It's hard to deny that The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time remains one of the most influential titles in the Zelda series. Not only was the jump to 3D a revolutionary change for the video game industry as a whole, but Ocarina of Time introduced a slew of creative ideas and mechanics that have since become staples of the series. Yet, even a title as groundbreaking as Ocarina of Time could only come to fruition thanks to its own inspirations, and that includes the Zelda franchise itself.

Of course, Ocarina of Time being inspired by previous Zelda entries doesn't come as much as a surprise. As inventive as Ocarina of Time may be, the game continues to adopt the non-linear gameplay of The Legend of Zelda for NES, while following a similar dungeon structure to A Link To The Past. However, I was shocked to learn that one other Zelda title may have had an even bigger influence on Ocarina of Time, which made me realize just how important this game was to the series overall.

Ocarina Of Time Was Heavily Inspired By Link's Awakening

Ocarina Of Time Adopts Link's Awakening's Approach To Narrative

Ocarina of Time took heavy inspiration from Link's Awakening, mainly when it came to creating the game's story. This was revealed during an Iwata Asks interview published on Nintendo's website in 2009, as Zelda series programmer Toshihiko Nakago mentioned how Link's Awakening included "...a story running through the whole game". This contrasted with earlier titles like A Link To The Past, which used a minimal narrative to provide you with necessary context. Meanwhile, Zelda series producer Eiji Aonuma stressed the importance of Link's Awakening's narrative in creating Ocarina of Time, stating how the game "...would have been different" without it.

While this information initially took me by surprise, it didn't take me long to see the similarities in either game's narratives. Just as Link's Awakening has you unravel the mystery surrounding the existence of Koholint Island, Ocarina of Time has you follow Link as he leaves his childhood behind in order to save Hyrule. Each game maintains a steady momentum with its narrative, including a multitude of shocking twists and tense moments that keep players invested in comparison to previous Zelda titles.

In the same interview, Zelda co-creator Takashi Tezuka mentioned how Link's Awakening was heavily inspired by the TV series Twin Peaks, explaining how the show influenced the game's "...deep and distinctive characteristics."

Moreover, Link's Awakening served as a major influence on Ocarina of Time's cast of iconic characters. For example, Aonuma stated how the development team for Link's Awakening worked to "...make all the characters suspicious types", a method which was later adopted for Ocarina of Time. The more active approach taken to giving more distinct personalities to NPCs helps to bring Ocarina of Time's version of Hyrule to life, making the kingdom feel like a real, tangible world, while also showing how Link's Awakening influenced some of the N64 classic's most memorable inclusions.

How Link's Awakening Shaped Ocarina Of Time's Story

Both Games' Stories Were Emotionally-Driven

After learning about the connection between Ocarina of Time and Link's Awakening, I began to reflect on both games' stories and the impact they had on me. It was then that I came to realize just how important Link's Awakening's influence was on Ocarina of Time. The Game Boy title didn't simply supply Ocarina of Time with a more exciting narrative structure to adopt, but it showcased the need for the story to have an emotional core.

What I adore about Link's Awakening's story is the internal conflict that you're forced to reckon with. The revelation that Link is stuck in a dream world comes late in the game, at a point where you have become accustomed to Koholint Island and formed meaningful bonds with the people that live there. As I continued my journey towards the egg at the top of the island, I felt the fate of Koholint's inhabitants weighing on me, creating this feeling of sorrow and affecting me in a way that older Zelda entries couldn't achieve.

Ocarina of Time remains so memorable and beloved because of the emotional connection that can be made to its story.

It's that same emotional turmoil that makes Ocarina of Time's story so compelling. Beyond the game's cinematic feel and grandiose scale, you find yourself connecting with Link throughout the story, as his decision to leave his childhood behind reflects the real struggle many of us go through to grow up and adapt to the changing world around us. Ocarina of Time remains so memorable and beloved because of the emotional connection that can be made to its story, and without Link's Awakening, it simply wouldn't have had the same impact.

Link's Awakening Is One Of The Most Important Zelda Games

The Game Boy Classic Proved The Need For More Ambitious Stories

The influence of Link's Awakening and the monumental success of Ocarina of Time served as proof of the importance that narrative can have in elevating the entire gameplay experience. The presence of an ambitious, emotionally-driven story doesn't simply help to fill the gaps between gameplay, but it allows for a greater sense of immersion, as you're able to fully connect with the people and the world that you're trying to save. With this in mind, it becomes clearer how this bigger emphasis on narrative became a mainstay for the Zelda franchise.

Multiple entries in the Zelda series use narrative to create a much greater sense of immersion than gameplay alone could accomplish. For example, Majora's Mask remains so beloved because of its unusually dark story, creating this dreary and hopeless atmosphere as you're faced with a seemingly inescapable fate. Titles like Majora's Mask work so well because they ask you to become invested in their world and characters in order to make a bigger impact, showing how influential Link's Awakening's emphasis on narrative has been to the Zelda series as a whole.

It's worth noting that the co-director for Majora's Mask, Yoshiaki Koizumi, also worked on Link's Awakening, and had great influence over the larger role that the story played in both titles.

As much as I adore the revolutionary ideas Ocarina of Time introduced, the Iwata Asks interview has made me recognize the huge importance that Link's Awakening also has to the Zelda series. While the success of Ocarina of Time was the catalyst for a more active approach to storytelling in Zelda titles, Link's Awakening was the game that brought this idea to the table. Link's Awakening is undoubtedly one of the most important games in Zelda history, and I've come to appreciate it even more than I had done before.

Source: Nintendo