I review the biggest game of the decade. Does Zelda 64 live up to the hype?

User Rating: 10 | The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time N64
By seaward12 | Review Date:
I have to confess that I'm a long time fan of the Zelda series. Ever since Link to the Past, I have been waiting for another adventure with the same sense of freedom and interactivity. Although games like Final Fantasy, Secret of Mana, and Metroid filled the void, I had to wait six years for Zelda's jump to a next generation console. The wait was very well worth it. Ocarina of Time is easily the best in the series. Sure, the game has a couple of little flaws (the annoying Navi "hey" messages, for example) -- but unlike the hundreds and hundreds of uninspired gaming sequels that find their way into console and PC owners' homes every year, Ocarina of Time takes some basic gameplay and story ideas from its predecessors and rolls them into a completely unique experience.
I don't know how many games I have played in my life where you see some cool scenery in the background and you're thinking "wow, wouldn't it be great if you could actually go there?" That's what Zelda is all about. You see something and you're thinking "wouldn't it be cool if you could..." -- and you can. The fighting system is fantastic, the new camera system unlike anything you have ever seen. Apart from a little slowdown and a few blurry textures here and there, the graphics are insanely beautiful. The sunsets and rain sequences, the projectile and smoke effects, everything is displayed in vibrant colors and with much attention to detail. Although the lack of the overworld theme is a bummer, the many returning Zelda melodies (such as the glissando announcing a secret or the fanfare when finding an item) and the moody dungeon scores are only outdone by the amazing surround ambient effects.

In the gameplay department, the gap between Nintendo's in-house development and third party titles becomes painfully clear. The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time should be recommended playing for ever aspiring videogame designer and programmer out there. If you're making games and you haven't played this game, then you're like a director who has never seen Citizen Kane or a musician who has never heard of Mozart. If you're a gamer looking for your next title to buy, then take it from me, this is as good as it's going to get for a looooong time.

A break-through title from Nintendo that deserves all the hype and praise it's gotten. The limited gold edition is just the icing on the cake. My highest possible recommendation.


Presentation: Nintendo perfectly updates the Zelda series for a new generation. Involving characters and an almost movie-like feel at times. 10/10

Graphics:Except for the blurry market scene, Zelda is easily on of the best-looking games ever. The bosses are awe-inspiring, the environmental and lighting effects phenomenal, and the textures diverse. 10/10

Sound: Outstanding environmental sound effects and many hummable melodies make for an engaging surround sound experience. 9/10

Gameplay:Perfectly fine-tuned gameplay mechanics. Inspired camera control. Hundreds of secrets. A new benchmark. 10/10

Lasting Appeal: Like all RPGs, Zelda eventually has an end. But Nintendo tried everything to get gamers to come back for more, such as mini-games and tons of secrets. Challenging. 9/10

Overall: 10/10

My Verdcit: BUY IT...NOW!

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