The upcoming remake of The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time offers a chance for newcomers to experience a seminal title in gaming history. For those who, like the author, missed its original release, this remake serves as a compelling entry point, demonstrating why the 1998 game remains a foundational text for 3D adventures. My two-hour session with the remake, covering Kokiri Forest, Castle Town, and the Forest Temple, revealed not only the game's historical significance but also its continued capacity for delight.
A Legacy of Design
It is widely acknowledged that Nintendo's N64-era titles, particularly Mario 64 and Ocarina of Time, laid crucial groundwork for 3D game design. Rockstar co-founder Dan Houser has stated that any developer of 3D games who claims not to have borrowed from these titles is disingenuous. This sentiment is palpable when exploring the Forest Temple. The dungeon's intricate layout, filled with puzzles that require environmental manipulation and judicious use of acquired items, echoes through subsequent generations of games. Its structure, with interconnected corridors looping back to a central area, is reminiscent of the level design found in titles like Dark Souls, where unlocking shortcuts is key to progression. The temple's puzzle-solving, such as rotating hallways to alter the architecture or using the bow to interact with distant elements, predates mechanics seen in games like Dishonored 2's Clockwork Mansion and even inspired entire games such as Fez.
Combat within the temple, while not overly complex, is engaging. Enemies like sword-and-shield-wielding skeletons demand timed dodges and counter-attacks, showcasing a rhythm that foreshadowed the influential combat systems of the Batman: Arkham series. The boss battle against Phantom Ganon, presented as a puzzle rather than a pure test of reflexes, further emphasizes the game's cerebral approach, aligning with player preferences for enigma-solving seen in bosses from Shadow of the Colossus to Elden Ring.
Modernizing a Classic
A notable addition in the remake is a dedicated jump button. Originally, Link could only hop over predefined gaps, a design choice intended to differentiate Zelda from Super Mario 64 by emphasizing puzzles over action. The inclusion of a jump button aligns the remake's controls with modern Zelda titles like Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom, offering a more fluid and responsive experience in both platforming and combat. The familiar lock-on targeting system, still utilized by Nintendo, contributes to a sense of comfortable familiarity even for a first-time player.
The remake successfully bridges the gap between its historical origins and contemporary expectations. Despite its nearly 30-year-old design principles, the experience feels fresh, imbued with what can only be described as freshly conjured magic. The game's ability to provide moments of discovery, even for someone familiar with its many descendants, is a testament to its enduring inventiveness. The remake's approach to signposting objectives, offering just enough guidance without hand-holding, leads to satisfying 'aha' moments.
Enduring Impact
The influence of Ocarina of Time can be seen not just in subsequent Zelda titles but across the broader adventure game genre. Much like how Jaws continues to influence modern cinema, Ocarina of Time's design DNA is woven into countless games that followed. The remake's launch closely precedes that of Grand Theft Auto 6, marking a serendipitous moment where a foundational 3D open-world exploration game is revisited just as a new era of expansive digital worlds is about to commence. For players like myself who missed the original release, the remake presents an impeccable adventure, leaving a strong desire to experience the full journey. It stands as a digital artifact, not just preserved but revitalized, offering new audiences a chance to uncover a masterpiece that continues to shape the landscape of video games.