
Ahh you would love some classic Video Games Live. Medleys and pieces from all kinds of games done by live orchestra. Zelda had live concerts too not long ago, I've been to 3 in person and its all you imagine it is
An interesting set of songs for you to listen to back to back for returning motifs in Zelda would be:
Dragon Roost Island - Windwaker (which you’ve already listened to)
Molgera Battle Theme - Windwaker
Rito Village (day and night) - Breath of the Wild
Frozen Rito Village - Tears of the Kingdom
Colgera Battle Theme (all phases) - Tears of the Kingdom
Ahh, one of the most nostalgic games for me. I was so young when I first played it that I'm pretty sure it helped me learn how to read. I still get kind of misty eyed when I hear the title theme.
For me an Ocarina is a "childhood instrument" like a recorder/whistle it's something that you can pick up, carry around and play as child Link. It also doesn't have many finger holes and it comes weird shapes so it feels more realistic for people "playing" the Ocarina on their N64 controller.
You're right that the temple is secluded. Link has to make his way through the dense Lost Woods, and also a forest maze to get to the entrance of the temple. He then needs a certain item to access the inside.
To me, the jangly sounds in this track are reminiscent of wood, and the rustling of wind through trees, while the synth gives the feel of some place hidden away and sacred. The atmosphere of the Forest Temple makes it one of my favourites in the franchise.
In the game, the title theme accompanies a scene of Link riding his horse across Hyrule. The second part of the ocarina section accompanies a part of the scene where Link has stopped by a river-fed pond where I'm assuming the intent by the creator of the scene was that Link was giving his horse a chance to get some water, but there's no animation for that and the scene was rendered in-engine. The thing I mentioned in another comment about 2:40, that timestamp in your video is where the music reaches a part that in the scene, Link sets off again, and his horse rears back and neighs before she starts galloping. The scene lasts just a little longer than the time it takes for the theme to get through a full loop. The music starts to fade out as it loops, and doesn't quite get back to the start of the ocarina part before it's completely faded and the screen with it.
Sounds like a nostalgia bomb
I recommend checking out Jillian Aversa's vocal cover of the Forest Temple theme, 'Generations'. Not necessarily for reaction or anything; just in general.
this is trivia for basically anyone, but forest temple was supposed to be a wind temple. You can tell based on the design for the medallion, the musical choice, that fans are used in the hyrule castle section.
hyrule castle was supposed to be a hub but they pivoted away from that pretty quick, but thats why it was the first thing done and why the wind related puzzles show up in the forest section even though they're moved to the shadow temple later as to not have wasted resources
I love the Forest Temple music so much because it almost feels like a perfect encapsulation of what Link might be feeling at that point in the adventure: the Forest Temple is one of the first challenges you face after a major shift in the story, where Link basically gets frozen in time for 7 years and jumps from being a prepubescent kid right into being a grown adult, and the moment he finally regains control of his body he's told that he has to go back to the place where he _grew up_ and delve into the temple there-- along the way he finds his hometown deserted and infested with monsters, he passes by the spot in the woods where he last saw his childhood friend (maybe a few days or a couple weeks ago from his POV, but _7 years ago for her,_ and she's also _gone,_ to boot) and is immediately thrust into the Forest Temple: a dark, unsettling manse with stronger, deadlier enemies than anything he's encountered up to this point, all while he's probably still fighting just to _control his newly matured body._
The wide, spacious, echoing clattering sounds, the spacey, ethereal synths and the breathless, staggered wind instruments that make up most of the song always reminded me of the feeling of, like, being lightheaded and breathless in the middle of a dissociative episode or panic attack, and thinking about that with the context of what you can imagine Link going through at this part of the story always felt super evocative. The weird, gasping vocals that sound a little too much like Link's own voice that come in just drove it home for me, how much it feels like a musical representation of Link trying and failing to wrap his head around his new circumstances. Poor kid!
Don't worry, that iconic Legend of Zelda theme you remember from the early games is a staple in the Zelda series, appearing in nearly every Zelda game in some way, shape, or form.
