The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time

"I hope you have the time of your life..."

Another turning point in the console market, a fork stuck in the road. The year was 1998, a time when gaming companies were trying to make it big with the advent of three-dimensional games. I was just another kid with an SNES and a Genesis, peering at the awesome new system demos every time I went to the store. But there was one question: Which console to choose? Should I go with the Playstation, the new contender in the market? Or should I stick with the Nintendo 64, relying tried and true Nintendo that had always given me my fun? Looking back, I'd have gotten both of them had I been able to afford it. But at the young and impressionable age of thirteen, I was having trouble making the choice. But then I saw a game ad featuring a familiar hero with a green tunic and an awesome sword. As soon as I saw Link, I knew which system I was going to get.

It's been a while since Link stepped out into the spotlight as one of Nintendo's definitive characters. The courageous little elf has stood against tyranny, oppression, and pure evil for years. And with the launch of the Nintendo 64, many of the Zelda series' fans were practically rabid with a new epic in the continuing quest of their favorite hero. Taking heed, Nintendo not only created a new Zelda game to satiate their fans, but also in turn dug deep and expanded the scope in which Link's later adventures could come only close to achieving. We're swept off our feet and thrown back into the mystical land of Hyrule, where a young Kokiri boy is about to embark on the journey of his life. The Great Deku Tree has summoned Link for some important matter. Apparently, a great evil is on the rise and the land is at great risk. Betting everything on that little Link, the Great Deku Tree sends the young hero off into the kingdom.

But what Link finds out is something much more important than the average video game bad guy. The evil Ganondorf has arrived in the kingdom seeking absolute power through insidious means. His ultimate goal is to steal the Triforce, the ultimate relic of power in the realm. If this evil Gerudo manages to get his hands on the mystical relic, the very world will bow while under his cruel reign. Somehow, some way, Link has to stop Ganondorf from getting his enormous on Hyrule's most prized possession. Our hero must traverse the lands of Hyrule, facing whatever dangers and obstacles standing in his way. The future of Hyrule is in his hands.

Luckily for Hyrule, Link doesn't have to go on this quest alone. He's got a fair named Navi flying right by his side. And while Navi is essentially a glowing marble of light, she offers tons of observations and advice when Link's facing some sort of obstacle or crisis. It will usually involve her flying next to some important object and yelling for Link to come over. She'll usually be able to tell you some kind of information about what you're supposed to be doing and can be pretty helpful. To be honest, she's a little too helpful for her own good. There are only so many “Listen!” and “Hey!” shouts before the high-pitched squeaking gets on your nerves and you want to crush the little fairy like an insect. But nevertheless, she's just there to help you on your quest against evil.

However, Link doesn't stand a chance against this kind of evil. After all, he's just some kid with a puny little sword. How's this little guy supposed to knock out the greatest villain to ever desecrate the hallowed fields of Hyrule? Well, he's got two things going for him: the Master Sword and the Ocarina of Time. If Link manages to obtain the Master Sword, he can then wield the mighty blade against evil. Also, removing or replacing the weapon from its resting place lets our hero travel back in forth in time. Needless to say, it's a pretty big step beyond that pathetic default Kokiri sword. But the truly handy part of his arsenal is the Ocarina of Time. As the title suggests, this little instrument can rock Link's little world with its various tunes. It can change night into day, make cows give him milk, summon his trusty steed, and provide countless entertaining music sessions. However, it's the use of these two awesome tools that will ultimately make or break Link's quest of righteousness. The specific necessities and attributes of the two items are so meshed within the gameplay that it's impossible to progress very far without them.

Of course, Link can't just go in and expect to kick everyone's ass with just sword and a magical flute, right? Thus, our hero's arsenal is chock full of all sorts of handy equipment. He's got the staple items of the preceding games, like the bombs and the arrows. There are three pairs of boots and a few tunics with respective abilities that can be mixed and matched. Also, there are a few upgrades and hidden items, like the super-powerful magic arrows and a sword upgrade. And of course, there's the almighty hookshot, Link's loud but deadly grappling hook of choice. With an unprecedented amount of little toys to tinker with, there's a fair chance that you'll get bogged down as your arsenal continues to build. The thing is that all of these items have a unique ability or job that need to be exploited in one way or another. See that patch of ice there? Why not try melting it with a Fire Arrow? Want to try walking underwater without turning into a Hyrulian corpse? Try using the Blue Tunic and Iron Boots at the same time. You may not be able to move an inch on dry land, but you'll be able to walk the bottom of Lake Hylia with ease.

