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The Legend Of Zelda Ocarina Of Time for Nintendo 64
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The Legend Of Zelda Ocarina Of Time for Nintendo 64
184 reviews   4.65 of 5

Product Description

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Summary

Let me just say this first: I am a huge fan of the Zelda series. I played the first Zelda game for hours, and I thought Zelda 64 would be just as good. I was wrong. Zelda 64 failed by being too linear and had a "hands off" feel. The animations were too long and there were to many. In fact, I actualy got a book to read when some of the characters went into a long speech about how I must save Hyrule (again!). I thought the game was just over-hyped, so I played through the game several times, but just ended up becoming very easy. The game tries to have a replay feature in it by having you look for items, like the gold spiders (I can't spell what they're really called). This feature has always rubbed me the wrong way. A player does not need to find all of them and will beat the game and see no need to collect all of them, if the player is using a strategy guide, than they will find everything and the game will be extremly easy. Navi alone knocks this game down. She completly ruins this game's pacing by constantly yelling at you where to go next. This game almost throws the answers to where the dungeons at you. While the dungeons, for the most part, are well-made, the water temple is another game-killer moment. That, and the puzzles are also bland. Most of them are from earlier games that most fans will be able to solve in a few minutes, and revolve around pushing something, collecting something, or lighting something. Once in a while, a new puzzle show up, but are also straight forward and easy. Gone are the vertical puzzles from Zelda: A Link to the Past of Link's Awaking, such as the crystal switchs.
Here is an overall review:
Gameplay: 2
Graphics: 5
Sound: 4
Challenge: 2
Replay Value: 2
Story: 3
Overall: 3
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Summary

Rarely does a game come along that is so high caliber, so emotionally strong, so beatiful that calling it good would be simply criminal. Shigeru Miyamoto's first Zelda game for the N64 is nothing short of an epic. The storyline is one of the most emotionally triggered and amazingly scripted ever. The musical score is just breathtaking, and can describe worlds in just one note. The graphics for it's time are as smooth as silk. The Legend of Zelda, Ocarina of Time is a game that redefines the RPG Genre, that makes all others before it look amateurish at best. The Legend of Zelda is a legend, and to call this game good would be a glaring understatement. The adventure and how it is scripted in this game will be remembered for years, and the memories across the Land of Hyrule will be one that you may never forget.

The Legend of Zelda begins peacefully in Link's forest home, the Deku Forest. Link begins to have nightmares of a man with a black horse riding through the castle of Hyrule. He is called upon by the great Deku tree, ruler of the land, and finds that his dreams have a true purpose. The man Link dreams about is Ganondorf, an evil desert bandit who has cursed many, including the Deku Tree. As Deku dies, Link ventures out into the vast lands of Hyrule, where his unforgettable journey begins.

The Legend of Zelda will prove to be 40 hours of pure amazement, with side quests, boss battles, and everything an RPG has come to offer. Zelda 64 will stand for a long time as one of the greatest RPG's ever made. For every second you play this game, you will drift deeper and deeper into Link's world. And through darkness, peril, and triumph, you will find that this will truly be on of the greatest experiences you have had in a videogame.

Sound

Rarely does a game get noticed for amazing score, but if there was an Oscar for games, Zelda would win for musical score hands-down. All the Zelda songs from the past games have been brough back to the game. Ever song can convey anger, fear, laziness, and sadness with so much skill that you may almost sway to the beat. Every song in the Legend of Zelda fits the accompanies the gameplay so well they are like pieces in a Jigsaw puzzle, fit perfectly together. And perfectly is the best way to describe it.

The music in Zelda is in fact so well done, that unlike so many other games, it is not even overshadowed by the amazing gameplay. The Ocarina tunes are easily the most memorable song in the game, and 3 years after you play this, chances are you will remember at least one song. The way the music is universally awesome is just great. Anyone can enjoy Zelda's score. While it may be calm at times, the score will just keep playing in your head, and you will love every second of it.

