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Tuesday 22 January, 2008
SUMMARY
In the first 3 dimensional Legend of Zelda game, you assume control of the hero Link on his quest to save the princess Zelda. The game takes you from dungeon to dungeon, as you acquire more weapons and powers to help you in your quest to defeat Ganondorf, the evil man who has taken control of your land. Can you save the princess and restore Hyrule to safety?
GAMEPLAY
The story of this game is epic. You start as a 7 year old without any weapons, naive and innocent. By the end of the game, you are 14 years old, fully equipped, and a trained fighter. You meet many diverse characters throughout your journey. Zora's, who are like mermaid people that possess great swimming abilities, and Goron's, who are heat resistant rock eating circular beings, aid you in your quest to aid the princess.
You have to complete 3 dungeons as young link, and 5 temples as teenage link. In between these dungeons, there are plenty of things you can do to advance the story along, as well as sidequests to keep you interested. When you reach the end of the game, you learn about the mythology of the made up land of Hyrule, which is pretty interesting. The first time I played this game, I was a little kid, and alot of it went over my head, but playing it again now, I find it really intriguing.
The gameplay is great. It is a great mix between puzzles that require you to think alot, and intense combat situations that require awareness and knowledge of your weapons. Then, the bosses of the dungeons are some combination of the two. It's usually a puzzle to figure out how to attack them. The dungeons are massive. The water temple has been known to take hours to complete, with what seems like an endless number of rooms and challenges to overcome.
Combat is fun, especially when you are further along in the game and have multiple weapons at your disposal. Some of my favorites are the bow and arrow, the two handed biggoron sword, the megaton hammer, and the always handy hookshot. This game is a constant challenge, and is extremely fun to play.
DESIGN
Considering that this game is nearly 10 years old, the graphics are extremely impressive for it's time. It is a long game, with lots of locations and characters, and it looks pretty realistic and smooth. The fighting animation is seamless and not awkward at all.
The innovative elements of this game are endless. When you consider how old this game is, and then think back to all the other games you've played since then, it's hard to find a game that isn't influenced by Zelda. Portal, Assassin's Creed, and other games all draw aspects from the gold standard of video gaming. Some switches can only be activated by certain weapons. Some gaps can only be crossed with the right type of clothing. So many things are hidden, or can only be activated by certain sequences of action, that the game is endlessly challenging and fun.
Also, the open world concept is incredibly innovative. You aren't funneled from dungeon to dungeon, but rather you are allowed to take as long as you want. You can go off and complete side quests, cut grass, play mini games, or just ride your horse. This allows you to explore the world completely, interact with every character, and find an endless number of things to keep you entertained. Chances are, there is something about this game you will like.
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