I did not play too many videogames in my childhood. My parents were not huge fans of video games; they felt it was mostly a waste of time. Fortunately, they were not totally opposed; I still had a Gamecube and a Wii. I only really had Mario, Sonic, and Madden games though. Since I was just a kid, I did not have the buying power and could not easily expand my game library. I would hear friends at school talk about other games like Zelda, Halo, or Final Fantasy, and my lack of games always left me wanting more. As I grew older, I stopped playing games quite so much, and the couple consoles and games I had collected dust. Eventually, I graduated high school and began my first year of college. This transitional period would prove to be one of the most difficult times in my life. Reality was sinking in–I am on the cusp of adulthood, but I still feel like a child. What am I going to do with my life? All my friends are gone, my old way of life has disappeared, my responsibilities go beyond just showing up to school everyday. I know many people go through something similar, unfortunately I did not handle it was well as most do. I dropped out of school and fell into a depression.
I longed for the past. Adulthood was too difficult, if only I could travel back in time and be a kid again. But perhaps I can… I still had my old video games from when I was young. I am not really sure what it was that sparked my interest, but nostalgia is a powerful feeling, and I guess I wanted to chase it. I replayed Sonic Adventure 2: Battle, and Super Mario Sunshine. I got the feeling of nostalgia I was hoping for; however, it was also met with a newfound sense of wonder. Now that I was an adult, I could better appreciate these games. It also helped that I was smarter and better than my ten-year-old self and could actually finish these games now.
I craved more. Now I am an adult, I can buy whatever I want. I began buying more Mario and Sonic games that I had never played. Then I began looking into other franchises that I had heard about. I was at a game resale shop and found a gold N64 for sale, along with The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time. I knew about Zelda, and I had heard that Ocarina of Time was well-renowned. I bought the bundle and took it home and began my new adventure. This game felt bizarre to me. How is there no jump button? How is there such a lack of guidance? Why is my assistant, Navi, not actually providing anything useful to me? It was the first game I played that required more thought than just running and jumping.
Once I moved beyond the unfamiliar mechanics, it was as if scales were removed from my eyes. The world of Ocarina of Time, crafted with with simple polygons and 2D sprites, unfolded before me in an unexpectedly charming way. Each character, monster, even the insignificant bushes, though technically primitive, was pieced together with an artistry that transcended it’s limitations. Strangely, I found myself engulfed in the wave of nostalgia again, a longing for a past that I had never actually lived. What truly captivated me, however, was the game’s narrative. The story unfolded and resonated with me deeply, pulling me deeper into the world of Hyrule, a world both new and strangely familiar.
The Hero of Time is pulled into an unfamiliar world–his childhood is stripped away, and he is cast into adulthood. He no longer plays with his friends in the safe haven of Kokiri Forest, or plays hide-and-seek in the courtyard with the castle guards. Link is given a tremendous responsibility against his will. The world is dark. All his friends are gone. The world as an adult is frightening. This was too familiar to me. My plunge into life as an adult mirrors Link’s instant transformation in the Temple of Time. I thought my transition into adulthood would be gradual, but instead it was just cast on me, without warning. My Kokiri Forest, my safe haven of childhood was now rotting. I feel like an empty husk, a ReDead aimlessly wandering about, searching for purpose in this daunting stage of life.
Unlike my own path, the Hero of Time stood unbroken when presented with this conflict. He did not pause to ponder about his purpose, nor he did linger waiting for someone to solve his problems. He took action. Link’s silence in the game leaves much to interpretation, and yes, this is a work of fiction, so maybe I am reading a bit more into it. But in that moment in my life, it was the inspiration I needed. This transitional period into adulthood was challenging, a sentiment shared by many. Yet it is through these challenges that we grow strength and resilience. Link’s journey, silent as it was, spoke volumes to me about facing life head-on.
I am a writer, and I had always had thoughts about pursuing a creative life. The vastness of such a career always scared me, so I mostly avoided it. However, after playing Ocarina of Time, and being completely overwhelmed the amazing story, it made me realize that this is what I want to pursue. It ignited my desire to craft beautiful narratives, ones that can similarly evoke deep emotions and provoke thought. It also made me realize how wonderful video games can be! There is a huge variety of games out there, ones with unique gameplay and captivating stories, a realm I had hardly explored. Now I am in film school, pursuing a career in screenwriting and directing, fueled by my aspiration to weave meaningful stories like I have found in games. Simultaneously, I am playing as many games as I can to enrich my creative palette. Ocarina of Time did not only entertain me; it redirected my course of life, and I wonder where my life might be without the revelation it brought me.
November 21st, 2023 marks 25 years since the release of Ocarina of Time! Join us in celebrating this nostalgic gem with an entire week of dedicated articles!
