Visuals: 8 - Knowing that this game was made in 1998, the graphics don't completely live up to today's standards. This rerelease on the Gamecube does make the game look better, but does not change that much. That being said though, every NPC and monster looks unique and the animations for them, while not always great, are usually good and easy to read.. All the locations are varied and by now are iconic and every dungeon has it's own identity. Very good stuff.
Audio: 10 - Music is a very big factor of this game (there are whole mechanics based off of it). It might be that because of how integral it is to this game that the music is so good. Nearly every single song or even sound effect in this game is memorable. Every town has it's own theme, nearly every dungeon does too! the sound effects are varied detailed and all make sense. There is very little voice acting, so little that no one actually says and words, more like grunts and yells. Even those grunts and yells are done well and became iconic themselves.
Plot: 7 - The plot of this game is kind of hard to deeply understand unless you pay close attention to what the main characters say (especially sense most of the time they'll only say it once.). Even if you don't pay close attention there is still enough to keep you motivated to the next dungeon. The lore for the game is also pretty unique compared to other RPG titles which is pretty refreshing.
The way the story plays out in this game is like non other in a Zelda game before it. Old characters are done in new and exciting ways, locations and lore are more fleshed out and have more meaning to them, there are even plot twists that you may or may not see coming. The only problem that I have with the story is the pacing. After while you get dry periods where even after a dungeon the story just says "Go to the next one" without much or any fan fare.
Gameplay: 9 - This game is a 3D action-adventure RPG. You can travel all across the land to different locations, complete dungeons and find items to help you on your way, hack and slash monsters, and even play minigames!
this is a 3D adventure so naturally you can control Link in a complete 3D space. You can run, climb, and crawl with ease, but not jump. I suspect that Nintendo didn't let Link jump because it would make constructing dungeons easier and they probably didn't want to make a Mario with a sword game. Link CAN jump but automatically and only if you is running off a platform. This sounds simple but it can be hard to measure how far he can really jump in some cases, cause some annoying deaths or time waste.
You can also gather a plethora of items, some one time use but much more are a permanent addition to your arsenal. Unlike other games most of Links items are more for completing puzzles than defeating foes. Each item has its own quirks and uses and almost none are finicky to use.
Combat is very important and also very hard to make right 3D games of this era. Nintendo does something brilliant in this game and incorporates a lock on system in the form of your fairy. With this lock on system no matter how fast and enemy is you can keep track of them. Link also has a good variety of ways he can swing his sword depending on how you move the control stick, which can get some used to but is very rewarding.
The land of Hyrule is vast, not as vast as games today but still vast! Throughout the game you will travel from one place to another on foot or on horse. There's kind of a central hub that you must travel through to get to new and old lands. Eventually you will find faster and faster ways of getting across. Towns and villages are not just stops along the way either. They offer minigames, rewards and even a tiny bit of lore! Every NPC is unique and somewhat have their own personality.
Difficulty: 7 - This game can be difficult but there are many ways to mitigate it. Health and item upgrades are plentiful and can range from very easy to hard to get them. The difficult parts in this game that you cannot make easier is the puzzles. Unless you already know the answer it won't get any easier. Luckily though there is a good curve in difficulty in the game. Sometimes the player may not where to go either but Nintendo thought of this and gave you TWO characters that will give you advice on where to go or even how to beat an enemy!
Master Quest is a new game mode added to this game that changes the rooms in dungeons to increase difficulty. The over world and all the minigames are the same, so you're only going to experience new dungeons. The layouts are all the same it's just the individual rooms are different, requiring different solutions to complete them. It is nice that this mode was added and some dungeons are actually more fun here but in the end master quest just feels like an okay rom hack of Ocarina of time. Some off the solutions to puzzles are down right nonsensical and there's no real reward for playing this inferior version of the game.
Overall The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time is an absolutely fantastic game even for it's time. Nintendo pulled all the stops to make this game great and I believe they succeeded one hundred percent. This game oozes so much personality that whether you like the game or not it will stay with you forever. I have bought this game for basically every platform it appears on and it always impresses.