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3DS

North America

The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time 3D

by Neal Ronaghan - June 17, 2011, 10:00 am EDT
Total comments: 36

9.5

It's like a fuzzy memory with a beautiful new shine.

Scroll down to the bottom for a video review.

Judging The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time 3D is a challenge. How exactly do you evaluate one of the greatest games of all time nearly 13 years after it first came out? One way is to just put the important information into two quantifiable sentences. If you've never played Ocarina of Time before, this is a must purchase. If you ever get the feeling that you want to replay Ocarina of Time again, you should play this version, because it is the definitive version of the first 3D Zelda, and even when compared to modern games, it is very much a fantastic game from start to finish.

The big changes in this game are the stereoscopic 3D and improved graphics. Nearly every aspect of the game has been lovingly altered, looking more like a modern game than a 13-year-old Nintendo 64 game. The frame rate is great, and while some characters look better than others, Link especially, nothing looks bad or out of place. The whole world is cohesive. The 3D isn't necessary, but it certainly looks beautiful. The particle effects, particularly in areas such as Kokiri Forest, are spectacular, and the moments where you fall from great distances, such as when you jump into the water in Zora's Domain, are exhilarating.





The gameplay is unaltered, so everything you remember is more or less exactly the same. You still control Link in the third person and take him on a quest spanning seven years and numerous towns and dungeons. However, all of these locations are graphically enhanced, and are no longer flat backgrounds. The pace for the 20 hours plus game rarely sags, and you'll continue to see new areas, even in the final hours. Though, if you've played it before, you'll easily beat the game in less than that.

The few changes to the game make the experience a lot easier and streamlined. The touch screen is used as an inventory screen, and you can have two items mapped to the X and Y buttons, in addition to two more mapped to easily tappable touch screen buttons. The optional gyro controls for the first-person view are, surprisingly, wonderful. They are very useful for fine-tuning your aim and the slower-paced segments of the game. Certain areas of the game, specifically the Water Temple, have a few changes to make the level easier to navigate. At the end of the day, though, if a portion of the game annoyed you in the original version, it'll annoy you now.

The best change to the game, in my eyes, is the new Zelda version of the Super Guide. You can access visions that give you a hint of what to do next but don't specifically tell you what to do. It's very nice to have access to a spoiler-free walkthrough of sorts available in game, and it was indispensable for portions of the game I didn't remember as clearly. The implementation is so good, every other game from this point forward would benefit from using this system for the Super Guide.

Ocarina of Time 3D also includes Master Quest, which was featured in the bonus disc for The Legend of Zelda: Wind Waker. Unfortunately, it is locked when you first play the game, and is only available after you beat the regular game once. There are a few more changes to Master Quest in this game, though. It's now mirrored, so Link is a righty like he was in the Wii version of Twilight Princess, and the enemies do more damage, making it more difficult.





Lastly, there is a Boss Challenge mode that tasks you with completing bosses as quickly as you can. As far as I could discern, there doesn't seem to be any tangible reward other than "you beat Gohma in 45 seconds!" There are a lot of Easter eggs scattered throughout the game, including some references to Link's upcoming Wii adventure. It's nothing more than fan service, but it's rewarding to uncover these treats.

Ocarina of Time was an amazing game when it first came out in 1998, and in 2011, it's still just as good, even more so with all the additions and tweaks in the 3D version. If you've never played Ocarina of Time before, run out and buy this immediately. If you're intimately familiar with the game, there's nothing too new in this version to pull you in, though if you ever get the urge to play it again, Ocarina of Time 3D lets you experience all your wonderful memories with a brand new modern feel.

Summary

Pros
  • Nice interface changes
  • Still excellent after all these years
  • Super Guide is a great addition
  • Wonderful graphical upgrade
Cons
  • Light on extra content
  • Master Quest unavailable at start

Talkback

PaleMike Gamin, Contributing EditorJune 17, 2011

So intensely lame that Master Quest is locked until finishing the entire original game once....


