Zelda : The Ocarina Of Time (N64)

The game world's ever-changing environment looks like a fairy tale come to life. Majestic waterfalls, towering castles and magical forests are a feast for the eyes and ears. Rivers flow, rain falls, the sun and moon rise and set. There's even an erupting volcano. Exploring this world is half the fun of the game. Along the way, you learn musical tunes that you can play on the flute-like Ocarina, a magical device that helps you teleport, alter the weather, even control time itself.

Character interaction is important to gather clues. The fairy princesses, singing frogs and dragons you'll meet can be cute, humorous, or somewhat terrifying. Sprinkled liberally throughout the game are hundreds of secret treasures and enjoyable mini games (one of which, the fishing game, would almost be worth buying by itself). Game controls are easy to learn and there's even an elaborate fight training course built into the game. Controlling the hero quickly becomes instinctive, and you can concentrate on saving the world. To win the game, you'll have to use not only Link's sword, but your mind as well. This game's challenging and inventive puzzles really make you think. In fact, to keep from getting stuck, it's worth spending a few pounds on an official player's guide. With The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time, Nintendo has come up with an all-consuming adventure title that will provide days of engrossing gameplay. --Eric Fredrickson

Pros:
• Best single-player video game
• Freedom to explore a rich, complex world
• Helpful fairy guide gives hints
• Charming, humorous and light-hearted, yet challenging

Cons:
• Some puzzles can be frustrating
• Only one saved game per player--don't save when you're stuck!
• Much more fun with Rumble Pack

The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time combines the most intricate graphic art and engrossing gameplay ever produced in an interactive entertainment title. In addition to its mesmerising visual effects and nearly an hour of gorgeous, real-time, 3-D animation scenes, the game gives players an unprecedented variety of gameplay activities. Besides enabling players to travel back and forth through time, the game includes elements of nearly every video game genre--puzzle, adventure, action, first-person shooter, role playing and even a hint of sports.

The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time is for one player only. However, up to three games in progress can be saved on the pak. The optional Rumble Pak (not included) can be used with this game to provide tactile feedback and heighten the realism of your game-playing experience.