The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time is an awesome game. It's widely known across the world. There were many screenshots from the BETA version of the game, containing many things which didn't completely make it into the final release. A lot has already been discovered and documented about this, but there is a lot that still remains unknown to the public, until now.

The BETA had many graphical and technical differences between itself and the final release of the game, along with the removal of several areas and features. Here is an example of what differences exist, along with screenshots to go with it. Please bear in mind that these screenshots were taken from official Nintendo magazines, and as such, their quality may not be very good, but nonetheless, they're here.

Kokiri Region

* Forest temple has different textures
* Deku Tree has BETA lantern post
* BETA House with no sitting animations
* Fado's Lookout and Saria's House are missing
* A spin attack in the Forest Temple. Also of note is the three colours in the Ocarina of Time's right holes. Originally, the Spiritual Stones were placed inside them
* No ledge in front of Link's house (He's also eating the Ocarina)
* BETA houses in the Kokiri Forest (once again, Link is trying to eat the Ocarina)
* BETA Fado
* BETA Saria, complete with a BETA text bubble. For some reason, Navi is yellow, though it could be the colour scheme used in the BETA
* BETA Link, inside his house

Hyrule (Plains, Farm, Castle)

* Intro sequence is at midday, instead of dawn
* Link can speak to the soldiers at Hyrule Castle
* Field layout different, and has big fences. Note the drawbridge is not destroyed
* Zelda's horse is running freely across the field
* Zelda's horse has a different texture
* No soldier or door in the Castle Town entry. Also, note the lamppost
* In the Back Alley of Castle Town, there is another lamp post, as well as a BETA NPC
* The NPCs of Castle Town move around, as opposed to most remaining stationary in the final.
* Bombchu bowling game has increased difficulty
* Bombchu bowling winner. Note the sparkles, and the two eye panels on the wall
* Shooting Gallery has different gameplay. More items appear.
* Shooting Gallery shows separate slingshot counter icon
* Shooting Gallery rupees increase wallet supplement by the rupee value
* Sheik using a Deku Fruit on the warp panel in the Temple of Time
* Hyrule Castle has a different exterior layout
* Link using the Reed Whistle on Hyrule Field. Icon is also present
* Zelda's BETA model. Note the super-large ears
* More of Princess Zelda's BETA model. This expression is not used in final game
* BETA Chamber of Sages. Rauru gained a little more hair in the final
* BETA Lon Lon Cow Shed. Slingshot and sword are using BETA icons.
* Apparently, in the Castle Courtyard, Link needs help from Navi
* Lon Lon Ranch - Navi has her BETA model, and the rupee counter is using a different style
* While riding the horse at Lon Lon Ranch, the icon appears as "Whip", which was changed to "Faster" in the final
* BETA Cucco model. Lon Lon Ranch had a great deal of changes
* Speaking of Cuccos, inside the house, there are less Cuccos. It is also worth noting that the Cucco Finding Game did not exist in the BETA
* Peeking in on Ganondorf. The soldiers are using a BETA model
* The BETA exterior of the Temple of Time
* BETA Door of Time. Note that the Spiritual Stones have lost their power
* The Temple of Time's BETA warp panel
* The Unicorn Fountain, located inside the many Fairy Fountains. Zelda's Lullaby summons several fairies which restore health

Kakariko Village

* A look at the interior of the Staltula House. The sword icon is still its BETA form. The inside seems a bit more lit than in the final
* The interior of the Kakariko Windmill has a wooden finish in the BETA, as opposed to the more metallic finish of the final
* Sheik is using a more menacing "Back off", which was changed to "Get back" in the final release
* A BETA version of the kind helper lady's house. It no longer exists, and was completely replaced and relocated in the final
* The gravekeeper's shack uses a Forest Temple door
* The BETA interior of the gravekeeper's shack has a ghost which will appear at random. It is said to be the ghost of the gravekeeper. At this time, Dampé does not exist
* The Cemetery map is more resolute than other locations, even showing entrances. The ledge at the rear also seems to be missing the fence
* Link doesn't seem to be frozen by the Mud Doll (BETA Re-Dead), and still has the Fairy Ocarina
* Link is using the fabled Blade Beam

Goron Region

* The main room of the Dodongo's Cave is substantially different from its final incarnation
* The entrance to King Dodongo's chamber is not concealed under the ground. It has a sort of well-like appearance
* The Bomb Flowers are rainbow coloured
* Not only are there Blue Tektites around, but their original BETA model lacks the hairs on their legs
* In a later BETA, the Blue Tektites remain, but have gained hairy legs. The Z-Targeting reticle is also different
* A pre-final Sheik model
* In the BETA, Link meets with Sheik on the warp pad, as opposed to the bridge. His animation is different as well
* BETA Sheik has blue eyes as opposed to red
* The sign at the foot of the mountain trail is much different to the final's
* Link fights a Poe in a BETA section of the Dodongo's Cave
* Link's "Brother", Darunia, is much different to his final incarnation.
* A BETA Goron, complete with its BETA speech bubble, converse with Link on his way up the mountain

Zora Region

* A BETA area from within Jabu-Jabu
* The BETA entrance room inside Jabu-Jabu. Worth noting is that the icon reads "Check", and Navi has not targeted them, indicating they may not have been an enemy at the time
* Link engages a BETA Biri and Bari inside an as of now unused location inside Jabu-Jabu
* Shaboms are floating around right at the giant whale's teeth, which appear to be using a slightly different texture to the final
* Two Octoroks attack Link in a BETA part of Jabu-Jabu. The "water" is a red colour as opposed to the final's clearer colouration

Desert Region

* The Gerudo Training Facility is using the Majora's Mask treasure chest textures. A sign is also placed where one does not exist in the final release
* At Gerudo Valley, the tent near the bridge has changed completely, in design, location, and surrounding features. It should also be noted that the bridge is a suspension style bridge, as opposed to a simple one
* This is from when the BETA was still using the exact same engine as SM64. The Desert Colossus looks much different, and you can see that Link has the Forest Medal equipped
* The Jump button is still shown in the BETA. Link is not targeting Twinrova, indicating the use of a jump command

Unknown

* This mysterious road is one of the unknown locations that only exist in early BETA models of the game. It is not known of the significance of this location

A dungeon that was removed from the final game was known as the Wood Temple. Also located in the Kokiri Forest area, it is believed that you could only access it after beating all three of the child dungeons, as well as a couple of adult temples. Though it was removed, it is theorised that the dungeon was recreated in Majora's Mask, in the form of the Woodfall Temple. This is somewhat evidenced by the screenshots, provided below.

* BETA Big Baba
* Note the different map and Majora's Mask treasure chests. This somewhat supports the Majora's Mask Theory
* This appears to be the entrance room
* The main room. Note the filtered light effect, similar to the Temple of Time

Several other differences exist between versions. These include, but are not limited to:

* Link has a different seiyū (voice actor/actress)
* Navi's speech is Japanese
* The Triforce symbol above the Door of Time is inverted
* Death Mountain has a different texture
* Link flashes yellow when damaged, as opposed to red
* The Hookshot uses a different sound effect
* The BETA Great Fairy is crystallised (see the URA Project for an example)
* The Deku Shield does not burn when touched by flames
* Transition effects show the Triforce

We have uploaded various videos to our Official YouTube Channel. To be taken directly to them, simply click on a thumbnail provided.

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