The sound effects score on a level almost equal to that of the music. Water dripping in the cavern, creatures scattering across the ground. Your feet stepping in the desert sand. Everything is lifelike. The wind howls like it would on any day in real life. Branches shake, trees clunk, and anything you touch makes a sound that is so real it's almost scary. The attention to even the most minor detail in sound makes this game one of the greatest ever. The way the sound contributes to Zelda is unexplainable, but once you listen to it, you will realize how much sense this makes.

All in all, everything, gameplay, graphics, and sound add so much to the Legend of Zelda that it plays like a dream. One of the most colorful, well sounding, and fun to play dreams. But the Legend of Zelda isn't a dream. It is a reality, and one of the greatest realities in the videogaming world. The Legend of Zelda is pure greatness.

Gameplay

Zelda's gameplay is right on target. Starting in the Deku forest, you will be greeted by the villagers and will learn the controls of the game. A,B, and the C buttons will basically be all you need to know. Each button will be used for a separate item, and you will need an amount of strategy to know what you will equip for the mission. Sometimes you will need a stick to slove puzzles, but sometimes you will need a bow and arrow to shoot down enemies. The new Z targeting feature in Zelda is an awesome feature. Z targeting allows you to set your eyes on the closest friend (or enemy) near you. The beauty of Zelda's controls are that you will need to use each and every button in some way during the game. Every weapon, every item in the game to say will be used to unlock trap doors, defeat bosses, and save your friends. The controls work solidly, and even being one of the earliest N64 games, Zelda rarely falls into bad camera angles. While sometimes you will be frustrated after falling off ledges countless times, the camera handles very well in most situations. But the sheer enjoyment you will experience with this game will be more than enough to make you foret any minor annoyances.

As you may have guessed, RPG's most of the time really have only one story, and after beating it, the replay value is very low. But Zelda includes so many side quests that you will be playing the game 10 hours more than the designated time to beat it. Getting the Biggoron Sword, receiving Epona, and getting every Skulltula in the game are just a few of the side quests in Zelda. Your first time in Hyrule Market, you will see that there are so many games to play, like Archery, Treasure Hunting, Bowling, even Chicken Chasing! The sheer number of mini-games and side quests in Zelda 64 easily outnumber any game before it. Even those gamers who don't pride themselves in side quests will find an interest in the many extra items to find in the game.

But nothing in the controls or side-quests will compare to the gameplay and puzzles in Legend Of Zelda. Zelda is a very tough game, but if you can fight the temptation to use a strategy guide, you will see that the feeling of achievement you get from escaping a dungeon will compare to nothing else. Even if you do use a strategy guide, the rewards presented to you after beating at least an hour-long dungeon will be more than enough. The job done of the movement and overall feel of the bosses is amazingly done as well. Each boss doesn't have to be huge to be scary, as Legend of Zelda's bosses can be horrifying, or sometimes even plain funny. The way that this game communicate feelings through just words is amazing. It is like reading a book where you control the fate of an adventure. And it is an adventure for the ages. When you collect all three emblems at the Temple of Time, the sheer emotion you feel as you walk through the doors of time is amazing. Zelda does so much for the game that it is impossible to say enough praise for it.

The plot for the Legend of Zelda is also picture perfect. The emotion driven story may seems like a damsel-in-distress at first glance, but the number of other missions you must accomplish in order to save Zelda include so many plot twists and unexpected endings that you will be interested the whole way through. While traveling through Ganondorf's desert home, the adventure you experience there alone, by dodging and sniping guards to make an escape is unforgettable. Multiply that by about 30 and you will see the amazing experience that is Legend of Zelda.

