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[doctor_zzim]

I will NEVER forget going up to the stairs to fight Ganondorf for the first time as a kid. That environment toward the end of his castle is so emotionally powerful to me, with just the perfect lighting and everything. Just going up a giant staircase on your way to finally face him after anticipating it the whole game. I must have played that fight over 100 times in my life. To me, Ocarina of Time's ending will always be in my mind the ULTIMATE good vs evil battle.

 

[ShadowElliot]

Playing tennis with Ganondorf.

Other than that, the castle escape scene. You just defeated the final boss and saved Zelda, must be over, right? Nope! You have to escape before the castle falls! Hurry up, Zelda!

 

[Vaddon]

Entering and experiencing the Forest Temple for the first time, unforgettable. The game really begins for me there.

 

[GSG Flash]

Still my favorite boss fight of all time. Not because it was the hardest, but just the build-up, the pacing, the setting, the atmosphere, the music, the tension... It all built to this moment.

And it was glorious.

This for me too, the atmosphere and feels during that battle were through the roof, from the music, to the lightning and thunder in the background, to Link losing the mastersword, to Navi telling you that Ganon won't stop her from helping you this time.

 

[Pinky]

 

[Deputy Moonman]

Too many to count, but I really enjoyed the fire temple boss Volvagia.

 

[Red Hood]

Oh man, I can't just choose one (obviously spoilers for those interested):


- First time exploring Kokiri Forest
- First time fighting Gohma and shitting my pants.
- First time seeing Hyrule Field after beating Gohma, which (as a 9 year old boy) I somehow thought was the final boss, only to get my mind blown that this fucking game just got started.
- Seeing the dying soldier behind Hyrule Castle Town.
- Waking up Talon with the chicken.
- The nerve wreaking stealth maze in Hyrule Castle.
- Meeting Zelda for the first time.
- Seeing Ganondorf through the window and he stares back.
- First time entering Kakariko Village.
- Realising Goron City is linked to Lost Woods.
- Becoming a sworn brother of the Gorons.
- Entering the beautiful Zora's domain for the first time, seeing how it's linked to Lake Hylia.
- The 5-minute wiggle by fatty King Fatman.
- Ruto's constant flirting.
- Throwing Ruto around.
- Walking back to the Temple of Time and open the Door of Time.
- Pulling the Master Sword from the pedestal.
- Seeing Link as a grown fellow now.
- Seeing Hyrule gone to shit in the 7 years Link took his sweet nap.
- Seeing that ghost fellow near the entrance of Hyrule Castle.
- Meeting Sheik for the first time.
- Getting the hookshot (that race was absolutely terrifying as a kid)
- Going to the Sacred Meadows and meeting up with Saria for the first time in 7 years.
- Entering the Forest Temple, alongside Spirit Temple easily my favourite dungeon in the whole series.
- Fighting phantom Ganon in an extremely tense fight.
- Getting Epona and winning the race.
- Getting the various power ups from the Great Fairy's (dem tittays)
- Darunia trying to kick Volvagia's ass on his own.
- Kicking Volvagia's ass with the Megaton Hammer.
- The big ass Big Goron atop Death Mountain.
- Meeting a grown Princess Ruto in the Water Temple.
- Fighting Dark Link.
- Gerudo Valley: E-P-I-C
- Getting to the entrance of the Spirit Temple, seeing the big colossal and all that.
- Going back as a kid and finding Nabooru.
- Clearing out one half of the Spirit Temple as a kid, and then returning as an adult to complete the second half.
- Nabooru getting abducted and finding the Mirror Shield.
- Fighting the beautiful Twinrova, one of my favourite boss battles.
- The funny dialogue after beating Koume and Kotake.
- Getting back to burnt Kakariko Village and seeing Bongo Bongo wreak shit.
- The manly Sheik grunting like a woman (which I thought was funny but odd when I first played OOT).
- Entering the eerie Shadow Temple with all these sinister messages.
- The first time meeting Dead Hand, I think I shat myself.
- The creepy boat ride towards the final part.
- Going back to Ganon's Castle and seeing the rainbow bridge arise.
- Feeling the pressure of subtly louder music until you reach the top floor where Ganondorf resides.
- Beating him and seeing the castle collapse.
- Seeing Ganondorf transform into this huge beast.
- Navi saying she's back at our side (albeit useless) and losing the Master Sword.
- Stunning Ganon, and then rushing back to Zelda to get back the Master Sword.
- The final stab with the Master Sword.
- Final dialogue with Zelda, accompanied by Kondo's greatness.
- End credits, both in terms of theme and scenes.

It took me 20 minutes to write this, I don't think I missed anything.

 

[FreedomFighter]

This thread inspired me to start a Zelda music encyclopedia.

