I dreaded for the day this would come.... because this is my favorite Zelda game of all time. I am so incredibly biased about the Wind Waker that I knew it would be hard to think of things I didn't like about the game! Truth be told is that I love everything about it. This blog post may look a little different because it will more or less be things I like about the game, with things that it could have improved on... rather then things I didn't like about the game. I hope that you enjoy, as I have so very much enjoyed Wind Waker the countless times that I have played it. If you would like to see the Youtube video walkthrough I did, you can click here. Thank you!
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Synopsis:
Link's quiet island life is quickly turned upside down in an instant. When his young sister is kidnapped, Link goes to save the day! Link enlists the help of pirates to search the great seas, in an attempt to save his sister from her captives. Our young blonde hero has more then his sister's life at stake - he must also save the land of Hyrule! With the help of some friends, Link awakens as the Hero of the Winds and embarks on a great journey.
What I love:
1. The creators of the Wind Waker dared to be different, and created a colorful and fun art style.
Most 3D Zelda games (although all animated) have a more realistic looking graphic and art style. Comparing Twilight Princess and Wind Waker is like comparing night and day. I feel a lot of people don't like the extremely cartoony nature of the Wind Waker, but this is, in fact what I (nearly) love most about this game. It's so incredibly quirky, and sets itself apart from other Zelda games in the series. I see absolutely nothing wrong with bright colors and a more "cute" style for the characters. If anything, it made the game so much easier to see, and gave the game a positive feeling right from the beginning. Link's large eyes and stubby legs really gave him a lot of character, as he's small but deadly. Facial expressions were done very well, and because Link's a silent character, I feel they were that much more meaningful. I feel this game's atmosphere is built around the style of the game, and the two go so well together. So if you like your whites whiter, your oceans bluer, and your blondes blonder... then this is the game for you.
2. The game is easy to handle with a well implemented controller and camera system.
I feel that the Gamecube controller is the best controller out there to date. It fits in the hand well, the buttons are all in a great place, and the mapping just makes sense! There's nothing better then a game that controls well, and Zelda in general does a good job with this. It follows the formula of a lot of Zelda in terms of how the buttons are set up, so it's familiar to previous Zelda players. The thing I think I love most about Wind Waker is the free camera! Camera angles in this game are never a problem, which I think is huge. I think that it also sets it apart from the rest, as it's certainly been a huge problem in other games. It's especially useful when looking for chests or when you're out on the map doing free exploring. If you don't want your camera to be free, just have it focus back on Link and it will be a set camera again. I love not having to worry about crappy camera angles or terrible button controls.
3. The setting and method of travel.
It's too bad that the sea exploration part of Wind Waker seems largely unappreciated. I think that sailing as opposed to just walking around was an interesting twist. It was the first 3D Zelda game (now that Skyward Sword has come out) that dared to deviate from the norm. Because the game title "The Wind Waker" is about the wind (duh), making the game in a traditional "Hyrule Field" type of setting wouldn't have made any sense. Having your feet planted on solid ground doesn't exactly put you at the wind's mercy. However, being in a sailboat in the middle of the ocean definitely suits the game's theme of using the wind. You gotta get some wind in those sails! I do admit that sailing can feel boring, because there's not a whole lot of scenery on the great open sea. However, the game does compensate for the large amount of sailing with songs to warp and change the wind's direction. One can argue that travelling in most games can become tedious at times. Although some may find it dry and dull, I think there's something appealing about looking at the big open blue and feeling the wind on your face. Plus, who the hell doesn't love the King of Red Lions?
4. Your companions and main characters that are included in your journey.
I feel that the Wind Waker did a fine job of mixing in older Zelda characters with some new and unique ones. Classic and long lasting races in Hyrule like the Gorons, Zoras and Kokiri are mentioned, but are not the main focus of attention. This is a refreshing change from other 3D Zelda games from it's time (Ocarina of Time, Majora's Mask, and Twilight Princess a few years later). Some of the main characters are seen exuding some similarities to ones in the past, but manage to have their own twist on things.
Medli and Makar are both very important characters in game, and are both from two new races that Wind Waker created. They are both well rounded characters with their own quirks, and both serve as great companions later on in the game. Medli is one of my favorite characters from the game, and I just cannot imagine playing Wind Waker without her in it. Princess Zelda (as expected) appears later with an amazing plot twist. Her matter of fact and tomboy personality is the perfect partner to Link. Additionally, I like that "help" characters are not irritating. Tetra dropping you occasional hints throughout the game is something that is reasonable and manageable to deal with. I love the King of Red Lion's character, and the fact that he knows when to stop talking (unlike a certain blue fairy that we know) is nice. Wind Waker's difficulty level in comparison to other Zelda games is low, so you don't need a lot of guidance in the first place, and the companions reflect this perfectly.
What could be improved:
1. Rupee grinding
We all know that side questing is a common trend in Zelda. Rupees can be found nearly everywhere in the game, and yes, there are uses for rupees in nearly every single game to a certain extent. I will admit that even for me, rupee grinding became tedious from time to time. Because this game is largely situated around money, the rupee grinding carries on throughout nearly the entire game. If you're not aware of how much money you'll need at the end of the game, you can easily waste many valuable resources. By the end of the game, if you have exhausted chests, you'll be forced to hunt for money using other methods. Trying to fish for treasures in the ocean can be hit or miss, because you don't always know how many rupees you'll get. Selling accessories doesn't get you a sizeable amount of rupees, and grinding is a pain. There's no open field to cut down grass to look for rupees either. Although there's plenty of methods for gathering your much needed (and very necessary) rupees, it's not always easy and by the end you'll feel cheated.
2. Tingle. *angry face*
I'm glad that there are many other characters to make up for Tingle's character in this game. If I could, I would have left him locked up on Windfall Island, but unfortunately he is actually necessary in this game. Who would have thought? That rupee grinding I mentioned in point number one? Yeah. You have to give this jerk off all of your money. It's easy to miss Tingle if you don't explore around Windfall Island your first time there. Tingle even has his own very island, where he practices slavery while he stands there like a gigantic asshole. Tingle's role is to decipher charts that are actually necessary in the game. You'd think that him being your number one fan boy would land you a discount.. but no. There are 9 charts in total to decipher and Tingle charges 398 rupees per chart. PER FRIGGIN CHART. Case and point: I hate this rip off. I wish that he would decipher charts that weren't necessary to the game, maybe for some heart pieces or something. That way you wouldn't need to fork out so much of your hard earned money and spend so much time searching for rupees.
3. Lack of customization. :c
This really isn't a complaint, as much as it is a suggestion. I personally (maybe because I'm a chick) like being able to customize Link's look. I loved the tunics, swords, shields, and boots featured in Ocarina of Time and Twilight Princess. In the Wind Waker, there are no additional tunics available until you finish the game once. If you complete the game once and play through the game again on this completed file, you will get a change of clothing. However, you're stuck with this new outfit and are unable to change it. Although cool, it would be nice to have a choice between the traditional tunic and a more laid back look. The same goes with shields. You only get two shields in the game, and once you get the second one, you lose the first one forever. I can't complain though because it doesn't take away from game play and I can't think of a specific situation in which the cosmetic changes would become useful in the game. It's a bonus to Zelda games that I've just been spoiled by!
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End.
Phew. Alright, well that's it for that super long review! Because I feel most people don't love Wind Waker as much as I do, feel free to share why you disliked/liked it. I'd love to hear some thoughts, and I hope you enjoyed my review! I leave you with Zelda's super adorableness. :3
