Much like film and music, certain video games go down as classics of the medium. These historic franchises stand the test of time, remaining firm against the rapid waves of technological innovation that drown out their peers, many of which have become almost unplayable; outdated graphics and gameplay mechanics become frustrating, or even unintelligible, to modern gamers in light of recent standards. Nintendo franchises have proven particularly immune to this problem, and Nintendo has attempted to take advantage of this with the launch of its new 3DS portable system by recreating several of their better-known classics for the system.

The highlight in this series of remakes is by far The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time. Originally introduced on the Nintendo 64 console over a decade ago, Ocarina of Time is considered by many to be the best in the Zelda series and is often mentioned in discussions of the best games of all time. Launching at the same time as the 25th anniversary of the series, the remake of Ocarina of Time is an excellent way to honor the series and drive sales of the new system.

Ocarina of Time puts players once again in the role of Link as he is tasked with saving the land of Hyrule and rescuing its princess, Zelda. Along the way, players explore numerous dungeons, defeat epic bosses and collect new weapons and items to aid them on their quest. In recreating this adventure, Nintendo has given the graphics a considerable upgrade. The textures are crisp, and the polygon count on most of the character models has been increased significantly. At the same time, the developers made sure to maintain the game's characteristic aesthetic. The addition of a third dimension to the visuals gives the environment a nice depth and enhances the special effects during cutscenes.

The developers have made use of several other unique features in the new system. The game utilizes the 3DS' second touch screen to simplify menu navigation (one of the more frustrating elements of the original game). The 3DS's movement sensors are used to aim various projectile weapons in the game; players can move the system in any direction and the first-person viewpoint in the game follows these movements. This doesn't work very well with the three-dimensional effects, which only work when the player views the screen from a particular angle: As the player moves the system, the three-dimensional style fades in and out and causes a fair amount of strain on the eye. This, however, is ultimately more of a general flaw with the system than a problem with the game itself.

All of the new features of this remake add to the experience and improve upon the already fantastic original. Ocarina of Time isn't as plot-heavy as many modern games. In fact, the narrative is fairly basic, but the fascinating characters and captivating world more than make up for it, drawing players in and providing a very memorable experience. The gameplay feels natural and intuitive, and the excitement of discovering new areas, weapons and enemies keeps players coming back for more. This combination makes for one of the greatest games of all time. If you haven't experienced Ocarina of Time before, it is an absolute must-play. For those already familiar with the game, it's still worth picking up for another playthrough. The game feels familiar but not repetitive, and the new features introduced by the 3DS help make the game feel fresh. I give Ocarina of Time a perfect score, 10/10.