Are there enough good things to say about the gameplay? Not in a lifetime. Zelda scores so high in gameplay it is truly amazing.
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Summary

As long as I’ve known Nintendo, they are always that innovated company always leaping forward to significant changes for the better. This game differed greatly from its other predecessors from a 2D world to a 3D world. I doubted these changes were any good but after my first hour of gameplay, the changes made were a good call. Compared to the NES, GameBoy, and SNES versions, Zelda 64 was different. This game has one of the best gameplay aspects, perfect graphics, and beautiful music heard through out the world of Hyrule. There is nothing small about this game; every single aspect is emphasized in large proportions.

The story starts off with a small intro-cut of the peaceful land of Hyrule. In this majestic place, everybody worked together as a team; fighting against evil and helping those who are in need. One day, the King of Thieves named Ganondorf decided to conquer the land of Hyrule. The only way for him to accomplish his goal is to enter the Sacred Realm and steal the magical Triforce. It is up to Link and his trusty sidekick Navi to thwart Ganondorf's plans or else face his wrath and the destruction of the land. The story is intriguing plus all the little story inserts are also interesting like Link’s childhood life. The story is very easy to understand and the plot flows very smoothly.

I recommend this game to all Zelda fans out there. All of the elements found in previous Zelda games are also included plus an abundant amount of other innovated features. This game is for everyone whether you play sports related titles or strategy, this game has everything desired in video gaming. Buy this game and enough said.

Sound

You have your typical boss songs and happy songs. The most interesting part is the way some noises can be heard from remote areas. So, if you listen carefully you can hear roosters and volcanoes erupt in particular areas. Noises such as voices and yelling of many enemies are heard all through out. Great sound effects but nothing different from any other video game.

The composer of the songs should be proud to have people like me appreciate such greatness. A few of the songs were orchestrated from previous Zelda titles, which got me thinking about the past. Ah, remembering the past, hmm. Boy, things have significantly changed through out the years.

In conclusion, I recommend this game for those who like adventure, action, and plenty of challenging puzzles. Actually, any player regardless of what games they play will enjoy this game like I did.

Gameplay

This game is mixture of adventure, action, strategy, and every other feature found in other types of gameplay. By pressing the "A" button, Link will swing the sword whichever direction he is facing, and by repeatedly pressing the same button, will make him swing even faster but inflict less critical damage. Link can also climb, throw, push obstacles, roll, run, and swim. There are so many things he can do that part of the fun is trying out all his cool moves.

Two different types of Links played through out the game. First is the young Link and then changes to a much stronger adult Link. Playing as different Links is important because certain sizes determine the eligibility to progress. There are things that the adult Link can do that the young Link cannot, and vice-versa. For example, tiny holes can be found in caverns that only young Link can fit through. So, in order to squeeze into these areas, you must play as young Link to do so. This is an extremely interesting concept and very interesting that is rarely used on most games today. Besides the sword, many other weapons can also be used. These items can be set with the "C" buttons and up to three functions can be placed. For example on "C" left, you can have Link hold a bow and arrow and whenever this button is pressed, this action is initiated. Other items include bombs, potions, Deku nuts, magic beans, fairy slingshots, and many more. Each of these items has different capabilities that prove real useful in later terms. Also certain items can only be used by a certain Link. For example, only young Link can use the slingshot while the adult Link can use the bow and arrow. At times, I would wish that the adult Link had the ability to use all the items. I find it very inconvenient not being able to use a slingshot as an adult Link, when I can use bow arrows, what is up with that. Anyway, each item also have other purposes other than destroying enemies. For example, a bomb can penetrate through walls that have cracks and reveal secret paths. The Lens of Truth can look through chests to tell beforehand if it’s treasure or a trap. There are so many items to keep in mind that it is easy to forget.

Obstacles such as puzzles are all over the world of Hyrule; in dungeons, forests, mountains, and even villages. Most of the puzzles just take long more than challenging. The puzzles were very interesting and extremely unique that only Nintendo can pull off. Unlike Resident Evil or Parasite Eve, these puzzles enable you to be more flexible by not placing you on one spot. In Zelda, you are actually more involved from jumping to swimming and whatever else Link could do while trying to solve the obstacle.

