Development:The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time/Unused Cutscenes

This is a sub-page of Development:The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time.

To do: Check if there are more cutscenes still missing here.

Grab some popcorn!

z_ocarina/data/shape2/zelda_tool_scene contains several early and unused cutscene files that aren't present in the final game. Many of these cutscenes contain outdated music or message IDs from an earlier point of development.

Hyrule Field

Ganondorf Chases Zelda

Somewhat unfinished cutscene, it resembles the final version but with several different camera positions. Ganondorf throws an energy ball at Link but this happens somewhat faster than the final version and appears to be unfinished. From zelda_tool_scene/spot00/spot00_demo01.o.

Ganondorf Chases Zelda 2

Cutscene very similar to the final version, however a black and white filter is not applied, the cutscene becomes playable in the same setup and does not transition to the Temple of Time as in the final version. From zelda_tool_scene/spot00/spot00_demo02.o.

Escaping with Epona at the South Fence

Apparently the same as the final version, only shorter. There is no jingle when landing in Hyrule Field. From zelda_tool_scene/spot00/spot00_demo03.o.

Escaping with Epona at the East Fence

Apparently the same as the final version, only shorter. There is no jingle when landing in Hyrule Field. From zelda_tool_scene/spot00/spot00_demo04.o.

Escaping with Epona at the West Fence

Apparently the same as the final version, only shorter. There is no jingle when landing in Hyrule Field. From zelda_tool_scene/spot00/spot00_demo05.o.

Link Arrives at Hyrule Field

Nearly finished cutscene of when Link first arrives in Hyrule Field. The cameras are very close to the final version, the difference here is that the title card for the place is missing and the cutscene is extremely long. From zelda_tool_scene/spot00/spot00_demo06.o.

Link's Nightmare

The files spot00_demo07.o, spot00_demo08.o and spot00_demo09.o are exactly the same as the unreferenced cutscene that is in the final version. It can be seen here.

spot00_demouma00.o

This is the version of Link escaping with Epona through the southern fence and is practically finished, it has micro differences with the final version that are quite imperceptible. From zelda_tool_scene/spot00/spot00_demouma00.o.

spot00_demouma01.o

This is the version of Link escaping with Epona through the eastern fence and is practically finished, it has micro differences with the final version that are quite imperceptible. From zelda_tool_scene/spot00/spot00_demouma01.o.

Ice Cavern

Serenade of Water

Link learns the Serenade of Water and holds a music note above his head, which isn't loaded since the object ID is missing from the object list. This scene is from zelda_tool_scene/Ice_doukutu/ice_doukuto_demo00.o.

Temple of Time

Meeting Sheik

The famous 40-second pre-release footage showing Link and Sheik in the Temple of Time can now be seen, with context! This cutscene is in zelda_tool_scene/Tokinoma/tokinoma_dm_siku.o and shows Sheik's first encounter, where Link is bestowed knowledge of his upcoming quest.

Early Footage	Loaded in Final

Early Minuet of Forest

Link walks all the way back to the Temple of Time in order to learn the Minuet of Forest, presumably after trying to find his friend Saria. From zelda_tool_scene/Tokinoma/tokinoma_dm_zd.o.

Prelude of Light

As seen in zelda_tool_scene/Tokinoma/tokinoma_dm_tama.o.

The late-1997 Overdump indicates that the Prelude of Light was once the song that opened the Door of Time, not the Song of Time, and this cutscene appears to be very old - although the "Item Get!" text is still correct, saying that the player obtained the Prelude of Light, the Ocarina teaching and playback sections of the cutscene point to the wrong songs. The teaching section is incorrect because another entry in the Ocarina Song Action list was inserted into ID 1 (for free play during gameplay), which moved all the teaching actions up by 1. So while the cutscene is trying to display the teaching action for Prelude of Light, its ID of 0x06 now belongs to the teaching action for Nocturne of Shadow.

