The Legend enters the Third Dimension

It's not an easy thing, remaking such a beloved video game as The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time. Is it even possible to improve upon a game that many already consider to be perfection? With The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time 3D, Nintendo proves it can be done. For those who have never experienced this classic game before, players are introduced to the young Hylian Link, who is forced to embark on a perilous journey to rescue the young Princess Zelda after she is kidnapped by the evil Ganondorf. Players must master the power of the legendary Ocarina of Time in order to chase this merciless villain and his royal prisoner into the dark, bleak future. While the story remains untouched, Nintendo has made a few dramatic improvements, the largest of which is to the game’s graphics. The game makes excellent use of the 3DS’ graphical processing power, allowing gamers to see the beauty of Hyrule in a whole new light. The 3DS capabilities of the console make this journey even more immersive. The already excellent boss battles truly come to life in full, glorious 3D. There is really nothing like watching an enemy’s arrow fly straight through your console’s screen, while dodging an ill-willed spear lunging straight towards you. Despite this exciting feature, gamers should use the 3D cautiously; playing for long periods of time can seriously hinder or blur your vision. In addition, the console’s gyroscope function can occasionally cause the view of the game to falter. Luckily, the circle pad can be used as an alternative to the gyroscope, which can quickly and easily be turned off. While Nintendo gave the graphics a complete overhaul, they left the legendary soundtrack virtually untouched, which once again proves their mastery of past and present. While I personally believe there is no such thing as a “bad Zelda game”, none of the franchise’s subsequent entries could match the fluidity of OoT’s excellent lock-on system, which returns untouched in this fantastic update, along with a much less irritating Navi. Of course gamers can expect the memorable cast of characters from the original OoT, alongside the original epic quest, which can take close to 30 hours to complete in its entirety. However, if that isn’t enough for you, Nintendo has packed in the “Master Quest”, a much more difficult version of the game, which unlocks at the end of your first playthrough. Whether you’re riding through Hyrule Field on Epona, or chasing Ganondorf through time with the power of the Ocarina, Nintendo proves that the game which defined an entire generation is still as fresh and entertaining as it was 13 years ago.Read full review