Ocarina of Time (1998): The Game That Taught 3D Adventures How to Fight
As Nintendo's remake arrives on Switch 2, a look back at the N64 original and Z-targeting.
The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time launched for the Nintendo 64 in November 1998. Nintendo had to answer a hard question: how do you make sword fighting work in 3D?
Z-targeting
The answer was Z-targeting: hold the Z trigger and Link locks onto an enemy, circling and strafing while the camera stays focused. The system made 3D melee readable, and lock-on combat became standard in action games, from character action titles to Soulslikes.
Context-sensitive design
One button handled many actions depending on the situation, such as talking, climbing or pushing. Combined with a day-night cycle, horse riding and music played on the ocarina, Hyrule felt like a real place.
Critical acclaim
Ocarina of Time was the first game to receive a perfect score from Japan's Famitsu and still holds the top spot on Metacritic's all-time list with a 99.
Back in 2026
Nintendo's Switch 2 remake released in November 2026 (this month's releases), giving a new generation the game that defined 3D Zelda.
Reference: Wikipedia, The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time.