The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time remains a challenging adventure, even in its more modernized remake. While some puzzles and quests may be easier, exploring Hyrule can still test players’ patience and problem-solving skills. These 10 tips can help newcomers make progress and uncover more of the game’s secrets.
Before setting out, adjust the controls and display settings to your preference. Options include camera speed, motion-control aiming, the jump button and the HUD. Changing them early can make it easier to get comfortable with your preferred setup.
To sprint, press A once and then hold it. Jumping is assigned to X by default, but you can switch it to B in the settings. Jump attacks are also worth learning: they deal double damage.
Navi can provide useful information about unfamiliar enemies. When she flies over a new creature, press Right on the D-pad to learn its name and, in some cases, get advice about its weaknesses or how to defeat it. Pay attention to the game’s sounds, too: audio cues can signal nearby Skulltulas, danger from an enemy, falling icicles or other clues that help with puzzles and dungeons.
Speaking with townspeople and guards can reveal what is happening in each area and point you toward possible dangers. Keep an eye out for “Fairy Thoughts” written on walls and trees as well; they can offer hints about secrets nearby.
Use the items you collect rather than saving them indefinitely. Bombs, Deku nuts, arrows and other resources can be replenished from the environment, including grass, flowers and trees. Bottles are useful for carrying things such as bugs, potions, fairies and Lon Lon Milk. Bugs can help with piles of soft soil, while healing supplies may come in handy during difficult encounters. Consider filling your bottles before entering a dungeon.
Some places and objects cannot be accessed right away. As the story progresses, new items and abilities will open up more possibilities, so revisiting earlier areas can lead to secrets and collectibles you could not reach before.
For players looking to complete more of the game, Zelda Notes in the Nintendo Switch App offers quizzes, play data, Threads of Time, additional quests and a map that tracks the player’s location and collectibles. The app can reveal spoilers, so first-time players may want to finish the game before using it. To get started, enable Zelda Notes in the game’s settings, download the Nintendo Switch App and link your account.
Sources: Polygon.