... The fact that months after playing Twilight Princess to death and finding everything that could be be found one thing ate away at me. Another Zelda game was there to be played and i wouldn't have to wait another day for its arrival. Wind Waker regardless of my feelings was a part of the story ... Read review
Advantages: Huge world, involving gameplay, great controls - Its a Zelda game Disadvantages: Wind Waker cutscenes...for the 1000th time, Tingle
...to everyone involved. Most of the time change is met with angry mobs wielding torches and baying for someone’s blood. When that change involves the very popular Legend Of Zelda then your sure to make a lot of people extremely uneasy at the possibility of change. I wont lie and say i was thrilled with Nintendo making Wind Waker cell-shaded. In fact i disowned the game entirely, disgusted i had waited this long for a Zelda game that looked nothing ... ...of course the amazing Majora’s Mask). So unhappy with Nintendo's choices regarding Wind Waker that i waited for Twilight Princess. That game was most definitely what i was waiting for after Majora's Mask.
Finally having cured the itch for a new Zelda title, a new one developed. The fact that months after playing Twilight Princess to death and finding everything that could be be found one thing ate away at me. Another Zelda game was ... more
Sometimes change is greeted with happiness and comes a huge relief to everyone involved. Most of the time change is met with angry mobs wielding torches and baying for someone’s blood. When that change involves the very popular Legend Of Zelda then your sure to make a lot of people extremely uneasy at the possibility of change. I wont lie and say i was thrilled with Nintendo making Wind Waker cell-shaded. In fact i disowned the game entirely, disgusted i had waited this long for a Zelda game that looked nothing like the sequel to the infamous Ocarina Of Time (or of course the amazing Majora’s Mask). So unhappy with Nintendo's choices regarding Wind Waker that i waited for Twilight Princess. That game was most definitely what i was waiting for after Majora's Mask.
Finally having cured the itch for a new Zelda title, a new one developed. The fact that months after playing Twilight Princess to death and finding everything that could be be found one thing ate away at me. Another Zelda game was there to be played and i wouldn't have to wait another day for its arrival. Wind Waker regardless of my feelings was a part of the story i needed to know, so i put aside my problems and decided to give it a chance.
Story
We meet a young Link on the day of his birthday. Now ready to undergo a right of passage all young men undertake among his people. Presented with a green tunic on this day (once belonging to a great hero according to legend) fate suddenly takes a turn for the worse. His sister is snatched from his village by a monstrous bird and Link is helpless to stop it. Waving goodbye to his grandmother Link joins a band of pirates and their young female leader Tetra on a mission to save his sister (Aryll). Soon its clear that Link has embarked on a quest beyond anything he expected.
Gameplay
Well thankfully despite its controversial look, it plays like as good as any Zelda title before it. One of the key things that allowed me to get past my reservations was this game still played like those before it. The combat still effective and clever as ever not only had its previous lock on abilities and smart movement but the addition of context sensitive moves which offer both offensive and defensive qualities. Also for the first time ever Link can use the weapons of enemies once his disarms them. Always just a bit of fun but these weapons are also incorporated into puzzle elements like smashing or burning down walls otherwise outside of Links weaponry.
The biggest new features of gameplay of course is the focus on sailing and using the wind waker to access a variety of abilities. Sailing is remarkably easy to pick up and soon enough becomes second nature. It allows you access to the dozens of islands both large and small that litter the massive ocean. Sailing not only serves as a means of exploration but gives you sense of scope of the world your in. Its a massive ocean, containing treasure chests with money, maps and more that all have to hunted down and pulled aboard your boat. Of course your boat is naturally not a lifeless piece of wood but a talking boat with magical abilities. The 'Red King Of Lions' offers link not only a means of travel but also guidance in his quest.
The Wind Waker plays a significant role in this game to say the least. It allows the player to manipulate the wind in the direction the player wishes to travel in whilst sailing and even allows for teleportation once that ability has been uncovered. Dungeon puzzles and controlling other characters or certain statues is another useful trait that allows it to deepen gameplay further. Links not the Hero Of Winds for nothing, you'll be needing it an awful lot on the open waves.
