The demo on display starts in Kokiri Forest and continues through the the first temple, The Deku Tree. The core game itself--that is the environment, weapons, enemies, and items--are all identical to the original. So you’ll find yourself exploring the small Kokiri village for a sword and shield before the villager blocking the exit to the Deku Tree will allow you to pass.

 

 

 

With gameplay intact, it really allowed me to focus on the graphical improvements Nintendo has made. Character models have been drastically improved and no longer share the block-head appearance of their forefathers. Their animations have also been tweaked, lending a much more natural appearance--it certainly made the blockading villagers less awkward as they attempt to intercept Link, who also looks great.

Thankfully, the interface has also been greatly improved to take advantage of the 3DS’s touchscreen. Instead of having to pause the game to equip items, your inventory is always present on the touchscreen, allowing you to use potions or equip items merely by tapping it with your thumb. It should make the much dreaded Water Temple less grueling, at the least. I did have a slight issue with the way the controls have been mapped, however. The default sword control has been set to “Y,” when I felt “B” would be far more natural, much as it is for the two-dimensional Zelda games. Not a huge deal, but a slight annoyance.

Another addition is the ability to aim first-person weapons, such as the bow or slingshot, using the 3DS’s gyroscope. What this means is that you can look around merely by moving the 3DS, as if it were  a window into another world. The only downside is that if you don’t keep your head completley level with the screen, it can momentarily disrupt the 3D effect.

Speaking of which the 3D adds a nice sense of depth that is actually quite subtle, with the mystical floating particles being especially noticeable as they draw closer to the screen. Surprisingly, the most impressive use of 3D came when we had to crawl through a small tunnel to a hidden section of Kokiri Village--the added depth really enhanced the feeling that we were crawling through a narrow and lengthy tunnel to a section quite seperate from the town itself.

All in all, this remake of Ocarina of Time is shaping up quite nicely. It stays true--if perhaps a little too much--to the original, which at least ensures a quality experience with a few new features that should enhance the experience even further.