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A Personal View of the Classic N64 Title

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 20 / 20
Date: November 02, 2005
Author: Amazon User

Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time (1998)
(1998)con., Nintendo 64, pub. Nintendo, dev. Nintendo EAD)

There are few things I could say about The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time that have not already been mentioned by critics, fans, journalists and Nintendo enthusiasts in some form or another at some point in time. The reason being is that Ocarina of Time IS (whether you love it or hate) one of the most praised, well-respected and highly regarded video games in the history of the industry. The game also remains my favorite video game of all-time. It is my intention to discuss certain aspects of the game that I find enjoyable, as well as a few of the facets of the game that I did not take pleasure in. This narrative is more of a personal reflection of the game than a critical review. Please keep that in mind while reading. Let's get stared!

The production/creation of this title was no easy task for our old friends over at Nintendo. Not only is there pressure enough in creating a title from the Legend of Zelda series, as a great portion of the gaming public hold the franchise in very high esteem and expect much for each new title, but the series had to also evolve and incur a drastic change from the familiar and successful 2-D realm to the (at the time) very new and unpredictable world of 3-D. Fortunately, Nintendo had some prior success in this transition process as their most famous and beloved mascot, Mario, had made the "jump" from the traditional and beloved 2-D platforming to the realm that is 3-D. Super Mario 64 launched with the Nintendo 64 console in the U.S. on September 25, 1996. The result? Most video games fans and critics, alike, refer to it as one of the greatest video games of all-time.

It worked for Mario, would it work for Zelda?

Mr. Miyamoto and his development team put a tremendous amount of time and effort into the completion of this game. It took some three years and a staff of over 200 folks to complete this daunting task. It had been 6 years since a Legend of Zelda console game was released (The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past SNES-1992) and the Zelda fans were starving for a new title. After all the screen-shots, after all the articles and features, after all the hype and after many delays, The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time was finally released in the U.S. to the masses on November 23, 1998.

Was it worth the wait? You better believe it.

Critically and publicly acclaimed, Ocarina of Time literally changed the face of the gaming world and completely altered the rules, the mechanics and the overall style and structure of video games as we know it. The 3-D realm seemed a perfect fit for the style of gameplay fans of the Legend of Zelda franchise have come to know and love. It remained as faithful to its 2-D predecessors as it possibly could and enhanced, refined and completely polished the Zelda series and, in essence, brought the franchise into the future of gaming. It remains a truly magnificent accomplishment and an absolute most welcomed edition to this extraordinary series.

It is my strong belief and conviction that the quality of gameplay has always remained the most redeeming quality of any video game. In this day and age of progressively scanned imagery and (soon to be) high-definition quality graphics, along with orchestrated music, full-blown original/compiled soundtracks (comparable to those of major Hollywood motion pictures) all presented in glorious, THX certified (some do) digital surround sound (a lot do), I have always been of the opinion that the quality gameplay mechanics, which are the foundation for the success of the industry, of games would, in a way, "take a back seat" to the aforementioned aspects that seem to be dominating ALL forms of our entertainment.

Don't get me wrong. I'm as much of a tech nut as the next guy. I just don't want the gameplay quality to suffer as a result of "dolling" up the game. The game must be enjoyable. The game must be fun. I don't care how it looks, how it sounds or what the content is - if playing the game is not entertaining, if the controls are stiff, unresponsive and hinder the experience, if the overall gameplay mechanics are not up to par, I don't care how many copies of the game sold, it will be a flop to me. I firmly believe that Nintendo understands this concept. They believe the fact that solid, innovative gameplay is the key to a truly rewarding and fun gaming experience and they trust enough in their fans and the general gaming public to recognize this. Needless to say, Ocarina of Time is one of the best examples of perfection in terms of quality gameplay mechanics on any console to-date.

Playing Ocarina of Time is a joy from start to finish. It's the perfect blend of solid 3-D action/adventure/RPG elements with a superb fighting system, spectacular environments, nearly endless amounts of exploration, quirky and fun NPCs, challenging dungeons & puzzle solving, awesome boss battles, an incredibly well structured story and wonderful in-game sound effects and catchy, hummable songs that are enjoyed by me and others to this very day. *Hugs OoT Soundtrack*

It is a grand and epic game that completely immerses you in a way that no other that I have ever played. This sense of immersion occurs, whether you are exploring the brilliantly designed and unique dungeons, riding your loyal steed, Epona, across the immense Hyrule Field or gazing upon the magnificent and majestic Hyrule Castle. You feel right in the middle of the action and excitement. You become part of the journey; you become part of the quest. You, in essence, become part of the legend.

