The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time
Cucco Gank
Antique Code Show I didn't play The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time when it was first released in the late 1990s because I was too busy on my SEGA playing Sonic. However, I do remember that I always used to think the name Zelda referred to the main character. It wasn't until I watched The Legend of Neil that I realised the hero's name was Link and Zelda was the name of the cutesy pie peroxide princess.
Such a princess...
Cut to the 2008 when my coder housemates moved in and hooked up an old N64 in the front room. Finally, it was time to explore the Hyrule field, help out the Deku tree and earn my own fairy Navi.
Tree's company
The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time is the fifth Legend of Zelda game in the series and, debatably, the best. The plot revolves around the Dark Lord Ganondorf threatening the land of Hyrule and Link discovering the Triforce before Ganondorf can establish his evil rule. I must explore, collect heart containers and gold skulltula, while fighting dodongos and octorocks in my quest to defeat him.
Head games
This game is definitely more action than RPG and, luckily, the controls are super user-friendly. Being able to select an enemy with battle mode during combat makes gameplay rewardingly precise. The linear plot and roleplaying with some friendly fairy advice make sure that I stay firmly on track but also enjoy the multitude of mini games and puzzles, such as the eternally enjoyable fishing game where I have to deploy all my angling prowess to land a fatty.
Check it out
Music plays a large part of this game and I learn twelve tunes during the game from NPC's to complete different puzzles such as the Sun’s Song, which turns day to night as some missions can only be completed at night.
Solo player
The N64 was all about kick ass 3D and Zelda's scenery has great textures, lighting, with some neat little graphical flourishes, such as the characters' facial expressions, which are especially hard to wrap around a 3D surface but still brimming with personality and expression. It's amazing what a blink and a wink can convey.
Eye-catching
There’s something about the soundtrack for Ocarina of Time that gives it shocking worldwide appeal. One of the highlights of 2012 was watching a Mexican Olympic gymnast complete her floor routine to its happy tweeting melody. Unlike a lot of repetitive MIDI soundtracks, Ocarina of Time never had me reaching for the mute button.
Choose your weapons
I really got my car boot sale money's worth with The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time having around seventy hours of game play. Luckily, my addiction is never thwarted as nothing is too hard to figure out (apart from the water temple). Childish as this game sometimes looks, it transcends all age barriers and geographical locations and never seems long or boring.
Buy an secondhand N64 and play Zelda, it's aged flawlessly.
Developer Nintendo EAD
Publisher Nintendo
Release Date 1998
Platform N64
More info The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time can be found on-line from around £15 or less for the N64 version. A revamped 3D version of the game is available for Nintendo 3DS here.
More Retro Games |
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 Ghostbusters |
 Goldeneye |
 Spy Hunter |
 Streetfighter 2
World Warrior |
 Speedball 2
Brutal Deluxe |
COMMENTS
Re: This game is so broken ...
More people should do that!
You *can* run Firefox. I, and many others, *can't* run IE.
Best version?
Disagree, although I know it's a subjective thing. I think the best version was Zelda: A link to the past on the Snes. That said I did buy an N64 just to be able to play this game as the series is one of my favourites.
3DS owners on the reg?!
My goodness, from the way the comments seem to go on any other game articles I thought I as the only one. Dare we go the whole hog and share friend codes? There's no icon for a nintendo fanboi, so I'll get my coat.
FWIW I too preferred Wind Waker, the freedom to sail wherever you wanted never tired for me, also I loved the grayed-out hyrule. I did however play WW before OOT, both on the cube, so maybe that has something to do with it.
Memories, like the corners of my console...
You are aware the game was re-released for the 3DS, right? No need to get an antique console for it.
I think it's a mistake to characterise Zelda titles as either 'roleplaying' or 'adventure'. They're basically puzzle-solving games. At every point, you have to identify the right tool (eight times out of ten, the newest toy you've acquired) and work out how to apply it - and then you can't really go wrong. The big selling point is that the puzzles are tied together with a strong central storyline.
My personal favourite was 'Twilight Princess' (stronger story than most), but I know I'm in a minority on that. 'Ocarina' was also a fine game.
And what I like most of all is the voice acting. It's amazing how much meaning you can convey with no distinguishable words. I just wish more modern games (Bethesda, I'm looking at you) would try it.
