For those that were following the game's development, the build-up was all part of the experience. We remember foraging for information from all the usual magazines and getting sucked into the hype more so than any game that came before, or has in fact come since. Looking at the old screenshots and you can see elements that would appear in the final product, but a lot of was indistinguishable from what we eventually received.
Many people will remember the brown hair of Link (before going blonde) and a lot of the environments were bland, with perhaps a house and some chickens in the distance. Not surprising when you consider the early status the game was at in some of these previews. When the game was almost upon us, anticipation was sky high and during one moment, sitting in front of the TV made us explode with glee.Some people may remember the legendary advert that was shown. Complete with quick cuts and dramatic music, it was one of the best game ads we've ever seen. Of course the final couple of lines ("will thou get the girl... or play like one") became quite famous as it resulted in it being pulled because apparently girl gamers aren't as bad as Nintendo thought. Then the reviews started flooding in. The sight of 10/10 or 98% werent uncommon and the word "flawless" was also regularly used. It's just a shame that some people couldn't even get their hands on a copy.
It was the biggest N64 game to date and naturally stores were unable to meet the demand. It was especially awful for those wanting it for Christmas, as after the initial shipment, stores were slowly drip fed new copies rather than a second surge. For those that did manage to acquire a copy, they were in for one of the greatest gaming experiences ever.Unwrapping the game and slowly placing it in the cartridge slot never felt so powerful. Then the console was turned on and you were greeted by Link riding his horse (Epona) over some beautiful landscape. We could've just stared at this screen for ages, but Hyrule needed saving. The opening sequence of Navi your helpful fairy companion sweeping through Kokiri Village was an outstanding welcome to this new world. After this, everything became a blur of beauty and it's difficult to piece together each moment in chronological order - so lets pick out some of the most memorable of moments.
Dungeons were always an important part of the Zelda saga and while the Water Temple is the most infamous due to it having a love/hate relationship with many people, it also had some of the best: the excellent beginner's guide of the Deku Tree, the majesty of the Forest Temple and the weirdness of Jabu Jabu's belly. It may have catapulted Link into a 3D world for the very first time, but it also felt exactly like it would if it'd been in 2D. The same old items could be found (along with new ones), boss encounters were fantastic and puzzles would often reflect what came before. But what a difference the 3D made.While there was no speech, apart from a few grunts and groans, cut scenes were played beautifully. Freeing Epona from Lon Lon Ranch so you could finally ride him across the hub world of Hyrule Field brought with it an excellent cut scene. Then there was the final battle; staying with Link through this lengthy adventure meant you needed to see it through to the end, and you needed to finally defeat the evil Ganondorf once and for all. Thus began the best final boss you'll ever see, with a final form that would shock many.
We're nearing the end of this celebration and there's still so much more we can talk about. What about the music? Excellent tunes throughout completely encapsulate the environment you're exploring, with the only let down being the lack of classic Zelda theme, something Majora's Mask corrected. And we haven't even touched on the scope of the game - you'll find yourself pretty much tripping over side missions. These don't have to be completed, but you'll want to anyway just to stretch out the time you spend in Hyrule, because if you're like us, you won't want the game to end.
As far as Zelda games go, Ocarina of Time has yet to be overtaken. While some will disagree, most cant argue that this was the most influential in the entire series. Proof that the series could be transferred to the (then) next generation without problems. Now, with Nintendo dipping more and more in the casual market, it raises the question of whether Twilight Princess was the last time we'll see a console version of the series in its current guise. We're seriously hoping not.Happy birthday, Ocarina of Time.
To read an earlier Gamestyle feature on the game cart shortages please click here.
