/vr/ - Retro Games

>>9915638
OP is correct. It succeeds practically on all levels. Where it fails it's fan quibbling or it's a comparison to aLttP (and fair enough, what with the issue of dungeon order and the notably empty overworld. However OoTs behemoth stature casts a shadow on its ancestor). It's a whirlwind adventure full of mystery. Mechanistically, it's robust, inventive, sensible, *AND* perfectly in service of an awesome archetypal Hero's Journey.

The particular tight blend of mechanics that Ocarina of Time cinched in its being created has remained such a reliable blueprint for single-player campaign games to come that one can be forgiven for playing through it and *not* realising the genius which they are gazing on. We're talking camera placement, Z-targeting; we're talking the reapplication of lessons learned in 2d game design in a materialised environment - that's gated progression, that's powerups that recast the functional context of the 3d game world - like, for instance, the hookshot - we're talking basic movement feeling so grounded that instead of the iconographic world of aLttP, the player actually feels like they are taking part in a real act. These mechanics are deeply functionally sound, not to mention pioneering in a 3d context, AND well polished, but more than that, they are storytelling blocks as much as the visual design and the narrative scenarios.

That's how thoroughly considered and full of SOVL OoT is. Link goes around liberating people of their ills, and these mechanics are how he does it! You really go and power up your sword through effortful striving, and slash monsters with added agility. But you also really choose a bottle from your item subscreen and carry some potion across the land for somebody's sake. The mechanics, the story concept, game scenarios, the visual design and the soundtrack are in such resonance, in such tandem service of a point, that you can't merely recapture it in a sequel or an inspired-by.

Street Fighter Zero 3
Ocarina of Time
Puyo Puyo Sun
The latest Splatoon (kind of a cheat, but I like the online)

>>8043048
The early games were simple adventures that offered nice and accessible fantasy romps but nowadays there's plenty of better alternatives to Zelda