However, the playback section shows just how old this cutscene is. It appears that at some point, the warp songs were the only Ocarina songs the player could use; this is hinted at by several details within the Overdump. If the non-warp songs are removed from the list (both the teaching actions and the playback actions), we can see why this cutscene uses Song of Time's playback action:

When this cutscene was created, neither the "free play" action nor the non-warp songs were included in the list. It can be safely assumed that this cutscene is very similar to the one the player would have seen in the Overdump build, if not the same.

Link Receives the Light Medallion

Princess Zelda reveals herself to Link, then gives him the Light Medallion.

Besides the changed message ID for the Light Medallion and Zelda's theme playing throughout, there seem to be no other visible differences.

From zelda_tool_scene/tokinoma/tokinoma_dm_zd3.o.

Early	Final

Sacred Forest Meadow

Minuet of Forest

An early take on Link learning the Minuet of Forest. Portions of this cutscene can be seen in pre-release footage. Found in zelda_tool_scene/Spot05/spot05_demo00.o.

Unknown

An unfinished and very long cutscene near the warp pad and stopped. In the final version it would be where Link would learn Saria's Song. Found in zelda_tool_scene/Spot05/spot05_demo01.o.

Death Mountain Crater

Bolero of Fire

This cutscene is in a very rough state. Due to some incompatible coding (possibly around Sheik's early object being replaced), Sheik does not appear. A portion of it can be seen in pre-release footage, although Link is on the warp pedestal there rather than on the bridge. Found in zelda_tool_scene/Spot17/spot17_demo_00.o.

Zora's Fountain

Zora's Sapphire

Princess Ruto excitedly shouts Link's name after completing Jabu-Jabu's Belly. She swims at a lower depth, and the text is missing where Link ponders how he doesn't know what she's talking about with "her most precious possession". Found in zelda_tool_scene/Spot08/spot08_demo00.o.

Jabu-Jabu Inhales

This cutscene file has not been altered in any way and is exactly the same as the final version, but it is not used, apparently having been abandoned a long time ago. It can be seen in this article here. File found in zelda_tool_scene/Spot08/spot08_demo01.o.

Lake Hylia

Lake Hylia is Restored

Apparently someone believed in Link before Prince Sidon did. During a touching moment when Lake Hylia is restored, Sheik instills confidence that Link will succeed with his quest. This can be seen in zelda_tool_scene/Spot06/spot06_demo00.o.

Desert Colossus

Requiem of Spirit

This cutscene looks mostly complete aside from Sheik's absence, possibly owing to an incompatible object code. This can be seen in zelda_tool_scene/Spot06/spot11_demo00.o.

Nabooru Kidnapped

Almost the same as the final version, but the last track is longer to end and does not have a sand wind transition effect. In addition, the cutscene does not return to the original setup. The file is in zelda_tool_scene/Spot11/spot11_demo01.o.

Early	Final

Kokiri Forest

Farore Creates Life

It's the exact same cutscene file found in Spirit Temple in one of the unused alternate scenes. From zelda_tool_scene/Spot04/spot04_demo00.o.
It can be seen here.

Deku Tree talks about Ganondorf

There is very little difference in this cutscene, almost identical to the final version, other than a few barely noticeable camera focus changes, and some minor changes in the timing of Link landing in front of the Deku Tree. From zelda_tool_scene/Spot04/spot04_demo01.o.

Deku Tree Dies

It's a finished cutscene, identical to the final version, some quite imperceptible camera focus changes. The biggest difference is that the music doesn't stop playing when Deku Tree is dying. From zelda_tool_scene/Spot04/spot04_demo02.o.

Introduction

The introductory cutscene is mostly consistent with the final, but look at Navi's alternate flight path toward the end. She is keenly observing Link's home, and might even be hesitant to meet him. From zelda_tool_scene/Spot04/spot04_demo03.o.

Kakariko Village

Kakariko Village on Fire

From zelda_tool_scene/Spot01/spot01_demo00.o.

Shadows from the Well

Interestingly, the camera in this cutscene focuses on the original spot where the well was located, which can be seen in an early minimap. From zelda_tool_scene/Spot01/spot01_demo01.o.

