Ocarina of Time Still Holds Up, Even as Zelda Moves Toward Open Worlds

The article argues that The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time remains relevant decades after its release. It notes that Breath of the Wild revitalized the franchise by emphasizing open-ended exploration and player freedom. That design philosophy carried into later entries such as Tears of the Kingdom and Echoes of Wisdom, which let players devise their own solutions to puzzles. The piece observes that Zelda's popularity has grown substantially as a result. It also suggests that the more linear, traditional Zelda style has become less common in the series.