"A True Masterpiece!!!!"

The Legend of Zelda Series has always been one of my favorite video game series of all time! Ocarina of Time is one of my favorite games of all time!! As the series ages, it seems that games keep getting better and better. The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker is a true classic, and just as good as Ocarina of Time, A Link To The Past, or any other Zelda classic!

Gameplay: 10/10
The gameplay is perfect, I could not have asked for more. Most of it plays like Ocarina of Time, and Majora's Mask, which makes it fantastic. It only has one mode, which is of course, the adventure mode, but who needs more?? Zelda: The Wind Waker still refers to the original NES Zelda with the three games you can save, and it's still working fine. The difficulty is not to hard, and not to easy, it's just right, and just addicting enough so you won't ever put down your controller. This time around instead of using a horse on land, your on a ship(King of the Red Lions) in water. In my opinion, sailing around is lots of fun. They keep you occupied, and made an island on each square of your sea chart. Your Sea Chart is basically a map of the water, and you can travel from island to island and fill out your sea chart by asking a little red fish that will be swimming around at every island. This keeps you occupied when your making a long trip to another island, or your just bored(which you won't be!). Unlike Ocarina of Time, your instrument this time is a Wind Waker(get it, the title of the game??). The Wind Waker plays like the Ocarina, but has the power to control the direction the wind blows. Along the way, the Wind Waker will come in handy, and you will learn many songs on it, just like the Ocarina. Link also has many more actions he can do in this game also. He can slide against walls like a spy, pick up large rocks, and much more. There are also many new weapons and items that you will gather along your epic quest. But The Wind Waker doesn't forget it's roots, because most of your old favorite characters make cameo appearances, along with new characters. The enemies are actually very fun to fight, and each different enemy has their own different attack they use. Some are big, some are small, some are funny, some are annoying, but all are equally fun to fight. The bosses are slightly less difficult then in Ocarina of Time, but are still entertaining, and they may take more than one try to beat. The boss battles are also very original and exciting. One thing the Zelda series has always been famous for is it's dungeons and puzzles. The Wind Waker is no different. This game has some of the best dungeons and puzzles we've ever seen in a Zelda game. The gameplay in Zelda: The Wind Waker is entertaining, addicting, sometimes funny, sometimes suspenseful, but all around perfect.

Graphics: 10/10
I'll be honest. When I first saw screenshots from this game and saw that is was cel-shaded, I was not happy. I decided to pick up the game anyway, and while playing it I discovered "Wow, these graphics are brilliant!" Honestly, the graphics are not that cartoony, and they are indeed the best cel-shaded graphics of all time. The islands are beautiful, and highly detailed. The water that you sail on is stunning. The characters are the best part about the graphics though. Nintendo worked hard on every single character to make them look as detailed, and fantastic as possible. The facial expressions are also amazing. They made the bosses look creepy, and surprising to make it feel like your really Link, and really there fighting the bosses. The weapons and items all look good. The moves that Link does with his sword are dazzling. Another thing you'll notice is the great shadows, and reflections you'll see throughout the game. I did not find one single glitch while playing this game!! The graphics are near perfect!!

Sound: 10/10
Sound is an important element in a game. Miyamoto realizes that, and made the sound flawless! I found no trouble with audio in the game! The music really adds to the whole game experience. Whether it's the upbeat, yet epic sounding pirate music, or the classic Zelda theme, each song in the game gets you going, and is brilliant. The sound effects are also very well done. Cutting down bushes and trees has never sounded so good! The sounds of sailing on the open sea just relaxes you, yet makes you excited at the same time. The character voices are also perfect. Now, the characters don't really speak much, like all Zelda games, you have to read what their saying, but for when they do make sound it's great. I just wish the series would add some sort of voice overs, but I can't take off for that. The sound is excellent!!!

Story: 10/10
If I could go higher than a 10, I would. This is one of the best stories in any video game...ever! When you start off the game, you are told a tale about a hero that saved Hyrule from it's most deadly hours, and how he defeated Ganon over hundreds of years ago, and how the hero became a legend. By the time this story telling is done, your pumped to start the game! When the game starts, we learn that Link lives with his grandma and sister, but his sister gets kidnapped by a huge bird, and you must save her from Ganon's evil clutches. Along the way you meet some pirates, a ship that talks, a new form of Ruto(remember back to Ocarina of Time!), and many other characters while you progress on your journey! There are so many unbelievable twists, that the game will keep on on the edge of your seat the whole time, and you won't stop playing!

Controls: 10/10
One word: Perfect! The Controls are very much like Ocarina of Time and Majoras Mask. You can set your weapon/item to Y, X, or Z. B, like always is to use your sword, and A is the action button. When controlling this game, you get a real sense of whatever Link is facing. The controls also prove that Navi(from Ocarina of Time) is not needed at all for the camera. You are free to control the camera, and put it in any view you want. You can even go in to first person to see what is ahead of you. The collision detection is also some of the best I've seen in a Zelda game. It is timed perfectly when Link hits the water, grass, dirt, or anything! Perfect controls for a perfect game.

Value: 10/10
This game will do you no wrong! If you buy this game, which you should, you will experience one of the greatest games of the decade! Even if it is just one player, and even if it is just one mode, you could keep playing it for years, and always find something new. Whether its a new island, treasure, an easter egg in the game, you will always find something new! Nintendo made sure of that by giving you the camera after you beat the game once. Once you get the camera you could take pictures of anything, or anyone you come in contact with in the game, and try to take a picture of anything to get statues made of that picture. It is definitely a must own for Gamecube owners, and at a price of $19.99, you can't go wrong!

Rent or Buy?
This one is pretty obvious. If you own a gamecube buy The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker now!!! Do not even think about renting it, it is a must own for anyone! This is the best game available for the Gamecube! If you don't have a Gamecube, what are you waiting for? Go out and buy one along with Wind Waker!!

Overall:
Pros:
-EXCELLENT Gameplay
-EXCELLENT Audio
-EXCELLENT Graphics
-EXCELLENT Controls
-EXCELLENT Story
-EXCELLENT Purchase
-OVERALL PERFECT GAME!

Cons:
NONE!!!!

So, there you have it, my review of the best game available for the Gamecube! Why are you sitting here still reading it?, Go play The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker!

Reviewer's Score: 10/10 | Originally Posted: 12/06/04

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