History YMMV / TheLegendOfZeldaOcarinaOfTime

* TheyChangedItNowItSucks: Some fans consider the [=N64=] version of the fight with Ganon superior to the remake. The [=N64=] version has the entire scene in shadow up until the end, thus players only see Ganon in shadow, seeing just his GlowingEyesOfDoom and quick glimpses of him when the DramaticThunder strikes. In the remake the lighting makes Ganon fully visible at all times, which not only detracts from the atmosphere, but also leads to SpecialEffectsFailure since players clearly see parts of Ganon (particularly his horns and swords) "grow" into existence on his model.

*** Defenders point out that Ganondorf was already trying to gather the Spiritual Stones, and so Zelda felt as thought she had to move quickly. Further, she had already tried going to her father, only to be dismissed. Also, Zelda wouldn't have had any way to know that the Master Sword would seal Link in time, and expecting her to guess that is FourthWallMyopia.

* SequelDisplacement: Many started the series with this one. It even lead ''[[VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaMajorasMask Majora's Mask]]'' to be called "Zelda 2" by a few back in the early 2000s. ([[FandomEnragingMisconception It is recommended that this be not said in public.]]) This got to the point where [[https://www.nintendo.com/amiibo/detail/ganondorf-amiibo-super-smash-bros-series/ Nintendo's official description]] for the Ganondorf Toys/{{amiibo}} describes his role in this game, even though the figure is based on his ''[[VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaTwilightPrincess Twilight Princess]]'' appearance.

** Sheik is presented as male, but with an androgynous design and a female voice actor. Ruto does use "man" at one point when describing Sheik, but Sheik turns out [[ItWasHisSled to be Zelda]], which only confuses the viewers more. (Of course, it's possible Ruto was simply mistaken, since she and Sheik didn't really interact with each other closely). That said, other appearances by Sheik in games like ''VideoGame/SuperSmashBros'' and ''VideoGame/HyruleWarriors'' generally tend to present her as unambiguously female (mostly through [[LateArrivalSpoiler not even bothering to hide her identity as Zelda]]).

* VindicatedByHistory: The game's narrative. When it first came out, it wasn't considered bad, but it didn't receive the same amount of praise as other elements like game mechanics or graphics. Partly because, next to some of the other narrative milestones of its day, like ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyVII'' or ''VideoGame/MetalGearSolid'', it was considered too simple or even too "kiddy". Nowadays it's much more praised, and it's widely considered a magnificently executed ComingOfAgeStory. Things like the rivalry relationship between Link and Ganondorf, how it ''massively'' expanded the franchise's lore, or how themes like the loss of innocence, the end of childhood and the uncertainty of the future are represented are common praise points. There are even those who now consider it more successful than its aforementioned peers as a piece of narrative in video games, since it achieves everything without relying nearly as much on dialogue or cinematics. (The particularly snarky might also say ''[=OoT=]'' has one particular thing over ''FFVII'': [[BlindIdiotTranslation a coherent translation]].)

* FandomEnragingMisconception: Asking why the Gorons didn't just respond to Ganondorf blocking their mine with a giant boulder by eating other rocks (or just eating the boulder itself) will likely earn you an earful of FridgeLogic. Common responses include but are not limited to: he also filled it with monsters, and not all plants are edible to humans, so why would all rocks be edible to Gorons?

* StrawmanHasAPoint: Ingo, while still a {{jerkass}} who becomes villainous later, isn't really wrong in terms of wanting to be in charge of Lon Lon Ranch, and his opinions of Talon are understandable since Ingo really does seem to be doing most of the work at the ranch anyway, while Talon is always seen sleeping. Talon will even admit to Link that he needs to start working harder after Adult Link tells him in Kakariko that the ranch has been liberated and will promise Link that he has turned over a new leaf if you then go talk to him back at the ranch once he's back home.

** The game is ''not'' the Imprisoning War mentioned in the opening of ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaALinkToThePast ''. [[FlipFlopOfGod While developer interviews at the time of its release indicate that this game was initially intended to depict that, the current official timeline states that the events of this game are what led to it,]] and furthermore, The Imprisoning War is now the result of an alternate ending to the game that the player can't achieve in the game itself [[spoiler:(as in, a timeline where Link is defeated by Ganon in the final battle)]]

* ViewerGenderConfusion: Sheik is presented as male, but with an androgynous design and a female voice actor. Ruto does use "man" at one point when describing Sheik, but Sheik turns out [[ItWasHisSled to be Zelda]], which only confuses the viewers more. (Of course, it's possible Ruto was simply mistaken, since she and Sheik didn't really interact with each other closely). That said, other appearances by Sheik in games like ''VideoGame/SuperSmashBros'' and ''VideoGame/HyruleWarriors'' generally tend to present her as unambiguously female (mostly through [[LateArrivalSpoiler not even bothering to hide her identity as Zelda]]).