Koji Kondo was looking at his work with Mario 64 and Ocarina of Time, two games that would completely revolutionize each respective franchise, and decided
"I'm going to make the OSTs for these games completely unique, inspired but unrelated to the soundtracks of the many games prior."
And both soundtracks benefited from it, they ended up with some of the most iconic music of all time.
So yeah, funny enough OoT is one of the only Zelda games that doesn't reference the main theme. (There are hints of it in Hyrule Field, but it's more of a suggestion than a direct reference)
Ganondorf vs Ganon:
Ocarina of time introduced the first, his *human form* (also, the only male Gerudo).
Once he obtains the Triforce of power he becomes "Ganon" a pig-like monster, which was the mainenemy fought in all previous Zelda games.
Yes, he's the main series' antagonist (directly or indirectly).
Skyward Sword adds a wrinkle to the lore: Ganondorf is the incarnation of evil, which is why he always returns in some form.
---
I hope you see video or images of the forest temple, you'll see how spot on your impression was.
i think the forest temple theme becomes completely enchanting with the context of the game. even just seeing the entrance of the temple deep in the forest with this mystical ambient theme creates such a great atmosphere
Man, this is genuinely the very first game I remember playing in my life. I couldn’t have been older than maybe 5 years old. This game absolutely blew me away, I can’t even tell you how blessed I feel to have experienced this at such a young age. Starting out as link being a child in the woods had me running around in kindergarten trying to do spin attacks. Purely beautiful memories, I believed with every fiber in me I could be a hero just like him, even as a little kid.
I’m 22 now and as I’ve gotten older, not only this game but this soundtrack has aged like wine for me. Super cool to see people experience even a small part of it today.
Just watched your reaction to 115, you seem like a really cool dude! Definitely gonna check out more of your videos.
I still say the best old Zelda dungeon music is the Water Temple, even above Forest. It's so magical and mysterious. Really casts a spell over the ears. But if you want to hear pure, 100% ambiance, you've gotta listen to Inside the Deku Tree. It's very simple, not much too it, but to me it's still the sound of a child entering the unknown for the first time.
You asked if most of the Ocarina of Time music has an ocarina in it, i would say a decent amount of it does, but a big mechanic of the game is that you *play* tunes on your ocarina which have magical power, as a gameplay thing. And each of those individual tunes are very iconic as well, but very short obviously.
Forest Temple is my favorite song from the game, and there's so many.
Fact about the ocarina:
Ocarinas are a very very old instrument, dating back at least 12000 years.
Fact about the forest temple:
The forest temple is basically an overgrown manor house in the forgotten woods. It is home to several undead and spirits of the past, as well as nexus to a powerful demon summoned by Ganondorf.
21:39 Haha, that's very spot on actually, since this is where you fight a Stalfos for the first time (a skeleton knight with sword and shield)
The floating skulls (Green Bubble and Blue Bubble) will also most likely be first seen by people in the Forest Temple.
which were in the very first 1980's Zelda in overhead view.
Since you have a Switch now, you might want to comsider nabbing yourself a Switch Online subscription, specifically the Expansion Pack tier. Pretty much all the big important Nintendo classics are available to play with the sub giving you the opportunity to try out the games and catch up on the tunes in context. Since this is a Zelda video, I'll list the available Zelda stuff with the Expansion Pack tier: Zelda 1, Zelda 2, A Link to the Past, Link's Awakening DX, Ocarina of Time, Majora's Mask, Oracle of Seasons, Oracle of Ages, The Minish Cap, Four Swords. So that's 10 Zelda games right there to try amongst all the other classics.
As for your Ganon vs Ganondorf question: they are essentially two forms of the same person. Ganondorf is a man who wanted power and was evil. Eventually he gains power and uses it to transform himself into a beast, a giant pig boar monster, and in this beast form he is known as Ganon.
This tune invented the word 'Nostalgic'
If I had to answer your question at the end, I'd say it's because OoT was the perfect template for not only transitioning from 2D to 3D in general, but for the action-adventure genre which felt like one of the most recurring types of games during that era. Compare it to something like the first Halo where it's known for being revolutionary for the FPS genre on console (GoldenEye being a good mention too, but was definitely more janky), OoT was revolutionary for a much broader genre that resonated with players on top of seemingly being the "perfect" 3D game all around for its time.