There are so many areas to explore that at times I would get so lost that I end up resetting to get to the spot I was familiar with. Fortunately, it is not that confusing because realms are divided into specific sections. Hyrule field is the main area which connects all other areas such as Gerudu Valley: the land of thieves, Death Mountain: home of the Goran's, Zora's Domain: where the water folks dwell, and the Lost Woods where mysterious events occur. Within each of these regions are much more in-depth realms of challenge and more places to explore. There is almost no end to the world of Hyrule, bigger than any of the other predecessors and ten times as large, and may be even more! To keep players from wasting time traveling back and forth, an item called the Ocarina can be used as a transportation device. The Ocarina though does not grant all the wishes you desire you must find the right notes for it to properly put it to good use. Then you have your trusty horse Epona who is more convenient that walking or running for that matter. I personally like Death Mountain the best with its astonishing view of the sunset and the many secrets it holds for one to discover. I also like the convenient of traveling on a horse, which made tasks shorter in terms of time.

Mini-games such as the Skulltula hunt where the more spiders you kill the better the items you receive from this cursed family in the village. Other games include fishing, archery, treasure box guessing, and many more. The archery game is very helpful because it helps you master how the bow and arrow works. Great mini-games and not only are they fun but they also provide items that will help you out on your journey, I know it did for me.

I would have to say that this one is one toughest of all Zelda games. The bosses in particular are the hardest obstacles because they cannot be easily killed with just any weapon. You have to deliberately experiment with what you have and find its weakness in this manner. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve lost but it was fun finding their weak points.

When it comes to controls, if you can distinguish between what’s left and right then there’s no problem. The main buttons "A" is for main attacks or talking to villagers, "B" for canceling commands, the "C" buttons for use of chosen items, the analog stick to move Link, and there’s "Z", which is the “lock-on” button. With the help of the "Z" button, it locks on targets and then enables you to fight that target without screening off. For example, if you locked on an enemy and shot an arrow, the arrow would go straight towards that target. The "Z" button is very convenient and should be put to any kind of use. I used it all the time and helped me pass most of the obstacles I’ve confronted.
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Summary

This game's setting is in a distant or non-existant land called Hyrule (I'm still bent on the fact that Hyrule *has* to exist) where an evil Gerudo Desert Thief named Ganondorf (curteously nicknamed Ganon-dork by my friend) decides he wants absolute power. Princess Zelda is the only one who knows anything of his plans to recover the Triforce. A young fairy-boy called Link is visited and stalked by an annoying little fae named Navi (Or Nuisance) who tells him of all the dark things brewing inside Ganondorf's evil mind. Link embarks on his quest to recover the three Stones of Power and return them to Zelda, who is then taken into safe hiding by Inu, her guardian while her parents are busy ruling Hyrule. He recovers the fallen Ocarnia of Time and races to the temple where he pulls the Master Sword from it's resting place and sleeps for seven years. Once awakened, Link embarks on yet another quest to free the Five Sages and capture their medallions, one of which you get just by visiting the Chamber of Sages. Zelda, in her alter-ego of Sheik, assists Link in uncovering songs and discovering his past and future. The rest is for you to find out.
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Sound

The sound is good I guess. I like the music really alot. The people say things like "Hello" (and so does your fairy) and link will do lotsa battle cries. Don't be expecting much in the way of talking, but expect alot of really cool music, including the tunes you will play on your ocarina. I was really blown away with the music warping me places. I think that video games should be suprising (and challenging :-)!!!)

