how do 8 year olds beat this
Some things don't hold up as well today, but overall its still a monumentally influential game and enjoyable to replay.
The greatest game of all time? Yeah, the argument could easily be made. Ocarina of Time is a triumphant, ground-breaking masterpiece who's reverberations can still be felt today. It entwines masterful gameplay and strong environmental storytelling to create a transcendent experience. Dripping with subtext and lore, rich atmosphere throughout it's many incredible dungeons and perhaps the greatest soundtrack in a video game, there really is no rival. The gameplay has aged slightly - Link's roll is practically obsolete, and aiming is abhorrent, but the combat still controls well enough even now. I think what really sets this game apart though is the actual premise, the time travelling mechanic is not only a genius idea but it is also executed to the highest degree, resulting in what may be a timeless story that only seems to improve as you get older - the differences that Link witnesses eventually come to reflect our own lives; as we transition into adulthood, the world becomes a completely different place. Ocarina of Time is ultimately a game that is art - a showcase of what the medium looks like at it's true best, and a constant reminder to the modern day industry of the product of pure distilled passion and soul.
One of the most important Zelda games because of how it impacted the rest of the series and, in general, one of the most important videogames of all time. It shows its age in some areas but I think it's one of the best Zelda games even today
Kısaca bahsetmem gerekirse; evet iyi yaşlanmış. Oyunu sevdim epey çok başarılı bulmamın yanında. Aldığı övgüleri de anlıyorum o kadar da bayılmamış olsam da. Oynadığım en iyi Zelda oyunu şimdilik.
Dizayn açısından şahane bir oyun. Günümüz oyunlarındaki artık görmeyi özlediğimiz türden kafa yorduran biro yun dizaynı var Dungeon'larda ve genel haritasında. Çok kriptik sayılmaz, hatta NES oyunlarına göre basit de gayet "Ne yapmam gerekiyor" konusunda.
Eğer gözünüzden kaçan bir şey olmazsa ne yapacağınıza dair çok da çaresiz kalmıyorsunuz. Oyunun dizayn anlayışına alıştıkça düz akıyorsunuz hatta artık. Bende öyle oldu en azından. Bazı dungeon'larda biraz takıldım ne yapmam gerekiyor diye ama çaresiz kalmadım hiç.
Az biraz kafa yorunca ne yapman gerektiğini anlayabiliyorsun. Ama eğer gözden bir şey kaçırırsan o dungeon'lar sana kabir azabı olabiliyor. Hatta oyunun genel dünyası da. Bu olaya sadece bir kere düştüm ve o da 2 günümü yedi. Neyse ki başıma sadece bir kere geldi.
Ama açıkçası en büyük falsosu o takıldığım yer oldu çünkü oyun hiçbir ipucu vermiyordu takıldığım yerde. Bir dungeon'a girebilmem için bir büyü lazımdı ama ne oyun büyü lazım olduğunu söylüyor ne de nerede olduğunu. Büyüyü söylememesi dert değil, ortama bakınca anlıyorsun çünkü.
Ama büyüyü nerede bulabileceğin konusunda hiçbir ipucu verilmemesi büyük dert çünkü oyunun genel dünyası büyük sayılıyor böyle spesifik bir şeyi aramak için. Her yeri aradım, her türlü yan görevi de yaptım ama bulamadım. Arkadaşlar da beni uyarıyordu "Guide bak" diye.
Çünkü bu takıldığım yerde neredeyse herkes guide bakıyormuş zaten. Bulanlar ise şansa buluyormuş. Oyunun en sakıncalı yeri direkt ama ben gereksiz inadımla "Yok ben bakmam" deyip 2 günümü mahvettim bulacağım diye. Muhakkak bulabileceğim yerde ilişkili bir ipucu vardır dedim.
Büyü ile mekân uyumu falan oradan çözerim dedim ama yok. 2 gün sonra şansa bala buldum cidden ve bulduğumda da "SONUNDA" diye çığlık atarak sevinmiş olsam da; keşke guide baksaydım dedirtti. Çünkü kendimi bir şey başarmış gibi hissetmedim, denk geldim ve buldum cidden.
Yani bu kısım için kesinlikle guide öneriyorum yoksa vakit kaybı, guide dergisi sattırmak için yenilmiş bir nane bu resmen. Bu kısım dışında oyun baya takip edilebilir. Oyun yeterince ipucu veriyor sana ve çözmesi sana bile kalmıyor bazen. Gün gibi ortada oluyor bazen çünkü.
Oyunu oradan buradan her yerden övebilirim ama zaten yıllardır göklere çıkartılarak haklı olarak övülen oyun. Ben daha çok şu sorunlardan bahsedenleri görmediğim için şunları yazmak istiyorum eksi olarak;
Boss savaşlarını zayıf buldum. Hatta böylesi büyük bir oyun için kötü. Fazla basit boss bunlar. Hem pattern olarak, hem de zorluk olarak. Boss'ları çözmek çok kolay ve çözdüğünde de zaten hiçbir challenge'ları kalmıyor. Hiçbiri zorlamıyor açıkçası ve hatta hemen hemen çözdüğün için boss'lar sıkıcı direkt. Şundan dolayı;
Boss'ları çözmüş olsan da onlara hasar vermek için genelde doğru anı beklemen gerekiyor. İşte challenge tarafı zayıf kalınca doğru an gelene kadar hasar yememeliyim korkusu da yok. Kolay kaçıyorsun çünkü. "Hadi artık gardını düşür de vurayım" diye beklerken sıkılıyordum hep.
Boss'lar dışında oyunun bir de ödül sistemi çok kötü genel olarak. Oyunda gizli saklı çok şey var. Keşfederek bulduğun ve canını riske atarak ortaya çıkardığın şeyler de. Ve bunların ödülleri genelde para oluyor sadece. Bunda sorun ne derseniz şöyle anlatayım;
Öncelikle oyunda para sınırı var. Başta sadece 99 paranız olabiliyor. Bunu arttırabiliyorsunuz maksimum 500'e kadar ama şöyle bir durum var; paranız maksimum değerdeyken para ödüllü bir chest açarsanız eğer o para ödülü güme gidiyor. Çünkü maksimum değeri aşamıyorsunuz.
Hangi chest'lerden para çıkacağı da belli olmuyor ayrıca. Yani emekleriniz boşa gidiyor genelde çünkü paranız çoğunlukla maksimum değerde oluyor. Çünkü bir şey satın almak isteyene kadar yaşadığınız maceralar uzun sürüyor, çoktan para max'lanmış oluyor.
Bir de işin üzücü yanı parayla alabileceğiniz adam akıllı hiçbir şey yok neredeyse. Shop'lardan alabileceğiniz her şeyi ot keserek bulabiliyorsunuz ve bu hiç de uzun sürmüyor. Shop'lardan bir şey satın almam gerekmedi çoğunlukla. Parayla yapılabilecek başka şeyler de olsa da.
