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| Title |
The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker |
9 |
| Publisher |
Nintendo |
| Developer |
Nintendo |
| Genre |
Action RPG |
| Players |
1 |
| Version |
US NTSC |
Don't argue. Buy!
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When looking at the greatest gaming franchises of all time, one needs to look at Nintendo as being at the top of that list. While Mario manages to take the crown as the figurehead for the company, it is The Legend of Zelda series that most people, fans of Nintendo or not, would consider the real feather in their cap. But while Nintendo seem content with creating sequels and updates to their already established series rather than new games in their own right (Pikmin the obvious exception) they do so to a degree that redefines the way we look at games. While so far the changes in their series have generally been more cosmetic than in the gameplay areas, they are clearly feeling, why fix a problem that isn?t broken.
But no game in Nintendo?s catalogue has ever caused so much controversy and division of opinion than The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker. For this latest outing of Link sees him take on Ganon in cel-shaded form. Many were hoping to see Link in new high resolution as seen in the technical demo when the Gaemcube was first announced. On the other hand many were praising Nintendo for their courage to stray from the path of normalcy and alter the look of their biggest selling franchise. In this day and age of video gaming, risks are rarely taken, but Nintendo did just that with this new graphical appearance, but is it enough?
Before we get to the much debated graphical style of The Wind Waker though, some details must be given on the backdrop to the game, for while Link controls in much the same way he did in the Nintendo 64?s encounters, this is no ordinary adventure. In what could be seen as a strange twist, the land in which this new adventure takes place is almost completely covered by water. Various islands scatter an ocean that Link must navigate over in order to further his quest. Gone are the lush fields and running over land from place to place, and now Link must sail his boat with the aid of the wind. For it?s not just a clever name, there is a great deal of wind involved in this game.
Early on in the adventure Link is presented with The Wind Waker, which is this game?s equivalent to he previous games? ocarina. In this case it takes the form of a conductor?s baton since Link now has the ability to conduct the wind to form music. You as the player must first learn the songs scattered around the world and then use the C stick to play these songs. As before these songs have varying effects, but the first that you will learn, and also the most important, is the ability to change the direction of the wind. Since the direction of the wind in this game is of such great importance (most of which being that you need to steer the wind in order to sail in the right direction on the open sea) you will find that you will have the Wind Waker on one of the shortcut buttons the majority of the game.
The wind is really the only major difference in gameplay that you will find when comparing to Ocarina of Time. There are a few new weapons such as the grappling hook and Skull Hammer (which looks fantastic by the way) but on the whole the experience feels very similar. But since this system is so crisp anyway it feels very comfortable from the off. The sublime control system and gameplay from Ocarina of Time is not only recreated, but also fine-tuned to perfection. Everything from the way Link moves to the rotational camera is just so solid that it is easy to see why Nintendo is at the top of the food chain when it comes to creating games for pure gameplay.
The story is actually, for once, a direct sequel to that of Ocarina of Time. Set some thousands of years after the N64 game, you take Link on a quest that will have him meet some familiar faces and many new ones. But since this is actually a sequel instead of a completely new story there are at times a more cinematic feel to the way the story is told. For me, the stories of the previous games have been of little consequence, only really being there to move the gameplay along. But with the new Gamecube version there has been a lot of emphasis placed on the plotline and you feel yourself getting wrapped up in what?s going on, the consequences of actions taken during the game by various characters, and a strong sense of nostalgia as events relating to past experiences unfurl before you.
And that has always been a strong factor in the enjoyment of Zelda games I feel. It?s the feeling that you are experiencing a new piece of a game that you once loved. For me A Link to the Past has always been my Zelda of choice, so when instances that hark back to that game appeared in Ocarina of Time (such as music) it would send chills down my spine. Yet the chain continues and the nostalgia rears its beautiful head once again, but this time through events and feelings that allude to Ocarina.
But the game isn?t perfect. No, while the control system is absolutely spot on, it does feel at time that the game is stretched out thin. The story may seem epic of sorts; the actual game is really quite short. As there are only a few major islands in the ocean there is not a lot of the primary storyline to go around. At the beginning of the game you will find that you will do dungeon after dungeon and things will feel like they are going along at a good pace, yet about half way through things seem to die down somewhat and you are left to your own devices if you want to make the game last a little longer. I am all for exploration and side quests, but when you are forced to take these and search these out for hours on end with the knowledge that if you go ahead with the next major plotline you will not have very much left. I would have liked to have seen a bit more care and time paid to this area. A Link to the Past had it?s Dark World, Ocarina had it?s future, yet Wind Waker has nothing to extend it?s life. This is a disappointment as through past experiences it?s something we?ve come to expect. Still, the actual dungeons, while not exactly difficult, are the most fun of any of the previous games in the series.
Graphically the game shines like a bright star. Many have been opposed to the cel-shaded Zelda but I have always been for it knowing the Nintendo would utilise it to full effect. For the graphics are not just there to make people go ?ooh?, they are functional. Due to the style of the gameplay, it?s important that the graphics match this, and they do perfectly. One could only feel that had the technology been available before, Miyamoto-san would have also used it for the previous game also. For the believers and the doubters though, both will be impressed by how this game looks. It?s not on the same scale as say, Metroid Prime, but since it has a style that is all it?s own, it doesn?t need to be. The animation, particularly of the hog soldiers and dungeon bosses is tremendous, the look and style of such elements as dust and smoke is fantastic and the facial expressions on Link?s face as he performs the numerous tasks are priceless. It all adds up to create an experience unlike any other and the graphics are used to purposely enhance the gameplay ? something that many developers don?t seem to be able to grasp the concept of.
This quality is also carried over to the sound and music. The small voice samples used by the characters through the game are perhaps the best I have ever heard. When coupled with the text and visuals they bring together a humour that is absolutely sublime. How anyone cannot burst into fits of laughter as they watch and listen as the various games masters (with their various cut out mask boards) perform their shows I don?t know. I cannot stress enough how much I love the humour and overall style of the characterisation in this game, and it just wouldn?t be the same if it weren?t for the great samples.
Musically, this is as good as Zelda has ever been, surpassing anything before it. The game cleverly combines samples from previous games, yet there is enough original music to make you feel you are playing a new game in the same universe as before. The nostalgia factor mentioned above is also mainly down to this musical edge. But it\'s not all all out fanfares and heroic music. Subtle ambience is created while sailing the ocean seas at night and the music fades off to only leave the calming sounds of the ocean.
This is the game that every Gamecube owner and player biding their time on which next-gen console to get has been waiting for. There?s no doubt that this game will sell more console than any other on the system, but is it what we were all waiting for? Well in some cases yes, yet in others no. I think if there were more substance to the game in terms of dungeons and less sailing/treasure hunting (which nine times out of ten is usually rupees ? a major annoyance if you are at your full capacity) during the second half of the game then it would be up there as the best Zelda game to date. As it stands I think it has enough to be classed equal to Ocarina but in my estimation doesn?t surpass Link to the Past. Still, most consider Ocarina to be the best ever, so I?m sure they will not be too disappointed with this. It may not last as long as Ocarina and many may be expecting something else, but when playing The Wind Waker you must not constantly compare it to previous games and enjoy it for the game that it is. Only then can you truly appreciate its brilliance. My only hope is that Nintendo extend the longevity and puzzle difficulty in the next iteration.
Despite all this it is a must buy no matter what your thoughts on the style are. If you own a Gamecube then you MUST own this title. It?s as much as a must own as Metroid Prime and could well be the lifeline that Nintendo seem to be needing in this hard fought console war.
I recommend you buy this game now!
Seth Powell |
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