Zelda: Ocarina of Time's Ice Arrows Were Basically Pointless
The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time introduced many staple gameplay features to the Zelda universe. However, the ice arrows missed the mark.
The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time is considered one of the best games in the franchise, if not one of the greatest video games of all time. Released in 1998, it is the fifth installment in the series and introduced several features that would become The Legend of Zelda staples, such as a target-lock system, context-sensitive buttons and 3D graphics. While most of these developments were well-received, others had a less-than-powerful impact.
In Ocarina of Time, Princess Zelda calls upon Link to stop Ganondorf, who Zelda believes is trying to steal the Triforce. Unfortunately, Link fails in his quest - Ganondorf takes the Triforce, and Link falls into a coma for seven years. When he awakes, Ganondorf rules Hyrule, and the only way Link can set things right is by reuniting the seven sages. He succeeds, and with the help of Zelda is finally able to defeat Ganondorf.
The game showcased everything fans of The Legend of Zelda expect from a series title, including providing a variety of weapons for Ocarina of Time's players to enjoy. One such weapon was the ice arrow, which could be acquired in the Gerudo Training Ground. Unlike typical weapons in the franchise, however, ice arrows were unnecessary to progressing in the narrative, failing to build upon Link's gameplay. This made the ice arrows feel out of place in The Legend of Zelda universe, especially given the fact that they didn't actually do anything.
As their name might imply, ice arrows are designed to freeze enemies. In theory, this would make it easier for Link to get close and land blows, making them a valuable asset. They are also slightly more effective against certain enemies, such as the Bongo Bongo. Unfortunately, the reality is somewhat more lackluster. All ice arrows effectively do is make enemies drop bigger Rupees. However, as Ocarina of Time has a maximum wallet cap of 500 Rupees, it's more likely than not players won't be able to pick up the dropped currency.
Additionally, Gerudo's Training Ground comes quite late in the game's narrative, limiting ice arrows' usefulness overall. Players can't visit that area until just before the final fight with Legend of Zelda's ubiquitous villain Ganondorf. Not only does this limit time to master use of the ice arrows before combat, it also robs players of an opportunity to use them in areas where they could be quite powerful, such as the Fire Temple or Water Temple. If The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time was going to introduce a new weapon so late in the game, it should have been a powerful, Ganondorf-worthy one instead of the ice arrows.