5. The Legend of Zelda: The Ocarina of Time (1998) – N64
What can be said about this definitive Zelda game that hasn’t been said before? It is, through and through, a masterpiece. For a franchise that holds the torch of quality, Ocarina of Time still burns the brightest, and I doubt we will ever see it abdicated any time soon.
So what makes it great? Ocarina of Time tells one of the most beautiful fantasy stories that the genre has ever known, about a boy born in the Kokiri Forest who is a little different. The population suffers from stunted growth, they fully mature as children, and they are all blessed with a fairy guide to protect them from the forest’s many dangers. Link was born without a guide and, as we will soon learn, he will become a heroic adult.
The story begins as darkness is spreading across the land, although the Kokiri are relatively sheltered, but eventually the plights of the world can no longer be ignored and Link sets off to right some wrongs and restore some peace. You visit a withering old tree who tells you the history of Hyrule, how the three spirits descended upon a barren rock and gave it life, magic, and law. You visit a colony of irritable rock eaters who live in a volcano and are enslaved by demonic forces. After rescuing them you travel to the most beautiful corner of Hyrule: Zora’s Domain. This is the land of water-dwelling fish people who live in and around breathtaking crystalline caverns, lakes, and waterfalls. And yes, you rescue their missing princess from the guts of a cursed giant fish.
There is no end to the creativity that overwhelms every step of your journey. These opening challenges are time-consuming and satisfying, but you will soon learn that this is only the beginning. Link is still too young and too weak to defeat Ganondorf, so he must be safeguarded in the timestream for seven years, only to emerge as the fully grown Hero of Time. This is when the game really opens up. Not only do you explore this sick and dying land as an adult, but many challenges will force you to travel back in time to remedy an impediment that prevents your progress in the present. It’s a wonderful dynamic that really forces you to consider the consequences of your past actions as everything is atoned for in the future.
The ending to Ocarina of Time is also very beautiful. It emphasizes the importance of destiny and sacrifice, over more personal themes such as love and friendship. Link and Zelda never seem destined to be together, but, as the final frames show us, the two young adventurers will forever be linked together by the power of fate.
What can be said about this definitive Zelda game that hasn’t been said before? It is, through and through, a masterpiece. For a franchise that holds the torch of quality, Ocarina of Time still burns the brightest, and I doubt we will ever see it abdicated any time soon.
So what makes it great? Ocarina of Time tells one of the most beautiful fantasy stories that the genre has ever known, about a boy born in the Kokiri Forest who is a little different. The population suffers from stunted growth, they fully mature as children, and they are all blessed with a fairy guide to protect them from the forest’s many dangers. Link was born without a guide and, as we will soon learn, he will become a heroic adult.
The story begins as darkness is spreading across the land, although the Kokiri are relatively sheltered, but eventually the plights of the world can no longer be ignored and Link sets off to right some wrongs and restore some peace. You visit a withering old tree who tells you the history of Hyrule, how the three spirits descended upon a barren rock and gave it life, magic, and law. You visit a colony of irritable rock eaters who live in a volcano and are enslaved by demonic forces. After rescuing them you travel to the most beautiful corner of Hyrule: Zora’s Domain. This is the land of water-dwelling fish people who live in and around breathtaking crystalline caverns, lakes, and waterfalls. And yes, you rescue their missing princess from the guts of a cursed giant fish.
There is no end to the creativity that overwhelms every step of your journey. These opening challenges are time-consuming and satisfying, but you will soon learn that this is only the beginning. Link is still too young and too weak to defeat Ganondorf, so he must be safeguarded in the timestream for seven years, only to emerge as the fully grown Hero of Time. This is when the game really opens up. Not only do you explore this sick and dying land as an adult, but many challenges will force you to travel back in time to remedy an impediment that prevents your progress in the present. It’s a wonderful dynamic that really forces you to consider the consequences of your past actions as everything is atoned for in the future.
The ending to Ocarina of Time is also very beautiful. It emphasizes the importance of destiny and sacrifice, over more personal themes such as love and friendship. Link and Zelda never seem destined to be together, but, as the final frames show us, the two young adventurers will forever be linked together by the power of fate.
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