The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker

The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker is a Nintendo video game. It was the first game from the Legend of Zelda series to be released on the Nintendo Gamecube and is set 100 years after Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time.

A new take on Zelda

Nintendo's decision to render the game's graphics using a technique called cel-shading, an advanced computer graphics technique applied to 3D objects to give the game a beautiful animated movie look, was one of its more controversial moves in recent years. When first shown at a game convention, the public formed two groups - those that embraced the graphics, or shunned them. IGN had reported that opinions on the graphical style were split as many longed for the realistic graphics once shown at a previous E3 when Dolphin (later named GameCube) was first introduced. It gave the game a look slightly similar to Japanese anime and American cartoons, contrary to the graphic style of the previous games. Moreover, upon release the game received critical acclaim, and rating scores above 90% from most game reviewers. The application of the graphic style was soon considered a relative success. In 2004, Nintendo decided to release a new GameCube Zelda game with realistic graphics rendering, as opposed to cel-shading. This was due to the public's wish for the original graphical style shown at the previous E3 and the graphical style shown on the highly succesful Ocarina of Time game.

Gameplay

Nintendo did not revolutionize the formula of the series, but rather expanded upon gameplay elements found in both Nintendo 64 versions of Zelda. The lock-on fighting system, various staple weapons, and swordplay remained fairly the same. In addition to the traditional elements, new gameplay features, such as dodging enemies in combat, parrying, and the introduction of new items such as the Grappling Hook and Deku Leaf were added in this version of Zelda. Also, this Zelda is able to link up to the Game Boy Advance handheld in order to experience certain bonus features.

Though The Wind Waker was one of the most highly praised games of the year, many critics found the sailing from island to island to be quite tedious, and the length of the game somewhat shorter than the previous Zelda games.

Graphics

Overall the game offers realistic physics while not emulating the more serious 3D games available by using a cel-shaded appearance. For instance:

• Link can shoot an arrow at a great distance and hit an enemy providing the aim is accurate.
• There are weather patterns such as clouds, rain, sun and wind which affect gameplay.
• When Link steps out of the water he is dripping wet for approximately 15 seconds.
• When he reflects light with his Mirror Shield the embossed pattern is rendered along with the reflected light on walls and other surfaces.
• While sailing the boat sways with the swelling ocean.
• The Hookshot can grab more items than before, as it did in A Link to the Past.

Story

The Wind Waker takes place hundreds of years after Ocarina of Time. No trace of the famous land of Hyrule is present, but instead, the game takes place upon a vast ocean, known as the Great Sea. Link is living peacefully on his home of Outset Island, along with his Grandma and younger sister, Aryll. On his birthday, he learns of the legend of the Hero of Time (Link from Ocarina of Time), and is given the traditional green tunic in tribute to the hero of old.

However, matters are complicated when Aryll is kidnapped by a large bird, and pirates show up on the island. The leader of the pirates, Tetra, agrees to take Link aboard the ship and assist him in rescuing his sister, who is being held at the Forsaken Fortress. It is soon discovered that Ganon, who was sealed away in the Sacred Realm at the end of Ocarina of Time, has returned from his imprisonment. Link sets out to save his sister, as well as all of the Great Sea (and more) from Ganon.

Bundling

In North America and parts of Europe a special bonus disc was given out to people who pre-ordered the game. It contained a direct port of the Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time as well as Ura Zelda otherwise known as Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time Master Quest (which was planned to be released for the 64DD).