Zelda 3DSIncluded among the free 3ds games that we’re telling you how to access is Ocarina of Time 3DS, so we figured we’d take the chance to review it.  While the review may not be as important as if you had to spend $39.99 on the game, we still feel it’s worthwhile to help you decide if it’s worth the time to invest into a game that you’ve likely already played.

My all-time favorite Nintendo DS title is Mario 64 DS.  Playing that game again, years later, on a handheld device and reliving the experience was incredible.  I had forgotten how many great things the game did, how many cool locations there were that I used to love, and how much fun I’d had with the game.

With the 3DS, Nintendo is taking a similar approach of trying to hook gamers by letting them replay an old classic that will undoubtedly bring back great memories.  It may seem weak that the system’s “killer app” is a simple port of a 10+ year old game, but it worked with Mario 64 and Ocarina of Time is one of the few games that can stand up to that one.  Given how much I loved the Mario 64 port and given that Ocarina of Time was one of my favorite games growing up, it goes without saying that I was very excited about the idea of playing Ocarina of Time 3DS, and I was not disappointed.

When I said OoT3DS was a “port”, I probably wasn’t doing it justice.  It’s not so much a port as it is a re-make.  While the gameplay still feels the same, and there’s not really much in the way of new content, the graphics have been completely rebuilt.  Yes, it’s true, the handheld version of the game actually looks significantly better than the old console version of the game you probably played on the Nintendo 64.  The devs said that their goal was to make OoT3DS looks like the OoT concept art that they were initially working with on the n64 version, but were limited in creating due to the limitations of the console.  I would say that they’ve done a remarkable job in meeting that goal, minus a few face palm inducing moments where things were clearly overlooked that shouldn’t have been (stairs still look like ramps with lines on them, for instance).

Upgraded graphics probably aren’t the reason that you’re interested in the game.  You’re here to find out how the 3D effect in the game works, and I’m here to tell you that it works very good.  Like most successful 3D media, OoT3DS works well because it doesn’t throw the 3D effect in your face every five seconds.  They didn’t alter the game to have spiders jumping out at your face or anything like that.  Rather, the 3D effect supplements the rest of the game, and it does it quite nicely.  My only complaint with the use of 3D in the game is that they didn’t really plan out a way to use it when you use the gyroscope to aim your projectile weapons (slingshot, bow and arrow, grappling hook, etc).  In order to use the gyroscope you have to move your 3DS around, and that breaks the 3D effect since you are no longer in the “sweet spot” for the effect to work properly.  Still though, the gyroscope aiming can be disabled, and other than that the game looks very, very good.

Story-wise, the game is exactly the same as it was before.  Nothing has been changed with the story or the plot or the items or anything like that.  The only new additions are a throwaway mode called gauntlet mode, which lets you repeatedly battle the games bosses and try to beat your time.  Master Mode returns from the original, allowing you to play through a slightly tweaked, more difficult version of the game.  It’s definitely worth a playthrough for any Zelda purist that has to experience all things Zelda.

All in all, Ocarina of Time 3DS is the best game out on the 3DS so far, which should surprise no one.  Nintendo has struggled to get good software out alongside the system but it’s a good thing they planned on following the success of the Mario 64 remake, because this game makes the system worth owning all on its lonesome.

Tagged with: • • • •

Filed under: 3DS Games

Like this post? Subscribe to my RSS feed and get loads more!