Game Review - 'Legend of Zelda - The Wind Waker'

by Keayn Dunyan

There are few game franchises that constantly deliver and leave a mark on the industry. The latest entry, Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker, for Game Cube revitalizes the series. The Legend continues...

"Long ago, there existed a kingdom where a golden power lay hidden. One day, a man of great evil found this power and took it for himself, and with it at his command, he spread darkness across the kingdom. But then... just as all hope had died, a young boy clothed in green appeared as if from nowhere. Wielding a blade that repelled evil, he sealed the dark one away and gave the land light. This boy, who traveled through time to save the land, was known as the Hero of Time. The boy's tale was passed down through generations until it became legend.

On a certain island, it became customary to garb young boys in green when they come of age. Clothed in the green fields, they aspire to find heroic blades and cast evil down. The elders wish only for the youths to know courage like the hero of legend."

The first appearance of Wind Waker cast some serious doubts on the game. Nintendo's decision to go with a cel-shaded look worried some and angered others. Any who play Wind Waker will come away calm and delighted. Wind Waker not only strengthens the position of Nintendo and the Game Cube but it sets a solid standard for what could be the Game Cube Game of the Year.

The appearance of the game is crisp and clear. Even the nay-sayers have to admit that the cel style works. The colors are vivid and bright and help create a true fantasy experience, much more so than could have been achieved with a more realistic style. But this doesn't mean that important details are missed. Everything is taken care of from the lighting in the clouds to the highlights on the ocean.

Game play for Wind Waker is surprising intuitive. Anyone who has played previous games will jump right in with little problem. The combat controls have been tweaked to be smoother. Plus Wind Waker sports all the old Zelda tools, plus a few new ones, all of which are multi-functional. This aspect show how much time and effort went in this game. Link travels from island to island by sailboat, The King of Red Lions, and as a result the wind plays a key role in the game. The staples of Zelda are there, hearts to collects and rupees to find. Although that is not the extent of what awaits. There is so much more packed to this game. Of course there is the linear storyline, but what's great about Wind Waker is the fact that you don't have to stay on that line. Other islands hold mini-game, hidden items, and rupees.

As an added bonus, Wind Waker supports the Gameboy attachment as the Tingle Tuner. Our hero has the opportunity to save Tingle, a wannabe elf and merchant. Tingles unique skills can be hired to help our hero to help him is his quest.

My initial assessment of Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker. I thought that a sailing Link would be a poor premise for a game. I also thought that a cel-shaded Link was a terrible mistake. My original thought was that Wind Waker would be a pale shadow of past Zelda games. Still I resolved to give it a fair shake and let it fail or succeed on its own merits. I am glad that I did. Wind Waker is a solid RPG in a year that seems bent on putting out RPG after RPG. The difference is this one is worth the time and money, in spades. Wind Waker does suffer from a few problems. The camera angles are sometimes iffy. There are also some areas of high repitition, where you will be forced to either play the same song or do the same thing over and over. When these problems crop up, it's frustrating at best, monotous at worst. Still it doesn't detract from the overall game play. Zelda is a solid game with great game play. Any fan of the Zelda series will captured by the story line. There are often time where you feel like more than just the player of the game. Wind Waker draws you into a well thought out and a logical plot. If you like adventure games this one is not to be missed. I would continue to sing its praise but if you'll excuse me I have some errands to run in the land of Hyrule. By all means, buy the game, you won't be disappointed and I'll see you on the open sea.