The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker

"Bottom line: One of the best games I've ever played"

I could write a brief history of the Zelda series detailing the characters and plot, but with a name as big as Zelda this is hardly necessary.

Gameplay: 10/10

This category shines with utter distinguish. The classic Zelda gameplay has returned once again and is in its complete glory.

Perhaps the most attention grabbing aspect of the game is the new form of travel which you use to travel the mostly water filled world. Link now has a talking boat, which he uses to sail across the vast overworld. The wind plays a major role in this, which you are able to control with a particular instrument acquired early in the game. Sailing might be referred to as tedious, considering the size of the world and the constant need to change wind directions, however it does create a vivid sense of exploration quite unique to the genre. It becomes much easier later in the game, when you gain the ability to “warp” around the map. Sailing is vital in your quest and you will need to use it quite frequently to find treasure and most importantly progress through the game.

Immediately when you start a new game you will notice a screen setup very similar to Ocarina of Time. In the top right is a button layout corresponding to the item assigned to either X, Y, or Z. Ocarina of Time fans will instantly recognize this feel and execute it with effortlessness. The importance of items is drastic once again as in most of the previous games. As you progress through the game you will collect more items and weapons which will allow you to continue your progress. Many classic items have returned like bombs and the boomerang, but along with these are several new additions, such as specific items needed for sailing. One particular item of recognition is the Wind Waker. It is a baton that Link manipulates to conduct songs of the wind. It is what some call the equivalent of the ocarina, however it is much less flexible in terms of what is able to be done with it. Throughout your journey you will learn a total of 6 songs which have various effects when played.

The improved combat system does nothing but help the game. Link is now able to hit enemies multiple times in sequence forming desired combos. Link also has the ability to parry, which is sort of a pre-emptive attack that has a special animation which is activated by tapping A prior to an enemy attack. This is great new feature but it does significantly decrease the difficulty of the game. The difficulty is one of the drawbacks of the game, however. You will be able to progress through the dungeons and defeat bosses with ease. Dying is very rare, if ever.

While the difficulty and “tedious” sailing might be considered drawbacks to the otherwise flawless gameplay, the new improvements and items greatly compensate for it's minor flaws.

Story: 10/10

The Wind Waker takes place 100 years after Ocarina of Time. Do not let the surface of the game fool you. The story goes much deeper than the outward appearance of saving your sister. Without revealing too much of the plot, it is safe to say that this is the true sequel to Ocarina of Time. Many questions are answered and several plot holes are filled. In short, the story is exceptionally done. It may take a little while to get into, but as the game progresses you delve deeper into the epic story of Hyrule and the Triforce. It is tempting to reveal more about the plot, but you will have to play the game for yourself.

Audio
-Music: 7/10

A small disappointment of the game. Most of the tracks are remixed themes and songs from Ocarina of Time. This may be a good thing for some, but it would have been nice to hear more variation and some new tunes. One particular big disappointment is that the classic Zelda Overworld Theme does not make a debut in The Wind Waker. The overworld contains a distant remix of it, similar to OoT, but it does not convey the classic feel of the Zelda overworld.

Other than these flaws, the music is for the most part well done, if a little too “cheery”. The dynamic battle music is quite impressive, and hopefully should be utilized in the future by other games.

-Sound: 9/10

The sound effects and short voice clips are well done. As you are sailing the sea and can hear the seagulls in the distance as the waves crash against your boat, you really get a sense that you are at sea. Enemies have unique sounds, and the several sword clangs and slash effects are also a nice touch. Overall a superb job.

Graphics: 8/10

Perhaps the most controversial issue ever aroused in the gaming community. After Nintendo's Spaceworld demonstration, many were let down by the new cel shading graphic style. While the graphics may not look impressive from media, while playing the game you realize that the choice to go this route is completely justified. The graphic style suits the game almost perfectly. It is difficult to describe in words how the graphics help the game, but once you play it everything will feel right.

The graphics do lose points for the technical aspects however. While the colors are very vibrant, there are too few of them. Many of the characters are composed of only a few colors. While this was probably intentional for the style of the game, it could have been technically done better. There are also several low resolution textures, which produce jagged lines. You will see these rarely, but they are there nonetheless.

Play the game before you judge. The cel shading graphic style really does add to game. While a few technical aspects may damage the quality, it is doubtable many will even notice these or care. The game does support progressive scan, and if you have the hardware it makes a nice difference.

Longevity: 8/10

The Wind Waker is considered by many to be the longest Zelda game to date. While there are only 5 five dungeons, there are several tasks you must complete in between each to progress to the next. Sometimes it will take hours of questing to enter a dungeon. The game is packed full of mini quests, which will take you a while to complete, most of them are rewarding in some way, such as a heart container. To complete the game and obtain every item, treasure, and heart container takes approximately 40 hours. Add to that the several mini games and an entire photograph “quest”, you will be busy for a while.

There is also multiplayer support, but this requires a Gameboy Advance and a GBA to GCN cable. Basically, a second player can use the GBA to play as Tingle, a mapmaking faerie. On the GBA screen a map of the area is displayed, and tingle can move around freely on it. He is able to use multiple items, many which help Link, at the cost of rupees. It is a very interesting concept and can add some play time to game. Plus, you will need to use Tingle in order to obtain everything in the game.

Overall the game will keep you busy for quite a while, even longer to get everything. Once you beat the game a few small extras are unlocked, but nothing that will really encourage you to play through again. The sheer fun and masterpiece of gameplay will be what makes you decide to play through again.

Overall: 9/10

In the end, The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker is a truly unique and extraordinary add on to the epic series. If you have a Gamecube, get this game. If you don't have a Gamecube, go buy one, and then get this game. On a personal note, I have not had this much fun with a game in years. Quite frankly, this is one of the best games I've ever played.

-Recommended on the highest degree-

Reviewer's Score: 9/10, Originally Posted: 03/30/03, Updated 03/30/03