Hell, Zelda games being a good inspiration still happens to this day for the series. Look at all the Breath of the Wild "clones," Genshin Impact being heavily inspired by BotW which spawned its own line of gacha-style "clones."
add that many ideas in GTA3 or Dark Souls which are also influential in their own right, were taken right out of Ocarina of Time. Targeting enemies in 3D polygon based action adventure games and moving around them for example.
You mention "Halloween", and indeed, Forest temple is full of ghosts and skeletons, so they did their job well. 👌
The Legend of Zelda: Potato Flute of Time ❤
It doesn't matter what my thoughts are about the game itself since they change every year, but every time I hear ANY song from this game it brings me back to being a kid in the N64 era.
I think it’s aged very badly, but we can all unanimously agree the music was and is incredible
@@minecrafter3448Do you think MM aged better or worse?
@@minecrafter3448 Yeah the N64 version is pretty tough to recommend to someone that's never played it before. That said I think that exploring the world is fun enough that most people should be able to eventually look past the controls and low FPS.
@@hollowowlyt The graphics obviously don’t hold up well but it still has good music, deep story, important characters, iconic dungeons, and awesome lore.
For example:
Shadow Temple has some of the greatest history and lore in the entire series and the bottom of the well can be considered a mini dungeon on it’s own. The Water Temple is iconic for being the most hated even though it’s an underrated gem and the Spirit Temple theme always gives me goosebumps. Sheik, Impa, and Navi are some of the greatest and most significant characters in the entire series and the soundtrack is an absolute masterpiece from beginning to end. Nostalgia definitely plays a factor in my beliefs but I think it still has a enough going for it to still be a top 5 Zelda game of all time.
@@ShadowWizard224 Beating the Water Temple as a kid back in the day is a core memory lol. Actually a lot of my favorite childhood gaming memories come from this game.
I loveee the forest temple! It still freaks me out to this day.
The Zelda franchise did have a touring concert. Not sure if it is still around, but it was called Symphony of the Goddesses. I went to one in Phoenix back in 2017. It was very good, playing tunes from many games, including the new (at the time) Breath of the Wild.
There was a full 25th annivesary concert CD that came with the Wii version of Skyward Sword that had orrchestrated Zelda tunes form across the games through the years.
I was six when I got this game and the forest temple theme used to freak me out and it would fill me with dread. The Nintendo 64 was my first experience with 3D so I had never experienced something like that. It was at the time as close as it could be to me to real life graphically and because of the monsters the music and the location it was the first time I realized that a video game could be scary.
Yes, Song of Time and Song of Storms are from this game. And I guarentee you've heard more from this game than that. Especially the shop theme and the Lost Woods, maybe Kokiri Forest.
I think why it might be considered one of the greatest, if not the greatest, video games of all time is a combination of being a true epic and incredible gameplay.
What I mean by epic is that you could make comparisons to the Odyssey, the Iliad, and Beowulf with how the story is presented. It is such an enduring classic, like the others, yet still finds ways to daunt and surprise its audience, filling them with excitement and wonder. Ocarina of Time is so important to the Zelda series to the point where many, if not all of the games, refer to it. There is not one sequel, not two, but four (direct*) sequels to this game.
Now to talk about the gameplay, there should always be the acknowledgment that this game was made in 1998 for the N64 on one of the strangest controllers we've seen in the industry. It should also be said that as such, this game was pioneering the 3D adventure genre, and you can see where many games today take inspiration from it.
What made the gameplay so good was how it implemented exploration and experimentation. In the first dungeon, it is mentioned that it will test your "wisdom and courage", which is applies both to the plot and to the gameplay. In more basic terms, the game explains what tools and resources are available to you, and it then proceeds to place puzzles in your path that you must solve by yourself. While these puzzles can take a moment to solve, the game suddenly throws encounters that test your "courage", which either you will triumph over, or hide/quit from.
