The Legend of Zelda Ocarina of Time 3DS 3DS

Ask any gamer of a certain age what one of their defining gaming moments is and a common answer could well be “stepping into Hyrule Field for the first time” – and that is definitely true for me. The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time had a huge impact on me when I first played it on the N64. It was a game full of wonder and discovery, and for my thirteen-year-old self, it changed the way I would look at games forever. Of course, games have moved on a lot since 1998, and so this 3DS remake, released thirteen years later, was never going to have the same impact the original did. Despite this, it remains just as compelling and fun to play, with the updated graphics and gameplay tweaks making it great for Zelda veterans and newcomers alike.

You play as Link, and armed with a sword, shield and whole host of odd weaponry, you are tasked with ridding the land of Hyrule from evil. The titular ocarina plays a very important role in both the story and gameplay and opens up some interesting scenarios throughout Link’s adventure. Over the course of the game you’ll traverse environments ranging from forests to mountains and deserts, and there is a “if you can see it you can go there” philosophy - although the world is quite small by today’s standards. The bulk of the gameplay takes place in themed dungeons, which, in series tradition, are full of puzzles. Some of these are very simple such as “hit a switch” or “light a torch”, but others are more complex and are therefore quite rewarding. You’ll typically obtain a new item or weapon in each dungeon, which will then allow you to progress further. The layout and design is very deliberate and extremely well-though-out, and I think this is partly why the game has been able to stand the test of time. Nothing is out of place or ill-considered.

There is quite a lot to do outside of the main storyline, with various mini-games and collectibles dotted around Hyrule. All of this fleshes the world out further, and for me makes the game world feel more involved. There is also some leeway (if you are inventive) to play the later dungeons out of their intended order, and finding all of these little secrets and discovering everything the game has to offer is very satisfying.

Ocarina of Time 3D looks great as a result of the graphical upgrade, although remains true to the feel of the original. Characters and areas are closer to what I imagine the original designers intended, but were previously constrained by the limitations of the N64. One particular improvement is in areas that were previously blurry pre-rendered environments, but are now vibrant and detailed. The music has not been changed at all – which is a good thing as it is some of the best game music ever composed – and great care has been take to ensure it sounds excellent through the 3DS’ tiny speakers.

The biggest changes outside of the graphics are to the interface and menus. Menus are now all accessed on the bottom screen and are very easy to navigate without taking you out of the game. Items are selected and equipped via the touch screen, which speeds things up considerably compared to the original and is far more intuitive. The “Master Quest” is included, which horizontally flips the world, remixes the dungeons, and doubles the damage taken. However, this has to be unlocked by completing the game at least once.

Ocarina is a perfect fit for the 3DS and makes good use of the system’s 3D capabilities. In the early wooded areas, fireflies pop out of the screen, and cutscenes in particular look lovely. The game also uses the 3DS’ gyroscope for aiming arrows and looking around, but this is less successful as it can break the 3D effect.

Ocarina of Time is one of the best games ever made, with the various additions and updates seen here making this the best version of the game yet released. A must-have for 3DS owners.

I've never played this game before, and the only other Zelda games I've played are Twilight Princess and Wind Waker. The 3D effect is subtle and not overdone at all, and when you switch back to 2D it really looks flat and lifeless. The game itself is well balanced and enjoyable from start to finish, with the added bonus of in-game help. If you get stuck you can watch a short video of where you should be going next. Recommended for every 3DS owner.

It's Zelda and its 3D what more can you say other than buy it you wont be disappointed

I bought this for my daughters birthday and she loves it, the 3d on this game is awesome. Gameplay is Zelda enough said.....Great game, great price and very fast delivery as always, thank you shopto.

Music sounds like conan :P