Başka şeylere harcayabiliyor olsanız da bu bir şeyi değiştirmiyor çünkü pahalı değiller. Kısa sürede max'lıyorsunuz parayı ve dungeon'larda ya da oyunun dünyasında keşfettiğiniz şeylerin %60'ı boşa gidiyor haliyle. Ya para sınırı olmayıp shop'ları da kullanışlı yapacaklardı ya da ödülleri daha farklı yapacaklardı. Zamanın ve emeğinin boşa harcanması ile sonuçlanıyor sadece. Tabii şimdi sadece eksilerden bahsedince oyundan memnuniyetsiz ve pek sevimsiz bir şekilde ayrılmışım gibi hava verdi bu yazılanların toplamı ama öyle değil tabii.
Dediğim gibi; çok sevdim Ocarina of Time'ı. Çok da başarılı buldum herkes gibi. 1998 yılında ve N64 gibi bir konsolda böylesine bir oyun yapabilmiş olmalarını geçtim; günümüz oyun dizayn ve mekanik kökenlerinin pek çoğu bu oyunda. Bir mimarlık harikası bu oyun.
Dizayn açısından şahane bir oyun. Günümüz oyunlarındaki artık görmeyi özlediğimiz türden kafa yorduran biro yun dizaynı var Dungeon'larda ve genel haritasında. Çok kriptik sayılmaz, hatta NES oyunlarına göre basit de gayet "Ne yapmam gerekiyor" konusunda.
Eğer gözünüzden kaçan bir şey olmazsa ne yapacağınıza dair çok da çaresiz kalmıyorsunuz. Oyunun dizayn anlayışına alıştıkça düz akıyorsunuz hatta artık. Bende öyle oldu en azından. Bazı dungeon'larda biraz takıldım ne yapmam gerekiyor diye ama çaresiz kalmadım hiç.
Az biraz kafa yorunca ne yapman gerektiğini anlayabiliyorsun. Ama eğer gözden bir şey kaçırırsan o dungeon'lar sana kabir azabı olabiliyor. Hatta oyunun genel dünyası da. Bu olaya sadece bir kere düştüm ve o da 2 günümü yedi. Neyse ki başıma sadece bir kere geldi.
Ama açıkçası en büyük falsosu o takıldığım yer oldu çünkü oyun hiçbir ipucu vermiyordu takıldığım yerde. Bir dungeon'a girebilmem için bir büyü lazımdı ama ne oyun büyü lazım olduğunu söylüyor ne de nerede olduğunu. Büyüyü söylememesi dert değil, ortama bakınca anlıyorsun çünkü.
Ama büyüyü nerede bulabileceğin konusunda hiçbir ipucu verilmemesi büyük dert çünkü oyunun genel dünyası büyük sayılıyor böyle spesifik bir şeyi aramak için. Her yeri aradım, her türlü yan görevi de yaptım ama bulamadım. Arkadaşlar da beni uyarıyordu "Guide bak" diye.
Çünkü bu takıldığım yerde neredeyse herkes guide bakıyormuş zaten. Bulanlar ise şansa buluyormuş. Oyunun en sakıncalı yeri direkt ama ben gereksiz inadımla "Yok ben bakmam" deyip 2 günümü mahvettim bulacağım diye. Muhakkak bulabileceğim yerde ilişkili bir ipucu vardır dedim.
Büyü ile mekân uyumu falan oradan çözerim dedim ama yok. 2 gün sonra şansa bala buldum cidden ve bulduğumda da "SONUNDA" diye çığlık atarak sevinmiş olsam da; keşke guide baksaydım dedirtti. Çünkü kendimi bir şey başarmış gibi hissetmedim, denk geldim ve buldum cidden.
Yani bu kısım için kesinlikle guide öneriyorum yoksa vakit kaybı, guide dergisi sattırmak için yenilmiş bir nane bu resmen. Bu kısım dışında oyun baya takip edilebilir. Oyun yeterince ipucu veriyor sana ve çözmesi sana bile kalmıyor bazen. Gün gibi ortada oluyor bazen çünkü.
Oyunu oradan buradan her yerden övebilirim ama zaten yıllardır göklere çıkartılarak haklı olarak övülen oyun. Ben daha çok şu sorunlardan bahsedenleri görmediğim için şunları yazmak istiyorum eksi olarak;
Boss savaşlarını zayıf buldum. Hatta böylesi büyük bir oyun için kötü. Fazla basit boss bunlar. Hem pattern olarak, hem de zorluk olarak. Boss'ları çözmek çok kolay ve çözdüğünde de zaten hiçbir challenge'ları kalmıyor. Hiçbiri zorlamıyor açıkçası ve hatta hemen hemen çözdüğün için boss'lar sıkıcı direkt. Şundan dolayı;
Boss'ları çözmüş olsan da onlara hasar vermek için genelde doğru anı beklemen gerekiyor. İşte challenge tarafı zayıf kalınca doğru an gelene kadar hasar yememeliyim korkusu da yok. Kolay kaçıyorsun çünkü. "Hadi artık gardını düşür de vurayım" diye beklerken sıkılıyordum hep.
Boss'lar dışında oyunun bir de ödül sistemi çok kötü genel olarak. Oyunda gizli saklı çok şey var. Keşfederek bulduğun ve canını riske atarak ortaya çıkardığın şeyler de. Ve bunların ödülleri genelde para oluyor sadece. Bunda sorun ne derseniz şöyle anlatayım;
Öncelikle oyunda para sınırı var. Başta sadece 99 paranız olabiliyor. Bunu arttırabiliyorsunuz maksimum 500'e kadar ama şöyle bir durum var; paranız maksimum değerdeyken para ödüllü bir chest açarsanız eğer o para ödülü güme gidiyor. Çünkü maksimum değeri aşamıyorsunuz.
Hangi chest'lerden para çıkacağı da belli olmuyor ayrıca. Yani emekleriniz boşa gidiyor genelde çünkü paranız çoğunlukla maksimum değerde oluyor. Çünkü bir şey satın almak isteyene kadar yaşadığınız maceralar uzun sürüyor, çoktan para max'lanmış oluyor.
Bir de işin üzücü yanı parayla alabileceğiniz adam akıllı hiçbir şey yok neredeyse. Shop'lardan alabileceğiniz her şeyi ot keserek bulabiliyorsunuz ve bu hiç de uzun sürmüyor. Shop'lardan bir şey satın almam gerekmedi çoğunlukla. Parayla yapılabilecek başka şeyler de olsa da.
