Does this count?
I'm a big Zelda fan, so here is my "perfect OoT".
The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time (1998)
Developer and Publisher: Nintendo
The
Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time is the fifth installment in the Zelda series and the first 3D title. It released on November 21 of 1998 and was met with critical acclaim, many calling it the “greatest video game ever made”. After you finish the main quest, you unlock the Master Quest, which includes of a harder quest, rearranged dungeons, harder and more enemies, and the mirroring of the world. With each main boss you defeat, you can redo their battles in a “Boss Challenge” mode.
Gameplay
Ocarina of Time is a revolutionary game, it managed to create an immersive environment. It also introduced Z-Targeting. Despite using some of the same core ideas as predecessors, it made more of a mark and made way for future titles.
Combat
Z-Targeting is very useful in combat, for locking onto an enemy. Notable combat moves you can preform include of the Final Blow, Shield Bash, Dash Attack (with the Pegasus Boots), the Jump Attack, Roll Attack, Spin Attack, Thrust Attack, Horizontal Swing, Vertical Swing, and Sword Beam (after learning it in the Unicorn Fountain).
Horse Combat is also introduced, you can attack enemies with your sword by horse or shoot arrows while on horse. One overworld boss battle is fought this way, this boss is a 3D adaptation of the Lynel. The Lynel shoots Ice Arrows from a distance that freeze both you and your horse, causing damage. Once you get close, it pulls out a powerful sword and attacks you with it. Epona is fast enough to escape its attacks.
Songs
There are many songs you can play on your Ocarina. These include of:
- Song of Time
- Zelda’s Lullaby
- Song of Storms
- Sun’s Song
- Epona’s Song
- Scarecrow’s Song
- Symphony of Frost (TP’s Howl Song 6)
- Ballad of Wind (Zelda’s Lullaby’s Notes Reversed)
- Minuet of Forest
- Bolero of Fire
- Serenade of Water
- Requiem of Spirit
- Nocturne of Shadow
- Prelude of Light
Plot
Long ago, a civil war broke out between the multiple factions of Hyrule. Many were left dead in its wake. Escaping it was a woman and her newborn son. She manages to land in the neutral Kokiri Forest, before she succumbed to her wounds, leaving her son in the hands of the Great Deku Tree and Kokiri. Eventually the kingdom was united under King Harkinian Hyrule and the Royal Family.
The boy later grows up to be Link, who the Great Deku Tree calls for via Navi. It turns out the Great Deku Tree has been cursed by the Gerudo King of Thieves and the tree is hoping that Link would manage to break it for him. After he traverses the insides of the Deku Tree and defeating a parasitic arachnid, the Queen Gohma, the curse is broken. But, it is too late for the tree. Before dying, the tree tells Link of the story of the Triforce and tells the hero to meet King Harkinian’s daughter, Princess Zelda. He then proceeds to give Link the Kokiri Emerald.
Link and Navi leave the Kokiri Forest and heads to Castletown, the lively capital of Hyrule. He learns that Zelda lives in Hyrule Castle. He sneaks pass the guards and into the Castle. After exploring it and meeting its NPCs, including some of the staff of the Castle, he learns that the Princess is in the Courtyard. Inside the courtyard is where he meets Zelda, after showing her the Kokiri Emerald, she asks him to go with her to convince King Harkinian that the King of Thieves is after the Triforce. After shooing the both of them away, Zelda asks for Link to help her in stopping him. After agreeing to do so, she sends him on a quest to receive the other two Spiritual Stones.
Link gets the Goron Ruby from Darunia after Link rescues the Goron’s food source, Dodongo Cavern from King Dodongo. Link receives the Zora Sapphire after rescuing the Princess of the Zora, Ruto, from Jabu-Jabu (who was cursed by the King of Thieves as well).
As Link returns to Castletown, he finds it under siege by the King of Theives’ forces. Link catches Zelda escaping him, and tells him what to do next, to go to the Temple of Time and open the doors to the Sacred Realm. She is cut short by the King of Thieves catching up. The King introduces himself as Ganondorf and spares the young Link. Link then heads to the Temple of Time, and using the three Spiritual Stones and the Ocarina of Time (which was left behind in the moat by Zelda for Link) and heads into the Sacred Realm.
