Return to the Forest
One of the best things that OoT has been praised for over the past ten years is its story: a compelling, battle-weary struggle to rescue Hyrule and its people from Ganondorf. In several titles prior and later, the Zelda series has touched on saving the world, but it has more often than not focused solely on Princess Zelda as a catalyst for this. Not so here. As Link departs the Temple of Time, a dark reality set in on the player as they discover the happy, light-filled land from the Child Arc has changed a lot in seven years. Darkness reigns, monsters roam the world, and all that which we spent the Child Arc trying to prevent has come true. All within a blink of an eye to Link, but seven weary years to the people. And boy have they changed…
Despite very clearly being a girl, Malon communicates in a manner thick-headed Link can understand.
For starters, all of the people of Hyrule have become much more developed. As a child, most were snobby to Link and disliked him because of his strange clothes or his youth. Now they view him as an equal. Now that I could do all the cool things that adults can do (again, not what you’re thinking, perverts) I set out for Lon Lon Ranch to rescue Epona and the beautiful Malon from Ingo through a horserace. However, being rusty on the old controller, I’m afraid I lost, so to drown my sorrows I went to Kakariko instead and grabbed the Hookshot from Dampé before setting off back to Kokiri Forest.
I’ve said before that Miyamoto relates more to the land of Hyrule than its people, and that is why he has sent us home first, to view the damage from Ganondorf’s reign in the very first parts of the game we explored. Like everything else in the game, the difficulty has steeped up significantly, as I discovered when I entered my first temple, the Forest Temple, and proceeded to fight my way through the dark and gritty dungeon. The puzzle in it, one with four Poes, is one that I have noticed in several other Zelda games such as Phantom Hourglass and Twilight Princess, which really goes to show how much this game has influenced its successors. Interestingly enough, this dungeon was the one I gave up on as a child first playing this on the N64. I tried getting through it, failed, and popped in Banjo-Kazooie. But this time I blazed through with few problems, most of which were caused by the erroneous hour that I am awake at attempting to finish this review. Oi, I need a drink real quick… we’ll continue the next section in a few minutes.
Oh, and there’s probably some sort of symbolism in Saria being the Sage, Link having to let her stay to accept her new responsibilities, and thus accepting his own, but it’s lost to me because I am struggling to keep my eyes open. Where’s the caffeine?
Oh, almost forgot this one point: there’s a part just after the Forest Temple where Link meets the Deku Tree Sprout. Now, in between Link’s origin story I noticed something really odd. Specifically, the fact that the light that left the Deku Tree’s Grove had returned with the Sprout. Now, while that might seem like an obvious event to take place, think again about its meaning. The Great Deku Tree’s death at the beginning of the game signified the end of the life Link knew as a Kokiri and the end of his childhood, which was represented by the graying of the Deku Tree in its death throes. Conversely, the light returning with the Sprout marks the beginning of Link’s life as a Hylian adult and as the Hero of Time. It also represents the return of good in the presence of the evil Ganondorf had been sowing since before the beginning of the game.
Think about it.
In-No-Way-Legal Saria playing her ocarina and taunting us with her incredibly designed pixels.
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November 21st, 2008 at 7:56 pm
hey does anybody remember sinister? no? ok well I’m back and as the name I left suggests I’m going through some “changes” well I will be some time within six months (hmm wonder why I just did that…. oh well…) if anyone thinks they are like me respond to this comment and I’ll get back to you, now then that I’ve weirded a few people out I beleive I can speak for all those individuals of this generation within the community I have entered is that ocarina of time is certainly one of the best video games ever made I’d say second to final fantasy seven and if noone agrees with that I can assure you that sephiroth with the triforce is the most terrifying thing imaginable, though don’t get me wrong ganondorf is an ok villain, and honestly I don’t know who is a better hero in comparing link and cloud.
November 21st, 2008 at 7:57 pm
Best game ever made, end of story. Also the game that gave inspiration to the creation of this very website.
November 21st, 2008 at 10:45 pm
Ah, OoT brings so many childhood memories… Best game ever, not only in terms of sentimental value. The storyline and everything, it boarders perfection. Oh how I wish Nintendo would make a remake of this game with graphics in TP style.
This review is made of pure win, and I admire you for managing to stay awake for so long! But I should also thank you for writing this. It brought back many, many good memories. OoT will last forever.
November 21st, 2008 at 11:23 pm
IMPORTANT!!!!!!
the u.s. naruto website is going to start showing dubbed episodes of naruto shippuuden in january!!!!!!
November 22nd, 2008 at 5:17 pm
A beautifully written tribute to a great video game. As I said commenting on Lefty’s article, I was only four when OoT was released so the first time I played it it wasn’t as difficult as older gamers will remember. Still, it captivated me and entertained me, and it’s one of the best damn games I’ve ever played.
And kate: What???
November 22nd, 2008 at 6:21 pm
so? we’re talking about OoT here, not naruto episodes.
November 22nd, 2008 at 6:39 pm
you know what would be great?
ocarina of time DS
come on they did it for ff iv and soon v as expected and as someone in the game hints at so in other words… please nintendo, ocarina DS and maybe majora’s mask or… a link to the past… with ocarina of time’s graphics on the DS… oh so many ideas… (insert maniacle feminine laughter… stupid male form…)
November 22nd, 2008 at 7:50 pm
Barinade’s a tumor, not Jabu-Jabu’s brain.
Great review, though I really think you should have done this in advance so you wouldn’t lose sleep and have to rush this.
November 24th, 2008 at 10:25 pm
Ah, Pfft.
Wind Waker and Twilight Princess were better.
November 25th, 2008 at 2:35 am
HERESY!!!!! I beleive this speacks for anyone who reads your comment, pfft? PFFT? tww is paled in comparison to ocarina now though my ranting may suggest otherwise I actually do have a life so I will not argue and let the other old school gamers rip you into peices (insert maniacle feminine laughter…. stupid male body)
November 26th, 2008 at 12:23 am
I just finished reading the review, and I thought it was very detailed and insightful! I used to play OoT when I was little, and reading this brought back a lot of memorable moments, like the death of the Great Deku Tree. Kudos for you! I would also like to note that your humour and extensive use of vocabulary was top-notch! As for the person who said “Pfft”, I’m going to shred you into pieces!!1!!!
November 26th, 2008 at 1:15 am
nicely done andy… ha ha ha (insert maniacle feminine laughter… stupid male body…)…. (yes that is sort of my thing….)
December 2nd, 2008 at 2:50 pm
This was a great game, and a great review. The only thing I feel you looked over was the story of the creation of Hyrule. That cinematic was, for me, the point of no return. I have, since about 2 years of age, romped in the lands of Hyrule. However, up until this point, it was just a virtual place on my tv screen. I loved it, don’t get me wrong. I have always been in love with Hyrule, but after seeing the creation. The care the goddesses took to make everything, and their selves that they gave up to give it the life they so desired was immensely immersive for me. The fact that Miyamoto, and the others, went to the lengths to give us this background which was wholly unnecessary to the plot (except for connecting us more with Hyrule, as you have stated) filled me with awe. It was that point which I realized this wasn’t just a story. It was a world which the creators loved, and wished for me to love as well.