Gameplay

The controls and the overall gameplay are as close to perfect as I have ever experienced. Two essential innovations that require specific mention are the camera system and the lock-on targeting system. What can I say? They are revolutionary. Most in-game cameras can often become a nuisance. They obstruct, rather than help. The in-game camera in Ocarina of Time never misses a beat. It never hinders the player's progress or perspective and serves as a tremendous aid during your adventure. Bottom line: I have never played a console game with a better camera system than Ocarina of Time.

In conjunction with the camera, the lock-on targeting system proves essential to your enjoyment of the game and will prove very useful while controlling Link in battle against the assortment of different enemies you will encounter during your quest. You simply tap a button on the control deck (Z-button) and this action allows you to "lock-on" to any particular enemy (or NPC) you are looking to engage (or talk to). The camera will stay on your target, retaining its over the shoulder position and allows you to circle your enemies and slash at them while side-stepping, back-flipping and shielding yourself from the attacks. It makes for a much more enjoyable and satisfying experience. The lock-on targeting does NOT make the game easier or minimize the difficulty. It simply serves as an important "weapon" for the player that allows them to strategically outline an attack plan and tactically take on multiple enemies in an efficient manner.

Both are most welcomed and most appreciated additions to the series. I must warn you though - after experiencing the Ocarina of Time camera and lock-on targeting, you will truly be spoiled for the rest of your gaming career.

In addition to the camera system and lock-on targeting, Ocarina of Time also managed to redefine the controls of the 3-D adventure with their introduction of the context sensitive (B) button. There a many actions Link will need to utilize during his quest. You will need to: pull, push, crawl, read, dive, climb, jump, talk and myriads of other actions. The context sensitive (B) button allows you to perform all of these tasks effortlessly. When you happen upon a specific task that requires a certain action, the system will automatically recognize the action needed by flashing the word of the action on screen for you. For example, if you walk up to a sign, the action button, (B), will flash "read" on-screen. You need only to hit the (B) button, and you will be able to read the sign. Simple, yet very effective and very intuitive. All games should work like this. It's brilliant.

Lastly, I would like to give some mention to the overall feel of the game. I like to call it the, "go anywhere, do anything" feeling. If you see something during your travels, chances are, you can go to it and interact with that part of the environment in some manner. This gives the player a tremendous feeling of freedom and adds a new dynamic to the overall gaming experience. Great detail was put into the creation of the magical land of Hyrule, and it shows.

Now I get to nitpick

As much as I love Ocarina of Time, there are a couple things I may have done a little differently. These are incredibly minor, minor problems that I have had with the title. First off, I was a little disappointed that the original Legend of Zelda Overworld theme was not included in the game. It was substituted for the Hyrule Field theme. Don't get me wrong, I enjoyed the Hyrule Field theme, but, I feel that putting the original Overworld theme in the background while traversing through Hyrule Field would have been perfect. Lastly (yup, only two) I wish there was an option to turn Navi off. At times, I found her incredibly annoying and her constant "whisens" always seem to come at the most unwanted times. But I digress, as Navi served an important role in the adventure. Because of her, we are able to "lock-on" to our targets. Navi flies over to the target and floats over their heads, allowing Link to "Z-Target". So, I guess we have no choice but to put up with here constant "whisens." Again, very, very minor stuff.

Final thoughts and comments

The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time is the ultimate gaming experience. It successfully combines many different genres all wrapped into one gold cartridge (if you were lucky) to deliver one of the finest gaming experiences of all-time. As of this very writing, gamers, fans and critics, alike, still refer to it as the greatest video game of all-time. Whether you love it or hate, you HAVE to respect its craftsmanship. This game still remains my most favorite single-player adventure of all-time. No game I have every seen, nor played can touch Ocarina of Time in terms of the combination of presentation, structure, story, gameplay, music, controls and fun factor. There may be games out there that may be superior in ONE of these categories to Ocarina of Time, but no game has done a better job combining them ALL.

It's a purely magical experience that is immersive, challenging, intelligent and simply a lot of fun to play. It's a grand, epic experience that is one of the greatest achievements in the history of video gaming. It's a true masterpiece that any self-respected gamer should make a priority to play through at least once. It is a game that will be revered and admired and copied and studied for years to come. Whenever I am asked what the greatest video game of all-time is, Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time will be my answer.

the best

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 3 / 15
Date: September 08, 2005
Author: Amazon User

it is so good!!!! you should buy it!!!!! If you don't you are so missing out!!!!!

A moron's review

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 3 / 15
Date: October 09, 2005
Author: Amazon User

This is the absolute best!!! Get it or ull regret it!!!!!
P.S. I own Nintendo stock.
Barely over 13.

"The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time" a remake of the SNES masterpiece "The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past"?

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 1 / 3
Date: November 03, 2007
Author: Amazon User

Originally this was written for a retro-gaming site back in early January, 2000. It has never appeared on Amazon.

