“Remaster Quest”
It was initially hard for me to figure out how to review Ocarina of Time 3D. For one, the base of the game is 14 years old, and the story and strategy of playing it hasn’t changed. It’s also the umpteenth time that it’s been released, meaning that if someone hasn’t played it yet then they’re more than likely in the minority. Beyond the obvious visual updates, I didn’t know what else I could say about one of the greatest classic games of all time.
Then, I heard the theme song, and everything changed.
It was hard to grow up a gamer in the 80s and 90s and not have played — or loved — Zelda. When Ocarina of Time was released for the Nintendo 64 in 1997 it was a magnificent embodiment of what a Zelda game could (and should) be in three dimensions. OoT 3D really is that same game, and yet it somehow manages to be the culmination of Hyrulean promises that we’ve been missing since 1997.
The most important thing to note about OoT 3D is that it really is a remaster, not a remake; it’s a refined version of the classic using modern technology. What that amounts to for us is that the great game is still the same, but it’s now relevant again. The visuals are great, the 3D effects are gorgeous, the motion controls are used sparingly but well, and the second screen adds a new level of control precision that we didn’t know we needed, but now can’t live without.
It all feels very modern, very up-to-date, even though it’s most basic core is two console generations behind.
But that core still holds up well, better than most that have been released even in recent years. In 1997 it signified what we wanted out of a next-gen Zelda. Today, it reminds us of that first time we enter the giant Hyrule Field with the weight of the world on our shoulders and the winds of time at our backs. It’s still the greatest adventure.
Above I mentioned that it all “clicked” for me when the new theme song plays for the first time after the end credits. It’s a flowing wave of soft violins and blaring horns, peaking at perfect times to lead into the ultimate, climactic original Hyrule Field theme. It’s enough to bring 8-bit tears to my eyes each time I hear it. The entire game is built upon that idea: nostalgia is great, but it doesn’t always hold up when we try to relive it. Nintendo chose this, the “Greatest Game Ever Made,” to employ that philosophy. If Ocarina of Time was first made by Nintendo today, as opposed to in 1997, then this is still the game we would get. It’s the vision of the game’s producers in 1997, re-invigorated for today.
To employ an overly-utilized phrase: It’s like playing it again for the first time. Thankfully, “again” for us means that this is just as good, if not better than, what we played 14 years ago. Put away the N64. This is the way that Ocarina of Time is now meant to be experienced.
Notes:
- The 3D effect is not only outstanding, but it also makes the bosses appear even bigger and the environments more realistic and easier to judge in depth. Hyrule Field, especially, feels smaller but more full of life.
- The virtual buttons on the lower screen are a terrific addition, making certain puzzle situations less frustrating (the boots!). I just wish that the map had an indicator/locator of where I currently was in it, instead of just what “room” I was in.
- The hint videos are a great addition, and spoiler-free for those of us who still want a “hardcore” experience.
- The Master Quest is Nintendo’s way of giving us a “New Game Plus”, though many of us would have rather jumped right to it. I wish it was unlockable with a code rather than forcing us to complete the game first.
Who should play this game:
Anyone with a 3DS, as well as those nostalgic about Zelda games. Anyone who hasn’t played any of the incarnations of the original Ocarina of Time.
This review was based on a copy of the game purchased by the reviewer. All media courtesy Nintendo.
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