Seven years later, Link wakes up from a long slumber. He is greeted by Rauru, the Sage of Light, who tells him what happened. Ganondorf managed to get the Triforce, Link was put in a slumber because he was too young to hold the Master Sword. Rauru then gives Link a new quest, to rescue and awaken the sages. After leaving the Sacred Realm, Link meets the mysterious Sheik, who tells Link of Ganondorf’s conquests and the legend of the Sages, reinforcing the task Rauru had already given him. Sheik would later appear nearby the Temples, helping Link out by giving him by giving him warp songs to teleport to each respective temple. Once Link leaves the Temple of Time, he finds Castletown to be in ruins and a group of people fighting ReDead. He decides to help them, once the ReDead are defeated, the group brings Link to Tel’s Bar. It turns out that this group is the Resistance, a group of people rebelling against Ganondorf’s rule. After they heal him up, they escort Link outside of Castletown through Castletown Sewers.
The first location Link must head to is the Kokiri Forest, which has changed from his childhood. The Kokiri Forest has been plagued with monsters, forcing the Kokiri to abandon their homes. The Kokiri Village’s new residents are the monkeys, and the Kokiri have evacuated to the canopy of the Deku Tree’s carcass. After the Forest Temple is completed, the forest eventually returns to normal and the Deku Tree Sapling sprouts. The sapling tells Link of his origins and urges him to complete his quest.
On the way to the Fire Temple, Link finds Kakariko to be heavily fortified with walls (that have been badly damaged, signifying attacks). After getting in, Link finds the lively village to have expanded and many former Castletown residents to be have made it their new home. This is also where the last Royal Guards live, though most are retired from duty. The peace doesn’t last for long as ReDeads break through the final line of defense. It is up to Link and the remaining Royal Guards to protect the residents and evacuate them to Kakariko Sanctuary. After they succeed, Kakariko is overrun with ReDead and the Royal Guard enter the Sanctuary themselves. Link then proceeds onto the Fire Temple.
When Link returns to Zora’s Domain, he finds it frozen over as well as its residents. The only way to save it is by completing the Water Temple.
After completing all the temples, awakening the seven sages, Sheik reveals herself as Zelda. She reveals that Ganondorf’s heart was unbalanced, splitting the Triforce into thirds (Power, Wisdom, and Courage). Ganondorf then kidnaps Zelda and the newly awakened Sages, and makes them his prisoners. Link (with the help of the Resistance) manages to get inside the castle and free the sages and Zelda. After escaping from the collapsing castle, Ganondorf becomes the monstrous Ganon using the Triforce of Power. The Master Sword is knocked from Link’s hands. But with Zelda’s aid, he retrieves it and defeats Ganon. After retrieving the Triforce of Power, Ganon is sealed in the Dark Realm. Navi eventually leaves Link to go off on her own, for unknown reasons.
Zelda leaves Link with an option: return to relive his childhood and warn young Zelda of what happens with Ganondorf or stay as an adult and help rebuild Hyrule.
Endgame
There is different endgame material for both choices. If you return to your childhood, you explore Hyrule Castle once again, and return to the courtyard to find Zelda, ending the game after she turns around and notices you.
If you stay as an adult, using Ganon’s Triforce of Power, your Triforce of Courage, and Zelda’s Triforce of Wisdom (which you obtain), you are allowed to use them to restore the Triforce to its proper place in the Sacred Realm.
Sidequests
There are multiple major sidequests that you can complete in-game. These include of obtaining Epona, the Biggoron’s Sword Trading Sequence, and the Mask Trading Sequence.
There are many smaller sidequests you can do throughout the game. These include of Returning the Cuccos, the Running Man, planting the Magic Beans, curing Giovanni, Agitha’s Bug Party, Giving a Poor Man a House, Resistance Missions, and collecting the Big Poes.
Curing Giovanni involves curing Giovanni of his golden form, to do so you must give him 5 bottles of fairies. As a reward you get, a Piece of Heart.
Agitha’s Bug Party involves collecting 20 bugs for Agitha’s Bug Party, located inside her mini-castle in Castletown. As a reward you get, a Piece of Heart.
