Eiji Aonuma's Ocarina of Time anecdote hits the heartstrings
The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time is almost universally recognized as a classic, but technical quality is not what makes the game special. According to designer Eiji Aonuma, the game's greatest strength is its ability to inspire people.
In a recent Nintendo Japan update, Aonuma relays the story of a young girl who was hospitalized with an unnamed illness. To help pass the time, her mother purchased a copy of Ocarina of Time. "At first, she felt 'this is impossible for me,' but over time, she began getting the hang of it," Aonuma wrote, courtesy Siliconera translation. "Then one day, she told her mother, 'if Link is trying this hard, then I will, too!' as she put more effort into her rehabilitation." Aonuma claims this inspiration drove the young girl to fight off her illness and she soon returned to full health.
"To think that one could put in more effort after watching Link to do the same, and that such a positive way of thinking arose from the game, is something that makes me very happy" Aonuma added. "It's not that we purposely intend that while making games, but the key lies within what the players get to experience in the world."
[Image: Nintendo]
