After
one of the most lackluster launches in video game history, the 3DS
struggled to create a software lineup that was worth a damn in 2011.
Since I need to fill these next few months somehow, listen to me talk
about what I would consider to be the 4 biggest 3DS titles, or at least
the 4 biggest ones that I care about. And I don’t see a better place to
start than The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time 3D. As someone who didn’t grow up with this game, and only played a portion of it 3 years ago, let’s see if this classic holds up.
Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time 3D Review
Release Date: 19/6/2011
Platform: 3DS
Price I Paid: $39.99
The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time 3D
places you in the tunic of a lad named Link, a 10-year-old boy who is
sent off on a quest to save the mystical land of Hyrule. You are guided
on this journey by a fairy named Navi, your guide and the operator of
this game’s lock on system, for fighting enemies, which is only hindered
by occasionally locking on to the wrong enemy. And there is also the
possible result of a soreness in one’s palm after locking on to a single
target for five or so minutes. It is rather annoying and shows an
inherent flaw with the system’s design that could have been amended by
the system having more curved edges, but the Circle Pad Pro proved that
the 3DS shipped prematurely, so this seems minor in comparison.
Speaking of system’s design, the whole 3D aspect works well, depth is a
lot easier to see and it is more enjoyable to play with it on, assuming
that you don’t move your head from the 10 degree angle that the 3D
effects. The game also makes use of the system’s Gyroscopic controls,
which works well for aiming, but completely ruins the 3D aspect.
However,
the game remains fully enjoyable without the 3D, the upped resolution
of every object in the game really helps give the world life, but that
is also helped by a wonderful soundtrack, ranging from catchy beats
ambient tracks, or dramatic ballads, it’s all there. This is also
helped by all around good design in terms of levels, enemies, and unique
environments overall. Of the 11 main and side dungeons, all of them
have a unique look, even dungeons located in the same area offer enough
creativity in their design to remove any notion of repetition. even
though the formula of find map, compass, dungeon item, and boss key is
present in most of them, it never feels samey. And to argue with a
semi-popular criticism, the dungeon items used on the boss do make
sense, with the arguable exception of the Shadow Temple, but the hover
boots were pretty pointless in the end. Okay, a boomerang is used
against a giant jellyfish, but at least you don’t need to spend 2
minutes on each boss to figure out how you should kill them. Although
the game is not always that self explanatory. A good bit of the 20-25
hour campaign will be spent wandering around and wondering what you are
suppose to do, where to go. How would you even figure out that you can
catch a fish in a bottle and a whale will eat it along with Link? This
can be rebutted due to the internet, but just because a lot of things in
the game are common knowledge, that does not make them excusable. I
won’t hamper a game for not having a button guide, because you can
figure out how they work by pressing them, but what 10-year-old had the
patience to find even half of the Golden Skulltulas to get a bigger
wallet and heart piece.
Throughout
the game you will traverse this world in what was originally a large
and expansive world, and still feels like it. You explore the land from
two points in time, as a youth who is launched into this new and
foreign world, and as a young man who must save this now doomed kingdom
from the cruel king of Hyrule’s desert, Ganondorf. From there it is a
collect the colored gems and sages to “save Yo Grrrl” plot, although the
girl in question really never needs saving until then end due to a plot
twist that is completely common knowledge to anyone who played Super Smash Brothers Melee.
the entire plot is simplistic once you think about it, but this was
made in 1998, when storytelling in games was just coming into its own,
and since the game was rebuilt multiple times, I can forgive it for only
crafting the best narrative in the series as of its initial release,
only to be topped by Majora’s Mask.
Overall, The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time 3D
is a well executed re-release of a classic, complete with new visuals
and control schemes. It remains great despite the 13 years since its
release, with its solid overall design, it is only hindered by an
overlooked aspect of the 3DS’ physical design and some general aspects
that come with being a game that old.
35/40
Great
The game manages creates a lovely aesthetic, great gameplay, and may only be lacking a few additions or a bit of polish.
PS: My Wii is currently half broken, meaning that games that I planned on reviewing, namely No More Heroes 2: Desperate Struggle, Xenoblade Chronicles, Red Steel 2, and The Last Story, are all on hold until I can fix it. Or until I can muster $75 freakin' dollars!
