The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time is a well-defined game that has been praised by consumers and critics as being one of the greatest games of all time. What it came out in 1998 for the N64 Ocarina of Time set a new standard for 3-deminsional action titles and introduced new mechanics that to this day are copied by developers. Ocarina of Time has been ported to many different platforms over the years, however this is the first time this title has been given a significant update. Improvement in graphics, animations, helpful video tips, 3D effect, a boss gauntlet, and the Master Quest all add incredible appeal to those who have or haven’t experience this wonderful and lengthy adventure.

 The biggest difference in Ocarina of Time is in its graphics. This isn’t just a port but virtually everything from the original title has been redone. While dungeons do look alike animations, character models, and textures have been dramatically improved. There are still dated architectures such as flat stairs and blocky hills that could have been updated, but most of them are small issues that won’t distract from the overall look of the game.

The 3D definitely looks amazing in this game. The battery does drain faster and cause your eyes to hurt over time but it shows an incredible level of depth that exercises one of the best examples of the 3D technology. I did play most of the game in 2D but it is nice to see proper use of the 3D tech. the 3DS has to offer.

If you’ve played Ocarina of Time then you’ll be familiar with the gameplay of this redone version. The world is in jeopardy and the Hero of time must embark on an epic quest to save the world. During this journey you will encounter great characters, solve interesting puzzles, gather powerful items, play mystical melodies, and fight amazing bosses. The world of Ocarina of Time is expansive and there are many things to collect, kill, and discover within the land of Hyrule. Ultimately this is the same game and it translates well to the 3DS well maintain core aspects.

The game also includes the Master Quest after beating the game and a Boss Gauntlet mode that allows the player to fight bosses. The Master Quest is only unlocked after beating the game and changes the game enough to offer a challenge that relays more on skill then memory alone. The Boss Gauntlet Mode is accessible from Link’s home and allows players to go against bosses and compare times with your friends. Sadly there is no online leaderboards for those who are competitive. Even if you’re an Ocarina veteran you can find a lot of content here to keep you busy.

The controls in Ocarina of Time have been carried out well enough to the 3DS. Link has two physical item assignment slots and two touch based ones. This layout is fine but can lead to awkwardness when trying to assign specific items. There is also a gyroscope aiming system that works well but can be annoying it you choose to play with the 3D on. There is a option to choose between the gyroscope and manual aiming, if you find on or the other appealing.

Ocarina of Time still uses many aspects that made the original great and annoying. The lock-on combat system is back and makes fights fast and fun. Also back is Navi’s annoyance that I wished I could turn off. The developers did a great job of uses new methods to assign the once perfect controls to the 3DS while maintain that core feeling.

Returning is the classic soundtrack from the original Ocarina of Time. Everything from Link swinging his sword to enemies yelping in pain sounds familiar. However this isn’t a bad thing, the soundtrack from the original game was held with high praise and still creates a well-define atmosphere that distinctive to Ocarina of Time. However it does show the age of this title and an upgrade would have been appreciated.

I found Ocarina of Time to be a fun fulfilling experience that showcased a great combination of the classic game and new developments. If you played Ocarina of Time then the decision rest solely of you if you want this game. There is definitely a large amount of content here that averages around twenty hours for the first playthrough and those who have had trouble with Zelda games won’t have to fear with the inclusion of a tip system that guides those who are stuck. Ocarina of Time 3DS offers a large amount of context for people new to this game and those who experienced the wonders of Hyrule before.

Jesse Dolman, NoobFeed.