Başka şeylere harcayabiliyor olsanız da bu bir şeyi değiştirmiyor çünkü pahalı değiller. Kısa sürede max'lıyorsunuz parayı ve dungeon'larda ya da oyunun dünyasında keşfettiğiniz şeylerin %60'ı boşa gidiyor haliyle. Ya para sınırı olmayıp shop'ları da kullanışlı yapacaklardı ya da ödülleri daha farklı yapacaklardı. Zamanın ve emeğinin boşa harcanması ile sonuçlanıyor sadece. Tabii şimdi sadece eksilerden bahsedince oyundan memnuniyetsiz ve pek sevimsiz bir şekilde ayrılmışım gibi hava verdi bu yazılanların toplamı ama öyle değil tabii.
Dediğim gibi; çok sevdim Ocarina of Time'ı. Çok da başarılı buldum herkes gibi. 1998 yılında ve N64 gibi bir konsolda böylesine bir oyun yapabilmiş olmalarını geçtim; günümüz oyun dizayn ve mekanik kökenlerinin pek çoğu bu oyunda. Bir mimarlık harikası bu oyun.
Ocarina of time é um exemplo de jogo com conteúdo vasto e bem aproveitado, sabendo muito bem equilibrar entre história e gameplay, e já que mencionei a história, tenho que falar, a narrativa desse jogo é linda, mesmo tendo muitas outras que são superiores a essa, e o ganondorf a principio é mais um vilão genérico, o cara quer dominar o mundo porquê sim kk. Mas dando meu veredito final, the legend of zelda: ocarina of time é um EXCELENTE jogo, mas na minha opinião, ele não é um jogo tão bom ao ponto de ser considerado o melhor de todos os tempos.
This is the first game I’ve ever beaten, absolutely magical experience I had with this one. This is the most well rounded zelda game, with just quality all throughout. This game means so much to me and I love the growing up journey you experience!
Wrote the book on 3D action/adventure games
It's kind of strange how this is the highest rated game of all time, yet still manages to often be undercredited. I think a lot of people I come across now don't realize how much of the groundwork this laid for 3D action games as a whole; Devil May Cry is essentially a Z-Targeting game, Souls combat is basically 3D Zelda (except worse, lacking the creative interactions OoT offers through item usage), etc
Every time I replay this and expect that maybe my opinion of it would be weathered by time, I always find that contrarily, the older I get the more I appreciate it. Gameplay, presentation, and story are all great.
Every time I replay this and expect that maybe my opinion of it would be weathered by time, I always find that contrarily, the older I get the more I appreciate it. Gameplay, presentation, and story are all great.
O jogo me fez entender a magia por trás da arte dos vídeo games. The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time é tão revolucionário que foi capaz de mudar como a indústria de jogos funcionariam daquele momento para frente. Uma verdadeira masterpiece.
A razão da influência e importância desse jogo na indústria como um todo é muito clara desde os primeiros minutos, apresentando mecânicas revolucionárias, até os últimos segundos, em que executa uma setpiece sem precendentes pra época
Uma aventura inesquecível.
Ocarina of time is truly one of the video games of all time.
If you want to check it out, play the 3DS remake. It completely replaces the original and is better in every way.
OOT is a good game, but is underwhelming if you go into it with the mindset of it being one of the greatest games of all time. The whole game feels very bare bones and simplistic which makes it harder to revisit. I also think the pacing of the initial child section is too slow and these are what often kill my attempted replays of the game. Also the stupid owl is terrible and won't shut up!
Also 100% is not worth it and feels more like busy work since the open world is so bare bones. OOT is still a fine game, but it's definitely overrated. I don't consider it to be the greatest game of all time and it's nowhere near my favorite zelda game (Majora does everything this game does, but better).
If you want to check it out, play the 3DS remake. It completely replaces the original and is better in every way.
OOT is a good game, but is underwhelming if you go into it with the mindset of it being one of the greatest games of all time. The whole game feels very bare bones and simplistic which makes it harder to revisit. I also think the pacing of the initial child section is too slow and these are what often kill my attempted replays of the game. Also the stupid owl is terrible and won't shut up!
Also 100% is not worth it and feels more like busy work since the open world is so bare bones. OOT is still a fine game, but it's definitely overrated. I don't consider it to be the greatest game of all time and it's nowhere near my favorite zelda game (Majora does everything this game does, but better).
Decided to play the old Zelda games after TOTK, should've done this sooner, but I'm doing it now at least. Honestly, if I gave this game more of a chance back when I was a kid, I would've loved it. I already knew what was going to happen for the majority, but it was still very enjoyable. I can genuinely see why people loved this as a kid or even still love it now. I like most of the dungeons in this game and the boss fights were pretty fun too. I'm not exactly the best when it comes to puzzles, so I may of taken a while in some dungeons, but it's still better than what it would've been if I was still a little kid playing this cause I would've definitely looked up more on how to solve the puzzles in this game, and not try to figure them out on my own majority of the time. Anyways, great game, going to play Majora's Mask now.
Masterpiece which have lead the beginning of 3D games. Well-designed puzzles, unforgettable musics, easy-to-use items and camera controls, fantastic adventure. One of the best games!
As my 600th played title here in Backloggd, I wanted to play something special for the first time as a twenty year old (and even ended up growing up to twenty one in the meantime). It seems that in the Internet a lot floats around about this game from 1998 having not aged well, but I won't be comparing it to newer games because not only I have played very few modern games like this to compare it to (though Dark Souls, one of my favourites, does grab a lot in play mechanics from this title) but because I think playability wise, it is a pretty well rounded and fun title, the presentation still uses some well polished cinematic techniques, Koji Kondo's soundtrack is superb (the option menu even allows to configure the audio to headsets, perfectly tailored to play on an emulator in PC or Android like in my case), and things like the tiny map if I were to compare it to Dark Souls for example still impresses me for how much they were able to get out of it. The general witty style in the Zelda games I've played is here too, parodying some ridiculous things in these fairytales, like marriage proposals out of nowhere; or even game mechanics, like the guy who allows you to break stuff he's supposed to be protecting because it relieves stress; or even just hilarious writing, like the two witch sisters who complain about the other's age while dying or the rock people chief who talks like Hulk Hogan, are still charming and hilarious (again, without having proper comparison to newer games who might have done it better). I have to make a special mention about the gravekeeper, who dies in the seven years Link went to the future but who ironically, despite being related to the dead, still has a lot of energy as a spirit and challenges the player to a race. That's just heartwarming as fuck.
Nope, my issues come from its pretentions as a work of art, and for this I even have three games in mind PRIOR to Ocarina of Time to compare that to. And I even will lower the score from a game in the series that came after it which borrows a lot from it, Oracle of Ages.
Time travel as a structure for your story (and most of all, gameplay) will instantly make me roll my eyes if it doesn't have the proper limitations to go against the large amount of freedom this mechanic introduces, allowing for time paradoxes the protagonist can conveniently invoke to help himself and other people with no negative consequences. Though again, there are moments where it makes fun of the concept, as here the one where you get the song of storms is easier to forgive as it fucks up the machinery of a townsfolk, even if that doesn't have any serious consequence in the rest of the story.
