Is there any greater feeling than conquering levels in a video game and becoming a hero? The overwhelming sense of accomplishment, the knowledge that you have leveled up in skill, and the excitement of what further perils await – that is what makes being submerged in a fantasy world unforgettable and what drives us to push forward, even in the case of real-life hurdles.
It sounds just as insane in my head as I type this story, but my older brother never liked Ocarina of Time. I say “never liked” because, since his demise within the Great Deku Tree, I have never seen him play another Legend of Zelda game since. Crazy, right? I cannot complain though, or Ocarina of Time may have never been mine. I was only two years younger than my brother when I conquered Queen Gohma in no time at all; she was the easy part but still, I felt ecstatic. I was on cloud nine, pumped with adrenaline and somersaulting along to Hyrule Field’s theme until I reached Hyrule Castle Town.
Once I crossed the bridge, the music picked up to the merry market beat, ensuring that my good mood remained and the positive energy flowed. I reached Princess Zelda; hatching an egg, waking a lazy milkman, and sneaking past a dozen guards along the way. I saved the Gorons from famine, explored a lot, found a message in a bottle, and ended up in the belly of a giant fish lord.
Did I mention that I did not have a memory card? I was not fazed at the time as I was binge playing and, in the moments where I could not play, I would simply leave my console running and switch off the TV. It was a foolproof plan, or so I thought.
I struggled to defeat Barinade, the electrical parasite chilling in Lord Jabu Jabu’s belly. It took an exceptionally long time (when I say “long,” I mean literally all day) and the gamer rage was real. Of course, defeat was inevitable, and the Hero of Time triumphed yet again (go nine-year-old me!). I was three Spiritual Stones heavier and excited to see how my adventure would continue. Ocarina of Time did not disappoint. Ganondorf did his evil thing and ruined Princess Zelda’s plan while I awakened seven years in the future. I was in my absolute element and my first stop in exploring future Hyrule was, of course, the Forest Temple. Like a wise Sheik once said, “time is cruel” and fate, unfortunately, must be time’s cousin. Blissfully unaware of what was waiting for me, I made my journey to the Sacred Meadow, only to be met with a black screen and my own gawping reflection.
My whole street had a power cut and I went Deku Nuts as all of my hard work was wiped clean from my timeline. The days I had spent saving Hyrule were gone and I could not get them back. I dread to think what my neighbors thought when they heard me that day, but it is safe to say that in no less than 24 hours, a memory card was purchased online by my mom. A little too late, but thanks, Mom.
This is one of my earliest memories from the start of my Legend of Zelda love and apparently my experience is a common one! I recalled that power cut trauma to my friend a few days ago and he, too, had experienced the same pain due to using the “foolproof” plan of leaving the console running with the TV turned off. In my infinite adult wisdom, I have decided that the huge loss of progress was not due to any fault of the plan — I mean, it could be, but no way am I going to admit that — so that leaves one possible and completely legitimate answer: The power cut was caused by the avenging electrical soul of Barinade.
