Legend Of Zelda: Ocarina Of Time 3D
Rejoice fans, gamers be praised, as one of the most iconic series in the history of Nintendo makes a dramatic and bold entrance to the world of 3D. Almost 15 years after originally travelling through time in an effort to rescue Princess Zelda, our hero Link returns once again, this time looking a lot smarter and a lot wiser in the most iconic instalment of them all!
Legend of Zelda: OOT is the story of Link, a young boy who lives in the Forest, searching for answers and trying to find himself. One day he is summoned by the Deku, a wise and important Tree, who tells him that he must venture outside and begin his journey in the Kingdom of Hyrule. Soon he meets Zelda, a Princess, later
kidnapped by - well, that would be telling - but suffice to say you spend a large majority of the game using a special instrument called an Ocarina travelling back and forth through time to rescue her and restore peace to the kingdom. It would all seem rather far fetched, except it comes from Nintendo, whose imagination knows no limits and thus an iconic character was born from this simple action adventure.
If you're new to Zelda, then this is the game for you, and you couldn't have picked a more ideal time to be introduced to the series. Older gamers will also feel right at home since they can simply pick up the portable and resume playing as if nothings happened in the last 15 years (except that they've finished school, graduated college and now live abroad somewhere....just me then!)
The first thing that's worth pointing out, is that this game is very similar (albeit almost identical) to the other versions of the title to have come before it, so much so that I was able to use an N64 walk through in order to help me complete the more difficult quests without breaking much of a sweat. Newer gamers shouldn't worry, however, as there are lots of "Visions" which serve as optional hints for those who need to know where to go and what to do. Obviously the big draw is the improved graphics, and 3D content, which give the game a massively impressive look and feel, adding to that the touch screen (allowing you to organise items and menu buttons) and a new feature - known as gyroscopic technology - which is used to look around and aim the players in first person mode. All this make for a very involving game, perhaps not so much ideal for portable play, but certainly at home on the 3DS.
To coincide with the 25th Anniversary of Zelda, Nintendo released this title as an example of where previous hardware had limited graphics and player involvement, and hoped it and Star Fox 64 could be re released on the 3DS and played by a whole new generation of gamers with a renewed passion and greater interactivity. Music, therefore, plays an important part in OOT - not least from the use of the Ocarnia device itself, which allows you to travel through time and change other major characteristics - with players having to learn simple music and chord progressions to advance through the game. One example if where Link must obtain his horse, Epona - this is a tricky, and optional side mission, but one which makes life a lot easier if the player is able to use the Ocarnia and the game's music effectively.
Overall, there's not much I can say about Zelda that hasn't already been said to great effect in some other review elsewhere online, that in itself is testament to the amount of respect and loyalty the game holds in fans around the world. If you have a 3DS then there is no excuse, at least right now, not to be in possession of this title.
Pros:
An iconic title released on a new format with improved graphics, a fun control system and hours of game-play are just the tip of the iceberg in this thrilling action adventure
Cons:
If you've played OOT before, or you kept your N64 copy for all these years, you might not want to purchase this title. Bearing in mind I said might - because you really should anyway.
Overall YRadio Score
91%
Release Date: June 2011
Platform(s): 3DS
Developer: Grezzo
Reviewed by: Wayne Madden
YRadio Rating System
- 0.5 Star = 0% - 10%
- 1 Star = 11% - 20%
- 1.5 Star = 21% - 30%
- 2 Star = 31% - 40%
- 2.5 Star = 41% - 50%
- 3 Star = 51% - 60%
- 3.5 Star = 61% - 70%
- 4 Star = 71% - 80%
- 4.5 Star = 81% - 90%
- 5 Star = 91% - 100%