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Review: The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time 3D?(3DS)

Posted by Martin Watts on June 15, 2011 ? Leave a Comment?

A?Remastered Masterpiece

The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time 3D?is a game that made me groan when it was first unveiled.? I, like many people, absolutely adored the original game on Nintendo 64.? I also bought the limited edition version of The Legend of Zelda: Wind Waker?in order to receive the bonus disc containing the Master Quest rendition of the game.? Throw in the Collector?s disc that came as part of a GameCube bundle, the Virtual Console download, and the rather pricey N64 Collector?s Edition, which I had to import from Australia, and you can see why I might not have been initially excited about Ocarina of Time 3D.

However, despite my inability to stop re-buying Ocarina of Time across various platforms, Ocarina of Time 3D has well and truly put my scepticism to rest.? From the moment I booted it up to the roll of the end credits, I was quite simply enthralled.? Ocarina of Time 3D, with its updated visuals and vastly-improved menu system, is without doubt the definitive version of Nintendo?s masterpiece.

Of course, the game hasn?t been made solely with die-hard fans of the original game in mind.? Thankfully, Nintendo?s overhaul of a game from thirteen years ago does an exceptional job of bringing the original title into the modern era, while retaining much of its charm.? It?s by no means absolutely perfect, and there are a few issues here and there.? Nevertheless, Ocarina of Time 3D?is a game that I feel can be enjoyed by 3DS owners both old and new.

For the uninitiated, The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time 3D?tells the story of Link, a small boy adventurer that must battle across the land of Hyrule?- and time itself ? to defeat the evil Gerudo?king, Ganondorf.? What starts off as a childhood tale of adventure soon turns into an epic quest of good versus evil, with the plot delivering an exceptional twist that not only reshapes?the story, but also the enviroments and characters that Link finds himself interacting with.? The story isn?t the most complex in the Zelda series, but it?s arguably the most epic, and it?s a formula that many people will enjoy.

Hyrule Never Looked This Good

The first thing you?ll notice about the game are the graphics ? this game looks very pretty.? Locales now sport high-resolution textures, the draw distance is far greater than it was before, and the character models are stunning, lacking the unnatural blockiness?of those found in the original.? It is important to note that the graphics haven?t been built from the ground up, and rather this is more of an updated re-skinning of both the character models and the landscape.? This is where I had a few niggles.? Firstly, because the geometry of the game?s landscape is identical to the original, you still get that slightly odd-looking, angular shape to some natural objects.? Furthermore, characters have more clearly defined features, but still lack moveable digits or mouths that move when they speak.? While my love for the original allowed me to see past this, newer gamers who are spoiled by the luxury of HD graphics may find that this hinders the level of immersion. These (very) minor complaints don?t apply to every aspect of the game ? certain areas such as the throne room in Ganon?s Castle are beautiful.? The 3D only boosts the quality here; it does not, however, make any real changes to the gameplay (although diving seemed easier).

The graphics aren?t everything, however, and where Ocarina of Time 3D?excels is in the level of scope that it offers.? Hyrule?is a large, vibrant world, and players can take great pleasure (and spend many hours) in exploring all its nooks and crannies.? While the main quest is the meat of the game, there is something very alluring about climbing up on your noble steed and exploring the sights that Hyrule has to offer.? Ocarina of Time?has many memorable characters, but to what extent newcomers will agree with this is difficult to gauge, as the NPCs do tend to be static and offer only a line or two of dialogue.

In terms of audio, I have to admit that I was somewhat disappointed.? The sound is virtually identical to the original game, although the ocarina does sound like it might have been enhanced slightly.? The charming, but technically inferior, MIDI tunes of the original are still present and my hopes of an orchestrated soundtrack making its way into the game are dashed.? Of course, because the game features on the 3DS with its rather small speakers, you could argue that pumping a ton of effort into the audio would be a waste.? However, the additional credits roll found at the end of the game is backed by a powerful, orchestrated (or at least synthesized) take on the Zelda theme.? The sound was, nevertheless, brilliant back then and it?s still enjoyable now, and you?ll no doubt be whistling along to the Lost Woods theme or be overcome by a bout of epic-induced awe when you play the Requiem of Spirit.? It?s a shame it wasn?t updated, but the sound is still good enough that it adds to the overall experience.

