All right gamrConnect, we're going to play Zelda games together!

[Khuutra]

Okay, Ocarina 3DS is now in my hands. It gets bumped to the top of the "to-play" list. Sorry, LoZ! THem are the breaks.

I've beaten the first dungeon, and I've talked a lot about how sublime it is in spite of its brevity, so I'm not going to talk more about that. But I will say this.

One thing that nobody really mentions in reviews for this game is the sound design, which is so much better than the first game that it hurts. This is something that was mentioned in one of the Iwata Asks interviews but doesn't get aired out a lot, and it deserves saying.

The 3DS's speakers are stereo and play two different channels of sound - everyone knows that. The thing is, though, it's used in an interesting way. Because of the necessity of holding your face in a certain place relative to the screen to get the 3D effect, Nintendo knows where your ears will be, which lets them simulate 3D sound.

The concept is most closely illustrated in this video (you need headphones to get it): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IUDTlvagjJA

It's more subtle in Ocarina of Time, but it's still there. When you get to the bottom of the Deku Tree and have to do the 2-3-1 puzzle, wait until you knock out the first two Deku. Then aim at the third. It will sound like the sounds of the other two squealing are only coming through on the right speaker, because it sounds like it's only being heard by your right ear.

Now cover your right speaker with your thumb.

All of a sudden you hear it in both ears and nearly as loudly as before, even though it's just coming out of the left speaker now. The illusion of only hearing it in your right ear is caused by a subtle timing difference, creating 3D sound.

It's really fantastic, and I'm impressed that it's being done on a handheld. I hope it's used to similar effect further into the game.