“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...”

If I could forget one game completely and experience it for the first time again, it would be Ocarina of Time. Not just because I'd like to "Ooh" and "Aah" at the adventure, but because I recognize that I'm COMPLETELY unable to be objective about it. I can't really tell if this game holds up! I've loved Ocarina for over 20 years, so nostalgia may very well have blinded me to this game’s shortcomings. It’s possible that the game is just not that great by today’s standards, and I'm unable to see it.

But I don’t think so.

A few years ago, I wanted to know if this holds up for new players. I watched a handful of videos on people who finally played OoT for the first time and gave their impressions. I also had the fantastic experience of getting my wife interested in Zelda. I was playing Twilight Princess HD shortly after its release, and she took the Wii U Gamepad from me in the Arbiter’s Grounds and didn’t give it back until the credits rolled. After that, I seized the opportunity to get her to play as much 3D Zelda as she would let me, and watching her get sucked into Ocarina of Time was fantastic. She had played TP and Wind Waker before we got to that point, so she was frustrated by the lack of a camera stick, but that was her only criticism as she went through the majority of the game. She even enjoyed the Water Temple! (She ended up giving me the controller for most of the Shadow Temple though, that was definitely her least favorite part)

All I can do to get an objective reading on the game is observe others as they react to Link’s first foray into the third dimension, and I’m impressed at how consistently newbies still seem to enjoy it. When other early 3D pioneers like Mario 64, Final Fantasy VII, Crash Bandicoot or Sonic Adventure get revisited, they’re often met with complaints and criticisms over their controls, dated visuals, pacing, or gameplay that has simply lost its novelty due to advances in modern games. But Ocarina of Time seems to be an exception. The criticisms of the game come from those like myself, who are overly familiar with every detail. We’ve played through the game so many times that the magic is lessened, if not gone entirely. Yet this adventure through Hyrule continues to resonate with new players.

And how could it not! The dungeons are varied. The enemies are engaging. The music is some of the best ever put on a cartridge. The story beats and twists that most of us now take for granted (but potentially aren’t known to someone reading this) have actual weight to them. The world, while not gigantic compared to modern games, is still as large as it needs to be, and filled with memorable characters and locales.

At its core, I think this game has endured because it’s a well-presented adventure with relatable themes and an engrossing world to explore. The gameplay alone, while solid, wouldn’t have made it the classic it is. And even though I’ve beaten it more times than I can remember and some of that magic is gone, my familiarity has never trumped my sense of wonder. I will always be grateful for the time I've spent with it.