The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker (GameCube) > Reviews (61)

I’ve read mixed things about this game. Some people complain it's too easy, some that its too boring and there was even one guy who seemed 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 in one of the other two.

For this game I think breaking it down into these four categories is especially appropriate as there are certain issues with each that have disappointed Nintendo gamers. And then there's that guy I mentioned earlier.

GRAPHICS

It has been rumoured that many people expected 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 to children and actually gives the game that Zelda feel. Graphics are still well detailed with many characters displaying emotions. The animation is the same and characters move around in a good cartoony style.

SOUND

If you’ve got a plush telly like mine (I don’t like to make a point of it, honest!) you can get a lot more out of the game by turning the surround sound option on. The surround sound is really well done along with the sound effects which will all sound to your left, right, front or rear depending on where various monsters are grunting from. Classic, yet enhanced, Zelda themes are all in there along with some new music which hasn’t been skimped on either.

GAMEPLAY/PLAYABILITY.

Most of the game takes place in a world similar to that depicted in the film ‘Waterworld’, a large ocean with islands jotted about on it. These islands range from small little atolls and platforms, right up to 4 or so large islands with inhabitants. Very early on in the game Link is given a boat, sail and a device with which to control the wind direction, the Windwaker. The boat concept itself has been well thought out. Not only can it sail but it can also, jump, fire bombs and haul treasure up from the bottom of the sea. Generally the boat is used for exploring and getting from A to B and your feet are used in the dungeons. There is one dungeon though that incorporates the boat and it is a shame there are not a few more.

A lot of the game follows the classic Zelda format that has proved so popular over the years. Go to dungeon, pick up new piece of kit, use it to complete dungeon at which point the boss will give you a heart container. The dungeons did get steadily better right up until the God’s Temples which are the most impressive and well thought out dungeons in the game.

From then on you work your way through several small arenas and puzzles in order to find bits of the Triforce. Although this is a good effort to drag the gameplay out of the standard Zelda format and spice it up a little, many of the arenas feel tame and don’t puzzle you enough. When you finally get to Ganon’s palace as the last dungeon a significant proportion of it is simply re-fighting bosses from previous dungeons.

The fighting can incorporate a vast number of characters without seeming to inhibit performance. On some of the side quests you are faced with fighting thirty or so enemies in a 3D environment, these are arguably the most challenging skill based parts of the game and you are forced to use some of the more specialised sword techniques in order to survive. There is also a good array of enemies many of which require the use of special weaponry and techniques for Link to defeat them efficiently. All sword fighting techniques are taught to you by the game and can be practised on Link’s home island.

Boating around gets slow and boring but its that classic Zelda format at work forcing you to seek out a way to move around faster. Needless to say there is one and necessary clues are there to help you find it.

Nintendo have done well with the 3D viewing system, it takes a little getting used to but makes use of the well designed joypad to the max. Plenty of information is given by the game as to how to use it. I did find there was a problem with the 3D view and walls you are close to as sometimes you are left looking at the wall behind Link as oppose to the back of him.

Link also always jumps out of the boat the same side and this is invariably the wrong side when trying to get him onto land. Fortunately in this version Link can swim from the start and so does not use up any life getting to shore.

There is some debate over the text based communication but Zelda has always been like this and I don’t feel that speech really would have added much to the playability.

Overall there is a feeling that play is a bit limited. I have to agree partially with those who say there should be more land and less sea. I think the level of sea is fine but it would be nice to have a few more larger outdoor areas to run around in and explore.

LASTABILITY

This is a large game, I finished the main quest in about a month. Serious vegetables could manage it in a week. It’s the side quests that will keep you going for longer though. They’re not fiendishly difficult but take slightly longer due to the fact that you don’t have the game to guide you and a forced to be a bit more pro-active in talking to people.

If all dungeons had been as large and impressive as the God’s Palaces this would have added to the lastability. With previous Zelda games such as ‘A Link to the Past’ on the SNES I remember thinking over and over again, ‘is this game ever going to end!’ With this one its actually a bit shorter than you initially expect.

OVERALL

Finally there is our friend who is up in arms about the plot.

I read this guys opinion whilst surfing the Internet when I was stuck for ideas on one of the side quests. At the end of the game Hyrule is destroyed (sorry to spoil it). Our friend was most upset about this claiming that it didn’t conform with the whole previous legend of Zelda series that made out Hyrule was indestructible. As a result he had decided to dissociate himself from this game and stick with the other ones. Poor guy, I know I’ve mentioned a lot of problems in the review but they don’t make the game unplayable or unenjoyable. The plot is certainly not something I’m worried about. In fact I rather feel something that lets Zelda down in general is the dungeon to dungeon format, this game makes a real effort to get away from that.

Overall this game scores well and I’ve given in four stars because I feel its better than a lot of the stuff I’ve played on the GameCube. I also feel Nintendo could have done so much more with it considering the power of the GameCube. For those who haven’t played it on the N64, the Special Edition containing, in addition to the main game, two versions of The Ocarina of Time, offers great value for money and should keep you going for twice as long. Even if you have played it on the N64 the Master Quest is sufficiently different to warrant playing it through again.

FINAL TIP

When stuck one can visit http://forums.zelda.com/zelda in order to kick-start adventures once again. Or just run a Google search describing what your stuck on, for best results include the words ‘zelda windwaker’.