Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker

The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker is a Nintendo video game. It was the first Game from the Legend of Zelda series to be released on the Nintendo Gamecube and is set 500 years after Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time.

Table of contents

1 A new take on Zelda
2 Graphics
3 Bundling

A new take on Zelda

Nintendo's decision to render the game's graphics using a technique called cel-shading, an advanced computer graphics technique applied to 3D objects to make them appear flattened, was controversial among zealous Zelda fans prior to its release. It gave the game a look slightly similar to Japanese anime and American cartoons, while fans were expecting a more "grown-up" Zelda game featuring realistic graphics. That graphically realistic Zelda game that was presented in E3 2001 will actually be another Zelda game taking place at a later time. The Zelda game demo at Space World 2000 that were to feature realistic graphics would be another Zelda game, possibly a sequel to Zelda II: The Adventure of Link. The gaming public and even Nintendo-faithfuls were divided to whether the graphics would ruin the game or not. However, upon release the game received critical acclaim, and rating scores above 90% from most game reviewers.

Graphics

Overall the game offers realistic physics while not emulating the more serious 3D games available by using a cel-shaded appearance. For instance:

Link can shoot an arrow at a great distance and hit an enemy providing the aim is accurate.
There are weather patterns such as clouds, rain, sun and wind which affect gameplay.
When Link steps out of the water he is dripping wet for approximately 15 seconds.
When he reflects light with his Mirror Shield the embossed pattern is rendered along with the reflected light on walls and other surfaces.
While sailing the boat sways with the swelling ocean.

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 Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time Master Quest (which was planned to be released for the 64DD).