jeuxvideo revisits the criticisms leveled at The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time, focusing on the camera, controls, and time-shift mechanics. Released on the Nintendo 64 in 1998, the game received widespread acclaim at the time, but its technical and design aspects remain controversial.
In retrospect, the article notes that the Nintendo 64 controller lacked a second analog stick, forcing players to frequently adjust the camera angle using buttons, which often led to viewing difficulties, especially in tight spaces. The article also mentions that the original version's frame rate of around 20 FPS, distant fogging, and some static backgrounds limited the visual experience.
An example of control issues comes from the Water Temple. Players need to repeatedly equip and unequip the Iron Boots; in the original version, this required entering the menu each time, which easily disrupted the flow of exploration. The article points out that the later 3DS version added shortcut controls.
The article also suggests that Hyrule Field symbolized open space at the time, yet there was little to do while traversing it. Navi's frequent hints may also have diminished the player's sense of discovering clues on their own.
Regarding the seven-year time shift between Child Link and Adult Link, the article argues that there are few instances where past actions directly alter the future, and most dungeons do not revolve around cross-era puzzles designed for both time periods.