The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time is widely considered one of the greatest video games ever made, but playing it today can feel constrained by the technical limitations of 1998 hardware. Enter Ship of Harkinian, a remarkable community-driven PC port that transforms this classic into a modern gaming experience while preserving everything that made the original special.

What is Ship of Harkinian?

Ship of Harkinian is an unofficial PC port of the game based on a 2021 decompilation of the game's code. Developed by the Harbour Masters team, this project takes the fully reverse-engineered code from the Zelda Reverse Engineering Team and creates a native PC application that runs Ocarina of Time without emulation.

The name "Ship of Harkinian" is a clever play on words referring to the ship-building mini-game in The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker, where players help a character named Harkinian. This project represents a similar journey of reconstruction and enhancement.

Key Features and Enhancements

Performance Improvements

This is a much better way to play than emulation. It has a ton of features built directly in, biggest of all is frame interpolation so you can play at 60+ fps (I can get up to 240fps), wide-screen resolutions (even ultrawide), as well as the built in Randomizer options.

The most immediately noticeable improvement is the silky-smooth performance. No longer constrained by 90s console hardware, your experience will now be as silky smooth as your modern GPU and monitor can handle! The game can run at:

• 60+ FPS: Frame interpolation allows for buttery-smooth gameplay
• High refresh rates: Support for 120Hz, 144Hz, and even 240Hz monitors
• Variable resolution: From 1080p to 4K and beyond
• Widescreen support: Including ultrawide 21:9 and 32:9 aspect ratios

Visual Enhancements

The port includes numerous visual improvements:

• HD graphics: Enhanced textures and visual fidelity
• Modern rendering: Updated graphics pipeline for better performance
• Widescreen adaptation: Proper UI scaling for modern displays
• Texture filtering: Smoother, cleaner visuals
• Anti-aliasing: Reduced jagged edges

Built-in Randomizer

Shuffle what rewards you get from things like chests, skulltulas, and more with the built-in randomizer! Endless replayability! The integrated randomizer completely changes how you experience the game by:

• Randomizing item locations: Chests, heart pieces, and upgrades appear in unexpected places
• Shuffling rewards: What you get from completing tasks is randomized
• Logic-based randomization: Ensures the game remains completable
• Customizable settings: Fine-tune the randomization to your preferences

Quality of Life Features

Additional features noted in this Direct include save states, an integrated cheat menu, accessibility options, and support for running the game at 60 frames per second.

• Save states: Quick save and load functionality (experimental)
• Cheat menu: Built-in cheats for experimentation and fun
• Accessibility options: Features to make the game more accessible
• Controller support: Full gamepad compatibility alongside keyboard and mouse
• Mod support: Extensive modding capabilities

Authentic Experience Toggle

We are careful to put any and all changes to the authentic game behind toggles, so that if desired you can play it in all of its 1998 glory This means you can:

• Enable or disable any enhancement individually
• Play with the original look and feel
• Customize your experience based on preference
• Switch between modern and classic modes at any time

System Requirements

Minimum Requirements

• Operating System: Windows 10/11, macOS 10.14+, or Linux
• Processor: Any modern CPU (Intel Core i3 or AMD equivalent)
• Memory: 4GB RAM
• Graphics: DirectX 11 compatible GPU
• Storage: 2GB available space
• Additional: Legal ROM of Ocarina of Time

Recommended Specifications

• Operating System: Windows 11 or latest macOS/Linux
• Processor: Intel Core i5 or AMD Ryzen 5
• Memory: 8GB RAM
• Graphics: Dedicated GPU (GTX 1060 or RX 580 equivalent)
• Storage: SSD with 5GB available space
• Monitor: 1440p or 4K display for best visual experience

Setting Up Ship of Harkinian

Step 1: Obtain a Legal ROM

Important: We are not distributing any Nintendo owned IP. Users must provide legally obtained ROMs to experience Ship of Harkinian. You need to legally dump your own ROM from:

• Nintendo 64 cartridge
• GameCube disc (Master Quest or regular)
• Wii Virtual Console download
• Nintendo 3DS version

The project provides a detailed ROM dumping guide on their website for each platform.

Step 2: Download Ship of Harkinian

1. Visit the official website at shipofharkinian.com
2. Navigate to the setup guide for your platform
3. Download the latest release from the GitHub releases page
4. Choose the version for your operating system (Windows, macOS, or Linux)

Step 3: Installation Process

Windows Setup

Extract the Zip file into a Folder on your Local Hard Drive for later. Note: Do NOT just open the zip and run SoH from there, things will break. Note: Do NOT extract this to C:\Windows, C:\Program Files, or a cloud drive location, things will break.

1. Create a dedicated folder (e.g., C:\Games\ShipOfHarkinian)
2. Extract all files to this folder
3. Place your ROM file in the same directory
4. Run the executable to begin the setup process

macOS Setup

1. Download the macOS version
2. Extract the application to your Applications folder
3. Place your ROM file in the same directory as the app
4. Run the application (you may need to allow it in Security settings)

Linux Setup

1. Download the Linux version
2. Extract to your preferred location
3. Make the executable file runnable: chmod +x soh.appimage
4. Place your ROM file in the same directory
5. Run the application

Step 4: First Launch

On first launch, Ship of Harkinian will:

1. Detect your ROM file
2. Process and convert it for use with the port
3. Generate necessary game files
4. Launch the game with default settings

Platform Support

Ship of Harkinian supports multiple platforms:

• Windows: Full feature support
• macOS: Native Apple Silicon and Intel support
• Linux: Including Steam Deck compatibility
• Nintendo Switch: Homebrew version available
• Wii U: Homebrew version available
• Android: Ship of Harkinian is the name of the PC port of The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time from the Nintendo 64. You get higher framerates, enhancements, cheats, a randomizer and a ton more. Simply put: it's the best way to play Ocarina of Time! And now, you can do it on Android too!

Majora's Mask Support

Yes, the project is called 2 Ship 2 Harkinian. The team has also developed a separate port for The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask, offering similar enhancements and features.

Modding and Community

The Ship of Harkinian community is incredibly active, with extensive modding support available through platforms like GameBanana. Popular mod categories include:

• Texture packs: HD retextures and visual overhauls
• Audio mods: Enhanced music and sound effects
• Gameplay modifications: New mechanics and features
• Character model replacements: Play as different characters
• Randomizer enhancements: Additional randomization options

Tips for the Best Experience

Graphics Settings

• Enable widescreen: Make full use of modern monitors
• Set appropriate resolution: Match your display's native resolution
• Enable anti-aliasing: Smooth out jagged edges
• Adjust texture filtering: Find the balance between authenticity and clarity

Performance Optimization

• Use frame limiting: Prevent unnecessary GPU usage
• Enable V-sync: Eliminate screen tearing
• Adjust internal resolution: Higher resolutions look better but require more power
• Monitor GPU temperature: Ensure adequate cooling during extended play

Randomizer Tips

• Start with basic settings: Don't overwhelm yourself initially
• Learn item logic: Understand what items are required for progression
• Use tracker tools: External tools can help track your progress
• Join the community: Discord servers offer help and racing events