The Legend of Zelda: The Ocarina of Time

Play as the young hero Link and thwart the evil Ganondorf, who threatens the peaceful land of Hyrule. Link has to journey through many regions, collect weapons, learn spells and even travel in time! Where is Zelda in all this? She is the young princess of Hyrule and the holder of the Ocarina of Time, a magical instrument coveted by Ganondorf. Her role is largely symbolic, but she does help Link at the end.

This is a single player role-playing adventure game, released late in 1998. It starts with a dream sequence on the Deku Tree with the assignment of Link's fairy guide Navi (she gives game playing tips along the way). Link awakes in his village in Kokiri Forest and starts collecting weapons (Kokiri sword, shield and slingshot) and rupees (money). Then the adventure really starts.

There are various dungeons, temples and a castle to explore, puzzles to solve, treasures to win, and bosses to beat. Bosses, for the uninitiated, are bad guys and they come in minor and major versions. Minor bad guys include monsters like giant spiders. The first level boss is the Parasitic Armored Arachnid Gohma! Link fights the bad guys - when he wins they go up in smoke (no blood or gore in this game).

There is lots of problem solving, with the order of events being important, and specific puzzles to solve -for example a tune has to be figured out on the Ocarina at one stage of the game. Part of the game is played as a child and part as an adult. Link can then flip back and forth between child and adult as the game requires. For example, he has to plant a seed as a child, in order to have a magical beanstalk in place as an adult. Get the idea that this is fairly complex? My kids enjoyed the challenge, but felt they needed a player's guide to solve the adult portion. A 12 year old friend of theirs was able to work out the entire game on his own.

Link ultimately must collect medallions and spiritual stones, and beat the big boss Ganondorf in Hyrule Castle to free Princess Zelda and win the game! There is a strong emphasis on the mystical elements - the spiritual stones, the divine relic Triforce - which the kids related to in much the same way as 'The Force be with you' in Star Wars.

Of course, I had read many of the raving reviews on this game before I purchased it. I also consulted the proprietor of a small local video store (he plays all the games!). His take on The Legend of Zelda was that it is head and shoulders above all the others and already a classic. It is indeed a wonderful adventure, with excellent graphics, scrolling 3D movement and gorgeous scenes. There is a great deal of reading required, so this game would be most suitable for ages 8 and up.

My kids (8 and 10) were absorbed by Zelda for several months after we got it, and still go back to it. It has had remarkable longevity! It has also been a magnet for neighbourhood children, keen to try it. There have been long phone conversations on how to beat the game, and much consultation of players guides and net information. The official Player's Guide is $13 from Nintendo and there are tons of net sites chock full of scenarios and game tips - but do get the kids to try on their own first!

This one should not be missed!