The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker

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The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker
Developer:	Nintendo
Publisher:	Nintendo
Designer:	Shigeru Miyamoto
Release date:	2004
Genre:	Adventure game
Game modes:	Single player
ESRB rating:	Everyone (E)
Platform:	Nintendo GameCube
Media:	1.5 gigabyte optical disc

The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker (or Zeruda no Densetsu: Kaze no Takuto in Japan) is the ninth game in the well-known The Legend of Zelda series of video games. It was the first game from the Legend of Zelda series to be released on the Nintendo GameCube. In October 2004, it became a Player's Choice title.

Game play

Nintendo did not revolutionize the formula of the series, but rather expanded upon game play elements found in the Nintendo 64 versions of Zelda. The various staple weapons, solving of puzzles, extensive exploration and backtracking, sidequests, dungeon system and the lock-on fighting system (introduced in Ocarina of Time) remain. In addition to these traditional elements, new gameplay features such as parrying enemies in combat (a context-sensitive attack), controlling the direction of the wind in order to solve puzzles, and the introduction of new items such as the Grappling Hook and Deku Leaf were added.

The game was relatively simple to complete for veteran Zelda players who knew what to expect from the dungeons and puzzles, and is considered as one of the easier games in the series. The overworld masks any loading sequences and appears as one continuous ocean, littered with the occasional island in a grid-like topology. Some players disapproved of the lack of any large land masses (all island are relatively small), and the lenghty periods of time spent sailing between islands.

Wind Waker also includes a massive side-quest called the Nintendo Gallery, for which Link must take photographs (using his Deluxe Picto-Box item) of all unique enemies and friends throughout the entire course of his adventure, and deliver them to the sculptor Carlov, who can make painted wooden figurines. With a total of 134 figurines to collect, this is one of the longest side-quests ever featured in a Nintendo game.

Once the game is completed, a bonus second play-though allows Link to begin the game with the Deluxe Picto-box in hand, and play the entire game in his navy pajamas instead of the traditional green tunic and green cap.

Graphics

A screenshot illustrating the use of cel-shading.

The cel-shaded graphics featured in The Wind Waker are an incredible departure from those featured in The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time, which used an anime-influenced art style. The game's graphics use a technique called cel-shading (an advanced computer graphics technique applied to 3D objects to give the game a hand-animated look), which was one of Nintendo's more controversial moves in recent years. When first shown at Nintendo's Spaceworld convention, the public formed two groups - those who embraced the new graphics, and those who shunned them (often using the name "Celda" to refer to the game).

Effects such as swirling smoke and licking flames are incredibly stylized, and add to the overall "living cartoon" effect. The anime influence is still present, and it is far more apparent, with a prevalent chibi style. The game's animation system is very developed, and characters move in a lifelike and very believable way, despite their somewhat questionable proportions. In addition, Link features an array of facial expressions used to convey the character's emotion (without speech), and the large eyes react to objects and characters in the world. For example, Link's eyes may follow a suspicious torch as he runs by, indicating it may be integral to solving a puzzle of some sort.

Upon release, the game received critical acclaim, with some of the highest ever review scores. The application of the graphical style was soon considered a relative success. However, many fans are still divided due to the cel-shaded graphics, with many claiming the game was overrated and too childish, and others proclaiming the cel-shaded look to be the definitive graphical style for the series.

One of the game's more impressive visual aspects is its draw distance; while not all distant objects are viewable, most islands can be seen as rough outlines even when they are a considerable distance away, which adds to the sense of coherency in the game world. Depth-of-field effects add a blue haziness to more distant objects, and there is an astounding area of sea to navigate- although this has been criticised as diluting the gameplay.

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, 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 The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time Master Quest (which was planned to be released for the 64DD). The bonus disk was also available to customers who purchased a Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker GameCube pack. It contained a platinum colour GameCube, Wind Waker game and the aforementioned Ocarina of Time bonus disk.

In Europe, the bonus disk was included with all copies in the first pressing of The Wind Waker. It supports a PAL 60Hz display only, and may not operate correctly on televisions which do not support 60Hz modes.

See also

• Legend of Zelda series

ja:ゼルダの伝説 風のタクト