Zelda 64 a Remake?

[Blurb: Zelda 64 and SNES Zelda has several similarities, almost to the point that the basic game design of Zelda 64 is a remake. Read here for more information on this intriguing phenomena! Just a few thoughts from a fellow gamer!]

After playing the course of The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time, I've noticed something very intriguing about it. It seems to be a rehash of what I feel is the best Zelda game: LoZ: Link to the Past. Why do I say this? I say this because there are several structural symmetries that lie between Zelda 64 and LTTP.

Lets examine it. For one, there are three pendants you have to acquire in LTTP. This is after you go and rescue Zelda and leave her at the temple. Well, this time around, you don't rescue Zelda, but you do go and talk to her. After that, when you get the three pendants, you go and she is kidnaped. This is after you get the Master Sword in the Lost Woods. In Zelda 64, you go thru the first part of the quest, getting three spiritual stones. After you get those three spiritual stones (which I think the tower on LTTP is much better than that d----- Lord Jabu Jabu's belly. I hated that dungeon! =)), you go to the town. Guess what, as Link approaches, there it cuts to a cinema, and Zelda is kidnaped by Ganondorf. Hmm . . . haven't we seen this story before? It turns out that you have to get 5 of the Sage's medallions. Rauru conveniently gives you one, so we can cut the sixth one away. Only by getting the six sage medallions can you open the bridge to fight Ganondorf. How intriguing.

In the superiour SNES Zelda counterpart, it is seven crystals, and you don't get one given to you. Link wakes no sages this time. Instead, the seven maidens of the wise men descent have been hidden in deep dank dungeons, and Link has to transverse thru 13 dungeons all together, 5 the first part, and eight the second part. They are challenging, fun, and intriguing. Granted, Zelda 64 has some great stuff. But it is not as consistent as LTTP. After you have gone thru the seven dungeons (two more than in Zelda 64), you now have all seven crystals. That's great! Now, go to Death Mountain, and by doing so you will open the way to Ganon's big bad temple.

Okay, what do we have in Zelda 64? You go and get the five medallions, plus the one that Rauru gives you as Link. Guess what? Now you have to go to his tower, and open the rainbow bridge with the six medallions.* Hmm . . . isn't that what we did in SNES Zelda? Why, I do believe it is, Watson!

Another issue yet addressed is the Light World/Dark World. Zelda 64 does the same thing, save this time it is time traveling (I'm not even going to go into the impossibilities of time travel on this . . . that's a whole separate article in itself). In SNES Zelda, you have a little mirror the old man gave you. There are eight transporters located thruout Hyrule, transporting back and forth. If you are in the Dark World, you can use the mirror to go into the Light World, making a temporary transporter. Well, in Zelda 64, there is no mirror or transporters (the closest to a mirror is the Lens of Truth, found nigh in the Shadow Temple). But if you go and put the sword back, then you go back to being young. That creates two versions of the same world to explore. That structural symmetry corresponds to LTTP. Not only that, but at the end if the first three stones, Link goes to the Temple of Time and gets the sword. This is after the three Spiritual Stones goes into place. Hmm . . . isn't that what happened in LTTP? After getting the three pendents, Link goes to the Lost Woods and retrieves the Master Sword. But he cannot do that until he has all three pendents. Well, that's the same in Zelda 64. He can't get the Ocarina of Time, now can he retrieve the sword, until he wins the corresponding three spiritual stones. I swear I've played this game before . . . . ; )

The real question is why did Nintendo do this? Well, Miyamoto is a great gamming god, but as far as stories go, his team is not that good at having connecting story lines that make sense. Again, another article, another time. The structural symmetries lying between Zelda 64 and LTTP is quite frightening. Who knows why they chose to do that? Granted, the story line is different, but quite a few of the fundamentals behind both pieces are indeed the same. In review:

A Listing of Structural Symmetries between SNES Zelda and Zelda 64

1. SNES: First Part, Link goes and retrieves three pendants after rescuing Zelda. This is to get the Master Sword. Upon doing so, and after giving the Pendants up to retrieve the Sword, Zelda is kidnaped.

2. N64: Link, after receiving a mission from the Deku Tree, goes and wins the three Spiritual Stones. Upon doing so, he goes to Hyrule City, but not before learning Zelda is kidnaped. He places the three Spiritual Stones in their place, and the Door of Time is opened, and there the sword is. Retrieving the Sword, goes to the Temple of Sages, or whatever it is called. Is given first Sage Medallion.

3. SNES: After winning the three pendents, Link must now go between two versions of the world (Light World/Dark World). Link must go back and forth between the two worlds to beat the game.

