The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker

"I'm just sittin' on the dock by the bay..."

The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker was one of the most anticipated games on the 2003 Gamecube lineup. Before the game was released, I went to every store I could to find a demo of the game. Of course, I was surprised in the direction that the game developers took for the new Zelda game. Surprised, but not necessarily disappointed. So when the game came out in early 2003, I eagerly snatched up the game and feverishly played through, trying to get the most of what this game can offer.

The story of The Wind Waker is essentially a sequel to The Legend of Zelda: The Ocarina of Time on the Nintendo 64. I like how the story attempts to create a transition between the two stories, which in turn appeals to those who have played the previous game. In the previous adventure, the Hero of Time eliminated the evil sorcerer Ganondorf. Wielding the Master Sword, the Hero of Time struck down evil and restored peace and tranquility to the kingdom of Hyrule. As time went by, the story of the Hero of Time turned into a legend. The people of Hyrule passed down the legend of their savior through every generation. But vanquished evil rose again to terrorize the kingdom of Hyrule. The people looked to their legend, in hopes that their savior would appear and strike down the evil once more. But the Hero of Time never appeared. The kingdom became shrouded in evil and disappeared over the passing years, and became a legend in its own right. In the present day, there is a small island whose villagers practice a ritual with regards to the legend of the Hero of Time. When young men become of age, they are obligated to dress in a green garb to pay respects to the ancient savior. You play as Link, a boy undergoing his coming of age ritual. His special day is dramatically cut short when a massive bird appears and snatches up his younger sister. Desperate to get his loved one back safely, Link sets out on the open sea. But Link’s quest will become far more important than simply saving his sister. His quest will lead him into the very heart of an evil that has gripped the land for so long.

The basic game formula of The Wind Waker has not changed much from its predecessor. The main goal of the game is to navigate through different dungeons and find new items and weapons. As far as the basic goals of the game, nothing has changed. Thankfully, Link is much more fluid in movement this time around. You can perform multiple sword combos when attack your enemies. Link is faster and stronger overall. Also, the superb targeting system has been implemented in this game. You can lock on to an enemy’s body, but still have a full view of Link as he prepares his attack. The targeting feature allows for easier navigation through the various areas. Overall, the battle setup is exactly the same as its predecessors. Anyone who’s played Ocarina of Time or Majora’s Mask will be completely familiar with the controls in The Wind Waker.

However, there is one glaringly obvious change with this new game: the vast ocean that covers the old kingdom of Hyrule. The absence of massive landforms can lose its appeal quickly if you don’t have the patience for it. Instead of the great kingdom of Hyrule, where you can ride your trusty horse, you are presented with an endless ocean. There’s certainly no horseback riding to be found in this game. Instead, you have to brave the rough seas by traveling in a tiny boat called the King of Red Lions. You must equip a sail to the boat and travel according to the direction of the wind. The concept is a quaint throwback to the olden days of sea exploration, but it may turn some gamers off by its monotony. I actually enjoyed sailing around the great sea; the unchanging ocean scene was great for getting rid of stress. Sure, you’re not traveling through some great land, but does that really take away from the enjoyment of going through the landscape? In the end, sailing requires just a bit of patience on the part of the gamer.

So if you’re traveling at the mercy of the wind currents, what’s to stop you from being blown around in a random direction? The Wind Waker solves the problem nicely. The Ocarina of Time allowed Link to travel through time during separate eras of Hyrule’s history. But, like the Hero of Time, the Ocarina vanished without a trace. In its place, you are presented with the Wind Waker. The Wind Waker is a magical conductor’s stick. When you use the Wind Waker to play a certain melody, you gain control of the wind itself. Is your next destination in the opposite direction of the current wind flow? Simply take out the wind Waker, play a tune, and change the direction of the wind. Soon, you’re blown quickly toward your destination. However, the control of the wind isn’t limited to only sailing. If you need to cross a large chasm, change the direction of the wind to help carry you across safely. If you need to unlock certain parts of dungeons or communicate with certain characters, the Wind Waker is your tool.