Will Thoust Get the Girl? Or Play Like One?

The gameplay is what makes Ocarina of Time 3D such an enjoyable title.? Despite the thirteen years since its release, this game still offers so much depth and a surprising amount of challenge.? Nintendo has sufficiently addressed some of the issues that newcomers may have when trying Ocarina of Time 3D?for the first time: Firstly, help is available in the form of Sheikah stones, which provide you with a selection of movies that?blatantly?show you what to do next.? In a generation where games are notorious for spoon-feeding their players, this is incredibly useful, as knowing where to go and how to get there sometimes isn?t very clear, even with Navi?s (annoying) guidance.

The most significant update, which is also the major factor that makes Ocarina of Time 3D?such a great version of the game, is found in the new menu interface.? Those that played the original will remember what a nuisance it was to have to constantly press Start and scroll through the menus to select items or check ocarina songs.? This is no longer the case, and those cumbersome menus have been reworked intuitively into the 3DS? touchscreen.? A larger version of the map is present, and you can simply select all your gear and items by tapping icons.? The touchscreen also allows you to set two items to ?touchscreen buttons?, meaning that you can have up to four items assigned at one time.? Want to don your iron boots in a jiffy?? Tap the button and they?re on in a flash. Furthermore, there?s an ocarina button which means that you don?t need to constantly reassign it, and an option is also available where you can view the song sheets while playing.? This was a godsend, especially as Ocarina of Time 3D?s control layout differs from what I?ve been indoctrinated with.? As a result of this update, the action is less broken up and the game remains more immersive.

The rest is stuff which was found in the original.? The context-senstive A button was intuitive back then and it?s something of a standard now.? Everyone will feel at home with this one.? Ocarina of Time is Zelda through and through; fun puzzles, some clever combat that requires you to usually follow a pattern, and a ton of exploration are what makes it so fun.? The game can be challenging at times, but the difficulty is set at just the right notch ? using your brain will often mean that you succeed in combat and puzzle-solving.

Motion control has also been added.? You can now look around in first-person view, or aim your hookshot?by moving the 3DS?console around.? While this is a cool addition, it?s not worth using when you?ve got the 3D effect turned up, as you must ensure that you keep the console in the 3D sweetspot area, which is hard to do when you?re trying to do something quickly.

Get Your Rupees? Worth

If you?ve played it a million times before like I have, then you?ll know what to do already, and you?ll probably be able to blast your way through the game in around fifteen hours, if you don?t do all the sidequests.? For newcomers, I can see it taking up to twice as long to get through without any guidance.? Ocarina of Time was, and still is, a massive game.? In terms of content, it is practically identical to the original title, so if you?re looking for something new, you will be disappointed.? Nevertheless, the (supposedly) tougher Master Quest has been included in this version, although you must complete the original version first in order to unlock it, which is incredibly frustrating if you?re an old hand.

The Boss Rush mode is a nice addition, but I don?t see it adding much in the way of replay value.? From time to time, you may want to fight a boss again for the ?cool? factor, but detaching them from the full experience just seems a little peculiar to me.

The Final Verdict

The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time 3D?would make a worthy addition to any 3DS owner?s collection, be they a Zelda aficionado or Nintendo newbie.? Nintendo has taken its greatest game, which to this day is still very playable, and has enhanced it in all the areas that?needed it?in order for it to be enjoyable today.? There are a few minor gripes with the game ? for example, a Zelda game built from the ground up would possibly look better and the lack of updated audio is slightly disappointing.? Nevertheless, the sharper visuals and the updated menu interface combined with the classic gameplay work superbly.

If you already own this game in various forms, you may want to hold off splashing out ?35 for?it unless you?re really eager to give it another playthrough.? Nintendo isn?t offering much new in terms of content.? But if you want to play the definitive version of your favourite game, then this is definitely worth it.? Those who have yet to experience Ocarina of Time have no excuse not to pick this up ? it?s the perfect chance to play a brilliant game from yesteryear.

It is incredible how ahead of its time The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time really was.? The fact that a game from?thirteen years ago, with a bit of modern polish, can offer more than what most modern titles do just goes to show that the golden age of gaming has well and truly passed us by.? If you want to play one of the finest videogame experiences ever in its most playable form, then you need to buy this game.