4. N64: In this great stunning adventure, Link must go between two versions of his world. One is when he is young, the other when he is an adult. This is achieved by putting the sword back in its pedestal. Just like in SNES LTTP, Link have to go back and forth to finish the game.
When he is an adult, things are noticeable more evil, for Ganon's power has grown.

5. SNES: One version (Light World) is good because not corrupted by Ganon. Version II (Dark World), is an evil corrupted version of the Light World.

6. N64: One version (Young Link's world) is not corrupted by Ganon's evil. Ganon has just recently showed up. Version II (Adult Link's world), is an evil corrupted version (albeit older) of Young Link's world. The only difference is in one its two different versions of the same thing, in Zelda 64 it's the time barrier. But for game play, they're the same.

7. SNES: He, Link, must recover seven crystals hidden in seven dungeons (sounds logical). With the maidens' power, they will open to door to Ganon's castle.

8. N64: Link has to recover five medallions to open Ganon's Tower.

9. SNES: The (massive) closer dungeon is a tower.

10. N64: The (weak) closer dungeon is a tower.

11. SNES: After beating Ganon, you save Zelda, who had been kidnaped. Although one could argue you save her in Turtle Rock, she is still imprisoned in the Crystal with the other maidens, each in their respective Crystals.

12. N64: Sticking to the standard Nintendo story, after recovering the medallions and beating Ganon, guess what, Link saves Zelda. There's a shocker.

13. SNES: There are various mini-games, heart pieces, and extra things to do. This trend is continued in Link's Awakening also.

14. Zelda 64: Stuck with the trend of mini-games, four heart pieces to make a heart, and extra things to do.

15. SNES: In some of the houses, you can find a picture of Mario on the wall.

16. N64: In Zelda 64, after meeting Zelda, look out the window, and you can find some pictures of Mario, Luigi, Bowser, and the Princess. Yoshi also comes up. Malon and Talon wear Bowser amulets also. Just goes to show, Nintendo likes cameos.

As you can see for yourself, the various structural symmetries between Zelda 64 and SNES Zelda is quit a few. If Miyamoto wanted to do a remake of LTTP for N64 that's what he should have done, I suppose. This, as far as story goes, is pretty much an update with little changed. Its like they took the game's basic plot, changed the circumstances and added where appropriate, but allowing the basic structure to stand. And, although both are great games, sadly, SNES is better, consistently with each dungeon getting a little harder and more complex. But I love Ocarina of Time all the same. This just helps support my believe that Nintendo is first and foremost a gaming company, not a writing company.

*In all previous Zelda games, the end dungeon was in the mountains. This is the first game in the series to break that trend. The first three (Zelda I, II, and LTTP) their dungeon was in Death Mountain. Link's Awakening, Link's only Game Boy adventure (currently) is in Tal Tal Mountains. At least we have something that broke one of the several trends running thru this classic series.

Teh Biggoron sword is the one!

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 1 / 6
Date: September 20, 2006
Author: Amazon User

I have loved playing Ocarina of Time since I first tried it. It is so easy to see it is a Zelda game. I have played it again and again to master almost all the side quests.
All the masks. The Forest stage.
The Biggoron sword. A must for the Water Temple as your shadow self doesn't get this one!
The golden scale.
Skulltulas, skulltulas, SKULLTULAS!

Easy

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 1 / 14
Date: March 30, 2006
Author: Amazon User

it is easy because they dont give u hard qusts you have to buy it is fun

great game

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 0 / 2
Date: June 11, 2008
Author: Amazon User

This game was not my favorite Zelda game but it is still a great game for being my third favorite Zelda game. I was able to get this game from a used video game store a few years ago. It is cool that in you can ride on horses and explore all of Hyrule. You also can play as young Link and adult Link where adult Link kills Ganon. This game also has tons of new items with the mirror shield and the Long sword (forgot the real name). If you could somehow get your hands on this game I would check it out.

Legendary

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 0 / 0
Date: January 07, 2008
Author: Amazon User

I personally believe that this should be a runner up for the best game of the century.....this games graphics were perfect for the time and also still great looking even today..the plot and story of the game is great...
this game is what made the N64 bigger than Playstation.

The best game I've ever played!!!

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 0 / 0
Date: June 17, 2008
Author: Amazon User

No joke, this is the greatest game I've ever played. I've played alot of games and most of them feel like their missing something. May it be movement, weapon system, or landscape. Zelda has EVERYTHING. For a nintendo 64 game it is immensely huge. I can remember when this game first came out, and everyone was freaking about it. This happened because no one had ever seen anything like this before. This and majora's mask were one of the last games out on the system and in my opinion, the best. The graphics are AMAZING for it's time and when you beat it it gives you that wholesome feeling that not much games present today. You will want to go back and play it over and over. To me, it's worth it to go out and buy an N 64 and this game. You absolutey CAN NOT go wrong.

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