Blatant Fanboyism

Gameplay, the rudiment of a game, the essence of its being, the very foundation of fun, has no greater example than Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time. The game perfectly melds storytelling, role-playing and puzzle play into an action-adventure. Using little more than an edited version of the Super Mario 64 engine, (primitive software by modern standards,) Nintendo EAD developed a game widely regarded as the best game of all time.

The game follows the young or younger antagonist, Link, on his adventure through Hyrule. The 3D world, presented through a third-person view, gives the player a constant stream of information, allowing players to react to the constantly evolving gameplay decisions that must be made. Ocarina of Time offers players more than a game; it offers an interactive adventure, allowing players the freedom to explore and make decisions, while maintaining the premise of a critical path.

Unfortunately, it’s likely that a game with the same effect as Ocarina of Time will never be made again. The underlying technologies behind the game were a novelty at the time of the game’s launch, permanently ingraining itself in all of its loyal player’s minds, because it gave them a level of freedom that gamers have become so accustomed to, that now it’s expected. The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time, has undeniably established itself as a key turn point in game history.