Giving a Poor Man a House involves buying a house deed (in Castletown or Kakariko, both cost 1000 rupees) and giving it to a Beggar. As a reward you get a Piece of Heart.
The Resistance Missions has you help the resistance out in fighting ReDead throughout Hyrule.
In the Running Man Quest, you learn how the Running Man is so fast. As a reward he gives you the Pegasus Boots, which increases your speed when worn. (Like the Iron and Hover Boots, they can be equipped through the items buttons)
Mini-Games
There are multiple mini-games you can play throughout the game. These include of Bombchu Bowling, Deku Scrub Slingshot Game, Heart-Pounding Gravedigging Tour, Diving Game, Fabulous Five Froggish Tenors, Musical Session, Super Cucco Game, Treasure Chest Contest, Horseback Archery, Fishing, Shooting Gallery, Racing Dampe, and Shieldboard Racing.
Dungeons
There are 11 main dungeons in total.
There are three Child Link dungeons.
The first is
Inside the Great Deku Tree. It is a four-floored tree-themed dungeon. You obtain the Fairy Slingshot from this dungeon. Its boss is Queen Gohma.
The last two dungeons can be done in any order. They are
Dodongo Cavern and
Jabu-Jabu’s Belly.
Dodongo Cavern is located in Death Mountain, directly under Goron City. It contains lots of lava puddles, and walls that can be exploded. You obtain the Small Bomb Bag from the dungeon, this allows you to hold a small amount of bombs in your inventory. Its mini-boss is a Lizalfos and its boss is King Dodongo.
Jabu-Jabu’s Belly is located inside of the sacred Zora deity Lord Jabu-Jabu (who lives in Zora’s Fountain). You have to rescue Princess Ruto, a precarious task as it is easy to lose her. You obtain the Boomerang from this dungeon. Its mini-boss is Big Octo and its boss is Barinade.
There are eight Adult Link dungeons in total.
The first three; the
Forest Temple,
Fire Temple, and
Water Temple, are to be done in order.
The
Forest Temple is an eerie temple with many confusing twists and turns, along with many illusions it lies at the end of the Sacred Forest Meadow in the Lost Woods. There are also switches that rearrange gravity, making walls into floors. It has mini-bosses of the Poe Sisters. In this dungeon, you retrieve the Fairy Bow (eventually replaced by the more powerful Hero’s Bow). The boss is Phantom Ganon. After you defeat it, Link’s childhood friend, Saria, awakens as the Sage of the Forest.
The
Fire Temple is a temple with large masses of lava and magma, situated at the top of Death Mountain. To get inside without burning yourself, you must get the Goron Tunic. Throughout the dungeon, you are tasked with freeing the Gorons from their prison cells to prevent them from being sacrificed to the Great Dragon Volvagia. Here is where you get the powerful Megaton Hammer, which requires two hands but does a lot of damage and is a useful alternative to bombs. The mini-boss is the Flare Dancer, and the boss is Volvagia itself.
The
Water Temple is a tricky temple with large bodies of water that you have to manipulate in order to solve puzzles and move forward. In the dungeon you find the Longshot, an upgrade version of the Hookshot. The dungeon involves heavy use of the Zora Tunic and Iron Boots. Its mini-boss is the later fan-favorite Dark Link, who is tricky for reacting to Link’s movements and attacks, and its boss is Morpha.
After the Water Temple is completed, the next four temples (Shadow, Spirit, Sky, and Ice) are available to do in any order you want.
The
Shadow Temple is located under Kakariko Graveyard. It is a very dark dungeon with guillotines, scythes, invisible enemies, and other death traps. Its mini-boss is the disgusting and horrifying Dead Hand. Its boss is Bongo Bongo, after you defeat it, Zelda’s Guardian, Impa, awakens as the Sage of Shadows.
The
Spirit Temple is located inside of the Gerudo Mesa’s Desert Colossus area. It is unique for having two parts, a Child Link one (where you obtain the Silver Gauntlets), and the main part, the Adult Link one. Its mini-boss is an Iron Knuckle. In the Adult Link you can find the Mirror Shield and fight the boss, Twinrova. After defeating Twinrova, Nabooru is freed and awakens as the Sage of Spirits.