What is my grand issue with it? It's because of the way the game is trying so hard to tell an ambitious story about growing up, maturing and accepting the passage of time, where horrible things may happen and you will have to stand them. As Zelda disguised as Sheik says:
"The flow of time is always cruel... its speed seems different for each person, but no one can change it... A thing that does not change with time is a memory of younger days".
Well, the game does not adhere to this message it wants to tell, at all. For trying to tell a standard story about saving the world, the only "maturing" Link does in here is going out on an adventure and solving puzzles (while only growing up superficially, becoming an adult just in body), which is a standard JRPG trope. The battle against the dark Link reintroduced from Zelda II has Navi saying "conquer yourself" but the only thing you do is beat the crap out of it, it's not like Cecil in Final Fantasy 4 (exhibit number one from 1991) where to accept a new way of being, the puzzle is to wait for the toxic side of you to drain itself from its energy, as it embodies everything self destructive about you, even if doing so is going to take energy from yourself as well and you have to endure that.
As such, it also doesn't transmit anything meaningful for the player's own way of thinking due to the nature of going back and forth through time, he doesn't need to sacrifice anything important. Here's when I recall exhibit number two and three:
When taking the master sword, Link has to be absent in the world for seven years, the city of Hyrule becoming ruins, Zora's Domain freezing, Kokiri turning into a mess of invasive wildlife. He can revert a lot of this without going back in time, yes, but Ganondorf's presence is still taking its toll on people while they try to rebuild their previous way of life, and this is of course solved at some point by time travelling (the desert dungeon is the prime example). Wouldn't it be cheap if in a certain game where one of the main characters was in coma for a year, the world went to shit in the meantime but people are trying to rebuild society working hard while the presence of a demented villain kept everyone in tension called Final Fantasy 6 (1994) they could just travel back in time when all was better, grab whatever was necessary in the past when they could do the things they can't do anymore, and bring it to the current events to battle that threat? Time travelling prevents the characters, especially Zelda who underestimated Ganondorf when she was a kid, from finding a way out and coping with the consequences.
From the side of Link's "character development", I just need to look to at this series own Game Boy game, Link's Awakening (1993), one of my favourite videogames of all time, and what I was hoping this could replicate in terms of emotional investment as it was a title from the following generation.
The psychological elements from that game where Link finds a mostly idyllic place he could settle for, and could end up with an ideal, made up representation of Zelda, but ultimately has to give up this place in order to wake up to the real world because his duty is still being an adventurer and a hero, even if he could never be the romantic interest of the royalty in his reality, absolutely embodies the theme of sacrifice this title would lead to if, for example, even if going back to the past, it was to the moment horrible things started to happen to the kingdom (after all, most puzzles regarding time travel only needs Link to use his unique abilities as a child, like being able to fit through gaps he can't with the body of an adult, not something regarding other characters' locations), so there is no escaping the terrible reality he ultimately would have to face once he took the Master Sword.
I even thought the game would actually grow some balls at the ending: just like the owl character from Link's Awakening (who also comes back here but as a more bland character who advises without deceit) keeping things secret from the protagonist to manipulate him, I thought that to "seal the doors of time", Zelda would have been hiding Link that he would have had to stay in the future in order to leave the Master Sword there, and never go back to when he was a child, sacrificing the rest of his childhood and the experience of growing up. But nah, not only does he go back in time and deposit the sword there, but he went to the moment before he even met Zelda. So... What was the point of the adventure? Ganondorf will try to grab the stuff and make use of the sword because he is only defeated in the future, not in the present, he will have it even easier this time as unlike before he will have access to the sword because Link doesn't have it in his possession! AGH THIS TIME TRAVEL STORY DOESN'T MAKE SENSE!
So, all in all, the game as a work of art ends up being pretentious and contradictory, and if all those philosophical aspects are to be ignored, you would just end up with a standard adventure story with a generic JRPG plot, generic villain, generic protagonists who not only do not grow but childishly get what they want, and a time travel set up which ends up extremely convoluted, even if it has tons of charisma and personality. I was thinking maybe Majora's Mask would be what Link's Awakening was to Link to the Past (grabbing the gameplay mechanics but this time centering on an artistically compelling story), but I've seen that game also uses Time Travel too, so I'm not touching that in a long time (as I've heard that unlike here, the gameplay in Majora is less refined and wouldn't be at least fun like this title was)
Nope, my issues come from its pretentions as a work of art, and for this I even have three games in mind PRIOR to Ocarina of Time to compare that to. And I even will lower the score from a game in the series that came after it which borrows a lot from it, Oracle of Ages.
Time travel as a structure for your story (and most of all, gameplay) will instantly make me roll my eyes if it doesn't have the proper limitations to go against the large amount of freedom this mechanic introduces, allowing for time paradoxes the protagonist can conveniently invoke to help himself and other people with no negative consequences. Though again, there are moments where it makes fun of the concept, as here the one where you get the song of storms is easier to forgive as it fucks up the machinery of a townsfolk, even if that doesn't have any serious consequence in the rest of the story.
What is my grand issue with it? It's because of the way the game is trying so hard to tell an ambitious story about growing up, maturing and accepting the passage of time, where horrible things may happen and you will have to stand them. As Zelda disguised as Sheik says:
"The flow of time is always cruel... its speed seems different for each person, but no one can change it... A thing that does not change with time is a memory of younger days".
Well, the game does not adhere to this message it wants to tell, at all. For trying to tell a standard story about saving the world, the only "maturing" Link does in here is going out on an adventure and solving puzzles (while only growing up superficially, becoming an adult just in body), which is a standard JRPG trope. The battle against the dark Link reintroduced from Zelda II has Navi saying "conquer yourself" but the only thing you do is beat the crap out of it, it's not like Cecil in Final Fantasy 4 (exhibit number one from 1991) where to accept a new way of being, the puzzle is to wait for the toxic side of you to drain itself from its energy, as it embodies everything self destructive about you, even if doing so is going to take energy from yourself as well and you have to endure that.
As such, it also doesn't transmit anything meaningful for the player's own way of thinking due to the nature of going back and forth through time, he doesn't need to sacrifice anything important. Here's when I recall exhibit number two and three:
When taking the master sword, Link has to be absent in the world for seven years, the city of Hyrule becoming ruins, Zora's Domain freezing, Kokiri turning into a mess of invasive wildlife. He can revert a lot of this without going back in time, yes, but Ganondorf's presence is still taking its toll on people while they try to rebuild their previous way of life, and this is of course solved at some point by time travelling (the desert dungeon is the prime example). Wouldn't it be cheap if in a certain game where one of the main characters was in coma for a year, the world went to shit in the meantime but people are trying to rebuild society working hard while the presence of a demented villain kept everyone in tension called Final Fantasy 6 (1994) they could just travel back in time when all was better, grab whatever was necessary in the past when they could do the things they can't do anymore, and bring it to the current events to battle that threat? Time travelling prevents the characters, especially Zelda who underestimated Ganondorf when she was a kid, from finding a way out and coping with the consequences.