Aside from the Wind Waker, there are a few new items to be found in this game. Slaughtered enemies drop much more rewards than in previous games. This game was one of the first Gamecube games to have a Gameboy Advance connectivity feature. Sure, it may seem like a greedy marketing ploy, but it is completely unnecessary for your success in the game. Connecting with the Gameboy Advance just allows you access to various items if you’re running low. But with the abundance of pickups in this game, you’ll probably never need it. Also, Link can use a Grappling Hook to gain access to different areas. All you have to do is line up the hook with something to latch on to. Link will swing back and forth on the rope, usually dangling over water or a deep pit. You can jump when you’ve gained enough momentum. Also, there are some old items with new uses. Those who have played Majora’s Mask will instantly recognize the Pictograph Box, which allows you take snapshots of everything in the game. But it’s not there as a simple item in your inventory. There’s an entire side quest that involves taking pictures of various characters, and getting them converted into collectible statues. Also, some gamers may remember the Deku Leaf, which Link used in Majora’s Mask while in the Deku transformation. Overall, every item has their own unique use and adds to the gaming experience.

While The Wind Waker portrays itself as new and enjoyable, there is a lack of difficulty present. No, this game isn’t horrendously easy, but it will leave many battle hardened Zelda fans scratching their head in wonder. This game is quite short by the Zelda series standard. There is only a fraction of the number of dungeons and bosses found in the previous games, most of which requiring little effort when it comes to solving puzzles. The game tries to make up for the lack of the difficulty through the massive areas of exploration and countless side quests and mini games. This game was no epic that was anticipated by the countless Zelda fans. But this game sacrifices difficulty for fun and easy gameplay.

While The Wind Waker may have some shortcomings, it has a superb cast of memorable characters. Take Link for example. He certainly doesn’t seem like the Hero of Time at first glance, but he does have the bravery of a hero. Also, Ganondorf’s character has been greatly improved from the transition of Ocarina of Time. In fact, Ganondorf has some of the most eloquent lines in the entire game. He is no longer a powerful madman; he’s a powerful madman with an appropriate personality. With these fresh characters comes a more comedic take on the Legend of Zelda. Link is really just some island kid, but he has a vast amount of courage when the situation calls for it. Tetra has an attitude, but she still cares about Link’s well being. All these distinct personalities make for a better and smoother presentation.

The Wind Waker stands out from its predecessors through the use of cell shaded graphics. The average gamer will take one look at the cell shading and denounce the game as “kiddy.” Many Zelda fans were expecting a brilliant rendition of the Legend of Zelda using the Gamecube’s graphical abilities. Maybe they were hoping too much for a realistic Zelda. While these graphics may be a huge turn off for many gamers, the cell shading blends well with the game overall. You can see the faint wisps of air as the wind blows throughout the sea. You can watch the sun rise and set against a beautiful ocean backdrop. You can see the long grass blow through the breeze. The lighting effects of the fire and magic are brilliant. You can see the light cast shadows on the various objects. The enemies are designed so well with the cell shading. Ganondorf’s robe flows with the breeze. My favorite feature of the graphics is the emotion in Link’s eyes. Link’s eyes are modeled in Japanese anime style, which gives you a better view of Link’s facial expressions. You know when Link is scared, angry, or happy. It adds much more personality to our hero, and it is presented well through the use of the cell-shaded graphics. Overall, the cell shading doesn’t take anything away from the great gaming experience and fun gameplay.

So, where does that leave Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker? It’s another in the continuing legacy of the Zelda series. It creates a new spin on some old ideas. Is this game horrible? Not necessarily. Maybe this game is just a bit easy and short. Maybe it just lacks from the high expectations of some gamers. But don’t let the flaws of this game ruin your experience. This game has plenty to offer to the prospective gamer. It has tons of side quests, mini games, and likeable characters. It’s really just a matter of your gaming preferences. Looking back, I’d definitely buy it, but I also recommend that you rent this game before purchasing it. See how the game appeals to you.

Reviewer's Score: 8/10, Originally Posted: 04/08/04