The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker (GameCube)

Nintendo has opted to use cell-shading technology here; the result is that the game looks like a cartoon. Die-hard Zelda purists initially howled at this change, arguing that it made the game look like a kids' title, but the finished product looks fantastic. The cartoon animation style allows for better expression of the characters and several of the animations--such as Link trying to pick up an object that's too heavy--are so cute that you can't help but laugh a little.

Link travels from island to island on a talking boat and you're not going to make it far without the wind blowing in the direction you want to go. Link gains the ability to change the direction of the wind early in the game and you'll do so frequently, not only to power your boat but also to solve puzzles. Clever use of wind makes Wind Waker stand out from more conventional adventure games.

Puzzles are innovative and refreshing, and despite getting stuck a handful of times, we never felt too frustrated to keep playing. The locales you'll visit are invariably exotic and fun to explore, and the host of bizarre creatures you'll encounter (friendly and otherwise) are always surprising. Moreover, though its look is radically different, Wind Waker feels like a classic Zelda game--it's everything you've come to expect from the series, and it's one of the best adventure games to date. --Jon Grover

The new graphics are initially shocking, but after about 5 minutes they melt their way into the experience and you'll never imagine how you got by without them. They're beautiful throughout, and they give the game oodles of character and beauty that will have you grinning from ear to ear. Link is wonderfully expressive, with his giant eyes reacting to his environment in lots of funny little ways, such as the sadness when leaving his home village, the delight when he defeats a boss and the brilliant suspicious look when he sidles along walls, Solid Snake-style.

The controls are even more refined than in the N64 games - real-time battle flows elegantly by simply bashing away at the B button, the direction you tilt the control stick making the difference to how you strike your sword (a short tutorial eases you into it nicely), with the ability to shield and jump out of the way of oncoming attacks being right where you need them. It's fluid and very intuitive - and the way each strike you make alters the music (kind of like Rez) is a great touch to make combat even more of a joy. The sound in general is fantastic - some brilliant music to acompany the various villages you explore, as well as remixed themes from the old games. Music in the set pieces is often very moving, and gives the game a brilliant theatrical atmosphere.

Getting from the beginning to the end won't take as long as in previous Zelda's, but the world is so huge and expansive it's not hard to find a host of enjoyable side-quests to dissolve the hours away. The game's many characters have individual personalities, and usually a problem or two to go with it - being the helpful young chap that you are, you can help these people out by talking a theif into turning good, delivering letters, taking photographs and even collecting pigs, being rewarded with much-needed cash and Heart Pieces. For those who look for it, there's a stunning depth to this game that can keep you occupied for ages, even when the story has reached it's dramatic end.

The narrative side of the game isn't as strong as most RPGs, but for a Zelda game it's quite beefier than usual, with more plot-changing set pieces and interesting characters than before. The initial aim is to rescue Link's sister, who was abducted by a giant bird who also tried to kidnap a pirate girl, Tetra, who looks just like her before it was shot down. The pirates help Link to get to where his sister is being held, but it's not long before it becomes clear that there's more to this than a bird with a penchant for stealing young girls. Pretty soon you're travelling the world in a talking boat, trying to stop a familiar foe from finding the three pieces of the Triforce and causing devastation. Zelda fans will probably be clearer on the story, but it's explained well enough for newcomers to enjoy as well.

The Wind Waker is a beautiful, enormous, charming and brilliantly playable adventure with the potential to take weeks of your life. The only problem with it is the sailing - simple journeys from one place to another across the vast sea take several minutes, and can be quite boring, with some annoying ocean-dwelling enemies showing up now and again to slow your progress. Also, changing the direction of the wind (via the Wind Waker conductor's baton from the title) can be a pain when you only want to travel a short distance, but you can't sail that way because the wind's against you. These are really only minor flaws though - the overall experience is so brilliant and absorbing, you'll barely notice. The best Nintendo game on Gamecube so far, hands down.


Pure delight   June 2, 2003
 4 out of 4 found this review helpful

Unlike many reviewers I'm not a Zelda aficionado so I don't know how the experience of playing 'Wind Waker' compares with the experience of playing 'Ocarina of Time' or 'A Link to the Past' when they first appeared. But I do know that WW is the most purely enjoyable game I've ever played. Everything in it is so beautifully realised and so individual that you feel immersed in the world as in no other videogame environment.

Though it has platform elements, this is still essentially an adventure game, so you won't need the ninja-like skills necessary to master the moves in Super Mario Sunshine. What you will need is lateral thinking to solve the not-too-difficult puzzles WW offers, many of which require imaginative use of the items you find along the way. It's these -- the Deku Leaf, the boomerang, the grappling hook, the Wind Waker itself etc. -- that really make the story. Each has a specific yet flexible role in the development so that you never feel either totally stumped or that the game is simply telling you what to do.

Apart from this, the graphics, animation and sound effects are so gorgeous that you'll enjoy just pottering around in Wind Waker. I can't believe there are people who don't like the cel shading approach. Not only does it fit perfectly with the older -- I mean pre-OoT -- Zelda games, the fact that you're not bombarded with textures and polygons means you can actually SEE what's in front of you all the time. Limiting textures and shading also means that the tonal range has far more impact -- when things are bright and dark in Wind Waker, they're REALLY bright and dark. And sidestepping the 'realism' issue also allows for more fluid, dynamic animation.

