REVIEW: The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time 3D

Title: The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time 3D
Platform: Nintendo 3DS
Developer: Nintendo, Grezzo
Publisher: Nintendo
TL;DR: This classic just got classier.
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The Ocarina of Time. It’s a classic N64 title. Hell, it’s just a classic title. First released in 1998, Nintendo had indeed struck gold. It was the first Zelda game in 3D, and it was also the first Zelda game to feature an Adult Link. Die-hard Zelda fans grew up with Link, from his first adventures in the 8-bit world to the SNES. And yet, it seemed he never aged one bit.

Finally, he was able to become an adult in Ocarina of Time. With unique takes on classic Zelda monsters, dungeons, and the standard “Save the Princess” story, it was badass.

Some might call Nintendo’s 3DS iteration “just a remake.” Sure, it is, but it also made Ocarina of Time even classier. With smoother and updated graphics, and added little extras, this would truly be the definitive version of Ocarina of Time.

It’s hard to believe that anyone would have missed ths game the first time around, so I’ll spare you the details. The Water Temple is still as hard as it has been. Deflecting Ganon’s powers back is still as fun as it was the first time. And Navi is still as annoying. That one item that requires the N64 Rumble Pak (god, how old am I?), have been replaced by an item that serves the same exact purpose, except it uses audio cues to tell you when something is nearby.

Now, when I say “updated graphics,” I don’t mean just a smoothing of the polygons and making everything look kind of nicer. No, Nintendo pulled out all the stops for Ocarina. Movement is smoother. There’s more texture and detail on sidewalks, buildings, and rocks. When you walk into a store, there’s actual clutter inside of it. No more bare rooms, no more bare floors. The shelves are stocked with books, there’s scrolls falling out of boxes, and there’s just stuff everywhere. The world feels more alive.

And seven years in the future, it feels more barren. This is just the start of all the wonderful additions to Ocarina of Time 3D.

Besides the standard Ocarina of Time game, Nintendo has thrown in a few extras for the hardcore fans. For one, sleeping in your bed back in the Kokiri Forest allows players to fight bosses they have already encountered. Doing so lets players beat their own records for…er, I guess personal gratification.

The real challenge begins once you finish the game. A copy of the ultra-rare Ocarina of Time: Master Quest can be unlocked, and they don’t call it a Master for nothing. The Master Quest features alternate versions of the original dungeons of the game, along with an increased difficulty for enemies. If you thought blowing through the original game was easy, then take the Master Quest out for a spin. It will definitely challenge you, and Zelda fans are going to love it.

If you are a diehard Zelda fan and you have a 3DS, there is absolutely no excuse for you to not own this game. Even as a 3DS owner, you should probably get it. While the 3D effects may not be the most compelling feature of the game, simply knowing that you can relive this classic game while on the go is fantastic. With all of the updated graphics, the extra content, and the nostalgia, it’s definitely the perfect game to have on your system.

The Good

• Updated graphics and more details of the world bring it back to vibrant life.
• We finally get The Master Quest.
• Killing Ganon on the go? Say it ain’t so!

The Bad

• 3D effects aren’t that great nor compelling.

The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time 3D is currently available for the Nintendo 3DS at all major retailers.

Family Focus
It’s definitely more kid friendly than some of the other games out there. ESRB and PEGI agrees, with ESRB giving it an E10+ and PEGI a 7 rating. There’s no bloodshed and no cussing.