The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time, the 3DS remake.

As somebody who has followed the Legend of Zelda series since its first appearance on the NES, I'm easily excitable when anything new occurs in the Zelda franchise. Since I first found the game Ocarina of Time, the fifth installment in the Zelda series, I have been in love with it. The storyline follows a young adventurer named Link, a boy who is thrust into a quest to rescue his land's Princess Zelda, during which he encounters many intriguing characters and explores an immense range of locations along the way.

The first release of this game, designed for the Nintendo 64, seemed absolutely flawless. There is little that can't be appreciated as you play through the game. The music is enchanting and it hangs as a haunting backdrop for the intricate designs. The characters that you meet are not only part of the game play, but also teach you lessons that can be applied to the player’s life. As you collect the necessary objects and travel throughout this fictional world, you learn more about the regret, passions, and yearning of these characters, ultimately trying to save a land that is threatened by evil.

Because this is an older game, its graphics are considered outdated and many glitch errors can be found throughout it. However, it is also a game than many hold nostalgically close to their hearts.

This is why Nintendo decided to update the game. Though very little gameplay was actually changed, Ocarina of Time was remade for the 3DS with better animation, less problematic glitches, and the ability to play the game in 3D. Should the enhanced version of a beloved game be just as good, if not better than the original?

I can’t agree. While the game is now more visually pleasing because of its improved pictures and sharpened animation, the quality of the original game is lost. Instead of being confined to the old gaming platform, one now must play the game on a device that can be used for internet, photography, apps- in other words, contemporary technology. One of the most beautiful aspects to the original game was the sense of loneliness that it contained. Once you began playing, you were completely immersed in the world of Zelda, haunted by the beauty of age and disconnection. By placing the updated game in your hands and being impressed mostly by the current technology, that sentimental quality of the game is lost.

While I don’t think any version of this game could qualify as not beautiful, I am very biased in believing the Nintendo 64 version holds a much more enriching adventure than the 3DS can offer. Perhaps there is more of a flashy appeal that is brought with newer technology, however, the timelessness and beauty of Zelda seems to be better captured in its original, slightly wistful state.