If I didn't care about these reviews (and if GameSpot didn't have a minimum word count), this would probably be one of my quickest reviews yet. It would most likely just say, "'The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time' is a masterpiece, and you know that already. Bye." I don't even need an extremely long intro for this because we already know about this game: chances are, one of you reading this has it at the very top of your "Favorite Games of All Time" list. It was a landmark game on the Nintendo 64 game, and it raised the bar for the medium as a whole. It's still one of the most acclaimed and most iconic games ever created, and even as new entries in "The Legend of Zelda" come along, this remains one of the best there is. Having finally gotten a chance to beat the game thanks to the 3DS re-release "The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time 3D," I absolutely see the hype.
"The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time" set a landmark for 3D gaming, and it's the type of game that's still inspiring several other titles to this day. It set an unbelievable number of benchmarks for the medium across a variety of genres, and it just so happens that it remains a wildly enjoyable game beyond that. Even having been out for just over 23 years now, it's still a fantastic, imaginative game. It takes the dungeon-based style of 2D "Zelda" games and translates it stunningly to 3D, with levels that challenge but thankfully don't overwhelm. There are a lot of clever and unique puzzles, fantastic action-based gameplay, and a vast arsenal of weaponry and tools to make each element of the gameplay even better. The controls are still smooth and precise, and the game's interpretation of Hyrule is stunningly realized while being packed with tons of content and objectives to engage with. While the visuals may show their age as a result of this being the first "Zelda" game to utilize 3D graphics, I think they still look great. There's a real sense of scale and emotion to the world and the characters, respectively, and I can still appreciate what it was able to accomplish for its time. The soundtrack is also utterly fantastic, perhaps some of the finest and most memorable music I've heard in any video game, and the story is pretty amazing, too. For a game whose story may seem "lighter" on the surface, "Ocarina of Time" really has a fantastic sense of emotion and coming-of-age, with some incredibly well-developed characters and relationships that make it extremely gratifying. I should also note that having played the "Ocarina of Time 3D" re-release, the updated visuals along with the inclusion of a map add even more to what was already a fantastic game, without taking away from the original or making it feel invalid in the process.
The only minor issue that I had with the game is that I did have a few small problems with the frame rate. Playing on the 3DS version of the game, I did notice some slow-down during certain action-heavy segments, including boss fights. It thankfully didn't impede too much on my enjoyment of the game, but it was noticeable.
Chances are, you don't need to be convinced any further that "The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time" is one of the most incredible games ever created. It's a genuine masterpiece that's more than worthy of its standing among gaming's "Diamond tier." There's a good chance you've already experienced the game (multiple times, perhaps), but if you haven't, it's an absolute must. Whether through the original Nintendo 64 version, or the updated 3DS version, give the game a shot. You deserve to experience a "Legend" for yourself.
Final rating: 10 out of 10 "Fantastic"