28 years later, a major Zelda: Ocarina of Time glitch changes how bosses are fought

Nearly three decades after the original 1998 release of The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time, the speedrunning community has uncovered a new glitch that fundamentally shifts how players approach two major boss encounters. As reported by GamesRadar+, prominent speedrunner ZFG shared the discovery, which involves manipulating memory loading and unloading processes to bypass traditional item requirements. This breakthrough, which has persisted through nearly three remakes, provides a fresh look at a game that remains a pillar of the action-adventure genre.

The mechanics behind the breakthrough

The glitch relies on precise timing and specific environmental interactions. By using a bottled item exactly as a lingering hitbox is disappearing, players can force the game to overwrite damage values. According to ZFG, this allows for defeating Volvagia without the Megaton Hammer and Ganondorf without the Light Arrows. The technique requires specific setups due to its heavy reliance on memory management. A combination of a magic spin attack and a bottled item, such as a fairy in Ocarina of Time, provides consistent results for players. Furthermore, the discovery is not limited to one title, as the glitch also functions in The Legend of Zelda: Majora’s Mask. In that game, using the magic spin combined with spring water results in damage equivalent to a powder keg, allowing players to quickly blast through areas like the Goron Racetrack and Romani Ranch.

While the discovery is technically impressive, ZFG notes that it is highly situational. Because it involves memory loading, players must perform specific preparatory actions. For those interested in testing the glitch themselves, it has been confirmed to function on both the original N64 hardware and the Nintendo Switch Online version of the game.

Why it matters

For the speedrunning community, this discovery opens up new optimization paths. The No Wrong Warp category is expected to benefit immediately, as players can now skip the lengthy process of obtaining magic in favor of simply securing a slingshot, potentially saving several minutes of total run time. Randomizer runs are also expected to see a significant impact, as removing the dependency on specific items like the hammer eases routing constraints. While speedrunners continue to experiment with ways to integrate this into categories like All Dungeons, the community acknowledges it is not an automatic timesaver for every run. Casual players likely will not find this changing their standard playthroughs, but for a game that is 28 years old, the emergence of new mechanical secrets serves as a testament to the depth of the title and the dedication of its players.