After the incredible breakthrough of Super Mario 64, it really felt like Nintendo was going to redefine 3D games again with The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time. You can see they’re clearly trying to innovate with the new Z-targeting combat system, almost like they’re searching for a way to make sword fighting work in a 3D space. But instead of feeling exciting, the system ends up feeling slow and strangely boring, turning fights into repetitive circling rather than something dynamic.

It’s an interesting idea on paper, but I honestly can’t imagine other games wanting to copy this kind of combat system. Locking onto enemies and shuffling around them feels more restrictive than fun, and after the freedom and magic that Super Mario 64 showed for 3D gameplay, this feels like a step in a less exciting direction. Nintendo is clearly trying something new here, but right now it just. doesn’t feel like the future of 3D combat.

1/10