Deserves the hype

The title of this review says it all. The Legend of Zelda Ocarina of Time has everything gamers want in an adventure game.

In terms of presentation, Nintendo brings out a top-notch performance. The music is epic as always, with the Gerudo Valley track being my favorite. It's true that the original overworld theme which Zelda fans

know and love is missing. But it's not a big deal. The Forest and Shadow Temple tracks were creepy, while the tracks for the other temples fit the atmosphere to perfection as well. The visuals may look a touch outdated, however that does not affect the gameplay. The game was released in 1998. For the time, the graphics look stunning. If comparing them to today, well...it still comes close to many Wii games. As long as everything looks consistent and in line with or better than how other games look on the same console, then I'm a happy gamer. I was scared when I went into the Shadow Temple, even with the 1998 visuals. Whenever redeads showed up anywhere, I panicked. This demonstrates how Ocarina of Time still packs a punch in terms of looks.

Speaking of the temples, they are tough for someone who does not play games on a daily basis. However, none of the temples are impossible. I hate to say this, but if you're stuck on the Water Temple, perhaps use a YouTube walkthrough. On any other temple though, they should be solvable for the above average gamer who has played Zelda titles before.

There are going to be different items and clothing Link could use throughout his journey. For example, besides the green tunic, there are two other different tunics he could wear which correspond to a certain temple's theme. You'll need the red tunic to get through the Fire Temple and the blue tunic must be put on for the Water Temple (in order for Link to breathe). In terms of footwear, Link could equip iron boots, which proves helpful when looking for an item underwater or when looking for more control against the current. However, my favorite boots have to be the hover ones, which lets Link walk on air for a short period. The only drawback comes from less traction when walking. There are lots of secondary equipment such as bows, boomerang, bombs, and more less obvious ones. They are all fun to equip and try out. The hookshot and bow will be used frequently. With an analog stick, aiming should not be a problem.

This game uses a Z-targeting system, which works well. Link will lock onto an enemies when using Z-targeting, so the player can focus more on attacking the enemy, especially if there is one enemy in particular that needs to be beaten before moving to the next. Some battles are impossible without Z-targeting. It's definitely a feature that will be used often when playing.

But instead of reading this long review, find Ocarina of Time. It's available for Nintendo 64, Gamecube, Virtual Console, and soon the 3DS. Many will say this was the pinnacle of the Zelda franchise, and I'd be hard pressed to disagree.