The Legend of Zelda is easily one of my all time favorite franchises. Zelda games have been staples in my gaming rotation since my youth, and never fail to disappoint with classic unforgettable moments. This couldn't be more true than with the Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time. Its regarded as the best Zelda title, and can be argued as one of the best video games ever made. I personally don't consider that a far stretch by any means.

     Upon its time of release, The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time had a heck of a lot going for it. With its full 3D environments, epic story, and well executed game mechanics it was a bold step forward for the franchise. Yet, thankfully Ocarina of Time was able to recapture all the familiar themes from previous installments keeping memories of hours spent in front of the NES, SNES, and even a gameboy alive. No N64 owner was complete without getting their hands on a copy of this gem, and you can tell the real die hard fans by those who reserved their limited edition gold cartridge. Unfortunately I missed out on that little collector's keepsake, but regardless I still had my hands on one seriously outstanding game.

     Being a Zelda game, the core game mechanics are essentially the same in Ocarina of Time compared to any other installment of the franchise. Players will once again assume to role of the green clad hero Link and do battle against the forces of evil. This is done by entering dungeons, finding new items to help Link progress, and of course a lot of sword play. However, these core elements have been done before somehow in Ocarina of Time they seem completely new and refreshed. By taking advantage of everything the Nintendo 64 had to offer, The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time drastically re-imagined all that we know and love about the franchise. Our young hero is now immersed in a fully 3D environment with bright color schemes, vibrant clear sound, and a control layout that fit's the N64 with absolute perfection. Players are able to quickly pick up a controller and jump into this new adventure without complication, and with plenty of "how to" tutorials that pop up along the way ensures no player is left behind. Link's new world is also open to exploration with a slew of side quests that will give Link new gear, or upgrades to items already obtained. While exploring the new rendition of Hyrule, Link will run or use a horse to get around between towns and new territories on the map. While outside of a town, time will progress through night and day. As the sun rises and sets, new dangers will emerge and disappear adding yet another reason to explore locations during different time settings.

     The biggest draw to Ocarina of Time is with out a doubt is story. I can remember playing through Ocarina of Time for the first time, and simply not being able to stop. All I wanted to do is keep progressing the plot, that was both gripping and dark. Ocarina of Time begins in Kokiri forest, which is inhabited by children that never grow old. It is here young hero sleeps in his home, completely unaware of the destiny that is about to be laid upon him when his fairy companion Navi finally tracks him down. From there, Link bold and true, must take up arms and enter the dangerous world outside the safety of Kokiri Forest and team up with Princess Zelda in hopes of thwarting the evil Ganondorf's attempt to gain an ultimate power, the Triforce. Despite the Princess's darkest fears, the world seems aloof to the impending danger. This is depicted visually as players explore the brightly lit world, and interact with its inhabitants. As the game progresses, Link obtains a special item. An item that holds the power of time itself, the Ocarina of Time. This allows Link to gain the Master Sword, and advance 8 years into the future. This is where players are introduced to for the first time, adult Link. That's right after years of playing as a child Link, the young hero is finally given the chance to grow up. But, the world isn't exactly how Link left it. Hyrule has been cast into darkness, the once bright world cast into shadow and destruction. As Link has matured, so has the overall theme of the story. This leap into a darker form of story telling changed the scope of the game itself. Villages and characters have aged, and not for the better. The overall theme of this new Hyrule matches that of the new shadowy setting. Once thriving characters are now met with hardship and despair. Everyone seems to be missing the good old days, and searching for any sign of hope. This leap in time not only broadened the scope of Ocarina of Time's story, and kept players hooked. Ocarina of Time is filled with memorable moments, and plot twists that players will not see coming.

     One element that I didn't expect to be as influential as it turned out to be was Ocarina of Time's use of music. The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time is loaded with unforgettable musical themes that not only complimented the unique locations, but also key moments in the story. But, those aren't the only places music had a major impact. The use of music also had a major impact on the player themselves. The Ocarina came into play often throughout the game. Players would learn new tunes to play as the game progresses, and use the Yellow C buttons to make Link play each note. These themes were not only entertaining and well crafted, but were also used to unlock hidden locations, or solve puzzles. Later in the game, the Ocarina would even be used to quickly warp between locations. Simply talking about how impressive this musical element is just doesn't do the game justice. Like any great story, players must play Ocarina of Time to truly gain an appreciation of how music has so much influence in making Ocarina of Time such a legendary game.

     Over the years since its original release, The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time hasn't been forgotten. In fact, it has seen numerous re-releases. A digitally remastered version of Ocarina of Time was packaged with reserved copies of the Legend of Zelda: Wind Waker released for the Gamecube, and is even available for download on the Wii's Virtual Console. Demand is still high for Ocarina of Time, making it truly a timeless classic. When it is all said and done, everything fell into place with Ocarina of Time. It revitalized the Zelda franchise, and is flawless in its execution. For those who argue Ocarina of Time as the best game ever made, I can certainly agree with you that it is one of the best. The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time is N64 gaming perfected.

Written by RB

Over and Out

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