Is Nintendo's masterpiece still as amazing as it was 13 years ago?

Let's get it out of the way right now: The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time is the greatest game of all time. It did so much for the industry when it was released in 1998 -- it offered players a vast, 3D world to explore, cutting edge visuals, and a revolutionary targeting system. Ocarina of Time is the blueprint for most third person action/adventure games released today.

13 years later, Nintendo and co-developer Grezzo remade Link's legendary adventure for the Nintendo 3DS handheld.

It's the same core game that released for the Nintendo 64; every iconic moment is fundamentally the same, only the game looks superb this time around. Every texture, animation, and environment has been totally revamped. Not only that, but the 3D effect is stunning. The game has plenty of depth, and particle effects actually fly out of the screen at the player. Very immersive.

The gameplay has remained largely unchanged from 1998, with a few exceptions. Z-targeting is now L-targeting, and it works just like it did in the original game. Combat does feel a bit stale compared to the newer Zelda games, but it's still funny to see games released now that don't have a lock-on system and camera system comparable to Ocarina of Time's.

There are a few changes that make a major difference this time around. Inventory and maps are displayed on the touch screen, and everything is only a tap away, Items can be equipped to the X or Y face buttons, and there are two virtual buttons for addition equipment. This means that the Iron Boots can be placed in any of the four buttons, virtual or not.

Ocarina of Time has some of the best dungeons in the series, and Ocarina of Time 3D recaptures everything brilliantly. After completing the main game, players will unlock Master Quest, which features much harder dungeons than the original adventure did. Master Quest in Ocarina of Time 3D is also mirrored (like Twilight Princess Wii), giving it a bit of freshness -- I actually got lost in Kokiri Forest since everything was flipped around.

Ocarina of Time 3D is a faithful remake to the greatest game of all time. If you're one of the few who hasn't experienced this amazing game, now is the time.

Score: 9.5/10

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