We're talking about a game that was first released in 1998. I'm going to spare you gameplay-specific details because you've probably played it already. In case you haven't, I suggest you Google it for the details, but you should at least know this: The original was critically acclaimed as the greatest game ever, and many believe it still is. The game also introduced many gameplay mechanics used to this day.
I never really played the original. I never owned a N64, and when I finally found someone to lend me one (I think the owner already had a GameCube) I decided I'd just watch as my wife played it. You see, she's not much of a gamer, but when she likes a game, she gets very OCD about it, and she doesn't mind spoiling the game for others. Hell, she doesn't even mind spoiling it for herself. But I did watch the whole thing, even the obsessive gold skulltula hunting.
As I recall, the N64 graphics were always ugly, I guess the system's much hyped antialiasing only served to make everything look like a nauseating blur. But the game wasn't particularly famous for its graphics, sound or special effects. It was simply a great game. It had lots of fun things to do, and that magic that only Shigeru Miyamoto can produce. Another thing that made the game very memorable was the music. The Lost Woods theme is even catchier than the Super Mario Bros. 2 theme (Tetris theme B still reigns supreme, though)!
The game was fun enough I was satisfied watching someone else play it, only pitching in on occasion to help solve a particularly tough puzzle.
Now, if I tell you, "they took the greatest game ever, updated the graphics and frame rate, added touchscreen menus, motion-sensing controls and high-res, widescreen, three freaking dee graphics!" it would be a pretty simple way to sell it to you. But was it as simple as that? No not really.
I really want to tell you this is a perfect game. But there are a couple things they didn't get right. I tend to leave what I didn't like for the end but I figure that might leave you with a negative impression, and I really want you to want this game, so I'll start with that.
I think one of the things I didn't particularly love was how the game was ported over to a handheld. Forget the graphics, sound or controls. A handheld game needs a certain degree of accessibility if it is to be played on the go. They went through all the trouble of adding the sheikah stones (or n00b stones as those of us who grew up on Halo call 'em) but they couldn't add an auto save function? You have to remember to save your game every once in a while, which truly shows this is a game from the nineties, and then when you load the game you always start on the same place, and have to walk all the way back to where you were to continue.
This is only a mild annoyance, the game actually has an advantage over the console in that when you close the system it goes to sleep mode, but what if my battery power runs out, or I drop my 3Ds and the cartridge pops out?
Regarding the 3D effect I think it is fantastic. Let me give you a few in-game examples. When you go to Lake Hylia and head towards the scarecrows, it will happen that you will be running then Link will jump and roll because there is a sudden drop you didn't see. This doesn't happen in 3D. You can see the fluctuations on the ground even when the texture and shading is identical throughout. This is particularly useful when riding, as Epona doesn't like that kind of jumps. When the princess drops the namesake instrument in the moat, it took my wife about 5 tries to get it because she couldn't quite line herself up; this doesn't happen in 3D because you can tell exactly where it is at the bottom.
The only problem with the effect is that at times you can feel the camera slightly focusing back and forth when you stand still in awkward positions, and sometimes the camera wobbles when going up stairs which can be dizzying when the 3D is on.
The game also features gyroscopic controls, specifically used to move the camera about and to aim long-ranged weapons, much like in Face Raiders. I find this absolutely brilliant. Just aim and shoot! There is one problem though; the same Face Raiders has: moving the system is tricky when playing in 3D.
So you have three options for aiming:
- Disable 3D and aim with the gyroscope by slightly skewing the system.
- Disable the gyroscopes and aim with the analog nub in 3D.
- Hold the system like you're playing Face Raiders, and rotate your entire body when aiming in 3D
I still can't understand why they couldn't just have an option to have the 3D temporarily disabled while gyroscoping! If you've ever fired a weapon you may have noticed one tends to shut one eye anyway. Just add a neat "blink" transition effect and bingo!
Now regarding the graphics, this is where the grievances end. To me the game is beautiful. Sure, the polygon count is almost the same as the original (in order to conserve the gameplay geometry) but the graphics are still beautiful. They smoothed and redid the textures so everything just pretty even up close.
No, you can't count the hairs on link's head. No, you can't see up his nostrils. No, you can't smell the grass. But what you see is still really pretty (except for some of the NPCs). The nasty anti-aliasing is gone. The frame rate is smooth. The colors are dreamy. Just staring at the sky, the sunset, the moon, the stars and the sunrise is magical. If you hear someone telling you the graphics are outdated, please smack 'em on the back of the head and tell them 201d said to STFU.
Then there's the fact that it's now widescreen and almost all of the data from the HUD has been moved to the bottom screen.
Speaking of which, another innovation is the touchscreen controls. These are pure genius. They took the original's cumbersome pause menus and put them on the bottom screen. While playing you will see the area map, and you can tap different "tabs" to pause the game and bring out the different menus from the original, which have been slightly improved. On the GEAR menu you can switch swords, shields and tunics, plus it shows the different key items you've earned (stones, medallions, etc.). On the MAP screen you can change floors and see some extra map information. On the ITEMS menu you see all other usable or equippable items. Note that boots are now selected on the ITEMS menu, rather than GEAR menu, so they can be assigned to a button to be changed on the fly (making the Water Temple 98% easier).
Just like in the original you can bind items to buttons that do not have a set function. This time around B is your sword button, A is the context button, L is for... uh... "L Targeting” and R is for the shield. That leaves Y and X to customize, plus they added two icons on the touchscreen right next to the buttons that you can also customize. On the opposite corners of the screen there’s a "camera" icon and an icon permanently bound to your ocarina.
It would have been nice if they implemented some of the 3DS' features such as StreetPass, but they would probably feel tacked-on or entirely disrupt the balance of the game, so at the same time I'm glad they didn't.
In general the game is loads of fun and certainly still relevant. If you noticed, all my complaints were regarding things that could have been added. Nothing was changed for the worse, nothing was taken away. So those 100 out of 100 reviews it got back then still apply here. If you've played the original, buy if or the nostalgia, if you haven’t, buy it because you're missing out on the greatest game ever.
