The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time 3D.
The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time is widely renowned as one of the best games ever made, so how does the 3DS remake hold up? While the game does show its age, and doesn’t go without problems, it still holds up as a really fun and engaging experience throughout. The story is pretty minimalist: go to the different dungeons, beat the monsters inside, and save the kingdom. But nobody is really coming to this game for Lord of the Rings; they came for the fantastically realized dungeons, unforgettable boss battles, and the classic soundtrack. The area this remake is lacking in is the 3D, which has significant ghosting on almost any setting, screen flicker at the slightest movement, and overall lack of purpose. Not once did using the 3D feel like it added to the game; it felt like it was thrown in at the last minute because it’s on the 3DS. For those reasons, I ended up playing a MAJORAty of the game with the 3D turned off completely. And I never felt like I was missing anything in doing so. The game also added a couple other annoying features. Navi, for instance, has become much more bothersome. She now interrupts you every half-hour or so to suggest taking a break, or to ask if you need help with something, even if you’re barreling through a dungeon without any sense of hesitation. It may not sound all that bad, but when you’re in the middle of a boss fight, or trying to solve a puzzle, those interruptions can be rage inducing. The rest of the game appears to be completely unchanged. Some temples were rumored to have been redesigned to make them less difficult, while it’s just the ease of item and map use that made them easier to keep track of. The challenge of the game largely depends on your familiarity with the franchise. It's been over a decade since I last played Ocarina of Time, and I found it to be remarkably easier then I remember. But if you’ve never played a Zelda game, or you’re just young, you might find some of the puzzles to be a little, for lack of a better word, puzzling.
Another thing I should bring up is that the controls map very well to the 3DS. While there were some minor troubles with using the L-button for targeting (since it’s less than an inch away from the Circle-Pad), it wasn't a problem after a dungeon or two. And the touch screen is utilized very effectively; sharing up to four items, your health and magic, your map, and your Ocarina, it‘s one of the better implementations of inventory display that I've seen on the DS consoles. The game does show its age occasionally, with dated sound effects, and some of textures still looking pretty bland despite the newly revamped graphics. Nintendo sticking so closely to the original was a bit of a double-edged sword; while managing to retain its simplicity and inventive level design, the color palette can become rather dull to look at after hours and hours of game-play, which Ocarina of Time still delivers plenty of. All of these complaints seem like very small issues, but that’s because they are. Ocarina of Time is still a really fun game, it still has some of the best side-quests, hidden content, and overall feel of game-play of any game I’ve ever played.
If you’re new to the series, a returning fan, or just someone who wants something to play on their 3DS, despite a few missteps in the remake and being an almost 14 year old game, The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time still delivers an unforgettable experience.