I'll have it up in the next couple of weeks.

*snip*

Great list you have there.

 

[Oblivion]

Damn, the sword pulling moment was definitely the first moment that made me go "holy shit", and made it clear that shit just got REAL, son!

Other than that,

- Getting the biggoron sword felt like such a huge accomplishment
- First time entering Gerudo Valley

 

[Romars202129]

I got a few, but I have to choose setting foot into castletown after pulling the master sword for the first time.
I remember looking upon the burning wreckage with horror... then I saw this huddling little guy... I thought oh my god, it's a burn victim, he needs help! Then I rushed over to help hi-

 

[rocK`]

Very angry with this thread. How can you all forget the first time you dove into the water in Zoras domain?



I also find the game Nights and Pilotwings fun: there's a sense of exhilaration and freedom as well as pushes the game play involvement

 

[Ogodei]

Getting Biggoron's sword after all that crazy crap in between. It took me a while to figure out the best route for running the frog and the eye-drops.

 

[themagicalkitsune]

I will NEVER forget going up to the stairs to fight Ganondorf for the first time as a kid. That environment toward the end of his castle is so emotionally powerful to me, with just the perfect lighting and everything. Just going up a giant staircase on your way to finally face him after anticipating it the whole game. I must have played that fight over 100 times in my life. To me, Ocarina of Time's ending will always be in my mind the ULTIMATE good vs evil battle.

In actuality this is also my favorite moment. You didn't mention the most powerful bit though: the music getting louder and louder the higher you ascend. This pre-final boss climax has only been matched by Chrono Trigger (

Spoiler

Lavos' heartbeat getting faster as you approach him

) IMO.

 

[PK Gaming]

Ganondorf's theme starts to play, but it's soft. It steadily rises as you climb the tower, until...

You reach the top and it reaches its climax. God. DAMN.

 

[Isayas]

Forest Temple.

Quite possibly the greatest dungeon in the entire series. The music alone gives me chills.

HELL YEA.

 

[whiteninja]

Sheik at the Ice Cave

"Time passes, people move...
Like a river's flow, it never ends..."

"A childish mind will turn to noble ambition...
Young love will become deep affection...
The clear water's surface reflects growth..."

 

[Blackage]

When you think you've won and Ganon does this breathing all menacingly.

"I still have the Triforce of Power!"

 

[Retromelon]

In actuality this is also my favorite moment. You didn't mention the most powerful bit though: the music getting louder and louder the higher you ascend. This pre-final boss climax has only been matched by Chrono Trigger (

Spoiler

Lavos' heartbeat getting faster as you approach him

) IMO.

Have you ever gotten to the end of ff6 because i recall it being similar to what you are talking about here.

 

[Deserted Maniac Island]

I love the opening (Title Screen). The music, the horse, and the landscape. Perfection!

 

[Run Jump Stomp]

Throwing Princess Ruto down a deep dark hole, because screw her.

 

[Altazor]

I love the opening (Title Screen). The music, the horse, and the landscape. Perfection!

OoT is so damn good even the title screen is incredible. I mean, it has to be, with a theme like this.

 

[dadjumper]

I'm not huge on the game but my memories are mostly from the fishing mini-game. For whatever reason I got way into that aspect and wanted to go buy a rumble pak just to enhance it.

 

[Deserted Maniac Island]

OoT is so damn good even the title screen is incredible. I mean, it has to be, with a theme like this.

This is generic, but Ocarina of Time is my favorite game of all time. And that sweet orchestrated version is amazing!

 

[Mephala]

And these moments are just from my most recent playthrough!

 

[Dangansona]

Swimming around in Zora's domain honestly. Or running around Kokiri in the beginning before you have to worry about saving the world.

 

[Altazor]

This is generic, but Ocarina of Time is my favorite game of all time. And that sweet orchestrated version is amazing!

I was just talking with a friend of mine about OoT and its "GOAT game" status. I'm of the mind that even though there may be better games (and you may have already played them), it's hard to dislodge OoT (or any other) from that special place you have for it. A multitude of factors come into play here, and you create an emotional connection with a game that's not easily severed, even if the game has been factually exceeded. If it's the best game ever for you, then it is the best game ever.

As for the title theme, I've always found it somewhat similar to Satie's Gymnopédie No. 1. I wonder if Kondo had that composition in mind. In any case, intentional or not, they're both beautiful, beautiful pieces of music.

 

[Crayolan]

The final battle is easily the best moment in the entire game. The entire ending sequence as a whole is excellently done.

But in specific my favorite moment is right before the above gif, as he grows into Ganon and you can see nothing but the shine in his eyes and the shadow of his full body. It's so intimidating; it sets the atmosphere for the final fight perfectly.

 

[John Kowalski]

returning to kokiri forest in the future