

In the vast, deep forest of Hyrule, the Great Deku Tree served as the guardian spirit. The so-called "Z-targeting" system was subsequently adopted by numerous third-person action games. This is the first game to feature a lock-on targeting system whereby Link can circle around and direct his attacks at the targeted enemy. Because it was the first 3D game in the series, many innovations made their first appearance in the game play. There are dungeons with forest, fire, and water themes, for instance, and trademark weapons and items like the bomb and boomerang are also available. The Legend of Zelda series' first appearance on the Nintendo 64 brought many of the franchise's mainstays along with it. Ocarina of Time is the fifth game in the series and was developed by Nintendo's Entertainment Analysis and Development division for the Nintendo 64. It was the first Zelda game to be produced in 3D, and creator Shigeru Miyamoto was almost universally praised for smoothly transitioning Zelda into the 3D space and preserving the feel of the franchise. The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time was released in Japan on November 21, 1998, and in North America two days later.