Gameplay

I LOVE Z targeting. I prefer to put it on the mode where you don't have to hold down Z. I like the targeting because you almost never miss if you try to hit them. I also like how you can always use your sword, and how you can choose which weapons to use at a time. I also LOVE the ocarina. I don't want a fixed jumping button, because it is too much to worry about, and because if there was you wouldn't be able to "CHECK" "SPEAK" "GRAB" "CLIMB" "OPEN" etc. I also really like the fact that the game is challenging. For those you like a challenge, you'll love this! I personally am beating it for the 3rd time. If you really like easy games, you might not want to even take this off the shelf. Also, those of you who don't like blood and gore, this game is GREAT! Enimies crumble or disappear in flames. some even just fade away. There are more puzzles here than fighting, and I personally love puzzles. you need to do something to get each new weapon/item, unlike in MM (Majora's mask), where you start out with the sheild and sword. The boss battles last long, and make you shiver and sweat where you sit, the first time round. The 2nd time... well, I beat every single one 1st try in a few min. 2nd try, exept Volvagia. Watch out for him, he's HARD!!!!!
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Summary

In Zelda Ocarina Of Time, an evil desert man called Ganondorf plans on taking over the land of Hyrule by getting the Triforce, a magical artifact that can give it's user immense power. You play as a young boy who is destined to be the one to stop him. You use a sword and shield, as well as many other items you will get during your quest, including an ocarina. The ocarina is a musical instrument that has magic powers. You will sometimes have to play it to open certain areas, find certain items, and make friends with certain people. The ocarina is a very important item, it's just a matter of learning when and where to use it.

The point of this game is to collect all the magical artifacts that are needed to stop Ganondorf. Each one is hidden inside a dungeon. The dungeons are the real meat of the game. Zelda Ocarina Of Time is all about the dungeons, and this is where the game shines. Each dungeon is a maze filled with monsters, traps, and puzzles. Each dungeon has its own theme, each dungeon has a special item hidden in it, and each dungeon has a giant monster that must be defeated to get the artifact you came in there for. And most importantly, each dungeon is different. It's a very simple and exciting concept for a videogame. But the game's pace is pretty slow compared to the Super Nintendo classic, Zelda: Link To The Past. Zelda: Ocarina Of Time focuses more on puzzles than on fighting. Many of the puzzles are pretty clever, but some of them seem pointless. For example, one puzzle has you move blocks to form a picture. When you form the picture, the next area is opened magically, for no particular reason. Thankfully, most of the puzzles are logical, and common sense is required to solve them.

However, what spoils this game is the stuff in between the dungeons. When you're not in a dungeon, your goal is to find the next dungeon, of course! But this is more difficult than it seems.

Let me point out that the world in this game, Hyrule, is small, and that's probably because Nintendo 64 cartridges can't hold as much data as a CD can. Anyway, Hyrule consists of a lake, a forest, a desert, a mountain, Hyrule castle itself, and Hyrule Field. Hyrule Field is a large, useless, wide open plain, and it is one of the worst design decisions in any videogame. Hyrule Field is in the middle of Hyrule, while all the other areas surround it. So if you wanted to travel from the forest to the lake, then you'd better get ready for a long trip. It takes minutes to walk across Hyrule Field, and you'll be needing to do that a lot when you're looking for the next dungeon!

To find the dungeons, or sometimes just to gain access to them, you will have to do a lot of walking, and a lot of talking. Certain people in the game will give you vague clues on getting to the next one. Certain dungeons won't even open, or they won't be revealed, unless you find special items, or perform certain tasks. This is one of the most frustrating videogame experiences. Though you might want to keep trying so you can call yourself a true gamer, you just have to ask yourself: Whoever thought this would be fun?

I am aware that you can buy the strategy guide or look up a guide on the internet for help, but that doesn't mean this is a good game. If they were expecting you to use a guide just so you can complete the game, they should have put the information in the game itself, or at least the instruction manual that comes with it. (Though I'm sure that Nintendo, being the greedy company that it is, would love it if you bought the guide).

