Pricyber's Full Review: The Legend Of Zelda Ocarina Of Time for Nintendo 6...
The most anticipated game for the Nintendo 64 has finally hit the shelves. The next installment in the ‘Legend of Zelda’ series takes place before any of the games in the series. A prequel have you, the game reaches deep into the roots of the series and explains the origins of the mystical and magical land of Hyrule and its inhabitants.
Like all ‘Legend of Zelda’ games (excluding Link’s Awakening for Game Boy), ‘Ocarina of Time’ deals with the princess, Zelda, being kidnapped by the wicked Gannondorf Dragmire (AKA Ganon). However, this time around, the game is not centered on the kidnapping. In fact, the game itself in terms of storyline does not deal with it all.
You start off as the young hero Link, a ten-year-old inhabitant of the Kokiri Forest who has but only one friend, Saria. Link is different as he doesn’t have a guardian fairy to Link is troubled by nightmares and is awakening morning by Navi, his new guardian fairy that will accompany you on your quest. Navi was sent by the Great Deku Tree to summon you to start your quest as the “Hero of Time.”
From there on, you will journey throughout the land of Hyrule and meet up with new and old friends. You will even meet with Princess Zelda herself before her sudden disappearance. She will ask you to retrieve the three spiritual stones that are part of the keys to the “Door of Time,” as she will hold onto the other half, the elusive instrument that controls them, the “Ocarina of Time,” a hidden sacred treasure of the royal family.
Probably the most important element of the game is time travel. Using the ‘Ocarina of Time,’ you are able to travel back and forth in between time, from ten to seventeen. In order to complete certain tasks or to prevent events from happening, it is essential that you use this element. From one time to another, you will notice that the world around you has changed. The mythical Death Mountain will be turned into a smoldering volcano, as well as many other noticeable changes in the environments. All of this of course, did by the evil Gannondorf.
Besides the addition of time travel, there are many new elements and additions in the game. For the most noticeable change, the game is in full three-dimensions; a first for the series. All the characters and environments are in a wondrous 3D glory, something that you may have only dreamt about in the series. Music also takes a very important role in the game. Using the ocarina, you are able to learn songs from people that will allow you to do a certain task. For example, you can learn songs that warp you to certain places so you don’t have to walk about to arrive there. The songs can also control certain elements such as time of day. With one little song, you can make the sun rise and/or set to fit the time you want.
Speaking of the sun, a very notable feature is that the game features light sourcing. Yes, Link does have a shadow and the sun also rises and sets to a bright moonlight. Your shadow even changes with the position of the sun. Time travel isn’t the most important part of time in the game. Certain people may only be out at certain times, the same with shops, as they can be closed during the night and vise versa.
A real treat in the game is the addition of Links trusted steed, Epona. Epona is a special horse, bred from Lon Lon Ranch. As a child, you are not able to ride her, but as an adult, you will be. The horse comes in handy for some side plots and quests, or if you just don’t want to walk across the vast terrain, you can hop on her saddle and ride wherever you’d like.
Graphically, I couldn’t expect anything more or less from Nintendo and Zelda creator Shigeru Miyamoto. Though the addition of hi-res graphics via the Expansion Pak would have helped, its absence does not hurt one bit. Even without, the graphics are some of the best ever seen on the console. Characters and environments are lush with detail from the clothing on their body, to leaves on the trees.
The control of the game is excellent. The game uses the best ever 3D-environment control engine that I have ever seen or played with. No more screwy and frustrating camera angles to deal with. With the innovative “Z” trigger button, you can lock onto objects, people or enemies and not ever loose sight of them, even in the most bizarre situations. If you want the camera to face a certain direction, simply turn your character at the direction and press the “Z” button.
The other buttons were laid out nicely as well. The bottom “A” button is the action button. At the top of your screen lays an icon, or replica of the “A” button. On it will have messages for different situations. If you are close to a person, the button will say “Read.” If you are next to a door, it will read “Open.” The “B” button controls your main weapon, the sword, while the “C” buttons control the sub items such as the ocarina or a bomb. You set the item to that button and you press that button to use it. The “C-up” button adjusts the different camera angles when you are in buildings, or to a first person perspective for scooping out the area around you.
The sound in the game is absolutely wonderful. Koji Kondo composed great music for each of the environments. There are even a few familiar tunes about as well. I just wished they put the original Zelda theme somewhere in the game. Sound effects are right on target such as the sword slashes. The one element that always stays the same in all Zelda games is the use of voice. The only types of voices that are used are the ones that convey and emotion, such as giggling or a “Hi-yah” from Link as he swings his sword.
I truly loved ‘Ocarina of Time.’ It is everything I expected after 2 and a half years of waiting for the game. Now at as a $39.99 Players Choice game, you have no reason to not go out and purchase it. I can’t wait for a sequel!
Epinions.com periodically updates pricing and product information from third-party sources, so some information may be slightly out-of-date. You should confirm all information before relying on it.
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