Whilst you'll be sailing around a lot don't worry the dungeons are there to be found and evil bosses there to be vanquished. The Boss battles are on a massive scale and offer some of the most impressive visual sights. But for most experienced gamers, they might pose more as a memorable foe than a difficult one. Whilst the game offers some challenge puzzle wise as always the case with Zelda, its not easy for long time gamers to see the dreaded game over screen. Once you get yourself a few extra hearts many wont ever likely see it at all. Certainly its the easiest Zelda title I’ve encountered but definitely not the easiest game I’ve seen by a long way.
Most enjoyable was the games references to the Hero of Time and indeed the events of Ocarina of Time. Whilst not holding the look of that game it certainly embodies a lot of its qualities and furthermore raises a lot of smiles. I won't ruin the exact details but every now and then the hints of Hyrule and the ancient Hero went along way to me accepting this as a genuine instalment of the series. Its a nice experience to see a piece of impact and legacy left behind by the Hero Of Time.
Graphics
You can't really miss the glaring difference in look to the last titles. Personally i prefer the more realistic tone of Ocarina and the newest title Twilight Princess further adds weight to that preference. Despite that however this is a beautiful game and is executed with a lot of style by the guys at Nintendo. The weather changes at sea whilst sailing are nothing short of stunning and i can see why they might have opted for this look as you spend so much time sailing. Everything is so impressive once you forget about what’s gone before and simply look at it as a work of art in its own right. The Bosses, the locations and characters look brilliant without question. Any other title featuring such great graphics wouldn't have gathered an ounce of controversy. Love or hate the style, its implementation is amazing.
Problems?
Before i state any of my problems its important to know i enjoyed this game thoroughly and this is really an explanation of why out of the four exceptional Zelda games I’ve known over the last decade or so this is fourth on my list. No hint of shame in that honour given the calibre of the 3 above it. Sailings not that repetitive when it comes down to it, its more the thousands of times you have to play the Wind Waker and sit through the animation for it unable to skip. I mean that animation was decent but even if it was the best in gaming history you'd become sick of it.
Its a little tedious having to get triforce maps for every single piece having fished the damn things out of the water to then have to go find the triforce piece itself with each map. Its enough on its own and only mildly annoying at worst. However having to pay Tingle insane amounts of money to translate the maps (individually) and having to endure his existence once more after Majora's Mask is unacceptable. I mean he's already despised enough by me after being so out of place in that game. Now he's a waste of money and insult to injury you released his sorry ass from jail. Thankfully Tingle didn’t emerge in Twilight Princess.
My last issue is that despite the fact the world is now mostly water, the Zora race is absent. A race of amphibious creatures absent from a game filled with water. Only a single ghost shows up bizarrely claiming her ancestor is a bird race. I accept weird in Zelda but this a massive lapse in reason. Why would water dwelling creatures evolve into air/land bound creatures? Its insane. They should thrived more than anyone or at least had an island to themselves.
Conclusion
This is a must own for any Zelda fan and i say that without any reservation. Its scope its story and involving gameplay make it worthy to sit among the ranks of those gone before it. Whilst not offering the difficulty of past titles it still offers an experience better than few can compete with. Mediocre this is certainly not, it may not be the best Zelda game ever but the very fact its part of such a great series means its still a great game that must be owned by all Nintendo owners. Now that Wii offers you the easy ability to play your Gamecube games on its console you'd best add this to your list of last generation titles to blow the dust off. If you don’t own this title, correct that mistake now. It needs a leap of faith for those who don't love the look but its got the gameplay that your after.
Advantages: Stunning looks | Huge | Variety Disadvantages: Sailing | Not too challenging
...is a key game in the shifting of consoles. Links’ first adventure on the GameCube has been widely anticipated for a long time now. Fans got a glimpse of what they thought was him at Spaceworld 2000 showing a ultra realistic adult Link. Interest of the game escalated with people talking of a lifelike world for the next Zelda game. However Nintendo decided to take a different direction with the much-publicised switch to the use of cell-shaded graphics. ... ...petitions and threatened to boycott the game. Nintendo, thankfully, didn’t listen and as all of the fuss of the new ‘Celda’ died down people became to realise that the new change of look may be just what the series needed. The Wind Waker takes place one hundred years on from the last adventure. The legend of the young boy in green who defeated the evil wizard Ganandorf has been passed down via generations and lives on in the minds of the inhabitants ...
