Before we get into this, let’s be clear: I know The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time already has a sequel. It’s called Majora’s Mask, and it’s one of the greatest games of all time. I’m not trying to erase Majora’s Mask, and I’m certainly not trying to disrespect Link’s adventures in Termina.
With that out of the way, let’s talk about a little game called The Legend of Zelda: Sands of Time. If that doesn’t sound familiar to you, I’m not surprised. While this is a sequel to one of the most critically acclaimed video games ever, it’s also completely unofficial. Which, in many ways, actually makes it more impressive.
The Legend Of Zelda: Sands Of Time Is A Secret Sequel
You can download and play it now
The Legend of Zelda: Sands of Time is a ROM hack of Ocarina of Time that throws in so many new ideas and mechanics that it’s a completely new game.
As is typical for most fan games, this one has a pretty dark plot. It appears to take place in the Downfall Timeline, which is the reality in which Ganon kills Link in Ocarina of Time and takes over Hyrule completely.
The synopsis reads: “Long after the events of the dark age, when the evil King Ganon ruled over the Kingdom of Hyrule who died of old age, a young adventurer and fairy rose up in the hope of gaining wealth and the power that Ganon once held to live a life that suited their own interests.”
As far as ROM hacks go, this one is pretty packed with features, including:
- A completely new story.
- A brand-new world to explore, with its own unique dungeons.
- A new set of items and bosses to defeat.
- A new soundtrack.
- A much greater challenge than Ocarina of Time.
You Get What You Pay For
Which is to say, remember this isn’t official
Obviously, because this isn’t an official Nintendo game and is the passion project of a few dedicated fans, it’s a little rough around the edges. I don’t say this to slam the people who worked on it, to be clear. They should be very proud of what they made! Certainly, most of the reviews for the hack are glowing.
“Amazing hack, absolutely worth playing,” writes one fan. “The effort that went into this is astounding. The music is great, the setting is awesome, the dungeon design is mind-bogglingly complex. The writing is witty and fun. This is the true Downfall Timeline’s sequel.”
If you’re a hardcore fan of The Legend of Zelda looking for something new to play, however, you could do a lot worse than The Legend of Zelda: Sands of Time.
- Released
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November 21, 1998
- ESRB
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E10+ for Everyone 10+: Animated Blood, Fantasy Violence, Suggestive Themes
- Developer(s)
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Nintendo
- Publisher(s)
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Nintendo
- Engine
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Zelda 64 Engine