A Link to the Past has aged better; Ocarina of Time was the bigger leap. A Link to the Past's top-down design, item-gated overworld and two-world structure play perfectly today. Ocarina of Time invented 3D combat and its dungeons are still superb, but the camera and pacing show their age.
The same design DNA — a new item reshapes the map, a second world layers over the first, and dungeons are built around one idea each.
The Water Temple's reputation is unfair; the Forest and Shadow Temples are exceptional. Z-targeting is the reason every 3D action game since has a lock-on.
More like this: games like The Legend of Zelda Ocarina of Time.
No camera, no load, no 64-bit compromises. It is the cleanest expression of the formula and it is available everywhere.
More like this: games like The Legend of Zelda A Link to the Past.
A Link to the Past has aged better; Ocarina of Time was the bigger leap. A Link to the Past's top-down design, item-gated overworld and two-world structure play perfectly today. Ocarina of Time invented 3D combat and its dungeons are still superb, but the camera and pacing show their age.
Better is the wrong question for these two — they are close enough that the answer depends on what you want from the next twenty hours. Pick Ocarina of Time for the dungeons and the atmosphere. Pick A Link to the Past if you want it to just feel good now.
No. There are no scores anywhere on this page. This is a written opinion about what each game is for, so you can judge whether it matches what you are after.