As The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time Switch 2 remake launches, VGC looks back at the original's influence on 3D action-adventure design. The article argues that the significance of this Nintendo 64 title stems not just from nostalgia, but from its provision of multiple long-lasting solutions for transitioning complex genres from 2D to 3D.
The most iconic of these is Z-targeting. By holding the Z button, Link locks onto enemies indicated by Navi the fairy, adjusting movement and attacks based on the enemy's position, thereby mitigating issues with combat and camera control on single-stick controllers. The article notes that enemy locking has since appeared in numerous games.
Context-sensitive actions are another key design element. The game includes actions like talking, reading, climbing, pulling levers, vaulting onto platforms, riding horses, and diving, but instead of assigning separate buttons to each ability, the A button performs different functions depending on the situation, with on-screen prompts indicating available actions.
The article also mentions areas such as the Water Temple, Forest Temple, inside Lord Jabu-Jabu, and the Deku Tree, as well as the soundtrack composed by Koji Kondo. The music is directly integrated into the ocarina mechanics, with the remake adding an option to hum melodies instead of using controller inputs. VGC argues that the original not only influenced later design language but also served as many players' first truly immersive 3D adventure.