Classic Review: Legend of Zelda Wind Waker

• Platforms: Nintendo GameCube
• Publisher: Nintendo
• Developers: Nintendo EAD
• Genre: Action - Adventure
• Release Date: December 13, 2002

PROS

• Challenging puzzles
• Great story
• Amazing soundtrack (as usual from Kenta Nagata)

CONS

• Link is a small child (not as bad ass looking as Twilight Princess)
• Slow travel in the beginning of the game
• Some may not like the “cartoony graphics”

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Precursor       

Some of you may be wondering why I’m reviewing an almost 10 year old game. There are a few reasons:

• Every week or so I hope to be writing a CLASSIC GAME review. Some older games don’t get the credit they deserve. A game may be old, but doesn’t mean it should be overlooked or forgotten.
• I want to give some new gamers a chance to see what older games were/are like. Good action/puzzle games (Castlevania, Zelda) are easily drowned out by your FPS’s and Wii Fit’s in today’s scene.
• Why not?

Has it been that long?

The Legend of Zelda franchise is coming up on its 25 year anniversary. The first Zelda game, The Legend of Zelda, was released on the Nintendo Entertainment System in 1986. It’s a best seller, and is loved by many gamer fanatics today. There have been over 15 different Zelda games on different consoles since its release.  I’m going to talk about just one of those games: The Legend of Zelda: Wind Waker.

The Basic Setup

You play as Link and in the start of the game it’s your birthday.  You live with your grandma and little sister Aryll on Outset Island in the Great Sea. As a gift, Aryll lets you look through her telescope, only to see a giant bird drop a girl into the forest. You save this girl, and as a “reward” the bird mistakes the girl as Aryll and kidnaps her instead. You then leave your Island with the girl you rescued (Tetra) on her pirate ship in search of the Forsaken Fortress and to find Aryll. Your attempts at saving your sister are thwarted by a shadowed figure. An ancient talking boat picks you up and tells you all about the legend and the shadow man. The shadow man is called Gannon and he’s trying to take over the entire land. The boat tells you about Triforce shards, and that you must sail the Great Sea to find them all.

Game Play

The game play is very fluid and easy to pick up on. The controls are very similar to its predecessors Ocarina of Time and Majora’s Mask on the N64. The targeting system makes it easy to lock on and attack some of the faster moving enemies. The weapons are very cool and feature some new editions. Of course there is the classic boomerang, sword, and shield but they’ve introduced new and fun weapons never before seen in a Zelda game: the Skull Hammer, Iron Boots, and Grappling Hook (which is very similar to the Hookshot in Ocarina of Time). I really like the new additions to the game and I think it spices up the overall game play and fluidity.

The Wind Waker

Another item that you receive is the Wind Waker. The game is named after it so it must be important right? The Wind Waker is an ancient device that is kind of like a conductor’s baton (EXCEPT THAT YOU ARE CONDUCTING THE GODS). With it you’re able to control the direction of the wind which is very handy since a big part of the game is sailing the Great Sea. You can also control other things like fast traveling and having the ability to control another creature. The Wind Waker is a very important and useful item and if used correctly with help you complete the game faster.

 

Could It Really Be Better?

The honest truth is yes. This game, like most has its flaws but they don’t blur the overall concept of the game. Zelda games are meant to be long, and frustrate the hell out of you. So many people don’t appreciate the parts of games that are slower and not as exciting. There are too many people who need the fast paced, adrenaline pumping “Modern Warfare” or “Halo” game. Now, I love me some halo but there are times when I feel over stimulated and get so frustrated that I want to take my Xbox, throw it out the window, set it on fire and drop it into the depths of a Chilean Mineshaft. Zelda games don’t upset anywhere near the level of other games because overall they’re slower and take more logic and thought. I think Today’s gamers are too reliant on amazing graphics and realism. I think all gamers should experience a lot of different genres and styles instead of focusing on just one.

Are You Quite Finished?

The Zelda games have been a big influence in my life and I can’t remember not playing one. I really enjoy the cleverness and problem solving needed to finish one. All the games offer amazing story lines in themselves and there are no direct sequels so even if you haven’t played any you can still understand it. I really like this game and I know some people think it’s a weaker game in the series, and that’s fine, but it’s a Zelda game nonetheless. Do yourselves a favor and pick this game up while you still can. It will probably be fading from the shelves if not already. It may be old, but it’s not useless.

 

Comments

[Givenchy fashion shoes]

-discount Christian Louboutin Sandalsavid was in a two man break for 5km before the bunch sprint finish. Rohan Christmas also had good day out with repeat of his 5th place from Coolamon the week previous. S