Shadows from the Well 2

From zelda_tool_scene/Spot01/spot01_demo02.o.

Chamber of Sages

Link Awakening in the Chamber of the Sages 01

A full cutscene from zelda_tool_scene/Kenjyanoma/Kenjyanoma_demo00.o. Link doesn't receive the Light Medallion from Rauru in this early cutscene since it was given to him by Zelda at this point in development. In addition, a text dump from a late 1997 prototype reveals that he didn't have any power left other than to send him back to Temple of Time. The camera angles match prerelease screenshots Nintendo released in April 1998, but they were changed considerably for the final game.

This cutscene seems to be older than April 1998 because Link received the Light Medallion from Rauru by then.

Link Awakening in the Chamber of the Sages 02

Link encounters a denial-of-service attack, as the Sacred Realm is not yet ready to serve him. This is yet another cutscene containing outdated message IDs. From zelda_tool_scene/Kenjyanoma/Kenjyanoma_demo01.o. All of Rauru's original text for this scene was repurposed for the final game. The textboxes that the cutscene contains expect context-sensitive actions which can't occur, therefore loop. If some of the textboxes are set to dummy variables, we can see that it appears to be another variant of the awakening cutscene, though the camera is oddly low when Link is looking himself over.

Six Sages Summoning the Sealing

To do: Check why objects are not rendered.

The cutscene when Zelda summons the 6 sages has different timing between cameras, and some angles are slightly different from the final version. It takes a long time to finish and doesn't transition to the following cutscene with Ganondorf being sealed. Found in zelda_tool_scene/Kenjyanoma/Kenjyanoma_demo02.o. It seems to be identical to prerelease footage from June 1998.

Castle Courtyard

Link Meets Zelda for the First Time

This cutscene is quite interesting, although there were dialog boxes in the cutscene and they are no longer like in the final version and cause a softlock, the cameras are quite different, a cutscene showing the triforce is done inside the map itself, perhaps this indicates that the cutscene map had not yet been created at this time, it is also possible to notice that Ganondorf does not look at Link. The elements of the cutscene such as the light and the triforce remain in the final version but are not used. It is possible to notice a large amount of different camera angles. File zelda_tool_scene/Nakaniwa/nakaniwa_demo00.o.

Zelda's Lullaby

New angles for learning the song, and Link once again holds a music note above his head (not loaded due to missing object ID). From zelda_tool_scene/Nakaniwa/nakaniwa_demo01.o.

Last Cutscene

The last cutscene of Ocarina of Time is almost finished. There are a few differences in the cameras, the cutscene does not freeze with Link and Zelda looking at each other, after a long time the cutscene becomes playable. File zelda_tool_scene/Nakaniwa/nakaniwa_demo02.o.

Gerudo Fortress

Ending Credits

Blink and you'll miss it. The ending credit scene in z_ocarina/data/shape2/zelda_scene/Spot12_OLD(ver2)/spot12_demo01.o doesn't pan quite as far as the final version, making the duration slightly shorter. It doesn't show the wall on the far left.

End-of-pan Early	End-of-pan Final

Spirit Temple

Iron Knuckle Introduction

The Iron Knuckle miniboss in the Spirit Temple has a cutscene with various different camera angles. From zelda_tool_scene/Jyasinzou_boss/jyasinboss_demo00.o.

(Source: MudkipLegend)

Iron Knuckle Defeated

Cutscene apparently complete, it is a little longer than the final version, it is missing some particle effects on the armor pieces, Koume has no animation when he appears and no flame particles. From zelda_tool_scene/Jyasinzou_boss/jyasinboss_demo01.o.

Death Mountain Trail

Nayru...

Cutscene of the creation of Hyrule, it is quite similar to the final version, but a little longer and with different text timing. From zelda_tool_scene/Spot16/spot16_demo00.o.

