Introduction:
The Legend of Zelda is one of the biggest franchises in gaming history, and it's incarnation known as The Wind Waker is one of it's most polarizing. Dividing fans into those who saw it for it's childish look alone, and those who saw beyond that, Wind Waker has since become a classic, spawning several direct sequels, being the target of Hyrule Warriors biggest DLC pack, and even being the artstyle of preference for most of the handheld games in the franchise since it's first appearance. But can this childish, colorful world live up to the expectations of it's fans? Or does it sucumb to a degrading half-existence, where everyone acknowledges it exists but don't really like to talk about it? Read on to find out, or skip to the end to see my verdict on it. Either way, beware of spoilers, and here we go.
How it Looks:
The first thing fans notice about The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker is how it looks. And, let me tell you, it's a jarring change from the rest of the franchise. Relying more in a unique little artstyle of it's own, The Wind Waker looks like it'll be a watered down, children-friendly version of the more robust games in the series, but to be perfectly honest, there is no game in the franchise as of this point that is more beautiful than this game, and yes, I'm counting Breath of the Wild. It's vibrant colors contrast and work perfectly in unison, creating a beautiful, vivid world that feels as mystical and lived-in as the story it tells. From the way the sea changes it's waves to the way the storms alter the reality of the world you live in, this game is gorgeous. Each character is hand-crafted to perfection, there are no repeat models for the NPCs, and even the new species added to the game feel great, like they have existed in this world for ages past. Although the islands that are directly related to the story are beautiful, the rest of the islands do lack a bit in the variety department, with several of them being slightly altered versions of each other. But this is a minor thing, so minor it's barely noticeable when playing the game. I could go on a ten thousand word rant about how beautiful this game is, but let's just put it this way: You spends all your time surfing around on the back of a small red boat, and at no point during this game you'll get bored of how it looks. No dark colors are used, except at night, and even then, the game is gorgeous. On a side note, Link has never been this expressive, but more on that later.
How it Sounds:
The theme song for The Wind Waker is hands-down one of my favorite video game tunes of all time, and I often find myself listening to it whenever I see the sea, which is often, since I live on an island. There's a sense of wonder and discovery when you're out in the Great Sea, hunting for treasure and traveling to and fro other islands. The music during battle is exciting and does a great job at pumping you up for battle, and the music for when the storms kick in and you're caught in a whirlpool is perfect for the situation, giving off a very peculiar feeling of excitement and dread. The music is on point, but so is the sound effects. When you pick up a Rupee, throw a jar, or strike an enemy, you'll feel it in your core. There's no sound effect more satisfying than running through a group of rupees and just hearing them all jingle. All the classic Legend of Zelda sounds are there, but with a distinctive Wind Waker sound, which gives it a very unique vibe. All in all, the sound of this game is gorgeous.
How it Plays:
Man, Wind Waker plays well. The controls are more intuitive than ever, giving more control during battle, or so it feels. Battling doesn't feel like a shore, and instead feels satisfying when you finally take down your first Darknut. The surfing through the Great Sea feels great, with a few cool mechanics hidden there for better navigation, such as quick-turning and jumping. There are a few items that work differently if the player uses them while on the boat, which gives a much-needed variety to the whole 'being on a ride' aspect of the game, and makes the boat feel much more like a helpful tool, rather than a means to get around. This game also makes you feel like all your items are useful, rather than letting you get some items that make the others unusable, meaning that even by the end of the game, you'll probably end up using all your items, instead of just a few. The game has a bunch of nuances and interesting secrets, and it won't let up, all the way to the end. Not only that, but the game has a very cool mechanic that I love very much, that I haven't seen in any other game yet: Link's eyes. Not only is Link a very expressive young man, that expressiveness is a feature of the game in the sense that it helps you, the player, find secrets. Oftentimes, Link will look at something, and if you pay close attention, you'll be able to discover what he's looking at: Be it a secret item, a hidden chest, or a pig. This game plays perfectly, and I found no glitch in the Gamecube version, even though I've played it for years.
How it Stories:
The story is explicitly a sequel to Ocarina of Time, but set a long time in the future. The story of the game is pretty straightforward, like most Legend of Zelda stories are, but it does a fantastic job of doubling back on itself to make you thread through paths previously passed without making you feel like you're back-tracking inecessarily. It has a few twists and turns you don't expect, more so than most other Legend of Zelda games out there, and it does a good job of realistically take a young islander to his destiny as the Hero of Wind. Not the strong point of the game, but it definitely doesn't lack in the story department, except during a portion of the game, where the player needs to find the pieces of the Triforce of Courage. At that point, the story comes to a stand-still, and won't progress until the player has successfully collected the pieces from throughout the Great Sea. Not a big issue, since it makes sense, but it's still a bit annoying to have to stop and explore, if you're more into the story and less into the exploration. It's a good way of getting the player to be free and explore, however, so it balances out.
Verdict and Conclusion:
Wind Waker is a solid entry in an already solid Franchise. Utilizing it's beautiful look to it's advantage and understanding what makes a Legend of Zelda game tick, this entry in the series holds it's place as my favorite game in the entire franchise because it does exactly what it wants to do, and doesn't take no for an answer. Do you want a beautiful game that you can sink hours into? Or do you prefer a good story that will surprise you? Or do you prefer intuitive combat with a vast array of varied enemies? Or do you prefer tongue-in-cheek comedy mixed with almost-fourty-year-old-men dressed in unitards? All of that is here, all coated in a beautiful graphical caramel that looks amazing, even now. In the end, if you're not a fan of the more famous Legend of Zelda fans, this one isn't for you. It's very much a Legend of Zelda game, and it carries itself with that same style, just with a little more flourish. This shouldn't deter RPG fans who enjoy a good game about exploration. My unbiased review of it is a solid 5 out of 5 stars, because it earns them. And, before anyone says I'm biased about it, if I HAD been biased, I'd have given it 50 stars out of 5, so there. Just, stop reading, and go play Wind Waker. I'll stop writing now, and go play it myself!
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