The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time is truly an epic masterpiece.
THE GOOD
-Hyrule is a vast place to explore
-Epic boss fights
-Solid controls
-Beautiful graphics and musical score
-Challenging puzzles
-Exciting story
-A great selection of useful weapons and accessories
THE BAD
-Navi can be bothersome at times
OVERVIEW
As years go by in the gaming industry developers franticly try to make games that people will enjoy. Some games are good and others not so good but every once in a while there is a game that comes around and changes the industry forever. The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time is one of those few elite games that have changed the course of the gaming industry in a very positive way. This game lets you play as Link, the "Hero of Time", in one of the most epic adventures ever told.
The game begins with Link as a young boy in the small village of Kokiri. While Link is sleeping he has a nightmare of an evil Wizard named Ganondorf chasing the youthful Princess Zelda of Hyrule; each on horseback. Meanwhile the Great Deku Tree, which is an old and very wise plant, asks Navi (a trusty but bothersome fairy) to summon Link to his presence. Navi goes and wakes Link up from his nightmare and the two make their way to the great tree. The Deku Tree tells Link that he has been cursed by Ganondorf and that he is about to die. Before fading away the Deku Tree instructs Navi to help Link find Zelda. Link was destined to find Zelda so that the two may stop Ganondorf from taking over the world.
Next we see Link slip past a dozen Hyrulian guards and finally meet up with Zelda. Nothing has happened yet but Zelda suspects that Ganondorf (the Gerudo King) is seeking the Triforce. The Triforce consists of three pieces: Wisdom, Power and Courage. Together they would turn any ordinary being into a god. Zelda asks Link obtain three Spiritual Stones and report back to her. This is where Link's adventure begins. It is up to him to find the Spiritual Stones so that he can wield the mighty Master Sword against Ganondorf and send him back to the Sacred Realm. You'll find out more about your quest, meet interesting people and even partake in some time travel (via a helpful Ocarina). There are a few exciting plot twists to keep you guessing what will happen next. Ocarina of Time is a wonderful gaming experience that you'll remember forever.
GAMEPLAY
First of all, once you leave Kokiri village for the first time you'll be awestruck with how vast the lands of Hyrule are. The first time you step out into the Hyrulian field I guarantee that you'll be overwhelmed while asking yourself, "So where to do I begin?" The Hyrulian field is a large piece of landscape that connects places in Hyrule like the castle, Kakariko Village and Gerudo Valley. The amount of exploration in this game is incredible. Whether you're finding lost caves or riding a trusty steed on a ghost hunt, you're in for a fun time exploring every nook and cranny this game has to offer.
Controlling Link is easy and very intuitive. These solid controls use just about every single button on the N64 controller. The B button, just like in all the other Zelda games, wields your mighty sword. There are a few sword techniques you can use to dispatch your enemies so it won't feel like your doing the same slash over and over again. A new feature to the series is the availability to preset three accessories using the C buttons. This lets you quickly select an item to use in battle without having to constantly consult your main menu. This nice feature really speeds up the pace of the action. Speaking of accessories, Link (as a young boy and adult) has a great selection to choose from like the bow and arrow, hook-shot and your trusty Ocarina of Time. There are also a few different types of boots, armor and other equipment to aid in your quest. Now some games like to offer a huge array of items but only a few applications to use them in. This is definitely not the case in Ocarina of Time. All of the items you collect will be used on a regular basis. Sometimes you'll need a combination of items in order to defeat a boss or solve a puzzle. Another plus with the control scheme is the extremely helpful targeting system. By pressing the Z button, on something Navi has flown to, you'll be able to lock Link's sights on the target. This greatly enhances your maneuverability against an enemy and makes battling a lot of fun without the frustration. You can also use the targeting to talk to certain people which can be helpful too.
In every Zelda game, so far, the two things that stick out in people's minds the most about them are the elaborate dungeons (or boss lairs) and challenging puzzles. Ocarina of Time won't disappoint you here. There are many boss dungeons to crawl through along with plenty of fantastic puzzles to solve. This game does a great job combining the excitement of defeating foes and the cleverness of solving puzzles. At the end of each dungeon you're skills will be put to the test in an epic boss battle. Each boss requires you to get creative in order to take them down. The puzzles on the other hand don't start and end with the dungeons; instead you'll find puzzles and riddles all through out Hyrule. But don't worry; you'll be rewarded for your intelligence and patience.
Aside from the hustle and bustle of Link's epic quest, Ocarina of Time does offer a variety of fun mini games. Completing these little games can yield money, heart pieces and even accessories. Some of these mini games include bow and arrow target practice, ghost hunting, and even a nice relaxing day of fishing. Sometimes these mini games can be a much needed break from the main quest to give your brain a chance to relax. Either way, Ocarina of Time has plenty of extra things to do.
GRAPHICS & SOUND
The visuals are incredible in this game. The detail and clarity in the people and environment is top notch. The facial expressions are priceless too. There are many moments during the game that I have stopped just to take in the extraordinary view.
The musical score in Ocarina of Time is a masterpiece. You'll enjoy some of the works like the upbeat fanfare for the Hyrulian field, the calmer water-like Lake Hylia music and also the noble Hyrule Castle music. The music fits perfectly all throughout Hyrule. The sound effects also greatly enhance the gameplay too. From the clanking of swords and shields to the soft drop of the hook on a fishing pole, it will feel like you're in Hyrule yourself.
CONCLUSION
The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time is a game that can only be called perfect. I would recommend this game to everyone. In fact, you must play this game because you won't regret it. Link's epic adventure along with thrilling gameplay puts this game high above the rest.