Musical Instruments in Zelda, Part One – The Ocarina of Time

The Legend of Zelda games will sometimes have an instrument with magical properties that are needed to complete the game. These instruments are a core part of the game they’re featured in and can be fun to play with. This will be a general overview of the instrument use in the game and plot. The instruments that I will be discussing in this series are actually instruments and are vital to completing the game, so you will not see me discuss things like the Ocarina of Winds or Wolf Link’s howling.

The Ocarina of Time from Ocarina of Time was protected by the Royal Family of Hyrule. It can play songs capable of manipulating time and space. It is giving to Link by Princess Zelda after Ganondorf launched an attack attempting to steal it. The Ocarina of Time, in this game, can be used to open the Door of Time to get the Master Sword. Mostly, you will use the Ocarina of Time to travel and gain access to certain areas. Another use, along with Zelda’s Lullaby, is to prove your connection to the Royal Family. Special songs to can warp you to dungeons, like the Minuet of Forest, or to turn night to day and day to night. Other songs are Epona’s song, Saria’s song, Song of Storms, and the Song of Time. However, I believe that the Song of Time, as well as the Ocarina of Time, is more useful in Ocarina of Time‘s sequel, Majora’s Mask.

In this game, you have three days to save the land of Termina before the moon crashes down. The Song of Time is used to go back to the first day, and also saves your game. Link can learn new songs to manipulate time, songs like Song of Double Time and Inverted Song of Time. However, the Ocarina of Time has other tricks.

Another key song is the Song of Healing, which is used to help ease peoples souls and regrets. Doing so will usually get Link a mask. Usually, these people are either dead, or close to it. An example being Mikau, who dies shortly after you rescue him. Playing the Song of Healing will allow him to move on peacefully, and you will get the Zora Mask.

Other songs are Song of Soaring, Sonata of Awakening, Goron Lullaby, New Wave Bossa Nova, Oath to Order, and the Elegy of Emptiness. Each of these songs has a unique function, like making a statue of whatever form Link is in, warping to different locations in Termina, etc.

The Ocarina of Time is a very useful item, in both games it was in. However, I think we were able to do more with it in Majora’s Mask. It had alot of new mechanics not matched by any instrument. What do you think of the Ocarina of Time, do you find it more useful in Ocarina of Time or Majora’s Mask? Let me know in the comments. Next week I will discuss the Wind Waker from The Wind Waker.