Valued as one of the greatest games known to man, this classic not only sets the bar for all other fantasy games
Cons: Main story seems slightly repetitive
The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time meets the expectations of even the most critical gamers. While it provides an intricate and absorbing story, the game's simplicity makes it enjoyable for who play it. The game has a long playing time, which is very important in my eyes. Though some might consider the game to be outdated, Ocarina of Time stays in the hearts of many gamers as a model for all games to follow.
The game first presents itself by allowing you to choose your hero's name to something other than Link, satisfying players who crave creativity. As the game starts off, Link is shown to be a weak child, ignorant to fighting and evil. He is also an outcast, as he is the only child in his village that does not have a fairy. However, when his fairy, Navi, finally arrives at his doorstep, Link is almost immediately equipped with his traditional sword and shield, and sent off his saves the village's guardian. The guardian is known as the Deku Tree, and he serves a dual role as the game's first dungeon. It serves as a rather easy dungeon, and is more of a tutorial for the game than a challenge. The dungeon introduces you to the puzzles, items, and enemies you will see many times along your journey. After beating the dungeon, Link is given his first spiritual stone and is thrown out into the world with his newly found slingshot and ocarina. He is now off to the see the princess.
Once Link meets the child Zelda, she continues you on your quest as she tells you that you are faced up against two more dungeons. After meeting a variety of people and introduced to more places in Hyrule, Link enters the Dodongos' Cavern and is eaten alive by Lord Jabujabu. These two dungeons can again be considered learning grounds to prepare you for the remainder of the game. With his new spiritual stones and items earned from the dungeons, he is now ready to begin his real journey.
While trying to not give out too much information, Link is now found is a full grown adult. After giving a little visit to the dead, he is ready for his first real dungeon. The Forest Temple is a dark introduction into Link's adult world. With wolfos, poes, and many skeletal creatures now pitted against you, the game's difficulty is raised greatly. Puzzles are harder to solve, making keys harder to find. They are some points where the player might feel there is no way to beat the dungeon, making it very fulfilling when you reach the boss' room. After an attack from a doppelganger of Ganondorf, the story's antagonist, Link is rewarded with forest medallion, which adds its power to his.
The next dungeon, which leads you back to Death Mountain, introduces a new red outfit and an even harder difficulty. After some trial and error in the Fire Temple, the dungeon eventually leads you to slay your own fiery dragon and claim your medallion of flames. The next dungeon, the Water Temple, provides possibly the hardest puzzles and enemies in the entire game. After changing water levels, sinking and rising through floors, and getting a whole different view of "yourself" (the temple's mini boss), you finally reach the amoeba boss that contaminates the water. Once you defeat it, which proves to be one of the easiest parts of the dungeon, you once again claim your medallion, which now represents water.
The Shadow Temple, which is next on the list, is a short, but scary dungeon that makes you utilize one of the game's most interesting items, the Eye of Truth, which allows you to see things that are perhaps lost in the shadows. This dungeon also is the first that forces you do complete a part of it in your child form, which is available after the completion of the Forest Temple. After defeating an invisible monster, you gain the shadow medallion, adding its power to yours. After a battle with female thieves and a trip through the desert with a poe as your tour guide, you reach the Spirit Temple. I like to see the Spirit Temple as a review for your final exam. Every item in your inventory is used, and enemies from almost all of your previous dungeons are brought back. After defeating two sisters of magic and relieving them of their spirits, you are given your final medallion, which adds the power of spirit to you.
Now, the final exam. Ganon's Castle is short, only really consisting of six rooms, which represent the temples you have gone through, and a long stair case leading to Ganon. I have to force myself not to say anymore, because words wouldn't do justice to the end of this game.
After all this and still many more side quests, Ocarina of Time proves to be an amazing game. Whether you are shooting a switch with an arrow or defeating a stalfos with your swords, Ocarina of Time will give the player non-stop entertainment. Thank you for reading this review.
My Rating: 10/10