:(

Killer_Man_JaroTom Malina, Associate Editor (Europe)June 17, 2011

Great job on the video review. The text was delivered well and the footage was edited very professionally. It's much appreciated, especially considering the difficulties in capturing 3DS games. Are there any devices out there that are capable of doing it?

As for my stance towards this game, I've decided that I'll pick it up once the price drops to the £10-£20 range.

abeJune 17, 2011

awesome but I don't want to play through this game for the 3rd time, especially when it's the original one enhanced as opposed to master quest which is the one I haven't played

abeJune 17, 2011

Quote from: Pale

So intensely lame that Master Quest is locked until finishing the entire original game once....


:(

my words exactly

AdrockJune 17, 2011

It took Nintendo 4 and a half years to drop the price of Twilight Princess. Good luck with that wait.

Kind of lame that Master Quest is locked. Ocarina of Time isn't that difficult. I haven't played it in years, if I had a 3DS, I'd relish in playing through it again.

RizeDavid Trammell, Staff AlumnusJune 17, 2011

Abe: are you saying that the Master Quest port doesn't have the graphical upgrades of the original version?

That is nuts.  That greatly reduces it's value.

apdudeJune 17, 2011

I'm almost ready to give in and play this game which has been highly touted by almost everyone I've heard. 

If you've never played a Zelda game since "a link to the past" is it worth buying the 3DS now (which I'll probably buy eventually anyway) just to play it?

gbuellGrant Buell, Staff WriterJune 17, 2011

Quote from: Rize

Abe: are you saying that the Master Quest port doesn't have the graphical upgrades of the original version?

That is nuts.  That greatly reduces it's value.

I'm pretty sure that's not the case.

Quote from: gbuell

Quote from: Rize

Abe: are you saying that the Master Quest port doesn't have the graphical upgrades of the original version?

That is nuts.  That greatly reduces it's value.

I'm pretty sure that's not the case.

It's not.

SilverQuilavaJune 17, 2011

One of the very first games I've ever played.  Man. times. have. changed.

UltimatePartyBearJune 17, 2011

I never actually finished the Master Quest on that bonus disc.  I mostly remember the hilarious use of cows in Jabu Jabu's belly and that more than half the Fire Temple was still unexplored when I reached the boss.  Then I think I lost interest.

I'm tempted by this game, but I don't think I'm forty dollars tempted.  That price point does not bode well for the future of my 3DS library.

mr_lakituJune 17, 2011

For once, it feels good to live in the UK  ;D  Worth the wait my US friends.

RazorkidJune 17, 2011

For me, I feel very fortunate in not having played this game since it came out 13 years ago.  I only have vague memories of certain boss fights, a few areas (like sneaking into the castle and escaping Gerudo Village), and some of the music.


This is a day one purchase for me and it's going to be good playing this game again for the first time after 13 years.

KeyBillyJune 17, 2011

I found MQ to be pretty sloppy when I played it on Gamecube.  About the same difficulty, but not as much though put into the dungeons.  I wonder if think the same when I play it again, which I will likely do because a birthday is coming up and I don't know what else to ask for.

BeautifulShyJune 17, 2011

Was this your guys first video review for the site? I don't seem to remember any before this...

Conduit 2 and MDK2 preceded this one.

CraigJune 17, 2011

Great review. I played Zelda 64 to death when it first came out (I even got all the gold skulltulas). Although I'm kind of on the fence about getting the game, I'll probably pick it up. It's been a while so I'm sure I've forgotten a lot of the puzzles and the updated graphics and easter eggs sound exciting.
Am I the only one that didn't find the Water Temple that annoying? I remember it being really hard, but it never really annoyed me.

Quote from: Killer_Man_Jaro

It's much appreciated, especially considering the difficulties in capturing 3DS games. Are there any devices out there that are capable of doing it?

I believe only Nintendo has created a 3DS capture device. I know that Gamespot recently acquired one of the devices from Nintendo.

After watching that excellent video, I must say I'm shocked how much better the game looks. There can be no question that I'm buyin' this now.

CericJune 17, 2011

Quote from: apdude

I'm almost ready to give in and play this game which has been highly touted by almost everyone I've heard. 

