Zelda no Densetsu: Toki no Ocarina

First and foremost, it's essential to understand that this manga primarily retells the narrative from the Ocarina of Time game. There aren't many alterations in the storyline, nor is there much filler content—this might appeal or not, depending on personal preference.

In general, I adored this manga for its character portrayals, especially regarding personalities. One aspect the video game didn't delve deeply into was the emotional development and personalities of its characters (mainly due to OoT pushing the Nintendo 64's capabilities). This manga offers insights into how characters like Link and Navi might have behaved between action sequences, all logically consistent with their game personas. Furthermore, I appreciated the detailed artwork, which made characters appear less exaggerated—and less goofy—than in the game (for example, Nabooru’s nose in the game drove me nuts).

However, one significant issue marred my enjoyment enough to lower my rating (I would've given it a 9 otherwise); the pacing was too rapid. The entire series spanned just 18 chapters, including three bonus ones unrelated to the main story. Thus, the whole Ocarina of Time saga, which gamers spent countless hours completing, was condensed into merely 15 chapters (or about half a night’s reading). Key sections of the game were covered in just a few pages, inevitably creating plot holes that could confuse anyone unfamiliar with the game’s intricacies. I wish the creators had slowed down significantly and provided more focus on minor yet impactful characters connected to Link (like Saria, Ruto, Malon, etc.).

To conclude, I recommend this series to anyone who cherished the Ocarina of Time game (and honestly, who hasn’t?). If you can overlook the rushed feel, it's an excellent choice for an enjoyable read.

I've been a huge fan of The Legend of Zelda series for years, and Ocarina of Time has always been my top pick among the games.
I was quite eager to dive into this manga, and surprisingly, it wasn't bad at all.
The character development and fresh interactions that weren’t in the game really caught my attention.
These new elements felt original yet believable, almost as if they could have been part of the actual game.
Initially, I found it odd how Link could breeze through an entire dungeon within a single page,
but then again, focusing solely on puzzle-solving throughout might have made the manga less engaging.
I appreciated that it mostly stayed true to the game's storyline.
Overall, it was a pretty solid read. While I'm not sure if I'd revisit it, I definitely recommend giving it a try if you haven't already.

As much as I adore The Legend of Zelda video game series, this manga doesn't quite reach the lofty standards set by its source material. This critique comes from a devoted Zelda enthusiast.

Story: 6/10

The rating could be harsher if not for the story's roots in the original game. Despite this connection, it struggles to surpass a 6/10. The narrative progression feels lackluster, especially when compared to the epic adventure of the game. It covers too many temples too quickly, diminishing the impact.

Art: 9/10

The artwork is outstanding. When imagining Zelda in manga form, this is exactly what I envisioned. There are some truly stunning scenes, reflecting significant effort and skill that definitely paid off.

Characters: 5/10

Besides Link, no character receives adequate development time. Even Link’s growth feels insufficient to evoke much interest. Zelda and Ganon barely appear, and iconic side characters from the games are nearly absent.

Enjoyment: 6/10

This is an acceptable adaptation of Ocarina of Time. The art meets my high expectations for a Zelda manga. However, other aspects fall short. If the adaptation had taken more time to flesh out details, I would have given it a higher score. The content isn’t bad; it’s the pacing and adaptation choices that let it down.

Final Verdict: 6.5/10

I highly recommend this to die-hard Zelda fans despite its flaws. It’s enjoyable if you’re already invested in the series and familiar with the games. For newcomers unfamiliar with Zelda, approach with caution.

Ah, the Legend of Zelda series. When people typically hear that particular name being mentioned in any conversation, usually the first few thoughts that enter one's mind are Link, Zelda, Nintendo, epic, and Ocarina of Time. For those unfamiliar with the game, The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time was released in 1998 for the N64 system and was quickly hailed as one of the best games in video game history. It received many perfect and near-perfect scores on gaming sites and was known for its well-told plot and the use of time travel, where you could play as young and adult Link.

For all the Zelda fans out there, this information is pretty much as standard as knowing your own name. That's why when I first saw that the game was going to be ported over to manga format, I admit I was among the skeptics. For starters, Link does not talk. How would they incorporate Link's muteness in a manga that would inevitably be centralized around him? As I will explain, as far as manga adapted from video games go, they did a fine job with it.

Since the story is pretty much the same as the game, there was no way I could give it any less than a nine. Because of a few changes within the storyline presented in the manga (some changes for better and some for worse), I avoided giving it a perfect score in that department. For example, some negative changes incorporated were that some events in the manga occur out of order compared to what you'd encounter in the game. However, a positive change was that they adapted a history behind Link's earrings. We are given a legitimate reason as to why he wears them, and suffice to say, it's a pretty neat thing to read about.

