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The original Nintendo 64 version of Ocarina of Time runs at about 20 frames per second, according to Nintendo’s own development interview. Nintendo says the Nintendo 3DS remake, The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time 3D, runs at 30 frames per second. Those two figures describe two specific versions. They are not a single answer for every release of the game.
Frame rate by version
The figures below come from Nintendo staff speaking in its official Iwata Asks interview. The publication date is not stated in the interview record used for this article, so treat them as Nintendo’s statements about the two releases rather than a dated benchmark.
![The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time 3D - Nintendo 3DS [Pre-Owned]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51JCULmfoXL._SL160_.jpg)
| Version | Stated frame rate | Who states it | Scope of the figure |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nintendo 64 original | About 20 fps | Nintendo, Iwata Asks interview | Approximate; not presented as a constant minimum |
| Nintendo 3DS (Ocarina of Time 3D) | 30 fps | Nintendo, Iwata Asks interview | Stated for the 3DS release only |
Nintendo describes frame rate as the number of times the image is refreshed each second. A higher number means the picture is redrawn more often, which generally reads as smoother motion.
The Nintendo 64 original
In the interview, the original is described as running at “about 20.” The word “about” matters. Nintendo gives this as an approximate figure for the game as a whole, and the interview does not establish that the game holds 20 fps in every scene or during every moment of play. No independent, scene-by-scene measurement of either version is established in the sources behind this article.
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Ocarina of Time 3D on Nintendo 3DS
Nintendo states that the 3DS version runs at 30 fps. That is the figure to use when someone asks about the remake. It is a platform-specific statement: it does not extend to other Nintendo 3DS software, to later hardware, or to other ports of the game.
Collision checks and smoother movement
A separate Nintendo development interview gives a more specific comparison. Collision detection between Link and monsters was performed 20 times per second in the original and 30 times per second in the 3DS remake. Nintendo describes the movement in the remake as smoother as a result.
This is one system measured on its own clock. It does not mean that every mechanic in the game runs at the same rate in either version, and it should not be read as proof of the overall frame rate on its own.
Why the rate change affected sound
According to the same interview, the difference in rate also affected sound timing, including sound effects. In other words, moving the game to 30 fps required adjustments beyond a higher display rate. Nintendo’s description is qualitative; the interview does not provide a table of the individual timing changes.
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Which version you are asking about
Use the version to decide which answer applies:
- Nintendo 64 cartridge or original build: about 20 fps, according to Nintendo.
- Nintendo 3DS, Ocarina of Time 3D: 30 fps, according to Nintendo.
- Other rereleases, regional builds, or emulated setups: the Nintendo figures above do not establish a rate for these. Ocarina of Time has multiple regional and platform builds, so a version-specific check is needed before assuming a rate.
If you want to play the version Nintendo says runs at 30 fps, look for the Nintendo 3DS release, The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time 3D. That is the release Nintendo identifies in its own listing of the game.
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![Nintendo 2DS - Legend of Zelda Ocarina of Time 3D [video game]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51xY00mvAfL._SL160_.jpg)
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