Link to epic quest

By Russell Baillie

The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time

Nintendo 64

(Nintendo)

In this blockbuster N64 role-playing game, there's one amusingly telling feature to its sheer epic scope, seemingly endless environments to explore and puzzles to figure.

It's that Link, your elfin character who starts off as a 10-year-old in the Tolkeinesque world of Hyrule, actually grows into a strapping 17-year-old along the way. That happens when he pulls a certain large sword out of a large stone and gets thrust into the future seven years ...

But anyway, that's telling because you, too, you will feel as though you've aged almost as much should you ever complete the quest.

It's been claimed that Zelda contains up to 75 hours of game, a duration which, judging by my progress in getting a small fraction of the way through in longer than I'd care to admit, would seem hopeful.

The game characters themselves are nearly into their teens in real time, having had a long history in Nintendoland, dating back more than 10 years through the antiquated NES and Supernintendo systems, CD-i and Gameboy. So this is something of a cornerstone of Nintendo culture like the Super Mario Brothers.

Not that any previous knowledge is really required (just escaping Link's hometown of Kokiri Village in the opening chapter provides an entertaining training manual).

And not that you'd know either that this was a scenario with links to the past, what with its 3D graphics the best you'll see in the N64 format, suitably fairytale-like but showing a remarkable depth of field to its various environments ranging from sweeping landscapes to creepy interiors and forests.

Link's Arthurian quest involves finding the Princess Zelda of the title, as well as that magical wind-instrument Ocarina while trying to find some spirit stones that will save the kingdom from the evil intentions of Ganondorf.

That's the macro-adventure, each level presents its own micro-adventures which can start to feel fairly macro when you can't figure your way out of them.

But at least each one seems a one-off with their own colourful residents - many odd monsters, one friendly horse and some lethal chickens among them.

Getting the sword-swinging Link into action is a breeze, with no extra button-thumping required to get him to climb or jump, which keeps things moving at a fine clip.

The musicbox soundtrack - surely the same twee tune from the NES days - is an irritant but where the ears lose out, the eyes are offered visual treat after treat.

Yes, it looks lovely and it's certainly for all ages - you're one age when you start and another should you finish.

The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time is a benchmark title, and one that's highly enjoyable to get seriously out of your depth on.

Pictured: One of the Tolkeinesque characters.