From the side of Link's "character development", I just need to look to at this series own Game Boy game, Link's Awakening (1993), one of my favourite videogames of all time, and what I was hoping this could replicate in terms of emotional investment as it was a title from the following generation.
The psychological elements from that game where Link finds a mostly idyllic place he could settle for, and could end up with an ideal, made up representation of Zelda, but ultimately has to give up this place in order to wake up to the real world because his duty is still being an adventurer and a hero, even if he could never be the romantic interest of the royalty in his reality, absolutely embodies the theme of sacrifice this title would lead to if, for example, even if going back to the past, it was to the moment horrible things started to happen to the kingdom (after all, most puzzles regarding time travel only needs Link to use his unique abilities as a child, like being able to fit through gaps he can't with the body of an adult, not something regarding other characters' locations), so there is no escaping the terrible reality he ultimately would have to face once he took the Master Sword.
I even thought the game would actually grow some balls at the ending: just like the owl character from Link's Awakening (who also comes back here but as a more bland character who advises without deceit) keeping things secret from the protagonist to manipulate him, I thought that to "seal the doors of time", Zelda would have been hiding Link that he would have had to stay in the future in order to leave the Master Sword there, and never go back to when he was a child, sacrificing the rest of his childhood and the experience of growing up. But nah, not only does he go back in time and deposit the sword there, but he went to the moment before he even met Zelda. So... What was the point of the adventure? Ganondorf will try to grab the stuff and make use of the sword because he is only defeated in the future, not in the present, he will have it even easier this time as unlike before he will have access to the sword because Link doesn't have it in his possession! AGH THIS TIME TRAVEL STORY DOESN'T MAKE SENSE!
So, all in all, the game as a work of art ends up being pretentious and contradictory, and if all those philosophical aspects are to be ignored, you would just end up with a standard adventure story with a generic JRPG plot, generic villain, generic protagonists who not only do not grow but childishly get what they want, and a time travel set up which ends up extremely convoluted, even if it has tons of charisma and personality. I was thinking maybe Majora's Mask would be what Link's Awakening was to Link to the Past (grabbing the gameplay mechanics but this time centering on an artistically compelling story), but I've seen that game also uses Time Travel too, so I'm not touching that in a long time (as I've heard that unlike here, the gameplay in Majora is less refined and wouldn't be at least fun like this title was)
Meu top 1. Joguei pela primeira vez em 2016 acompanhando o detonado de The Legend of Rogerz. O mundo aberto é bem legal já q tem várias coisas secundárias q dá pra fazer dps ou antes de zerar o game.
Fora q os desafios de cada templo são incriveis, exceto o da água q é bem chatinho ( só acho foda a batalha contra o Dark Link ), fora a soundtrack q é sinistra.
>> Prós
• SOUNDTRACK : Vários locais do jogo tem temas nostálgicos, tipo o de "Kokiri Forest". Além das músicas da Ocarina, tipo a "Song of Time" e a "Song of Storms".
• HISTÓRIA : Tanto a parte de Link criança quanto ao do adulto são incriveis.
• MUNDO ABERTO : O mapa de Hyrule foi mt bem feito para esse jogo, além de poder ser explorado sem estar em missão.
>> Contras
• JOGABILIDADE : Algumas vezes os controles do N64 acabam sendo bem chatos.
• TEMPLO DA ÁGUA : Aquela parte bem chata de se passar.
>> Perso Favorito = Sheik.
>> Capítulos
• YOUNG LINK = 5/5
• FUTURE LINK = 5/5
Fora q os desafios de cada templo são incriveis, exceto o da água q é bem chatinho ( só acho foda a batalha contra o Dark Link ), fora a soundtrack q é sinistra.
>> Prós
• SOUNDTRACK : Vários locais do jogo tem temas nostálgicos, tipo o de "Kokiri Forest". Além das músicas da Ocarina, tipo a "Song of Time" e a "Song of Storms".
• HISTÓRIA : Tanto a parte de Link criança quanto ao do adulto são incriveis.
• MUNDO ABERTO : O mapa de Hyrule foi mt bem feito para esse jogo, além de poder ser explorado sem estar em missão.
>> Contras
• JOGABILIDADE : Algumas vezes os controles do N64 acabam sendo bem chatos.
• TEMPLO DA ÁGUA : Aquela parte bem chata de se passar.
>> Perso Favorito = Sheik.
>> Capítulos
• YOUNG LINK = 5/5
• FUTURE LINK = 5/5
Playing it for the first time in the 2020s is not flattering, man
Ocarina of Time is an absolute classic game, and one that is very special to me. I've played the 3DS remake numerous times, but never the original, until now. It may seem like a pretty basic 3D Zelda game nowadays, but everything it does is executed masterfully. I adore each and every part of this game, from the dungeons to the music. This is one of very few games that I'd consider to be the definition of a masterpiece.
An outstanding experience and a huge leap forward for gaming. It helped create many current aspects of the Zelda franchise. Holds up relatively well but from a modern perspective some game play elements are a bit clunky.
A game thats more than the sum of its parts. It feels like a mystical aesthetic thats been almost lost to time.
“The flow of time is always cruel… Its speed seems different for each person, but no one can change it… A thing that doesn’t change with time is a memory of younger days.”
Ocarina of Time means more and more to me as I grow older, it’s a story I can very much relate to. Much like the Hero of Time, it feels like I’m growing up too fast, and before I know it, my youth will be gone. Sheik’s dialogue speaks to me personally, I’ve reflected on their quotes and they’ve really made me think about what it means to live and grow up. Every time Sheik appears and that theme plays, there’s a certain nostalgic feeling, which is fitting for multiple reasons. I really like all the songs that Sheik teaches you, they’re very memorable and just fun to play and listen to. They fit the theme of each corresponding temple really well.
