My Ocarina Of Time Review

[LoganRuckman1]

http://happykatana.wordpress.com/2014/09/02/video-game-review-the-legend-of-zelda-ocarina-of-time-nintendo-64/

 

This is my first review since December. Tell me what you think.

[Oltobaz1]

A couple of comments, if I may;

'Origami Zelda'? Interesting choice of word, yet, could you expand?


All Zelda games are very story heavy? Perhaps a little bit these days, yet the original NES games, or even A Link to the Past are great counter examples, and you can certainly find more content in the way of story elsewhere. I think it's a bit of an exageration.

[ptdebate1]

@Oltobaz

Almost all Zelda games have a narrative direction, but I'm not sure I'd describe the emphasis on story as "heavy," if only because it would obscure the fact that Zelda, like all of Miyamoto's creations, is gameplay-forward rather than story-centric (e.g. Final Fantasy) or world-centric (e.g. Skyrim). 

Ocarina of Time definitely elevated the Zelda narrative to new heights, however. The way the camera pans and zooms to reveal significant locations or objects in the scene comes straight from cinema (Link's first meeting with Zelda provides good examples of this). The rainy, ominous opening sequence with Ganondorf expands upon the precedent of LttP's opening act to establish a tangible sense of foreboding. I was always sad to take that first step out into Hyrule, leaving Saria behind in a place that seemed so safe and sheltered from the outside world and its problems. A blissful melancholy overtakes me as I imagine what lies ahead, knowing I can never return to live among the Kokiri. Characters seem to have real emotions and motivations distinct from those of the protagonist--Impa, the resolute but kind and indulgent guardian; Saria, the childhood companion, sorrowful at Link's departing; Ruto, the rebellious princess; Malon, the disenfranchised daughter; and all the sorrow and desolation apparent in a world blighted by Ganondorf's dark magic. What was once a bustling and prosperous town is now crawling with the unrestful dead, home only to a solitary witch who collects ghosts. Travelling back and forth between the two states lends a sense of urgency to Link's mission: I have to find a way to subvert this fate!

Thankfully, Nintendo took time to perfect their 3D modeling techniques before applying them to a Zelda game. Mario 64's abundance of untextured polygons, while perfectly acceptable for the aesthetics of that series, wouldn't have adequately expressed what they were trying to create with Ocarina. Nintendo took the time to hone what would become a creative and technological masterpiece, full of character, detail, and atmosphere. The Shadow Temple was the first time a game scared me out of my wits. Every area of this massive world feels distinctive, with its own architecture, lighting, and cast of characters. 

OoT is, more or less, a reinterpretation of the Link to the Past idea in 3D. Even the music comes off as a remastered version of its predecessor's soundtrack (which certainly isn't a bad thing). LttP is, perhaps, more deserving of the title of "greatest game ever" because it came first, but for those of us who grew up with an N64 controller in our hands, Ocarina of Time is the essential text of childhood. Banding together with Zelda to combat a threat the adults can't even see yet resonated powerfully with someone of my age.

[Oltobaz1]

I agree, Zelda are gameplay forward rather than story-centrics. More recent Zelda games definitely have more to offer in the way of story though, still, even then, I wouldn't label them story heavy, as much as I'd point out how atmospheric they can get. They resonate with one's imagination in subtle ways.