It's hard to dislike this game since it reminds me so much of Medievil (my favorite PS1 game). The levels were fun and really enjoyable, none overstayed their welcome. Movement felt perfect for a 3D platformer. Gameplay was varied, one minute you'll be fighting skeletons on foot, the next youll be riding a minecart or a boat. Really helped the game stay fresh. The art direction is insanely good, with each level having a distinct feel and style. The 4th wall breaking sense of humor was funny. The music, especially the graveyard level, straight from Medievil. Not a long game but it's a game that will be fondly remembered by me.

Now, the negatives. Like I said before, the 4th wall breaking sense of humor was great but it did get tiring after a while considering EVERY character talks that way. I felt like most of the boss fights had the same mechanics (even though the boss designs were super good). ALSO FOR THE LOVE OF GOD STOP MAKING ME READ DIALOGUE WHILE IM IN THE MIDDLE OF A BOSS FIGHT OR NEEDING TO DODGE ATTACKS.

I never had a Nintendo 64 growing up so I never got the play the 3D Zelda games many fans consider "The Classics" when they released. I always knew I wanted to go back and play them, though.

Fast forward to today, I finally sat down and gave this game a playthrough...

I've gotta say, this game perfectly highlights what Nintendo does well. The quirky cast of characters, the interesting story with a big twist near the end, the unique fun dungeons (that actually feel like dungeons) full of puzzles, traps, and monsters. Then, at the end you are rewarded with a badass boss fight, each one with their own mechanics you have to learn to defeat them. Nothing overly complex, just enough to give your brain that little "Ah-ha" moment.

The traveling back and forth between time left a big impact on me. I kept thinking about it. Not only because it's a big part of the story but also because the first time you travel back to the past you hear the happy music playing again, happy characters dancing in the castle courtyard. Almost like, when you are a kid, you have no worries, everything is great, you are oblivious to the world, just a stupid, happy little kid. But, as you get older, you have a different perspective on the world, things start to change, and you find yourself longing for the past.

Playing Ocarina of Time in 2023 as an adult gives a whole new meaning to Zeldas' last words to Link...

"Now, go home, Link. Regain your lost time! Home... where you are supposed to be. The way you are supposed to be."

Don't we all want to go home, Zelda. Don't we all...