Of all the things the 3DS was advertised as being capable of, time travel was not one of them. Yet after slotting in the latest version of Nintendo's masterpiece, Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time, I found myself instantly transported to Hyrule circa 1998, a land even more wondrous and vibrant than my fondest memories. Would I be able to tear myself away from the land that time forgot in order to get back to the future?
Ocarina of Time is commonly regarded as being the greatest Nintendo games of all time, if not the best game ever made. With this in mind, Nintendo took a great risk giving the responsibility of porting the 3DS' first major Nintendo franchise to Grezzo, a lesser known Japanese developer. Luckily the title has been treated with great respect and care, and the love put into Zelda 3DS shines through. Never before have I played such a perfect version of Ocarina of Time, and in mind-blowing 3D, no less! And on a train! At 88 miles per hour!
If you've been stick in a wormhole for the last 15 years or come from the medieval period, Zelda OoT follows the excellent adventures of Link, an elfin child who is given the heavy destiny of 'The Hero of Time' and must travel back and forth through time to save Hyrule from the evil wizard Ganon. The same 'Zelda' format applies, Link discovers items and abilities that help him access and explore complex dungeons before defeating the boss hidden within. It is (ironically) a timeless formula, and is particularly enjoyable in this title, the first of the 3D Zelda games.
Now not only 3D in perspective, Zelda OoT displays some of the best stereoscopic 3D graphics seen on the system, ranging from subtle depth of field effects to startling in-your-face illusions. Run around Kakariko village with a chicken and try to not brush the feathers from your face! The original visuals have also been completely overhauled, with brighter colours, smoother character models and a higher resolution and frame rate. Time travel has never looked so good! (Samantha Mumba comes a close second).
Other improvements such as a touch-enabled inventory screen (a change the original sorely needed), in-game video hints for the directionally-challenged amongst you, and a remixed version of the GameCube Master Quest version are present, and are a welcome addition. Also included is a Boss-rush mode which provides some arcade-style fun if you're short on time.
The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time 3D not only represents the best version of the title, it is also in my opinion the best game currently on the 3DS. Some minor issues still exist, such as slightly cryptic event scripting and dungeon design, and a finicky camera, but there is no doubt that this is a must-have for all 3DS owners. So jump in your DeLorean, Tardis, phonebooth or Victorian Armchair Time Travel Device and timewarp yourself to your nearest CeX.
Ocarina of Time is commonly regarded as being the greatest Nintendo games of all time, if not the best game ever made. With this in mind, Nintendo took a great risk giving the responsibility of porting the 3DS' first major Nintendo franchise to Grezzo, a lesser known Japanese developer. Luckily the title has been treated with great respect and care, and the love put into Zelda 3DS shines through. Never before have I played such a perfect version of Ocarina of Time, and in mind-blowing 3D, no less! And on a train! At 88 miles per hour!
If you've been stick in a wormhole for the last 15 years or come from the medieval period, Zelda OoT follows the excellent adventures of Link, an elfin child who is given the heavy destiny of 'The Hero of Time' and must travel back and forth through time to save Hyrule from the evil wizard Ganon. The same 'Zelda' format applies, Link discovers items and abilities that help him access and explore complex dungeons before defeating the boss hidden within. It is (ironically) a timeless formula, and is particularly enjoyable in this title, the first of the 3D Zelda games.
Now not only 3D in perspective, Zelda OoT displays some of the best stereoscopic 3D graphics seen on the system, ranging from subtle depth of field effects to startling in-your-face illusions. Run around Kakariko village with a chicken and try to not brush the feathers from your face! The original visuals have also been completely overhauled, with brighter colours, smoother character models and a higher resolution and frame rate. Time travel has never looked so good! (Samantha Mumba comes a close second).
Other improvements such as a touch-enabled inventory screen (a change the original sorely needed), in-game video hints for the directionally-challenged amongst you, and a remixed version of the GameCube Master Quest version are present, and are a welcome addition. Also included is a Boss-rush mode which provides some arcade-style fun if you're short on time.
The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time 3D not only represents the best version of the title, it is also in my opinion the best game currently on the 3DS. Some minor issues still exist, such as slightly cryptic event scripting and dungeon design, and a finicky camera, but there is no doubt that this is a must-have for all 3DS owners. So jump in your DeLorean, Tardis, phonebooth or Victorian Armchair Time Travel Device and timewarp yourself to your nearest CeX.
Lukao gives Zelda: Ocarina of Time 3D 9 fairies in jars out of ten.