But wait! You can't expect Nintendo to just give you all of these items! You've got to hunt them all down through various means, usually traversing one of the many dank dungeons or temples scattered throughout Hyrule. You'll be up against all sorts of strange and daunting obstacles as you progress through the game. Sometimes you'll be up against nasty lizards, huge spiders, giant squid, zombies, pirates, and just about anything else that Nintendo's twisted little minds could come up with. But what can you do to fight such odds. You've got tons of deadly weapons lining your pockets, but they'll do you little good if you can't aim and execute the attacks properly! This is where the Z Targeting System comes in. Using this superb addition to the Zelda game combat system, you can target and stay focused on an enemy by simply pressing that badly placed Z Button on your controller. Instead of being run down by a pack of angry goblins, you'll be able to face them, dodge, thrust, somersault, backflip, and stab your way through your foes. It's this advent of the targeting system that makes this game so much easier and fun to play.

And while this sounds like an overwhelming amount of enemies being thrown in our hero's general direction, it's not the forces of evil that are the hardest part of the game. To be honest, there is an actual lacking in the amount of the forces of evil that you'll have to fight. However, there is an abundance of puzzles. Sometimes it'll be something simple, like lighting torches or pushing a rock next to a wall for you to climb. Other times it'll be something a bit more complicated, like navigating through a series of tunnels, jumping over collapsing bridges, or using certain items in specific places. And while the first half of the game is essentially a cakewalk, the lion's share of the difficulty really lies within the last few dungeons. Luckily, the game becomes difficult at a slower pace, letting gamers soak in the really daunting work ahead of them.

But if you're too tired of the quest and want to take a break, there's plenty more to this game than just the dungeons. The realm of Hyrule is pretty big, considering the standards for Nintendo games circa 1998. There's the main field that sprawls out in all directions, along with five or six separate little area for you to explore. Sometimes there's nothing quite as fun as saddling up on Epona and having a horseback ride through Hyrule. Also, all of these places are fraught with all sorts of side quests, mini-games, hidden grottos, and countless other little surprises for you to take in. There's the relaxing Fishing Game at Lake Hylia, the Biggoron's Sword side quest, and plenty more to satiate your boredom. And if all else fails and you need some extreme measures, you can always try systematically hunting down every single Skulltulla in Hyrule. Yeah, good luck with that.

But as your taking on all these dungeons and evil minions, you can't forget to take a look at what you're really trying to save. By Nintendo 64 standards, the presentation of this game was a work of art. The countless Zelda fans worldwide were accustomed to seeing their favorite land portrayed in a two-dimensional realm, letting their imaginations do the hard work for them. But when Ocarina of Time reared its beautifully refurbished head, many fans were struck in awe at what they were seeing. It's not just because that Hyrule was in 3D, but because of how well the transition was pulled off. Everything in this game, from the gothic Temple of Time to the gritty Gerudo fortress to Link himself is portrayed with vivid quality and detail. You can see the way that the lit torches glow against the background, or the way that Ganondorf's evil aura flows out of him. But if that wasn't enough, there are also the familiar Zelda themes that we've all grown up with, with bold new remixes and sound quality. Even the Ocarina itself sounds like the real thing.

As we look back at Link, what does the future hold for the brave young elf? Chances are, he's not going anywhere. This hero is one of the key staples of Nintendo's franchises. We'll also see reincarnations of that young hero, even as the years wear on. And while some fans and many anti-fans jeer at Link's current image, this game can't be ignored. If people looked past the gimmicks of the current game console generation and took a look back to the games of yesteryear, maybe they'll find that sometimes it doesn't matter who your hero is, or what console he or she is on. Even though Link is considered one of the great classic gaming heroes, many fail to realize that his appeal isn't necessarily because of the games. It's because of the idea of good versus evil, an underdog hero and a world at stake. And with Ocarina of time, you have one of the finest presentations of such a hero. So when you find the time to hunt this game down and play this hero, here's hoping that you have the time of your life.

Reviewer's Score: 10/10, Originally Posted: 09/09/04