The Wind Waker
The Legend of Zelda - The Wind Waker is the 10th game in the Zelda Series. Released for The Nintendo Gamecube in Japan on December 13th 2002, North America March 24th 2003 and The UK May 3rd 2003. There was great pressure for Nintendo to develop a next generation console for the market since Sega and Sony already had worldwide announcements and big plans. On the 24th of August 2000 Nintendo announced the new system known as The Gamecube, this was just before Spaceworld 2000. During the exhibition of Nintendo games for presentation on The Gamecube at that show the audience were treated to a duel between Link and Gannondorf with very impressive graphics. Nothing was said until the following year at Spaceworld 2001 were the cel-shaded graphics had replaced real time detailed graphics to "appeal to audiences of all ages".
A Long Lost Forgotten Hyrule
100 years after the events of The Ocarina of Time the hero Link is living on an island known as Outset with his Grandmother and sister Aryll. Legend is told of a glorious Kingdom with golden power. Gannon found the power and claimed it for his own evil to employ darkness until a youth dressed in green sealed his evil within The Mastersword. The evil sealed within began to unearth however there were no signs of the Hero. The locals believe that The Hero of Time will save the fate of the Kingdom.
How The Wind Waker Plays
The majority of The Wind Waker is based upon a vast ocean which made a new experience upon a Zelda quest. Hyrule is drowned below at the bottom of the ocean with its secrets. I hope you don't get sea sick because most of this game is spent out adventuring different islands using The King of Red Lions as transport. The King of Red Lions is the name of the boat used in The Wind Waker and also offers occasional advice if you need help.
The gameplay has adapted the same controls as Zelda games such The Ocarina of Time and Majora's Mask. Link walks and runs depending on the pressure applied to the joystick on the Gamecube. The lock on target system has been reintroduced to enable Link to focus on one particular point or target several items which is possible with the grappling hook. A new feature is the parry move which enable Link to wait for an attack and once the button flashes at the top of the screen to dictate an action you can perform an offensive move which is a necessity in the final battle, took me ages to figure that out!
The graphics in The Wind Waker are cel-shaded which despite critical comments allows for a more expression ate Link you can actually see a lot more movement in his face than any other Zelda game in the series. Take a look when you are snooping around the look of anguish or when a clue is staring you directly in the face yet your pulling your hair out Link may be staring at the object required to solve the puzzle. I think this was a refreshing change for The Zelda series which is what Nintendo always plans to do there are many similarities between the Zelda games in the series but they always bring something new to their upcoming titles.
There are dungeons amongst traveling the seas collecting items and admiring the beautiful scenery. Throughout the dungeons Link must obtain a useful item to help you along the way such as the grappling hook which comes in handy for swinging from pillar to post along with claiming objects such as rupees or hearts that would normally be out of reach without a helping hand.
The Magic Baton - The Wind Waker
With the aid of the mystical baton Link can manipulate the wind in any direction so that he can set sail for the seas and discover new land. Also Link may need the wind to flow in the right direction to gain high altitude when equipped with the deku leaf it is possible to glide along using the wind and gusts of wind to reach new locations. Quite early on in the game Link can obtain a pictobox which allows you to take pictures of anything in view.
The Legend of Zelda - The Wind Waker along with most of The Zelda games in the series features many side quests and hidden secrets that will gain Link a wealth of money, sea charts or heart pieces. Items have multiple uses upon this quest aside from the deku leaf being used to glide and blow a gust of wind to stun enemies, the grappling hook can be used to collect items, stun enemies, swing from accessible points and also set sail across the ocean The Red Lion King attaches it to himself to lure treasure sunk at the bottom of the ocean. It could contain rupees, sea charts, a piece of treasure or even an old boot. This makes sailing around slightly more enjoyable and the element of discovering new findings very reward able.
Exploration of The Vast Sea
If you are not using a guide and you enjoy to explore and discover just like myself once sailing across the ocean you will find yourself entrapped in a battle with the ocean. The sea starts pendulating around Link and The Red Lion King and a beast emerges from the eye of the storm this is your chance to battle against a big Octo. There a several of these throughout the vast ocean and always make sure you take these beastioles down as you can be rewarded greatly with a great amount of rupees, a new fresh heart container or doubling your magic meter entirely. When I first encountered one of these creatures of the sea I didn't know what was going on was really exciting, make sure you don't get swallowed up by the thing and spat out that can be frustrating.
Once you have completed the game there are some changes that you may notice. Link will play the entire game in his blue pajamas (if they are not then they certainly look like they are) from the very start of the game, Aryll wears a dress with skulls decorating it from the pirates, Link can now understand the Hylian language and you will start the game with the Deluxe Picto Box so completing the Nintendo Gallery side quest is more of an achievable target.
The Master Quest Bonus Disk
The Wind Waker came with a bonus disk and in The UK you didn't have to do anything except buy the game which is good for me since I never have enough points to buy the over ridiculously stars catalogue points system items from Club Nintendo, I normally buy those off Ebay. Anyhow on the bonus disk came some great treats The Ocarina of Time, goes without saying as one of the best Zelda games out there, and The Master Quest. A lot of people do not know what The Master Quest is and well I'll tell you since I do. The Master Quest is The Ocarina of Time except that the dungeons are completely different with regards to puzzles, the whole layout and the locations of the Gold Skullatas. Personally I don't track those down anyhow I cheat to get all the Gold Skulltas but this was the reason for The Master Quest for those whom have completed the original The Ocarina of Time and consider themselves as great for a slightly tougher challenge. This was the first time the game had been released overseas.
Spaceworld 2001 Footage
Once I saw the original footage of Link battling Gannondorf I thought we were going to be treated to something really special so it came as a big surprise when we got The Wind Waker. I thought the game was a relatively long adventure and there was plenty to see and do. Just when you think you've completed all the temples you are thrown another task to find the sea charts and there are a variety of fun bonus games to be found out there at sea. It was cool to see The Princess Zelda hiding with another alter ego and the pirates were nicely detailed characters too. Even though this wasn't The Zelda game that everyone was expecting I think Nintendo did a fantastic job allowing for an entirely different experience even though it is quite similar to The Ocarina of Time with controls.
Sounds: Beautifully arranged music, I really enjoy the intro on this one.
Graphics: Something entirely different but don't let that disillusion you it's still a Zelda game that will draw you into the epic adventure.
Replayability: It has got some surprises waiting for you once you have completed the game through once.
I Award The Wind Waker: 8/10
Facts & SecretsIn the Forsaken Fortress locate the metal pot on the first floor with your Tingle Tuner activated Tingle will tell you he has let his prices drop for Tingle things. In the final battle with Gannondorf if you are shy on health use the grappling hook on Princess Zelda and you will be rewarded with a heart. |