Reviewers and gamers alike raved about this title upon its release in 1998, and many consider it to be the greatest example of a video game to date. So, when Nintendo showed The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time off and played it on the newly announced 3DS as merely a tech demo, fans flooded the internet pleading with the big N to make it an official re-release. Well, they did.
Presenting The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time 3D. To immediately relieve any anxieties, yes this 3D release does preserve the spirit found in the original release on the Nintendo 64. However you’ll have to read on to see if it has been improved and made more accessible. But it’s undeniably the best game to hit the 3DS yet.
Graphics
The biggest and most obvious upgrade is the graphics. Nintendo and Grezzo Studios have joined efforts on the updated release and haven't just cranked up the pixels and textures and thrown it onto the market. Environments, character designs, and animations have been re-designed from the ground up, and everything looks sharper and more colorful than before. For those worried that it has spoiled the original creation, this is actually what Ocarina of Time was supposed to look like. The re-design was based upon the original concept art. However, the sheer scale of this project didn't quite get everything right. Many textures scattered throughout the huge world haven't seen any change, and the odd building is a little jagged too. But these are small niggles, and we truly appreciate how much work must have gone into this project.
Timeless Gameplay
But essentially, this is the exact same game with the same items, same locations, same characters, and our same hero Link, who has to save Princess Zelda and defeat evil Ganondorf as he corrupts the land. Within a few minutes of playing, I completely forgot this was a fourteen-year-old game and treated it as a brand new release. And this is all down to the sheer quality gameplay featured that reminds me of how ahead of its time it really was. Brilliant puzzles, awesome bosses, an inventive bunch of enemies, and fun dungeons all merge together to deliver one of the most definitive and memorable gaming experiences on a handheld system to date. The genius ideas that run constantly in the game, like playing the ocarina, the day and night system, and The Temple of Time, which keeps everything fresh by advancing Link to the future and returning him to the past.
The inquisitive mind that Ocarina of Time encourages is not often found in many titles released today. It's a real breath of fresh air and represents what gaming should be. I have fallen out of love with many video games that try so hard to hold your hand. The feeling of reward you get while roaming around for an hour or so trying to figure out what to do, and then suddenly having an "eureka" moment, is so satisfying. But that's not to say Ocarina of Time 3D doesn't lend a hand when needed. Of course, you have Navi, but she's more annoying than helpful. Sheikah Stones are scattered throughout the game, and if you choose to use one, Link will climb inside. Visions of the future are accessible in the form of videos, showing you what to do and where to go. If you're really stuck, this is a nice optional approach.
Controlling time is not easy, but the 3DS helps
The controls have been remastered surprisingly well. The bottom touch screen displays a map of the whole world at all times (in addition to a smaller map displaying only your current location on the top screen). In the top left corner, Navi can be contacted. The bottom left is used to access the Ocarina, and the right of the map shows you the assigned buttons to items. Technically, six items are equipped at any given time, four are triggered via the X, Y, A, B buttons, and two are triggered via the touchscreen. This whole setup works well and isn't frustrating. The Joypad is used to move Link around, and it's pure bliss. Locking onto enemies and performing attacks isn't messy either. I really liked the gyroscope aiming, which is effortlessly intuitive and actually trumps the N64's method. However, it ruins the 3D effect.
Why did the Hylian cross the road in 3D? To get to the Triforce on the other side…
3D is another new element that's been added, and it's hit and miss. It's important to remember that the game was never originally created to be viewed in 3D, and this definitely shows while playing. Some areas can appear blurry at times, and the 3D effect may need to be switched off for you to fully enjoy the game. However, most of the time, the 3D effect is pretty great. It adds depth to rooms and makes objects appear more rounded. Cut scenes have been redesigned and offer impressive 3D results as well. Despite this, the 3D effect doesn't significantly improve the gameplay and can be inconvenient when using gyro controls.
Replay
There are also additional extras presented after beating the main game that offer some replay value. The first extra is Master Quest, which is essentially a harder campaign. The other extra, completely new to this version, is called Boss Challenge. This mode allows you to repeatedly play against the bosses and beat your and your friends' previous best times.
Verdict
The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time 3D for the Nintendo 3DS is a masterpiece in video game history. The vastly improved graphics and perfectly preserved gameplay make it a must-have purchase for those who have played the title before and newcomers.