The game has practically no story, the characters are lame, and the game simply doesn't feel as epic as the Super Nintendo game, Zelda Link To The Past. In fact, the Super Nintendo game is superior in almost every way, except it is 2D instead of 3D. Zelda Ocarina Of Time is an example of a sequel which is worse than the original.
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Summary

Now here is a thought, why do not we introduce our hero Link to a whole new 3D world filled with mind bending puzzles and more items to tinker around. What could possibly happen if this was to occur? The creation of Zelda 64 of course. As long as I have known Nintendo, they are always that innovated company always leaping towards significant changes. Talk about jumping changes, this game differs greatly from its other predecessors with a snap of a finger. I had slight doubts that these changes, from a 2D world to a 3D world, would not work well in the long run. I pondered quite a bit then realized what could go wrong in a Zelda related title. After experiencing the first hour of gameplay, I have to admit that the changes made was definitely a marvelous call. Never have I seen better achievements than the well rendered adventure discovered in Zelda 64.

It was a warm winter day when I traveled to Target to pick up my very own copy of this beautiful cartridge. Thoughts came to mind such as "Will it be more innovative than Zelda from the SNES?" and "Does it live up to the name that we all know it for?" It was ludicrous of me to think of these things, but I remembered the saying, "Never a judge a book by its cover." My mind already set itself to admire this game but then I would have to try it out myself to justify my thoughts. Compared to the the NES, GameBoy, and SNES versions, Zelda 64 was solely different from the rest of the batch. Not for the good, but for the better! This game is one to gawk at with its caliber gameplay, scrutinized to the point of perfection graphics, and its uncanny cast of sprites roaming around the realm of Hyrule. I found nothing minimum about this game at all, every concept and aspect were all emphasized in gargantuan proportions.

Even the setting of the story already fortels a lenghty adventure is ahead waiting to be grasped through the steps of time. It starts off with an introduction of the peaceful land of Hyrule. In this majestic place, everybody worked together as a team; fighting against evil and aiding the weak. One day, the King of Thieves by the name of Ganondorf decided to take drastic measures and has plotted to conquer the land of Hyrule. The only way for him to accomplish his goal is to enter the Sacred Realm and pilfer the mythical Triforce. It is up to Link and his trusty sidekick Navi to thwart Ganondorf's plans or else face his wrath and the destruction of the land. When you think about it, the story may not sound that intriguing but what makes it a real kicker are certain segmented little stories are also included. So not only that you are in the pursuit of stopping this barbarous villain, but also venture in to the lives of others. The story is quite conceivable, smoothe and well thought out.

If you have been a Zelda fan all these years, then this game is a definite recommendation. All of the elements found in previous Zelda games are also included, and with an abundant amount of other innovated features. I cannot fathom how Nintendo was able to pull this one off, but they successfully grasped that achievement with a prevalent smile and a heightened chin. This game is for the likes of everyone whether you play sports related titles or strategy, this game has everything we all desire in video gaming. Buy this game, if this was the only game that was available for the N64, it is worth getting the system for it alone. This calls for my solemnly comment of "Excellent job Nintendo."

Sound

Great sounds all through out. You have your typical boss songs and happy songs, and they are all quite conceivable. The most interesting aspect is the way some noises can be heard from remote areas. So, harken carefully if you want to hear things that you will normally miss if you do not. Noises such as voices and rantings of many enemies roaming about. This just shows that using your ear can also be put to good use.

The musical scores are wonderful. A few songs derived from previous Zelda titles which helps us reminisce about the past. Ah, remembering the past, hmm. Boy, things have significantly changed through out the years. Well, enough talk, try this game out if you have not done so because this is the one that changed video game history; The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time.

Gameplay

This game is mixture of adventure, action, strategy, and every other tid-bits found in other types of gameplay. Zelda 64 may be considered an RPG but it depicts more of a broad view of various genres such as the ones I mentioned. There is so much to take regard and appreciate in this game that even the mini-games have potential of earning their own titles.

Let me introduce the hero Link. With him is the power to thrust swords towards baddies. He can do a variety things with his weapon from piercing forward hastily to spinning in circles inflicting massive damage. By pr