Goron's Ruby

An earlier version of the sequence where Link obtains the Goron's Ruby after conquering Dodongo's Cavern. There is no dialogue, Darunia smacks Link and then instantly gives him the Ruby. The ending also has differences, Link ends up running down the mountain. From zelda_tool_scene/Spot16/spot16_demo01.o.

(Source: MudkipLegend)

First Time on Death Mountain Trail

Cutscene of when Link first visits the DMT, the early version took a bit longer to finish and didn't have a title card for the place.zelda_tool_scene/Spot16/spot16_demo02.o.

Gerudo Valley

Creation of Hyrule: Sequence

It is the second sequence of the creation of Hyrule in Gerudo Valley, no text box is triggered and the camera seems to be a little higher than in the final version. From zelda_tool_scene/Spot09/spot09_demo00.o.

Creation of Hyrule

This is the first sequence of the creation of Hyrule, which is basically the same as the final version except that it lacks dialogue and doesn't have the lightning in the background. It is much more atmospheric when the lightning is added. From zelda_tool_scene/Spot09/spot09_demo01.o.

(Source: MudkipLegend)

Lon Lon Ranch

Horse Racing Preparation

A short cutscene before the race starts, this is what the early version of this footage looked like. Background music does not play in this early version. zelda_tool_scene/Spot20/spot20_demo00.o.

Early	Final

Unknown

Perhaps it is a placeholder for a cutscene that has not yet begun to be built, in the final version this cutscene will be used for Link to learn Epona's Song and the other cutscene is for the end credits. zelda_tool_scene/Spot20/spot20_demo01.o and zelda_tool_scene/Spot20/spot20_demo02.o, the files are exactly the same.

Outside Ganon's Castle

Creation of the Bridge

An earlier version of the sequence for when the Sages create the bridge. No dialogue and less of a reaction from Link. From zelda_tool_scene/Ganon_tou/ganon_tou_demo00.o.

(Source: MudkipLegend)

Inside Jabu-Jabu

Zora's Sapphire

In the latter half of this cutscene when Princess Ruto finds Zora's Sapphire, the camera spawns just outside of the map behind Link. Also, the Sapphire position is slightly different since Ruto walks right through it. From zelda_tool_scene/Bdan/bdan_demo00.o.

(Source: MudkipLegend)

Zora's Domain

Unknown

A long incomplete cutscene in zelda_tool_scene/spot07/spot07_demo00.o slowly zooms out, just out of bounds near the entrance. There isn't much to show. Interestingly, Link's coordinates for this cutscene are (1259,168,905), which places him out of bounds on the lower-right portion of the map. These coordinates likely correspond with Zora's Domain in Summer 1998, when the map extended further into this area (as can be seen in an early minimap).

Shooting Gallery

3 identical cutscene files that are also present in the final version show a camera rotating left and right, can be seen here. Files in zelda_tool_scene/syatekijyou/syatekijyou_demo00.o, zelda_tool_scene/syatekijyou/syatekijyou_demo01.o and zelda_tool_scene/syatekijyou/syatekijyou_demo02.o.

Cutscene Map

Hyrule Creation

The early version of this cutscene is longer, some things are different like the camera angle and the timing of the text boxes. From zelda_tool_scene/hiral/hiral_demo00.o.

Ganondorf Riding on Fire

Same file as the final version of Ganondorf riding on fire. From zelda_tool_scene/hiral/hiral_demo01.o.

Creation of the Triforce by Deku Tree

The text box is more anticipated than the final version, the sky does not change color, during the cutscene transition we see that the triforce stops spinning. From zelda_tool_scene/hiral/hiral_demo02.o.

Ganondorf Laughing

It's the same as the final version, but the early version doesn't play Ganondorf's music, just the chime. From zelda_tool_scene/hiral/hiral_demo03.o.

Creation of the Triforce by Sheik

It is almost identical to the final version, but does not play the sacred music for the creation of Hyrule, instead it plays the background music from the cutscene header, the music that plays in cutscene 04 is the one from the title screen which is replaced by the sacred music from the cutscene in the final version. From zelda_tool_scene/hiral/hiral_demo04.o.