Arguably, The Legend of Zelda series couldn't have become more revolutionized until Ocarina of Time was produced. Released in 1998, this Zelda game is referred to as the staple of the series by many magazines and websites.
Ocarina of Time is said to be the first in the Zelda timeline, featuring the original Link, Zelda and Ganondorf who started the bloodlines. In this game, Link is a part of the Kokiri race, Peter Pan-like forest children who possess fairies (creatures that, strangely, resemble Tinker Bell).
Of course, Link is the only one without a fairy, so he sticks out like a sore thumb amongst the other children and usually has to put up with bullying by Mido, the head of the tribe.
The Great Deku Tree, the father of the forest, eventually becomes cursed when Ganondorf attempts to steal the Kokiri Emerald in an attempt to take over Hyrule, and he summons Link to free him of his pain.
From there on out, the boy without a fairy is destined to become the legendary savior of Hyrule known as the Hero of Time.
Ocarina of Time Set the Standards of Modern Video Games
The main trait that sets this game apart from others in the Zelda series is that it was the first one to make the leap to three-dimensional graphical capabilities.
Character models and environments are detailed and well-designed thanks to good textures, smooth coloring and etched detail. They may not stand up to next-gen games due to their blocky, hexagonal looks today, but they were considered the crème de la crop of 1998.
It's not the absolute best-looking game of this era (the Banjo, Conker and Resident Evil series are even more crisp and detailed), but Ocarina of Time still has solid visual designs overall and is among the best of the decade.
Another noticeable trait about Ocarina is that the gameplay is exciting and revolutionary, especially since it was one of the first to use the now-traditional z-targeting technique (a technique where players press and hold down a button to lock on to enemies) that made attacking much more efficient and simple.
Players go through the standard Zelda formula, travelling through nine temples in order to solve complex puzzles by moving blocks, shooting targets, fighting mini bosses and more.
The overworld, though considered small today, was huge back in 1998. There's not much to do in it, but occasionally Link can hunt ghostly poes or even chase down a crazy running man (who became a well-known character called the postman in the future) to sell him a bunny hood.
Side-quests, while not as plentiful as Ocarina's sequel Majora's Mask, are still evident in the game. The best one has to be where players go through a chain of events (like getting eye drops and delivering saws) in order to get the Biggoron's Sword.
The audio is some of the most memorable of all time, particularly in the music department. With popular songs like upbeat Saria's Song, mysterious Song of Storms and the absolutely breathtaking end credit theme, various moods and themes are set within each environment or cut-scene.
This was also one of the first Zeldas (or maybe even the first) to use minimal voice work. Characters usually grunt, laugh, scream or moan since none of the lines are actually spoken, but even these small sounds let players look into what the characters are really like and how they feel.
The best thing about the game is definitely the characters. Saria, the lively Kokiri who becomes the Forest Sage, is one of the most memorable along with the farm girl Malon and her father Talon. Darunia, proud mountain-dwelling leader and Fire Sage, also becomes a close buddy of Link.
Link also has some backstory, if only a small amount, and although he makes a solid debut, Ganondorf suffers a bit from evil villain syndrome. His transformation into Ganon is epic, especially because of the fire, low lighting and movie-score style music for the final battle.
Ocarina of Time: A Masterpiece of Near Perfection
Some gamers might be put off because of the fact that Ocarina is so similar to A Link to the Past. Its structure is nearly identical, for instance (like the child timeline being similar to the regular world and the adult portion being parallel to the Dark World).
Epona the horse's controls are also a bit stiff. Sometimes she won't turn the way a player might want and she might even stop or back away sometimes when the analog control is pushed forward. Some gamers will groan in frustration when they have to force the control forward to make her turn because she handles like a clunker.
It's difficult to see why so many fans claim Twilight Princess is so easy when this game is rather light on difficulty as well. Some will actually find Majora's Mask to be more challenging due to its more complex temples and bosses.
This Video Game Is Simply Excellent For Its Time
Although not quite the perfect game hardcore Zelda fans claim it is, The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time still comes pretty close. It has aged well and it's definitely easy to see why it takes so many thrones as the greatest game of all time.
Heather Ashley - I am a young woman from Virginia and my interests are in video games, children's tv and animated films. However, I could probably dabble ...