It’s incredible how well these dungeons hold up. This is some of the most consistent quality in the series, especially when they’re the first in 3D. Inside the Great Deku Tree is a great introduction to this game, the music atmosphere are fitting and while it’s a pretty simple dungeon, it’s the tutorial so I wasn’t asking for much. Dodongo’s Cavern was formerly my favorite of the child dungeons, but I think the Deku Tree overtook it. That’s not to say this dungeon is bad, however, I still like it and it’s fun using bombs. Inside Jabu-Jabu’s Belly is still my least favorite dungeon in the game, I’m not a fan of the aesthetic, but carrying Ruto around and getting the boomerang is pretty cool. Then we have the adult dungeons, and holy cow, the Forest Temple is phenomenal. This is still my second favorite dungeon in the entire series, only behind Majora’s Mask’s Stone Tower Temple. Getting the bow is great, especially when it’s used so frequently. The music is fantastic and it really adds to the atmosphere. The ramp up in difficulty really lets you know that things have gotten far more serious. Phantom Ganon is an awesome boss, I really like how it foreshadows the fight with Ganondorf. The Fire Temple really grew on me this playthrough, saving the Gorons makes you feel really good. It’s a shame the hammer is only used a few times in the whole game, I would have loved to see it used more. The Water Temple gets way too much hate, I love this dungeon, second favorite in the game. I think the water level concept is really cool, and it isn’t really that challenging, putting on the iron boots is just tedious (thank you 3DS version). The boss is pretty bad though, and Dark Link is cool in concept but could’ve been executed better, and maybe would have fit more in the Shadow Temple. Speaking of which, the Shadow Temple has a really cool concept, I think it’s really neat with all the guillotines and death traps. It’s the most linear of the dungeons, and while I still like it, that linearity makes it feel a bit simple. The Spirit Temple is great, it’s cool that it takes advantage of both child and adult Link. Mirror puzzles are always awesome, even if they were done better in later entries. Ganon’s Castle is a great final dungeon, it’s a great test of everything you’ve learned so far.
This was my first time playing the original N64 version, my previous playthroughs were on the 3DS. I still think I prefer the 3DS version, the Water Temple changes are pretty good and the graphics are significantly better. The 3DS version looks like what it was intended to be, judging by the art. The graphics are really the only thing that stick out as dating this game, the controls still feel good, especially when compared to Super Mario 64. Both versions of this game are basically the same in most ways though, I’ll definitely be replaying this version occasionally. There is one thing that this version does significantly better than the 3DS version, and that’s the final boss. While the 3DS version is pretty bright, the darkness of the original fits far better. Honestly, I felt very emotional facing Ganon, there’s a sense of dread while there’s a glimmer of hope deep down. Dealing that final blow is incredibly satisfying, and the credit sequence is beautiful. I really can’t ask for a better way for this game to finish.
Here’s to the 25th anniversary of this absolute legend.
Ocarina of Time means more and more to me as I grow older, it’s a story I can very much relate to. Much like the Hero of Time, it feels like I’m growing up too fast, and before I know it, my youth will be gone. Sheik’s dialogue speaks to me personally, I’ve reflected on their quotes and they’ve really made me think about what it means to live and grow up. Every time Sheik appears and that theme plays, there’s a certain nostalgic feeling, which is fitting for multiple reasons. I really like all the songs that Sheik teaches you, they’re very memorable and just fun to play and listen to. They fit the theme of each corresponding temple really well.
It’s incredible how well these dungeons hold up. This is some of the most consistent quality in the series, especially when they’re the first in 3D. Inside the Great Deku Tree is a great introduction to this game, the music atmosphere are fitting and while it’s a pretty simple dungeon, it’s the tutorial so I wasn’t asking for much. Dodongo’s Cavern was formerly my favorite of the child dungeons, but I think the Deku Tree overtook it. That’s not to say this dungeon is bad, however, I still like it and it’s fun using bombs. Inside Jabu-Jabu’s Belly is still my least favorite dungeon in the game, I’m not a fan of the aesthetic, but carrying Ruto around and getting the boomerang is pretty cool. Then we have the adult dungeons, and holy cow, the Forest Temple is phenomenal. This is still my second favorite dungeon in the entire series, only behind Majora’s Mask’s Stone Tower Temple. Getting the bow is great, especially when it’s used so frequently. The music is fantastic and it really adds to the atmosphere. The ramp up in difficulty really lets you know that things have gotten far more serious. Phantom Ganon is an awesome boss, I really like how it foreshadows the fight with Ganondorf. The Fire Temple really grew on me this playthrough, saving the Gorons makes you feel really good. It’s a shame the hammer is only used a few times in the whole game, I would have loved to see it used more. The Water Temple gets way too much hate, I love this dungeon, second favorite in the game. I think the water level concept is really cool, and it isn’t really that challenging, putting on the iron boots is just tedious (thank you 3DS version). The boss is pretty bad though, and Dark Link is cool in concept but could’ve been executed better, and maybe would have fit more in the Shadow Temple. Speaking of which, the Shadow Temple has a really cool concept, I think it’s really neat with all the guillotines and death traps. It’s the most linear of the dungeons, and while I still like it, that linearity makes it feel a bit simple. The Spirit Temple is great, it’s cool that it takes advantage of both child and adult Link. Mirror puzzles are always awesome, even if they were done better in later entries. Ganon’s Castle is a great final dungeon, it’s a great test of everything you’ve learned so far.
This was my first time playing the original N64 version, my previous playthroughs were on the 3DS. I still think I prefer the 3DS version, the Water Temple changes are pretty good and the graphics are significantly better. The 3DS version looks like what it was intended to be, judging by the art. The graphics are really the only thing that stick out as dating this game, the controls still feel good, especially when compared to Super Mario 64. Both versions of this game are basically the same in most ways though, I’ll definitely be replaying this version occasionally. There is one thing that this version does significantly better than the 3DS version, and that’s the final boss. While the 3DS version is pretty bright, the darkness of the original fits far better. Honestly, I felt very emotional facing Ganon, there’s a sense of dread while there’s a glimmer of hope deep down. Dealing that final blow is incredibly satisfying, and the credit sequence is beautiful. I really can’t ask for a better way for this game to finish.
Here’s to the 25th anniversary of this absolute legend.
I remember when Ocarina of Time came out. It was close to my 10th birthday, and was a particularly warm and dry winter. The game was 75 dollars and the carts were gold. I have so many distinct memories of the game that it would be impossible to narrow down which ones stuck with me the most.
Ocarina of Time was a weird, dark, and creepy game. Redeads freezing your controls and slowly meandering their way towards you while screaming is an all-timer in "horror elements in a non-horror game", next to whatever the fuck Dead Hands are doing, what ghoulish shit to put into an E-rated game. Of course that wasn't the end of how dark and fucked-up this game got, but people tend to forget how bleak OoT actually was when its successor was basically OoT's dark weirdness cranked up to 11.
The game introduced the ground-breaking Z-targeting system, or when your camera locks onto an enemy. Yes, this game created that. It introduced a slew of what would later become popular tropes or game design decisions because this became the blueprint for 3D adventure games.
It really felt like the epic fantasy game we dreamed of in 1998. This was after A Link to the Past and Link's Awakening, big shoes to fill. And given Super Mario 64's success, people expected Zelda's introduction to 3D to be just as grandiose and game-changing. And there's nothing clever or witty to say about that, because it was those things and more. Ocarina of Time is considered one of, and frequently just the greatest game of all time for valid reasons.
