Summary
The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time needs no introduction.
The game captured a sense of wonder, nostalgia, and destiny. On one hand, its vast, living world provided a child-like quality to its adventure, like when playing at the park with figurines around the play area. On the other hand, its time-travel story brought foreboding, melancholy and loss. From serene fields to eerie temples, it balanced joy and loneliness, mystery and heroism key themes that stuck with me to this day. Its soundtrack, while simplistic, made for the most memorable memories. Koji Kondo, compositor of the soundtrack, created songs that brought clear, crisp and pure emotions:
- Kokiri Forest & Lost woods: Childhood innocence & wonder
- Inside Deku Tree: The slow loss of autonomy as we age / the peaceful embrace of death
- Dodongo Caverns: The dread and oppression of a hidden threat
- Zelda’s Lullaby: Naive sweet love
and many more. I laud Kondo for his impeccable ability to create music that authentically reflect specific emotions.
Since then the media of video games has evolved, branched into many genres. But still today, I cherish the adventure format that The Legend of Zelda: OoT brought. It shaped the way that I think about making games – dungeons, monsters, a thrilling story with humane moments.
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