Shigeru Miyamoto (spellcheck corrected his name if you want to know how famous he is), he is one of the greatest video game developers of all time and was the mastermind behind this game, and it shows even today. Ocarina of Time is even rated slightly higher than Breath of the Wild according to many official review websites.
I am also biased when it comes to this game, as I grew up with it, being six years-old when my siblings got it and the N64 for Christmas. I absolutely loved the game, even if I didn't beat it until I was about ten or so. I think if I had to narrow down to a single sentence of why I think this is one of the greatest video games ever made is this: "Zelda is the kind of video game every little kid wants to play."
The Forest Temple is indeed a dungeon in the game.
I always loved how they used links grunts in the forest temple ost, made it stand out and helped with the creepiness.
I thought those were Link's grunts for a long time as well but weirdly enough they're from an ethnic sample pack that Koji Kondo used extensively for Ocarina of Time and the audio clip just happens to sound like Link's voice, which might be a little creepier honestly, like the temple itself is poorly mimicking the only outside presence that has entered it in thousands of years that isn't spiritually connected to the forest.
Favorite Zelda game ever. I don't know if anything will ever top it.
16:45 A similar thing to that might be The Game Awards Orchestra playing the themes of every nominee for Game of the Year at the end in one big medley. It's amazing, especially when Legend of Zelda is up for the award.
Have some fond memories of OoT. Didn't have an N64, but I had a PSX and I had cousins with an N64. Basically we'd come over to each other's place and play games. My aunt was angry when me and a friend played OoT all night long the first day we played it and she walked into the living room in the morning around 9 AM.
Also you might not know it, but a lot of OoT's music is actually kinda stolen and slightly adjusted. Koji Kondo speaks in an article or interview about going for a walk to get inspiration and he found a shop with unique music that caught his interest. And some of the tracks from OoT sound almost exactly like some of the music he used.
I'm actually so glad this is here. I once wanted to request the main theme but it didn't work back then.
Even as someone who wasn't that big into Orcarina of Time, the Title Theme never fails to make me feel like an 8 year old again. Incredibly powerful nostalgia from such a simple melody.
The forest temple is my favorite song and part of the game. It comes right off the back of the big plot shift in the game, and really drives home that nothing is like it was before. You're in completely uncharted territory.
Both Ganon and Ganondorf work depending on what form he takes. In his human form he's Ganondorf, but when he transforms in his monster form he becomes Ganon. Ganon is how he's orgininally introduces as though, and in OoT is the first time we see him as Ganondorf. (I won't bother you with the diverging timeline stuff)
PS1 actually released with no analogue, and then took the N64's innovation and replicated it later with the dual. Same with the rumble feature later on. and yes, Storms and Time are both from Ocarina
For some reason, ocarinas seem to have a large presence in early video games. They appear in the two prior Zelda games (Link to the Past and Link’s Awakening), but one also appears as the key item in Mother 1 (the same series as Earthbound). I’d bet there’s prolly other early examples I don’t know about, too.
Ocarina of Time is one of my GOAT games. The music in the game is hugely iconic, as you probably know because you've heard Gerudo Valley without playing the game. But it's so recognisable thanks to the Ocarina playing a big part in the soundtrack. As others have commented, music is a core part of the gameplay. I have to recommend it to you, although it's not super easy to play without the right hardware. You can play it on Switch but it requires the online subscription.
The Switch experience is kinda bad though. Best way to experience the game is probably emulating the 3DS version.
You'll find that most of the temple/dungeon tracks are ambient minus the shadow temple (kinda). Think it was smart decision to make the overworld feel adventurous or even cozy at times then the sudden transition kind of takes you into a different headspace. Also the chanting in the forest temple I always imagined it was the monsters in there chanting, but in reality it might be from an indigenous tribe I'm not aware of.
Like you said for the Title Theme, those first notes just fill you with nostalgia. One of my favourite songs of all time if I'm being honest. Simple yet not boring. It's very weird not to hear the horse known as Epona as background noise during that track since the title screen has Link riding Epona in an open field, it's so cool!
