Gameplay Today - Because You're Always Gaming

Thirteen years ago, a classic in the famous Zelda series was made called Ocarina of Time. Called Breathe taking by many gamers and said to be the best game ever played. That being said the game deserved to be remade and so it was. In 2003 the game was ported to the Gamecube with an all new Master Quest and then later with The Legend of Zelda Collector’s Edition.  Thirteen years later and gamers are still people playing this game. Finally instead of a port we get the remake this game deserved from Nintendo and Grezzo on the 3DS.

The moment you start this game up on your 3DS, have your 3D on because just seeing Link ride on Epona through Hyrule is just jaw dropping. Boss fights in 3D just add more depth to the game and make it just that much more enjoyable. This is just one game you really want to play with 3D on if you normally keep yours off. So far Ocarina of time 3DS has been the only game to really show off what 3DS is capable of with its graphics. These graphics make the game look how they were intentionally supposed to look like; as beautiful as the concept art originally was. Some areas could have used an extra boost in graphics but still seem to slide by if you don’t pay much attention to it. Some things just stay the same. Staircases still look like a flat surface with some lines drawn across. Fences are a whole bunch of blocks. Some of the cliffs also look a bit blocky. These little things still make you recall this game’s dated origin and add a bit more nostalgia.

All tracks are still their original tracks you know and love; From the songs you play on your ocarina, to the tunes you hear entering towns and temples, or the boss themes you hear when fighting the boss. There really was no need to even play around with these tracks and make something new for this classic. Even hearing them today is just epic as they could be thirteen years ago.

The story is still as original as it can be. Link, a young elf in the Kokiri Forest, is tasked with helping Princess Zelda to save the world. Along the way he explores some challenging dungeons and acquires powerful items from various locations in Hyrule. Link faces off against some of the most epic enemies and bosses ever devised, and does it all while navigating the past, present and future. His ultimate goal is to prevent the land of Hyrule from falling into darkness at the hands of the evil Ganon. (Navi is still annoying as ever.)

Gameplay is still the same as it can be just with different control layout and new little features. Instead of your hearts and magic meter being displayed on top of the screen, it is instead displayed on the touch screen. Also there are your items, map (If you are in a dungeon, the map becomes the dungeon map) and rupees. You can now set 2 items on the touch screen use and 2 other on X and Y buttons. You can quickly access your gear, map and items by selecting them on the touch screen.

One feature to highlight being able to play Ocarina on the 3DS is the system’s gyroscope which lets the player view everything around Link by physically moving the system to the direction you want to view. When using the slingshot or bow, you can use the gyroscope system to aim them both to the direction you chose to fire. While using the targeting system, you now can move the system around and view some of your surroundings instead of just looking forward. If you just want to play how you originally played this game, you can go to the options and turn this feature off.

Having trouble with a dungeon, visit the Sheikah Stone. This new feature gives you little hints on how to solve some of the puzzles in the dungeon you’re in. The Stone gives you a short vision on how to do a puzzle in the dungeon. This is a nice feature for those new to Ocarina of Time and some of its challenging dungeons like the Water Temple.

Ever wanted to fight any pervious bosses at any time? If you head back to the Kokiri Forest as Young Link you can revisit bosses with this “Boss Gauntlet Mode” in his tree house. As you defeat bosses you unlock them to fight once again. Did Navi ever really get on your nerve in the original game? Of course she did. Get ready for her asking you if you’re getting tired then telling you to start, save the game and take a break. The idea this could be for Nintendo’s warning to not play with the 3D for too long and take a break every once in a while. Thanks Nintendo!

Some of the Easter Eggs have changed and some glitches don’t work anymore from what I noticed in my play through. Before talking to Zelda for the first time, remember that window with the Super Mario character paintings? This time it’s something different. If you cheated before to get all 100 Gold Skulltulas by respwaning the Skulltulas in the hole by the tree in Hyrule Castle, better be ready to Hunt for them all this time.

After beating the game you now have the option to replay the whole entire game again with the dungeons mixed and twisted for a whole new set of dungeons; The Master Quest. You can put this game on your most own list for 3DS games. For those who haven't playing Ocarina of Time yet, now would be a perfect time to do it and in 3D!