Wind Waker is challenging but never discouragingly difficult, and there are enough extras and mini-challenges to keep you coming back. But the best thing to be said is that as a 'place to be' this game has no equal. Purists might complain about the 'cartoony' graphics and 'kiddy Link' (have they forgotten 'A Link to the Past'?) but I think this is a quantum leap forward in gaming environments. It will take some years for everyone else to catch up with Nintendo on this form.


The Wind Will Blow You Here   August 18, 2003
 7 out of 8 found this review helpful

The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker is downright fun, that's just about the most important thing about a game. The controls are very easy, making the game that much more fun. Compared to most of the other games, Zelda yet again doesn't have that many weapons, however like previous Zeldas, each weapon has it's specialty and most of them will frequently be used throughout the whole Masterpiece Shigeru Miyamoto made.
i.e = boomerang, bomb, bow and arrow.

Unlike previous Zelda's the windwaker takes place in a vast sea with nearly a hundred islands . Each one has a treasure somewhere in the sea right next to it, and each island will have some little secret.

The plot of the "nu celda" starts when you save a pirate from the Forest next to your home island from a huge bird on your birthday. Your sister then gets caught by the huge bird who mistaked her for the pirate girl. You're then invited on the pirate ship to go and save your sister. When you finally get a glimpse of her at the Forbidden Fortress, the huge bird carries you to Ganondorf who hurls you far far away. When you wake up from your "nap" you meet the King of Red lions, a small talking boat. He'll remain your boat til' the end of the game. Soon after you meet him, you get the Wind Waker. A vital object, like the Ocarina of time, which can set the direction of the wind, teleport you to another area of the Sea, change day and night, control something or someone or open secret passages. You then start fighting in dungeons meeting bosses. Eventually you have to prove yourself to the gods, When the gods have approved of your strength you'll go to Hyrule to get the sword you'll weild til' the end of the game. It's time for you to go and get your sister back. Go back to the Forbidden Fortress to beat the most fun boss in Ocarina of time, the ghost of Ganon and play a bit of tennis. Then get your sister and go back to Hyrule to see who Zelda really is. Now your main quest is to defeat Ganondorf and protect Zelda.

Apart from the main quest there's quite a few sub-quests and mini games. You can go on treasure hunts, catch pigs and give them to someone who wants the pig, give joy pendants to a teacher at windfall island. You can even make your own ones up! Take control of a seagull on a crowded island and hit as many people as you can, in say 1 minute.

As well as the gameplay and story, the graphics are simply put amazing. When you aren't playing they don't look so good and you think the game would sometimes crash, but the game is surprisingly smooth! The sound is... oookkk they fit the game perfectly but somehow I felt like the games sound could have been improved. Another thing that's not so good about the sound is that sometimes your reward is a kind of musical show or something like that but it just sounds like any other normal music in Zelda just with a different tune.

Even though you'll want to continue with your main quest you'll feel free to do anything you want apart from when you're in a dungeon ( DUH! ).

This game will make you remember all the great moments of the game. It will make you want to play your favourite moments again. It will make you want to play the whole game again. AND TRUST ME WHEN YOU FINISH IT YOU'LL NEARLY CRY!

I said it when I started this review and I'll say it again,

!!!!!!!!!!!!!THIS GAME IS FUN!!!!!!!!!!!!

96% 10/10


The Lengend of Zelda The Wind Waker   January 21, 2003
 31 out of 39 found this review helpful

The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker is the latest, and possibly most scrutinized, installment in Nintendo's venerable action adventure franchise. The game builds on the gameplay mechanics introduced by the Nintendo 64 Zelda games, which brought the series into 3D and wrapped them in an impressive graphical package.

The early parts of the game and have been pleased to find quite a few things we missed on our first pass through. If you opt to take your time and explore your surroundings, your curiosity will be rewarded. Also you try out the Game Boy Advance connectivity feature, which is turning out to be quite useful .

The first real area to explore is the island you arrive on following Link's exploits in the pirate fortress. Your primary goal in the town is to find an item you'll need to get your boat going. While it doesn't take long to track the vital piece of equipment down--provided you have enough rupees to purchase it--poking around the island has some nice benefits.

With time you get a better feel for the gameplay, which is turning out to be more than just a refinement of the Ocarina of Time and Majora's Mask gameplay. There's a greater emphasis on platformer-style elements in the game, although the balance between platforming and exploration still feels about right. The combat is fleshed out quite a bit as well. I'm quite taken with the offensive counter move, which is turning out to be a vital part of fights. Also enjoying the options available to you in a fight once you start to collect more of Link's items, such as the hookshot and the boomerang.

Another finely polished aspect of The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker that is becoming apparent is its pacing. The game quickly makes the main goals fairly clear, and whether or not you choose to act quickly or take your time to scour an area for secrets is up to you. The dungeons are challenging but not impossible. We haven't found anything as evil as Ocarina of Time's water dungeon yet, which is a good thing.

Overall this is an amazing game which I believe to be the best game for the GameCube which all cube owners must have as the gameplay is amazing and to top it off so are the graphics, that's why I have givin it 5 stars.


The Wind Waker-Nintendo do it again!   October 19, 2003
 3 out of 3 found this review helpful

What can i say about the wind waker? It's excellent, fantastic, gripping, exciting and amazing. At first i wasn't sure about the graphics, with the cel-shaded look, but they're fantastic. They show the emotion of Link and others around him. This game will keep you gripped to the end-but thats the problem the end comes too soon. It's only a few days before you face Gannondorf because the game is relatively easy and short. But that's the only bad thing, from the beginning to the quick end, you will feel immersed in Link's adventure-can you master the wind? find out now and BUY IT!