Ocarina of Time Title theme is the definition of nostalgia for most people and if you think Forest Temple has good music you should check out the Spirit Temple theme which gives off Egyptian vibes, the original Fire Temple theme which has islamic chanting, and the Water Temple which has a very unique and aquatic atmosphere and vibe. Can’t wait to see your reactions 🙏
If you want to hear what the forest areas around this Temple sound like, I'd Suggest Listening to Kokiri Forest and Lost Woods. Could also maybe throw in "Inside the Deku Tree", as it's a second dungeon in the area that you go through earlier in the game.
Also, if you wanted to play a Zelda game, this is definitely the best place to start. The N64 version is still amazing, but I would suggest trying to play the 3DS remaster.
Thanks for the Video !
I'm just a fan, not an expert but , to me, "Ganondorf" is usually used to name the evil boss in a human form, "Ganon" is more used to name his monster boar form.
Why I love Ocarina of time ?
I was 12, N64 was my first home game console
Zelda 64 is the first in 3D.
Mario 64 was cool but.. when I start Zelda 64, THIS music (title theme), not ..trumpets party, just.. that.
The story, I don't spoil but it begin sadly.
The game have something dark and Yes, this was not an openworld, but maybe the nearest thing in 1998 on the N64
Every musics are engraved in the soul of someone who had played at Zelda 64, not in mind,.
Every moment of victory or disasters are in the player memory... Nintendo did lot of things "for kids" and even if this Zelda is for kids too, it is not perfectly friendly i think.
Maybe every game you play when you was younger than 14-15, and was not what you expected is able to change you for your entire life. To me : zelda 64 certainly.
We are in 2024, now, it's ugly, it's not very well written like Xenoblade 1 or X , but, to me, Zelda 64 is like a fusion of a trauma and a fantasy dream at the same time.
and... sorry for the spoiler : why she had taken MY ocarina ?! T_T
(Jesse have ever listen Stone Temple from Majora's mask or not yet ?)
I assume some people already answered this, but: Zelda usually has milestone orchestras. So like, 20th anniversary, 25th anniversary, etc. All of the arrangements from them are toptier, especially when they do big medleys of notable songs from the games like with Twilight Princess and Wind Waker! Hyrule Symphony, what you listened to, was an arrangement album from 1999 by Koji Kondo, the original composer. But unlike the milestone orchestras, the arrangement album was specifically only songs from Ocarina of Time.
Im happy that he got the forest temple theme without context. I would say the song idea was of a maia lost temple in a dark forest. Filled with undead and shaman ritual.
Ganondorf is the Gerudo King in human form introduced in Ocarina of Time, Ganon is beast like form he also takes in many games including the very first 1980's Legend of Zelda.
I always loved how Zelda dungeon themes lean towards being ambient background noise instead of being the center of attention.
Crazy to think that this was the very first 3D Zelda game, and it ended up being possibly the best video game of all time. I still get chills listening to the title theme lol.
You mentioned that there should be a symphany medley. Well, I learned there is one and went to it. It is called "Heroes symphany: a video game symphony," consisting of a medley of many different game themes and songs. Also, I love your input on the different music you react to.
My second instrument was the flute! First was piano. Male flute/piccolos unite!
The Main Zelda Theme pops up pretty often actuslly people just haven't been recommending it. It's the main field theme in several games like the original, link to the past, majora's mask and minish cap. And a lot of the games have variations or leitmotifs in it. At somepoint you should do a deep dive on the main theme, it'll clear thigns up.
"That note right there made a bunch of people nostalgic" truer words never been spoken 😂
so glad you’re checking out more zelda music !!
more this week... "kinda"
Yeah, the forest temple is spooky as hell
Overall, Ocarina is the most darkly atmospheric game in the series(at least without necessarily trying to be that, like Majora's Mask was)
Zelda ocarina of time title theme hast to be in top 5 most iconic video games themes ever. Next to super Mario bros theme and Halo theme.
Song of Time, Song of Storms and Gerudo Valley are all songs from Ocarina of Time. Hehe. Also if I recall correctly the Zelda theme is in most Zelda games in one form or another, almost like the Final Fantasy Prelude. You'll find its leitmotif at least once or twice.