The art is very well done. All the characters look like themselves and are pretty close to what the official game art depicted them as. However, there are times throughout the chapters when some characters will look a tad bit odd, making you wonder about the body proportions used by the mangaka. Many environments are well detailed while others are plain. So it varies, and I scored it accordingly.

The big question mark surrounding the manga is how they managed to capture the characters and their personalities, especially Link's. Let me say the mangaka did a wonderful job with Link's personality. He is portrayed as a young, innocent, curious youth who gets flustered easily but holds an enviable amount of courage for a ten-year-old lad. In his adult self, long gone are the days of his cute youth, replaced by a hardened, steel-faced hero of time, yet still remain the innocence and curiosity that defined him as a child. Zelda and Link are shown to have a close bond of friendship when they meet each other in childhood and still hold onto that bond as adults, but clearly, there is something more between them hinted at but never explicitly expressed. All the sages are well done too and stick to their personalities as portrayed in the game, so you never get the "what the hell - that's not what they were in the game" feeling. And that is crucial when making this kind of transition.

If you enjoyed playing the game Ocarina of Time and are one of the supporters out there who'd love to see Link talk in an upcoming Zelda game, there's almost an inevitable chance you'll love this manga to pieces. A close resemblance to the storyline in the game and great personalities of Link, Zelda, and the sages will almost make you breathe a sigh of relief that they didn't mess this up completely, which could have easily been done (e.g., the Legend of Zelda cartoon).

However, a big part of what the game is about is the epic storytelling of the plot, and as you read this manga, you get a different feel from when you played the game. For me, the story felt much more epic in the game than in the manga. Additionally, the puzzle-ridden dungeons that Link traverses are really overlooked and not included as much in the manga.

It is these above criteria that prevent the manga from receiving a perfect ten-point-zero score, but then again, if anything could emulate the feeling of playing through Ocarina of Time, we wouldn't still be talking about the game today, eh?

The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time is a game frequently recommended to me. Unfortunately, I don't have the motivation to play games on my 3DS (I don't own an N64) that aren't fighting games, so I decided to read the manga instead.

The story revolves around a young boy named Link who embarks on a quest to save the world from the villainous Ganondorf. It's pretty standard fantasy fare, but I wasn't expecting an amazing story, so I wasn't too disappointed.

The characters are quickly established, setting them up well for what appears to be a rather swift adventure. Link swiftly defeats his various enemies with fights lasting roughly three pages. This is disappointing because the art for these battles is actually very good, and it would be nice to see more action.

Overall, the first volume is enjoyable, albeit a bit fast-paced and lacking in action. The characters are likable, and the story is light-hearted. On the other hand, the second book is a complete letdown. The plot points barely last any time at all, and although some mystery is introduced, it is quickly resolved. However, the second book does have more action and redeems itself through this.

In conclusion, the books are just above mediocre due to the decent art and characterization. They're worth a read if you're looking for light-hearted fun, but don't expect a masterpiece.

Ocarina of Time is a fantastic game, and the manga adaptation is equally impressive, making for a great read! The artwork is stunningly beautiful too! :D

However, given that it spans only two volumes, I feel like there could have been more story and character development. The temples and dungeons were dispatched rather quickly, but I understand they couldn't be as lengthy as in the game—it would take too long.

Some events also diverged from the game's storyline. For example, Dark Link didn't appear in the Water Temple, which made me wonder why, but it's not a big deal, I suppose. :)

I also adored the additional stories included, such as the origin of Volvagia and Link's relationship with it. Truly a moving moment...

STORY 6/10
The story is straightforward yet pleasant. It isn't extraordinary, and most of it is quite predictable (though there are some enjoyable plot twists). Its simplicity makes it an enjoyable read. Everything that occurs in the story is epic and somewhat adorable. Despite its simplicity, the story is well-structured. All characters featured in the manga have significance, and there's a clear beginning and end. The drawback is the lack of creativity in the story... But we should remember it's aimed at children.

ART 9/10
The art style is beautiful, clean, and suits the manga well. However, I believe the panels could be larger. The mangaka attempted to pack a lot of information onto one page, using many small panels. I prefer manga with larger panels for a cleaner look.

CHARACTER 7/10
The story follows a clear good versus evil dynamic. There are the virtuous characters and the villainous ones. Link is your typical brave hero, while Ganondorf is a classic antagonist. A positive aspect is that all characters have relevance. Characters introduced at the start reappear throughout the story.

ENJOYMENT 7/10
It's a pleasant and simple read. It won't make you laugh or cry, nor is it overly exciting, but the few plot twists and overall simplicity make it somewhat enjoyable.

OVERALL 7/10
A beautifully crafted fantasy manga, though not exceptional.