3rdRockSatan 23.06.2003
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker (GameCube)
Advantages: A new part to the Zelda story. Disadvantages: Too easy.
...of a Zelda game for the Gamecube no one could wait for the game to be finished and to be released. However, when screen shots of the game were finally released at a later date something shocked many fans...the realistic looking graphics now looked....LIKE A CARTOON??!! This is called called cell shading. The Zelda game was instantly dubbed 'Celda'.
When I saw what the game was going to look like - i worried a bit. However, it was Zelda and I like ... ...I got a copy of the 'Limited edition' version of Wind Waker, which came with an extra CD consisting of 2 versions of the N64 Classic: Ocarina of Time. The package is simplistic yet good looking. Its a golden coloured package with a red Zelda logo and faint images of a young elf like person sailing on a small boat. Inside the case is the same golden looking colour and an instruction manual full with colour and illustrations. It is very helpful. The ...
benraiben 06.06.2004
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker (GameCube)
Advantages: Story, music, graphics Disadvantages: Sailing takes awhile, weather can be annoying
...Mask was released, Zelda hits the scene once again. However, this time, Link, his friends, and the town of Hyrule have all apparently had a makeover. The whole game is now cel-shaded, giving the characters and towns an interesting visual appeal. This created a vast argument around the world. While some people decided the Zelda franchise had gone kaput without even playing the game, other people, like me, decided to give it a try, and actually enjoyed ... ...will feel at home from the very start. Various Zelda themes have also been included that bring about a touch of familiarity. The game plays like a Zelda game, sounds like a Zelda game, heck it might even smell like a Zelda game. Zelda has not lost its touch; however, this is no ordinary adventure, as you will soon see.
Story: 5/5
~~~~~~~~~~
Sparing you the boring history (it can be found in the instruction manual), I will start you off at the ...
L4H4002 18.02.2006
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker (GameCube)
Advantages: good game | great RPG | dont get bored easy Disadvantages: life span
...good game, that is on the Gamecube, it is the only Zelda game that has been made especially for the Gamecube. It comes with the game Zelda Ocarina of Time and Zelda Master Quest, which is exactly the same as Zelda Ocarina of Time but a harder version, that’s all. Zelda Wind Waker is a new story, of the beginning of a new life for Link, a different world as well. You start off in your city, on a small island; well it is more like a village that has ... ...will have to do what the pirates say, and they throw him onto this island prison to free one of their members. Link has to struggle by all the guards before they capture you and put you in a prison where you can escape really quickly.
There are many good things about the game, like all the enhanced graphics, kick butt storyline and all that, but there is one big problem, it is the shortest Zelda game that I have known. You can pick up different ...
DBZKing 05.07.2004
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker (GameCube)
Advantages: Some very large and impressive dungeons, makes a good effort to break the format of previous Zeldas Disadvantages: Feels like it could be bigger
...to take incredible offence to the plot! See later for details.
Having grown up over the eighties and nineties I like to rate games on the four simple criteria that were to be used by magazines such as ‘Total’ when reviewing NES, SNES and original GameBoy games. These are: Graphics, Sound, Playability and Lastability. Obviously Playability and Lastability tend to weigh more on the final result but it can still be heavily let down by a poor score ... ...this version to develop on the N64 version and incorporate more lifelike and serious graphics. Nintendo have actually rolled the other way and made it what could only be described as cartoony. I think what one has to bear in mind is that the GameCube is marketed at children, (although, as a 24 year old, might I remind developers that there are GC Players out there who are ready to purchase hardcore grown up games.) The cartonny style appeals more ...
Briz_Hatchings 03.11.2003
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker (GameCube)
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Advantages: small cheap, made by nintendo Disadvantages: c stick on the controller
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