Ocarina of Time's success did a lot of things for better or worse for Zelda. It became the emblematic title, the industry standard. A lot of Zelda titles have spent their time chasing OoT's success or innovation, and all of its successors have shown their age in one way or another. While time has shown the cracks in titles like Skyward Sword, Twilight Princess, and even The Windwaker, Ocarina of Time has only been reveled more for its impact.
It's a game that just doesn't seem to age. It still holds up. It's still a miraculous adventure game with a massive scope, epic setpieces, and immaculate pacing. Whereas I felt like other Zelda games have issues with bloat or had uneven pacing, why did they get it right so much the first time. The rate of which the story unfolds and you gradually progress through it is still untouchable. Whereas some items you got were clever one-offs in later games, every tool you got in OoT felt like a meaningful impact in how you interfaced with the world, felt like Link was gradually becoming stronger and more capable.
Part of me thinks I'm a nostalgic old bint, but I can see other 3D Zelda games pre-BotW warts and all, beautiful but flawed games attempting to get out from underneath Ocarina of Time's shadow. Its legacy seems insurmountable to overcome. The only reason other Zelda games are higher on this list is because they had to deviate so heavily from what's become formulaic for the Zelda series. When you look at the origin point of most modern adventure games, virtually all of them have some of OoT's DNA in them.
I'm just past 35 and I can still vividly remember every corner of this game. I remember details of this game from nearly three decades ago more clearly than I remember my relatives' faces. Ocarina of Time has stood the test of it. Still a marvelous game.
Ocarina of Time was a weird, dark, and creepy game. Redeads freezing your controls and slowly meandering their way towards you while screaming is an all-timer in "horror elements in a non-horror game", next to whatever the fuck Dead Hands are doing, what ghoulish shit to put into an E-rated game. Of course that wasn't the end of how dark and fucked-up this game got, but people tend to forget how bleak OoT actually was when its successor was basically OoT's dark weirdness cranked up to 11.
The game introduced the ground-breaking Z-targeting system, or when your camera locks onto an enemy. Yes, this game created that. It introduced a slew of what would later become popular tropes or game design decisions because this became the blueprint for 3D adventure games.
It really felt like the epic fantasy game we dreamed of in 1998. This was after A Link to the Past and Link's Awakening, big shoes to fill. And given Super Mario 64's success, people expected Zelda's introduction to 3D to be just as grandiose and game-changing. And there's nothing clever or witty to say about that, because it was those things and more. Ocarina of Time is considered one of, and frequently just the greatest game of all time for valid reasons.
Ocarina of Time's success did a lot of things for better or worse for Zelda. It became the emblematic title, the industry standard. A lot of Zelda titles have spent their time chasing OoT's success or innovation, and all of its successors have shown their age in one way or another. While time has shown the cracks in titles like Skyward Sword, Twilight Princess, and even The Windwaker, Ocarina of Time has only been reveled more for its impact.
It's a game that just doesn't seem to age. It still holds up. It's still a miraculous adventure game with a massive scope, epic setpieces, and immaculate pacing. Whereas I felt like other Zelda games have issues with bloat or had uneven pacing, why did they get it right so much the first time. The rate of which the story unfolds and you gradually progress through it is still untouchable. Whereas some items you got were clever one-offs in later games, every tool you got in OoT felt like a meaningful impact in how you interfaced with the world, felt like Link was gradually becoming stronger and more capable.
Part of me thinks I'm a nostalgic old bint, but I can see other 3D Zelda games pre-BotW warts and all, beautiful but flawed games attempting to get out from underneath Ocarina of Time's shadow. Its legacy seems insurmountable to overcome. The only reason other Zelda games are higher on this list is because they had to deviate so heavily from what's become formulaic for the Zelda series. When you look at the origin point of most modern adventure games, virtually all of them have some of OoT's DNA in them.
I'm just past 35 and I can still vividly remember every corner of this game. I remember details of this game from nearly three decades ago more clearly than I remember my relatives' faces. Ocarina of Time has stood the test of it. Still a marvelous game.
need to finish this game so bad it's unreal
Peak
I cried when Link said: "You can't win Ganondorf, because I have the Ocarina of Time, and with it, this tale will be remembered as The Legend of Zelda"
The pinnacle. The blueprint. The greatest.
Words can't sum up my love for OOT.
10/10
Words can't sum up my love for OOT.
10/10
Quarta vez zerando e nossa... é MELHOR do que eu lembrava.
Revolucionário, seja para os games no geral, um dos primeiros jogos de mundo aberto 3D que realmente é incrível e cheio de conteúdo, á cada vez jogando se descobre mais detalhes mínimos, sempre que jogo, descubro algo novo, isso tudo para um jogo de 1998.
Trilha sonora impecável, muitas músicas lindas, emocionantes, músicas que combinam com a ambientação e contexto de cada local, músicas extremamente marcantes e variadas, músicas como Gerudo Valley e Lost Woods sendo mais animadas e energéticas, ou o tema do Water Temple e do Spirit Templo, músicas ambientais e que ficam na cabeça, combinando completamente com a atmosfera de cada local.
Já que falei em atmosfera, os gráficos são espetaculares para a época. Ta tudo bem, pode ser extremamente poligonal por conta de sua época, mas quando se acostuma, é perceptível a beleza e o capricho imposto, sejam as cores, os detalhes, as partículas, cada local é memorável e divertido de se explorar.. juntando isso com a trilha sonora e a exploração, faz ser uma experiência única e especial.
Missões secundárias e Mini Games que também são divertidos(com exceção da side quest dos fantasmas na minha opinião), satisfatórios de fazer e valem á pena de fazer para ser recompensado e conhecer o universo do game. Por mais que seja complicado fazer 100% por conta do vasto conteúdo, não é necessário, a dificuldade é extremamente balanceada e é possível facilmente zerar sem se esforçar tanto em explorar os locais e fazer as missões, embora explorar e fazer as pequenas missões sejam um dos maiores charmes do game.
As dungeons e os bosses são incríveis(não falamos do Water Temple aqui.), a ambientação é uma maravilha, músicas incríveis, são muito intuitivos e sempre tem algo na dungeon que destaca ela. A cereja do bolo são os bosses, cada um com design memorável, um padrão, um truque para derrotá-los.
Por fim, gostaria de dizer sobre a história, onde aqui neste jogo começou á tomar mais profundidade e foco narrativo, embora seja um jogo de 25 anos atrás, o desenrolar, as consequências dos acontecimentos, os plot twists, o final, os personagens carismáticos, sejam os principais e os NPCs...
No geral, todos os elementos citados são feitos de uma forma excelente e todos juntando para se tornar um game extremamente importante e especial. Pode não ser o meu jogo favorito, mas eu entendo o motivo de ser considerado o melhor ja feito.
Dessa vez que zerei foi usando o PC Port, algo que transformou algo incrível em algo próximo á perfeição.