The
Wind Temple is inside of Sky City, a floating island mass home to the bird-like Ooco, and protrudes out the bottom. Sky City can only be accessed by being launched out of a cannon by circusmen Falb and Fy. The Longshots are used throughout the earlier parts of the dungeon and when you go against the dungeon’s boss. The item available here is the Sailglider, which allows you to glide off of high places without getting hurt (allowing to get off of the island). Later puzzles are mainly wind-based Its mini-boss is an Aerolfos and its boss is the dragon, Yeverno. After you defeat it, one of the Ooco, Ocoo, is awakened as the Sage of the Sky.
The
Ice Temple is located at the top of the melting Mt. Hebra, home to the Yetis (who speak in broken English). Even though the mountain’s ice is melting, the mountain is still very cold, requiring you to get the light blue cold resistance Yeti Coat. The temple’s insides remain icy, for it is sucking the cold from the mountain. The Megaton Hammer and Fire Arrows are useful here, as well as the white Ice Tunic (which gives you resistance to the cold). Its mini-boss is a Snowstalfos and its boss is the ice demon, Witowt. One of the Yeti, Yetaa, awakens as the Sage of Ice. After Witowt is defeated, Mt. Hebra is eventually restored to its original form.
Ganon’s Castle is always the final dungeon. It has 8 rooms corresponding to the seven temples and the Light Temple. Each one has a barrier that Link must use Light Arrows to destroy. The rooms have puzzles that correlate to their respective temple.
The Forest Room involves twists and turns much like the Forest Temple. After escaping a Wallmaster that sends you back to the start, you end up fighting a much harder Deku Baba, the Baba Serpent.
The Water Room is much like a mini-Water Temple, you have to manipulate a body of water through pushing a wheel, allowing to get to the other side. There is a mini-boss of an Arrghus.
The Shadow Room has you cross a chasm by activating passages and walking on invisible platforms. You obtain an upgraded version of the Silver Gauntlets, the Golden Gauntlets, here. Its mini-boss is a Gibdo Brute, a buff, strong Gibdo.
The Fire Room has you collect silver Rupees while avoiding lava pits, obstacles, and enemies. Its mini-boss is a harder version of the Flare Dancer, the Flame Dancer, which is covered with blue fire (signifying heat) instead of the normal red. The Golden Gauntlets are required here.
The Wind Room involves collecting silver Rupees over never-ending pits ventilated by fans.
The Spirit Rooms involves collecting silver Rupees while avoiding traps, a puzzle with the Mirror Shield, and using rare items like Bombchus. It has a mini-boss of Osiris, an enhanced version of the Anubis.
The Ice Room revolves around pushing blocks on a slippery floor and using Blue Fire to melt the Red Ice. Its mini-boss is a White Wolfos.
The Light Room involves exploring small rooms with various puzzles. Its mini-boss is a mobile Beamos.
At the end of each room, you free each Sage (respective to what they are; Saria is in the Forest Room, Yetaa in the Ice Room, etc.). Zelda is found in the Light Room. She then proceeds to help you against Ganondorf with her Light Arrows.
Its boss is Ganondorf, who then transforms into the final boss, Ganon.
There are two mini-dungeon that you have to complete. These being the Castletown Sewers and the Ice Cavern
.
The
Castletown Sewers are eerie and dark, filled with rats and other terrors, such as Pengators. The Resistance members help guide you but eventually everyone gets split up. It is your job to find them and save them from the terrors. It is possible to complete the dungeon without them but they are helpful when fighting Ganondorf at the end of the game. Guarding the exit is a Giant Pengator.
There are also three optional (but helpful) mini-dungeons that you can complete. These include of the Bottom of the Well, the Gerudo Training Ground, and the Unicorn Fountain.
The
Unicorn Fountain is an underground dungeon with large patches of water, it is accessible through Castletown Sewers. Available here is the yellow Light Tunic that makes the wearer mostly invincible when worn, at a cost of Magic. You also learn the Sword Beam here, a move that sends a strong beam firing out of the tip of the Master Sword. There is a mini-boss here, it is the Light Spirit, the guardian of the Sword Beam and the spirit of a past hero.
