The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker turns 20 years previous right this moment; it was initially launched in North American markets again in 2003 on the GameCube. The sport was initially seen as a departure from the extra mature-looking Ocarina of Time and Majora’s Masks on the Nintendo 64, however finally it grew to become a beloved basic of the Zelda franchise.
10 years after the sport launched, it acquired a remaster on the Wii U known as Wind Waker HD, which improved many features of the sport comparable to higher graphics and high quality of life modifications.
Whether or not you select to play the unique model on GameCube or the newer remastered model, this can be a nice time to play Wind Waker to rejoice its anniversary, particularly with sufficient time to spare earlier than Tears of the Kingdom launches in Might. Listed here are all of the the explanation why it is best to play it now, particularly if you happen to by no means have earlier than.
Lovely Graphics
One of the engaging features of Wind Waker is its beautiful graphics. The sport includes a distinctive cel-shaded artwork fashion that makes the world and characters stand out from different entries within the Legend of Zelda collection. It’s laborious to imagine that followers of the franchise have been hesitant about this fashion when the sport was first introduced as a result of it has aged a lot better than most video games from that period.
The HD model of the sport takes the unique artwork fashion to the subsequent degree with up to date textures, lighting, and results that make the enviornments look higher than ever. These enhancements give the graphics a recent coat of paint, making the world look extra vibrant and detailed than ever earlier than.
Huge, Open World
Wind Waker includes a huge open world which you can discover at your individual tempo. Inside the first few hours of the sport, you’re a bit restricted to the place you may journey to, however earlier than lengthy the sport opens up and allows you to discover the islands of the Nice Sea freely.
The Nice Sea is crammed with secrets and techniques and hidden treasures that encourage gamers to discover each island. Among the islands have totally different races and species to work together with, comparable to on Dragon Roost Island and the Forest Haven. Different islands are coated in ice or volcanic lava and even have underground caves to navigate for hidden objects.
Despite the fact that the sport’s story progresses in a linear plot, the participant is free to interrupt up that linearity by crusing and making new discoveries in any order they need.
Participating Story
Like different Zelda video games, the story in Wind Waker includes a boy named Hyperlink who in the end is destined to save lots of his world. What makes it totally different, although, is that saving the world wasn’t the rationale why he set out on his quest; as a substitute, he merely needed to rescue his sister after she was kidnapped.
Throughout his journey to search out and save his sister, Hyperlink discovers that he’s the chosen hero who can wield the legendary Grasp Sword to defeat Ganondorf. Within the Wind Waker, the participant learns darkish secrets and techniques about Hyrule’s previous which might be a direct results of the timeline break up on the finish of Ocarina of Time.
For anybody who loves lore from the Legend of Zelda collection, this recreation is a must-play.
Memorable Characters
Wind Waker includes a huge solid of characters, every with their distinctive personalities and roles within the recreation’s story. Every of their backstories assist to make the world really feel extra alive and immersive.
One of many new characters launched to the collection on this recreation is Tetra, a feisty pirate captain who learns so much about herself after crossing paths with Hyperlink on his journey. Hyperlink is accompanied on his quest by a speaking boat known as the King of Purple Lions, who holds secrets and techniques of his personal.
Hyperlink has had relations in different Zelda video games, however within the Wind Waker, his household takes an even bigger function: he has a sister named Aryll and a grandmother, every of who play essential elements within the recreation’s narrative.
Along with the principle characters, there are tons of different inhabitants of the sport’s many islands that Hyperlink meets alongside the best way.
Difficult Puzzles
Wind Waker options all kinds of puzzles which might be designed to problem the participant’s problem-solving expertise and creativity. These puzzles vary from easy duties, comparable to discovering a key to open a door, to extra complicated challenges, comparable to manipulating wind currents to navigate by way of a maze or defeating enemies utilizing particular ways.
One of many recreation’s signature options is using the Wind Waker itself, a magical baton that permits the participant to conduct totally different melodies to regulate the wind and manipulate objects within the setting. Utilizing the Wind Waker is important for fixing lots of the recreation’s puzzles and navigating its many dungeons and obstacles.
Different puzzles within the recreation contain utilizing totally different objects and weapons to unravel challenges, comparable to lighting torches to disclose hidden paths, utilizing the grappling hook to swing throughout gaps, and taking pictures arrows to hit targets or remedy puzzles. These puzzles are a vital a part of the sport’s total design and contribute to its sense of journey and exploration.
