Ocarina of Time has a secret way to get to Hyrule Castle that you probably didn't know about

The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time may be 27 years old at this point, but that didn't stop one player from discovering a new way to enter Hyrule Castle. As shown in a post by Reddit user Ok-Adeptness-9973, players can enter Hyrule Castle by simply paying the guard at the main gate after being caught and kicked out.

The fact that players like Ok-Adeptness-9973 are still discovering new ways to play Zelda: Ocarina of Time is proof of its timelessness. According to Metacritic, it loved Zelda classic originally released on the Nintendo 64 is the highest rated game of all time, with a Metascore of 99/100. Today, players still return to Ocarina of timewhether it's for nostalgia, speedrunning, or experimenting with game mechanics that continue to surprise even decades later.

Players can pay the guard to get back to Ocarina of Time's Hyrule Castle

Entering Hyrule Castle in Zelda: Ocarina of Time is one of the game's most memorable moments, as it marks the beginning of a major turning point in the story. Normally, players must climb a vine to the right of the main gate, after which they can jump down from the ledge and begin the first stage of the stealth guard section. If they manage to get through that section, they can proceed to use a Cucco to wake up the Talon, then create a platform of crates to jump over the moat and crawl through the spillway door.

Apparently, if they happen to get stuck in the first segment, they can pay the guard at the main gate a small amount of rupees to get through. According to Ok-Adeptness-9973's video on Reddit, after being caught during the first stealth guard section of Ocarina of timethere is no need to climb the vine again. Instead, speaking to the guard, he acknowledges Link's determination to enter, saying he can pass for a measly 10 rupees.

According to a comment by HiMyNameIsMark82 on the post, this only works if players “fail a lot or after you've managed to sneak into the castle,” and user unknownyoyo and others clarified that this only works on the first gate, as the other guards will still capture Link if they see him. However, comments like these are few and far between, as most express confusion over the fact that paying the guard is even possible. “Mind blown” seems to be the feeling among most people Ocarina of time fans here, with others making humorous comments about how easy Hyrule's protection is to breach.

Ocarina of Time's Long Legacy keeps new discoveries possible

As discoveries like this keep happening, it's impossible not to reflect on the long history that remains Zelda: Ocarina of Time on the radar. The game first launched on the Nintendo 64 in 1998, where it quickly became one of the most influential 3D action-adventure titles ever made. Its story, gameplay and exploration not only influenced the future The Legend of Zelda game but a whole generation of games that followed. Even today, many of Ocarina of times design ideas are instantly recognizable due to the impact they have had on the genre.

The renewed interest in Ocarina of time over the years has a lot to do with how Nintendo has kept it available as well. In 2011, the game received a full remake on the Nintendo 3DS, giving it improved graphics, better item handling, and it Ocarina of times infamous water temple less headache thanks to easier replacement of Iron Boots. That version was introduced Ocarina of time to a whole new audience while reminding players why it had such a strong reputation to begin with.

More recently, the Nintendo Switch Online service arrived Ocarina of time to both the original Switch and Switch 2 through its Nintendo 64 library. While the emulated version stays true to the original Nintendo 64 version of the Ocarina of timeoccasional improvements in quality of life and the convenience of modern hardware continue to make it a valuable way to return to the classic. As a result, unique and often comical discoveries like Ok-Adeptness-9973's Hyrule Castle guard interaction still have a steady flow of curious players trying things out and stumbling upon details that have been hiding in plain sight for decades.