The first 64-bit version of Zelda, was originally conceived as a way designed to use the features of 64DD. Internal Clock, rewritable discs with a size double what had ever been used on the cartridge, internet connection and tools for editing images, Zelda 64 was presented by Nintendo itself as a title so huge that it would be impossible to implement on a normal N64.
All this because of the possibility of 64 Disc Drive. But there was only one small problem: the 64DD was not greeted with much interest from professionals, remembering the bad purpose made by all previous add-on for console, the DD was growing slowly postponed, Nintendo itself lost confidence in the project and it was not clear if it ever really left. At this point, Nintendo had no other choice, because of low sales of the N64, they announced that Zelda 64 would have been ported to normal cartridges, so hoping to renew interest in the console market. But this change meant they had to remove all those interesting features that would have been only possible thanks to 64DD and part of the game and history had to undergo an extream cut.
From an interview with N-ZONE magazine (translated with google and reported by GoNintendo) we can read that Aonuma admits that Ocarina of Time originally had more temples and magic abilities that were cut.
Eiji Aonuma: Yes, you may be absolutely right, although I can not remember exactly all the details. There really is a difference between the temples, which we wanted to integrate and those that exist in the final game. And that had something to do with magic. We thought of integrating some actions, some plot threads, and some puzzles that have something to do with magic abilities.
We have come to the conclusion that other, already existing, just regular items to be a worthy replacement. So we had originally three temples, which would capture the young Link, three temples for the adult Link and three in which he was to learn each spell – but instead we have eliminated a temple of it. In the final game is now so 3 plus 3 plus 2, or 8 temples to find.
Also, some more interesting info from the early beta / prototype version of Zelda 64 were shared in the Iwata Asks dedicated to the Ocarina of Time 3D remake:
Iwata: Oh, he wanted to make an FPS (first-person shooter).
Koizumi: Right. In the beginning, he had the image that you are at first walking around in first-person, and when an enemy appeared, the screen would switch, Link would appear, and the battle would unfold from a side perspective.[…]
Iwawaki: But…I do think we tried out a first-person perspective a little.
Osawa: I think we made something to try it out, but decided it wasn’t interesting visually and abandoned it right away.[…]
Iwata: You were originally developing The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time for the Nintendo 64DD.13
Koizuma: Yes. Miyamoto-san said he had some ideas, like leaving behind all of Link’s footprints.
Iwata: Yeah. (laughs)[…]
Koizuma: That’s why he started saying that if Link was going to ride a horse, he wanted to include mounted archery and one-on-one battle. (laughs) We were able to include the mounted archery, but not the one-on-one battle.
Iwata: But later you included it in The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess.
For more info read this article: Project Zelda 3D – The Development of Zelda 64
Thanks to Superfun64, 8PM and thedragoonknight for the contribution!
You can find more info about Zelda: Ocarina Of Time in the Zelda Wiki!
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Videos:
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(19 votes, average: 4.84 out of 5)
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- Conker’s Quest / Twelve Tales [N64 – Cancelled] - 04-04-2008
- Zelda 64: Ocarina Of Time [N64 – Beta / Tech Demo / Proto] - 04-04-2008
- Mother 3 – Earthbound 64 [N64 – Cancelled] - 04-04-2008
There was so much in these betas that would have been amazing to have actually put in the game. Shame Nintendo excluded the triforce.
Was this canceled?
They really need to add all these old Zelda 64 demos in the Wiiware channel.. i would buy them for sure.
Look link fighting queen gohma as an adult! With the forest medalion equiped! There loooks like there was alot cut from the game… enough to make a second game out of it.
Fighting gohma would it be a little be more scarrier with the blue fog. the palyer would not be able to see from where she’s coming.
I just don’t understand why they would remove so much good content!
When Link swings his sword, he does it in a jedi-like way ( swinging from one side to the other. The sword even leaves trail marks after he swings.
( You can edit the debug rom, and be able to attack like that at all times)
An on-rail type Hyrule town is stupid. I hate in Zelda 64, the backrounds look too real. They could have just left everything in 3D. After all, it would have looked so much better.
I just wish someone with programming skills, could remodel the entire town, and take the game source code for link and let you play as him on a 64 emulator or something. Retexturing isn’t the same. :(
They’re actually remaking the whole beta version of OoT, and it looks pretty interesting.
thats the graveyard scene
Il gioco più atteso di tutti i tempi.
Are they really remaking all of this? If they really are that would be cool!
Wow. This beta version would be the greatest thing ever. Will it be on the Wii?
its things like these projects of nintendo that they never finished that piss me off and made me lose faith in them.
Ocarina of Time is the best game that I’ve player EVER.. But Zelda64 is the best game that I’ve NEVER played.
I think something: Miyamoto-san have the ONLY ONE copy of Zelda64 on his desk. Triforce included. I bet.
The Legend Not Die!
The video of the great faery beta, its a cut from a longer video trailer. Ive been looking for that trailer for 10 years.