Large Vary of Objects
Wind Waker options all kinds of things that Hyperlink can use to discover the sport’s world, defeat enemies, and remedy puzzles. This stuff vary from conventional weapons like swords and shields to distinctive instruments which might be unique to Wind Waker.
Important objects within the recreation embrace the grappling hook, which permits Hyperlink to swing throughout gaps and climb up partitions; the bow and arrow, that are helpful for defeating enemies from a distance; and the boomerang, which might stun enemies and retrieve objects which might be out of attain.
The sport additionally includes a vary of distinctive objects which might be unique to Wind Waker, such because the Deku Leaf, which permits Hyperlink to glide by way of the air and create gusts of wind, and the Picto Field, which lets Hyperlink take photos on his quest to indicate to different characters.
Enjoyable Aspect Quests
Wind Waker options quite a lot of aspect quests that supply gamers further challenges and rewards past the principle story. These aspect quests vary from easy duties, comparable to discovering hidden treasure, to extra complicated challenges, comparable to finishing mini-games and accumulating objects.
One of the intensive aspect quests within the recreation entails the gathering of collectible figurines, that are obtained by taking images of assorted characters and creatures within the recreation’s world, and the completion of the Nintendo Gallery, which entails accumulating these collectible figurines and displaying them in a particular gallery.
Gamers can even take part in varied mini-games, such because the battleship mini-game, the place gamers should sink enemy ships, and the public sale home during which gamers can bid on uncommon objects towards different characters.
Every of the aspect quests in Wind Waker provide gamers quite a lot of challenges and rewards, including depth and replayability to the sport past the principle story.
Inventive Dungeons
Wind Waker options quite a lot of dungeons that gamers should navigate to progress by way of the sport’s story. These dungeons vary from deserted temples and sunken ruins to pirate hideouts and historic fortresses, every with their very own distinctive challenges and puzzles.
One of many recreation’s most memorable dungeons is the Forsaken Fortress, which is the primary main dungeon within the recreation and serves as an introduction to lots of the recreation’s mechanics. This fortress is closely guarded and requires the participant to make use of stealth and crafty to keep away from detection and progress by way of the dungeon.
Two different notable dungeons embrace the Earth Temple and the Wind Temple, every of which require Hyperlink to pair up with one other character within the recreation. The participant should change between Hyperlink and these different characters so as to remedy puzzles and progress by way of the dungeons.
Fluid Fight
Wind Waker includes a fluid and dynamic fight system that requires gamers to grasp quite a lot of strikes and strategies to defeat enemies and progress by way of the sport’s story.
One of the vital options of the sport’s fight is its use of the parry system. When a participant targets onto an enemy, there’s a small window of alternative during which they’ll parry to circle round in a counterstrike, attacking the opponent’s again aspect. It’s one easy movement and is all the time satisfying to carry out.
One other key aspect of the sport’s fight is its use of particular strikes. Because the participant progresses by way of the sport, they are going to unlock new strikes and skills that can be utilized to defeat enemies and overcome obstacles. These strikes vary from the spin assault, which permits the participant to deal harm to all close by enemies, to the hurricane spin, which creates a robust twister that may defeat a number of foes directly.
Superb Soundtrack
Wind Waker’s soundtrack is extensively considered the most effective of all time. The music within the recreation is playful, whimsical, and stuffed with journey, capturing the spirit of the sport’s seafaring world and its story.
A standout function of the soundtrack is its use of dwell devices, together with the violin, cello, and flute, which give the music a wealthy, natural high quality. The music within the recreation ranges from cheerful and upbeat to haunting and melancholic, with every observe completely capturing the temper and tone of the sport’s varied environments and conditions.
Among the many most iconic tracks within the recreation is the “Dragon Roost Island” theme, which includes a full of life melody and tribal drums that completely seize the island’s distinctive tradition and ambiance; this theme would finally turn into a recurring motif to characterize the Rito Tribe in later Zelda video games. Additionally, “The Nice Sea” theme is a sweeping, majestic piece that completely captures the sense of journey and exploration that defines the sport.
General, the soundtrack to Wind Waker is a masterful work of music that completely enhances the sport’s sprawling, epic ambiance. The usage of dwell devices and numerous vary of musical types make it a pleasure to hearken to and add to the sport’s immersive and unforgettable expertise.