Revolucionário, seja para os games no geral, um dos primeiros jogos de mundo aberto 3D que realmente é incrível e cheio de conteúdo, á cada vez jogando se descobre mais detalhes mínimos, sempre que jogo, descubro algo novo, isso tudo para um jogo de 1998.
Trilha sonora impecável, muitas músicas lindas, emocionantes, músicas que combinam com a ambientação e contexto de cada local, músicas extremamente marcantes e variadas, músicas como Gerudo Valley e Lost Woods sendo mais animadas e energéticas, ou o tema do Water Temple e do Spirit Templo, músicas ambientais e que ficam na cabeça, combinando completamente com a atmosfera de cada local.
Já que falei em atmosfera, os gráficos são espetaculares para a época. Ta tudo bem, pode ser extremamente poligonal por conta de sua época, mas quando se acostuma, é perceptível a beleza e o capricho imposto, sejam as cores, os detalhes, as partículas, cada local é memorável e divertido de se explorar.. juntando isso com a trilha sonora e a exploração, faz ser uma experiência única e especial.
Missões secundárias e Mini Games que também são divertidos(com exceção da side quest dos fantasmas na minha opinião), satisfatórios de fazer e valem á pena de fazer para ser recompensado e conhecer o universo do game. Por mais que seja complicado fazer 100% por conta do vasto conteúdo, não é necessário, a dificuldade é extremamente balanceada e é possível facilmente zerar sem se esforçar tanto em explorar os locais e fazer as missões, embora explorar e fazer as pequenas missões sejam um dos maiores charmes do game.
As dungeons e os bosses são incríveis(não falamos do Water Temple aqui.), a ambientação é uma maravilha, músicas incríveis, são muito intuitivos e sempre tem algo na dungeon que destaca ela. A cereja do bolo são os bosses, cada um com design memorável, um padrão, um truque para derrotá-los.
Por fim, gostaria de dizer sobre a história, onde aqui neste jogo começou á tomar mais profundidade e foco narrativo, embora seja um jogo de 25 anos atrás, o desenrolar, as consequências dos acontecimentos, os plot twists, o final, os personagens carismáticos, sejam os principais e os NPCs...
No geral, todos os elementos citados são feitos de uma forma excelente e todos juntando para se tornar um game extremamente importante e especial. Pode não ser o meu jogo favorito, mas eu entendo o motivo de ser considerado o melhor ja feito.
Dessa vez que zerei foi usando o PC Port, algo que transformou algo incrível em algo próximo á perfeição.
Don’t remember the dates but in 2024 my son (5) and I began playing through the 3D Zelda games, of course starting with Ocarina of Time.
The last time I had played the OG 3D Zelda’s was in 2019 just after my son was born. 5 years may have been the longest period of time in my entire life I went without playing OOT
One of my earliest memories in life was playing OOT with my mom when I was around my son’s age. My son had been into other games, but at 5 years old I felt he was now old enough to begin to appreciate these games.
I believe he did appreciate the game, he got super invested throughout, although he does have trouble focusing on longer sessions. Just like me his favorite parts are the bosses.
My completionist streak seems to have worn off on my son, as he was insistent on getting to 20 hearts.
I hope that this playthrough can be as memorable for my son as my playthrough with my mother was when I was a kid
As for the game, still holds up. Still fantastic
The last time I had played the OG 3D Zelda’s was in 2019 just after my son was born. 5 years may have been the longest period of time in my entire life I went without playing OOT
One of my earliest memories in life was playing OOT with my mom when I was around my son’s age. My son had been into other games, but at 5 years old I felt he was now old enough to begin to appreciate these games.
I believe he did appreciate the game, he got super invested throughout, although he does have trouble focusing on longer sessions. Just like me his favorite parts are the bosses.
My completionist streak seems to have worn off on my son, as he was insistent on getting to 20 hearts.
I hope that this playthrough can be as memorable for my son as my playthrough with my mother was when I was a kid
As for the game, still holds up. Still fantastic
Ocarina of Time is a game I like, but one I’ve never been particularly impressed by. It’s one of the most beloved video games ever made, and I’m not saying it shouldn’t be. I can understand why someone would like this game, why this would be someone’s favorite Zelda game, and why this would be someone’s favorite video game period. What I don’t understand is the legions of people who have spent 20+ years hailing it as the greatest video game ever made. I don’t get what it is Ocarina of Time does that other games, even just those within the Zelda franchise, haven’t done either just as well or even better.
To give OoT its due, it’s about as good of a jump from 2D to 3D as you could possibly hope for. Some era-specific jank aside, it’s polished to a mirror sheen, though the ‘wow’ factor of a 3D Zelda will be lost on anyone who wasn’t around for the N64 generation. Which is part of my problem with OoT. Going from Link to the Past to Ocarina must’ve been legitimately mind blowing back then, especially when you factor in the six year wait between those two games. But that wow factor has faded with age, and then you have to come to terms with how… basic OoT is compared to other Zelda games. OoT was preceded and succeeded by Link to the Past and Majora’s Mask respectively, both games which I feel display far more creativity and, in the case of Majora’s Mask, a more compelling narrative and world. Then the GameCube gave us Wind Waker, and I just can’t wrap my head around how, in a post-Wind Waker world, so many people could continue to praise Ocarina as the greatest game ever made.
I guess this is less of a review and more an expression of my befuddlement about this game’s reception. I don’t mean to make it seem as if I hate this game or I think people shouldn’t like it. It’s just that when you look at all the games to come before and after Ocarina of Time, like Metroid Prime, Resident Evil 4, Super Mario Galaxy, Shadow of the Colossus or what have you, does this really deserve to be considered the peak of the medium?
To give OoT its due, it’s about as good of a jump from 2D to 3D as you could possibly hope for. Some era-specific jank aside, it’s polished to a mirror sheen, though the ‘wow’ factor of a 3D Zelda will be lost on anyone who wasn’t around for the N64 generation. Which is part of my problem with OoT. Going from Link to the Past to Ocarina must’ve been legitimately mind blowing back then, especially when you factor in the six year wait between those two games. But that wow factor has faded with age, and then you have to come to terms with how… basic OoT is compared to other Zelda games. OoT was preceded and succeeded by Link to the Past and Majora’s Mask respectively, both games which I feel display far more creativity and, in the case of Majora’s Mask, a more compelling narrative and world. Then the GameCube gave us Wind Waker, and I just can’t wrap my head around how, in a post-Wind Waker world, so many people could continue to praise Ocarina as the greatest game ever made.
I guess this is less of a review and more an expression of my befuddlement about this game’s reception. I don’t mean to make it seem as if I hate this game or I think people shouldn’t like it. It’s just that when you look at all the games to come before and after Ocarina of Time, like Metroid Prime, Resident Evil 4, Super Mario Galaxy, Shadow of the Colossus or what have you, does this really deserve to be considered the peak of the medium?