The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time 3D

 
Before Breath of the Wild, Ocarina of Time was arguable the definitive 3d Zelda adventure, and honestly, it might still be. It was a remarkable feat in video game development that Nintendo was able to translate the item-collecting, dungeon-exploring, world-saving structure to three dimensions almost perfectly on their first try. A Link to the Past set the series standards for decades to come, but Ocarina of Time showed, without a doubt, that those standards worked just as well outside of two dimensions. The game definitely had areas for improvement upon its first release, but practically everything I had an issue with on the N64 was fixed in the 3DS remake. Quality-of-life improvements, such as making the boots an item, or displaying the map on the screen at all times, made this adventure largely seamless. Plus, the graphics are leagues better than before, which is always a win.

The story in Ocarina of Time is nothing exceptional, but it got the job done. Starting as a young boy, you are tasked with helping the magical tree that raised you before being thrust into a time-traveling adventure about saving a kingdom and defeating an all-powerful dark wizard. It sounds pretty ridiculous in writing, but it is actually really engaging. On your adventure, you encounter delightfully unique characters, explore a variety of themed dungeons, and collect items that help you traverse the world and wreck enemies. The game ends with a satisfying climactic final battle and then opens up the opportunity to play through everything again in a reversed world with remixed dungeons. I wouldn't call the story memorable by any means, but it is more than enough to drive you forward as you try to save the kingdom of Hyrule.

Ocarina of Time is a linear title, and its story is somewhat simplistic, but the exploration is exciting, the characters are interesting, the combat and puzzles are engaging, and the world is beautiful. The original release of this game shows its age in both its graphics and its tedious menus, but the 3DS remake makes this classic feel fresh and new again, even a decade after its re-release. I would consider this game unmissable for any Zelda fan, and I would encourage you to pick it up as soon as possible. You definitely won't regret it.

The game is available for 3DS here (as of 12/20/20): https://www.nintendo.com/games/detail/the-legend-of-zelda-ocarina-of-time-3d-3ds/

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