As a side note, the Forest Temple can be found deep within the Lost Woods, which is also a pretty iconic theme you'll likely listen in the future.
And to clarify further from the comments, Ganondorf is a man who holds the Triforce of Power like most people said, and Ganon is actually his form when he clings to his dark ambitions and loses his humanity. In some games, it's even his form after he's been summoned back by his followers, not as himself, but more so the evil essence of him. At least that's the general jist.
Why Ocarina of Time is the best game of all time? Well first of all it is the most critically acclaimed game of all time, to this day having the highest overall critics score of all time.
Second, the game was way ahead of its time as a 3D adventure/dungeon crawler game. Before that there wasn't a 3D game of its kind so it had to pioneer an incredible amount when it comes to gameplay, and for a first attempt the result was simply amazing. Of course the game does show its age and isn't perfect by any means, but for the time it was released it deserves all the credits it gets. 100% a well deserved legend of th gaming industry that must play.
The temple is full of undead, so you can picture that rattling sound as rattling bones. You also have to hunt four ghosts, which could be tied to that kind of mocking laugh sound
OoT is considered one of the best games of all time because it revolutionized 3D gaming. And it wasnt the first game to use a lock-on feature in a 3D space, but it was the first one that did it so well and the blueprint that games have used ever since.
9:08 You already heard the Hyrule Castle theme in Breath of the Wild and noted that the main theme was incorporated into it. The series has never forgotten the main LoZ theme
i think the vibe the forest temple went for is like a dilapidated haunted overgrown ruin in the woods
The best way I can describe the forest temple is a mix between a fort and a mansion, completely overtaken by the forest surrounding it, to the point where to enter you need a grappling hook.
Speaking of N64 Musical Masterpieces, it would be fanominal if you reacted to Banjo and Kazooie. If you're wanting to remain 3 at a time, my recommendations:1 are the title theme. 2 Freeze Easy Peak. 3 Tresure Trove Cove.
Keep up the great work regardless 👍❤.
P.S. the original soundtrack with the ambiance (were able) is preferred but not mandatory.
I've heard two songs from BK and recently featured it in my latest VGM Vibes Castles video, I look forward to more Grant Kirkhope someday.
Zelda is always doing fun musical call backs like the gameover theme from the original game is hidden in Tears of the Kingdoms reveal trailer. Lots of "dark" music in Zelda Stone Tower Temple is one of my favoritea
15:10 funny that you should say that because the first rise and fall of the melody was actually used in a Mario game first, as the flute item that you could use to teleport yourself to another "world". Kondo then reused it and expanded on the melody for use in this game, but its never been reused since, afaik
They do still perform live renditions of music from the games. Up until a title known as Skyward Sword, all in-game music was run on Midi. Skyward Sword became the first zelda title to have a live orchestra play the music. Otherwise, they do have anniversary symphonies they’ve released for the 25th and 35th anniversary of the first game in the franchise.
There is an intro movie to go with the main theme. The main Zelda theme you already know does come up in other games, sometimes as the overworld theme. Sometimes elements of it come into the music.
The forest temple is definitely eerier!
Ganon/Ganondorf naming already got explained. Mostly he's a returning villain, but once in a blue moon there's a different villain instead.
In my opinion the forest temple theme sounds very much like a forest theme. It’s just a different take on what it’s like to be in a forest. It also ties into what the temple is like. Of all the Zelda temples the Forest temple is probably the one that does its best to purposefully disorient you, most notable among its tricks being an infamous twisting corridor. The forest in OOT is also a place where people get lost and cursed in. This isn’t too far off from real life where people sometimes get lost and die in the wilderness. furthermore, a forest also tends to be full of predators.
This has led me to conclude that the changing dynamics and strange vocalizations were meant to induce a sort of auditory disorientation and paranoia since your ear naturally wants to grab onto a melody only for it to suddenly go away, among other things. This, along side the layout of the forest temple is meant to induce unease. The temple and forest was corrupted by Ganon, but even before the events of OOT it was a rather cursed place for normal people to visit.