3D Time and the Links that clever title understand.

Scoot posted this on http://www.nationalgamingleague.com.au/tgp/ but I thought it definately deserved to be here. So here it is. Can't wait til I can afford a 3DS and This game...The only reason I think I'm getting one.

From Hyrule to Termina, The Great Sea and even the twilight realm, Link has come a long way since he first made the transition into the third dimension back on the Nintendo 64 and yet The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time is still considered a highlight in the history of gaming. After 13 years Ocarina of Time is back and it’s shinier than ever, but can Link now lead the charge into the era of 3D gaming? Ocarina of Time 3D brings with it not a port of the original, but a complete upgrade from the ground up. New visuals, new controls, new features and 2 extra modes (Master Quest and Boss Rush) just in case you haven’t had enough adventuring.

Now with more than 3 pixels for a nose

As soon as you start the game up you’ll see the extent of the graphical upgrade, as the recognisable logo appears in great detail, floating over images of Hyrule, Link and Epona in the background. The upgrades haven’t just been given to main characters and objects though as a quick wander around Kokiri Forest will reveal… Every surface in Ocarina from the giant bosses, down to the weeds growing off dungeon walls has been rebuilt and textured in detail that never would have been possible on the 64. It’s also obvious that the game was specifically built for 3D as well, with added vegetation and detail giving more depth to the world. Often when older games are updated for modern audiences, there isn’t enough effort put into fixing the graphics, so any new players who pick it up can be turned off by the games looks, but that isn’t the case with OoT3D… It easily rivals every current 3DS title in the looks department.

Familiar, and yet pants browning on a whole new level

In many Zelda games since the 64, one of the key aspects has always been music. The music of the game has to fill out the wonderful land of the game, not be so repetitive you get sick of it before you’ve finished the game AND be something you can play on the ocarina. When it comes to the music in Ocarina of Time 3D there hasn’t been much change from the original, but that’s a good thing. I’ve played through the original Ocarina multiple times and even now playing through OoT3D i still haven’t got sick of the music. It now plays louder and with a clarity beyond the original, but beyond that it’s still the same. The cheery tune as you run the length of Hyrule Field, the tune of the Lost Woods that will no doubt become burned into your brain for months to come and the creepy sound effects as you explore Dodongo’s Cavern.

Sadly the ocarina controls are slightly different

Another thing that has remained the same for the most part is the actual gameplay. You’re not going to find any amazing new gadgets that will reshape the game or anything, just your faithful slingshot, fairy bow and boomerang. The thing that has changed from the original though is how you use all these items. Gone are the days of C-buttons, now being replaced with some squares on the touch screen. Changing your setup is as simple as opening your inventory, tapping the item you want, then the button to assign to. You’ll have 4 item slots (X, Y and two touch buttons labelled I & II) plus the Ocarina now gets it’s own dedicated touch button, allowing you to explore more without having to open your inventory to switch equipment as much. There is also a Gear screen which allows you to change shields and tunics with a quick tap, although your selection of boots have been moved to your inventory, allowing you to assign them to a button and equip or unequip them with the touch of a button. The move of all the buttons to the touch screen also means the game screen is virtually HUD-free with the exception of a semi-transparent A button and mini map, allowing a clear and more open view of your surroundings. All item’s that would normally be fired from first person view (slingshot, bow, hookshot, etc.) can now also be aimed with the 3DS’s gyroscope, allowing you to move the console itself to aim. The entire game also seems to be quicker as a result of the upgrade… I’m not sure if this is an intentional design, or just a side-effect of improved framerates.

Thankfully "chest hair" wasn't on the list of things to be made 3D

Gamers who never played Ocarina of Time on the 64 will definitely be able to pick up OoT3D and still feel what everyone felt when playing the original, without the drawback of dated graphics and controls, but that’s not to say this will be the same old thing for veteran players. Upon completing the game you’ll unlock the Master Quest mode, which some might be familiar with from the special edition of Wind Waker on the Gamecube. Master Quest makes some simple but crucial changes to the game… Firstly, the entire game is mirrored, every dungeon, every environment, even Link starts swinging with his right hand… Secondly, all damage is doubled, this means even those lowly enemies you’d normally run straight past can now take a nice chunk of Link’s hearts if you’re not careful… Finally, every dungeon in the game has been altered, the rooms and layout remain the same, but everything else was open season. Memorised those enemy locations? Chances are there will be completely different enemies. Know the dungeon layout like the back of your hand? You’ll now need to take an entirely new route. Got those chests memorised? Think again. As a veteran player, i can clear Dodongo’s Cavern in under half an hour, but on Master Quest i found myself stumbling around in there for well over an hour and a half. Master Quest brings everyone back into the word of Hyrule, then punishes those who think they know all of it’s secrets.

HI-HO EPONA, AWAAAAAAAAY

Overall Ocarina of Time 3D brings back everything from the original but expands upon it in several key ways that make the entire experience smoother and more enjoyable. Link has stood the test of time well (Yeah, i went there) and shows that a great RPG never goes out of style. New and old players alike will definitely find something here and i get the feeling Ocarina of Time will survive one more generation, being called one of the best games ever created… Oh, and Navi is still a pain in the ass.

Good

• Great use of 3D
• Same epic journey, spectacular new sights
• Updated controls (particularly gyroscope aiming) make gameplay smoother

Bad

• Some framerate issues during one particular boss fight (pretty sure that was present in the original too)
• Moving the console to aim can ruin the 3D effect
• Still no option to mute Navi