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Soccerina of Time Turns Ocarina of Time Into Hyrule’s Strangest Soccer Game

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A Goron charging across the pitch is probably a good reason to pass the ball. In Soccerina of Time, that’s an actual decision you might have to make.

Soccerina of Time title screen with the modified Ocarina of Time logo and Link riding Epona beneath the moon

Created by modder Shon J, this Nintendo 64 ROM hack turns The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time into a soccer game populated by Hyrule’s familiar faces. Link, Skull Kid, Gorons, and other characters trade their usual roles for a place on the team, with clubs including Kokiri FC, Kakariko City, and Zora United. You can assign players to positions, which raises the question of who you trust in goal when the opposition includes Ganondorf.

Soccerina of Time character creator combining a Cucco head, Mutoh’s body, Ganondorf’s legs, and Talon’s running animation
Soccerina of Time players crowding the goal as a custom Cucco-headed character approaches the ball
Gorons facing Link and Kokiri players on a grassy soccer pitch in Soccerina of Time
Zora and Hylian characters playing soccer on a water-covered pitch in Soccerina of Time
Soccerina of Time match at Gerudo Fortress with Ganondorf, guards, and a custom Cucco-headed player near the goal

The screenshots give a good sense of how strange these matches can get. One shows Gorons facing a lineup of Kokiri characters on a grassy field. Another moves the action onto a water-covered pitch, while a match at Gerudo Fortress has guards and Ganondorf gathered near the goal. White boundary lines and colored barriers turn recognizable Zelda environments into makeshift soccer grounds.

Then there’s the character creator.

If the existing roster seems too sensible, you can assemble a player from different characters’ body parts and animations. One combination shown in the customization menu has a Cucco’s head, Mutoh’s body, and Ganondorf’s legs, with Talon’s running animation selected. The preview is every bit as ridiculous as that sounds. Seeing the same chicken-headed creation among the players makes the editor feel like a feature that could easily eat up an afternoon before you even start a match.

There’s something particularly funny about keeping Ocarina’s angular character models for all of this. Gorons already look like they would be difficult to dispossess, and a crowd of Kokiri and oversized custom players fighting for the ball has the chaotic look of a playground game with absolutely no agreement on the rules.

You can get a longer look at the project in this roughly 30-minute gameplay showcase.

Soccerina of Time is still in development. Nintendo Wire’s September 30 report identifies the footage as version 0.1 and says a newer 0.3 build has since been released. Downloads are shared through the dedicated Soccerina of Time channel in the Hylian Modding Discord, where interested players can check for builds and setup instructions.

For anyone who has spent years exploring Ocarina of Time, it’s a wonderfully odd reason to return. Just be prepared to share the field with someone’s homemade Cucco monstrosity.

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