If you've never played a Zelda game since "a link to the past" is it worth buying the 3DS now (which I'll probably buy eventually anyway) just to play it?

If you are going to go ahead and eventually buy a 3DS and if this is the definitive version as Neal has said, which I'll take his word on it.  Then by all means buy a 3DS and this game.  It is good enough to leap in for if you have never played it.  Also pick up a copy of WW after you beat it, GCN Zelda game.

SeacorJune 18, 2011

Quote from: Killer_Man_Jaro

Great job on the video review. The text was delivered well and the footage was edited very professionally. It's much appreciated, especially considering the difficulties in capturing 3DS games. Are there any devices out there that are capable of doing it?

Yes, Gamespot has aquired a capture device.
http://www.gamespot.com/shows/now-playing/?event=now_playing_zelda_ocarina_of_time_3d20110615

45 seconds to beat Gohma... Really :P

KDR_11kJune 18, 2011

I played through roughly half the game before losing interest on the GC. Still undecided if I want to pick this up.

PicoliJune 18, 2011

My local Walmart (Auburn, AL, USA) was selling this game yesterday.  Apparently they missed the memo that it wasn't out yet.

CericJune 18, 2011

My Son saw The linked Gamespot Video and know wants this game but, I have it for N64 and the Disc for it from WW.  He's 3... but on the flipside ine 3 years when he can actually sort of play it I doubt the price would have dropped.

SheckyJune 19, 2011

Quote:

Certain areas of the game, specifically the Water Temple, have a few changes to make the level easier to navigate. At the end of the day, though, if a portion of the game annoyed you in the original version, it'll annoy you now.

Curious as to what they could have changed (well... perhaps throwing in an extra key since I think most folks got annoyed finding one of them.)  Any elaboration on this?

CyrianJune 19, 2011

Wow, they didn't even bother with a real instruction booklet this time, just a fold out poster.  Lovely. 

CericJune 20, 2011

Quote from: Cyrian

Wow, they didn't even bother with a real instruction booklet this time, just a fold out poster.  Lovely. 

Honestly booklets are becoming more and more waste of paper.  When was the last time you had to read a booklet to know how a game controlled and they didn't just do that in the game?

ThePermJune 21, 2011

if they drop booklets, they should just include art

CericJune 21, 2011

Quote from: ThePerm

if they drop booklets, they should just include art

Agree.  Also I like the idea of the alternative cover on the back or the original one.

Quote:

At the end of the day, though, if a portion of the game annoyed you in the original version, it'll annoy you now.

http://i.imgur.com/ohUDo.jpg

RazorkidJune 21, 2011

Quote from: MegaByte

Quote:

At the end of the day, though, if a portion of the game annoyed you in the original version, it'll annoy you now.

http://i.imgur.com/ohUDo.jpg

Brilliant  ;D !

CaterkillerMatthew Osborne, Contributing WriterJune 21, 2011

Man I love that owl now! In the original I could never make out it's face, well now I can see what it looks like without trying to pull a magic eye.

gbuellGrant Buell, Staff WriterJune 21, 2011

HA! I still can't believe "No" is the default option. I can't tell you how many times I accidentally selected it.

GoldenPhoenixJune 22, 2011

Ok, I recall Nintendo mentioning there is one track that is orchestrated. Which one was it?

I heard it was likely the ending credits, but haven't received confirmation.

WahJuly 31, 2013

I absolutely love this remake and it's new sexy textures, also love this sound its my ringtone:

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3DS

Game Profile

The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time 3D Box Art

Genre Action
Developer Nintendo
Players1

Worldwide Releases

na: The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time 3D
Release Jun 19, 2011
PublisherNintendo
RatingEveryone 10+
jpn: The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time 3D
Release Jun 16, 2011
PublisherNintendo
RatingAll Ages
eu: The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time 3D
Release Jun 17, 2011
PublisherNintendo
Rating12+
aus: The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time 3D
Release Jun 30, 2011
PublisherNintendo
RatingGeneral
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