Does anybody now where can i find it please??
Hi David, i should have that longer trailer somewhere on my HD, i’ll try to find it again
So many of the old pictures look like n64 versions of Zelda 1 and 2…
And…
http://www.unseen64.net/wp-content/gallery/zelda-64-beta/zelda862.jpg
http://www.coyote-custom.com/agora/html/images/scifi/rebel.gif
Don’t these two logos in the links look similar?
The Triforce was just a little teaser so guys like you amd me would buy the game, but that still doesn’t make the beta any less interesting.
Also If you guys heard of the so called “beta castle guard” (not the hidiouse looking mod still in the game, the one in the alley.)Its sill in the game. When you see the moat cutscene. Insted of grabbing the ocarina of time, go to the back alley. Some people really need to try a little harder before the partake in the super fun activity we call hacking. (Im still waiting on my new OS so If you want tutorials you’ll need to wait a bit longer. Sorry)
I heard that Nintendo was considering adding the missing beta Dungeons, Areas and Quests into the new Ocarina of Time Remake for the Nintendo 3DS so that the story would make more sense and add extra replay value. So we might get to see the Light Temple and a Ice Temple, Myamoto might even include the Triforce Quest so we would know how Link got his Triforce of Courage.
they should include all the material that was planned for ura too..
if it is really an “ocarina complete version” i can’t wait to play it!
Missing LinkUpClose pics
http://img153.imageshack.us/img153/9715/linkupclose5.jpg
http://a.imageshack.us/img153/5581/linkupclose6.jpg
http://a.imageshack.us/img716/7799/linkupclose7.jpg
Thanks Double45! :) I’m going to add them ASAP
I found this Video of some later Oot beta stuff, a lot of the interface is kind of different.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_hFSu7edzU0
I agree that they really should put these on Wii. They should make a Virtual Console section JUST for old betas. Depending on size, the betas should be free, or cost up to 800+ points. I really want to play the VERY EARLY Zelda 64 1995 beta where Link (who looks like he did in the 80’s DIC produced cartoon) is fighting the ugly tin thng in the first video on this page. That would be EPIC! The graphics look so early that they make me drool!
Man… I’ve been hoping that there would be a beta cartridge or disc somewhere in the world that could be found… Either as a rom on the internet or from the creators themselves… I hope they release the beta form of the game sometime in the future.
Also, if anyone actually has a copy on a rom or something, do tell me lol.
beta seems a lot better
wow this beta version looked like it could have been a lot of fun to play. I think if they put it out for DD kids would beg their parents for that game and the DD. I think the marketing for the DD was not as great as it could be. If they made OOT a DD game then Nintendo would have made a lot of money. Oh well…they now have the WII :p i miss my N64
what about the unicorn fountain that was cut to but there is nothing about it here :(
@patrick: Even though it looks good, it was nothing more than a fancy Fairy Fountain.
The beta gave me goosebumps. I grew up playing OoT, and it was good, but the beta, just looked beautiful. The part where they showed the castle in one of the videos, while young Link was on that white bridge, gave me goosebumps. I really hope someday they make this game again, the way it was intended to be.
Is it me, or does the blue goop remind you of TP Chu jelly?
I remember it like it was yesterday. Looking up cheat codes for the game (I did that a lot), I found images of a bunch of beta areas that I was supposedly able to access with a Gameshark. I nagged my dad about buying me one, but I never did get it (and now we will never have the pleasure of hacking our games again ;_;). But those images, man, they stuck with me. One in particular; it didn’t have any enemies or swordfighting; it didn’t have anything interesting at all, really — it was just a picture of Link standing on a sort of road, with Epona (I think) and with a few houses (maybe). It gives me chills thinking about it, because now it just seems creepy to remember. But I’ll never forget. And I never found that picture again.
im very curios are you going to release this soon making it able to played by the public or are you going to keep it furthermore what date are you going to release it?
For those of which curious, the Unicorn Fountain was most likely part of the beta fairy fountain. The beta fountain was used in MM and the UF files can be found there, I can’t recall how. There was also some neat dialog I saw once that was found tha said
Travel to:
the past
the present
the future
A more complex time travel idea maybe?
Have you gotten the screenshots from this yet? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qfg6-mp1B1A
The quality isn’t so good. You might find better quality from Navigatr themselves
By looking at the video it seems that all of those screenshots are already in the gallery!
Is there any news on this after the SpaceWorld Beta release? I asked some smartass if they’d make a full version of that game rather than the demo, he said “ya it released in 1998” smh. Was hoping to see a full alpha/beta restoration complete with graphics, sword-beams, etc. Seems like so much content was cut due to time or limitations.
who in the hell is going to put in the time to recreate the ENTIRE beta game? that’s like… making the game all over again. You asked “some smartass”, that smartass was just replying with a joke to your idiotic comment lol. You want the whole beta? go find a dev cart and dump it for us.