Topic: Our Wind Waker Memories: A Decade of Sailing Above Hyrule

[JusDBerube]

The NWR staff shares their memories of this, now, classic Zelda title.

http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/feature/35432

The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker caused quite a stir amongst fans when it was first shown off at Space World in 2001. Shigeru Miyamoto revealed the game to an audience that sounded shocked about the new cel-shaded look. The graphics were a vast departure from previous Zelda titles and from the GameCube Zelda tech demo shown at Space World the previous year.

After The Wind Waker’s unforgettable reveal, fans all over the world appeared split on how they felt about the game’s graphical art style. Some supported the new graphics and others felt betrayed.

A little over a decade ago The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker was finally released. The game has since been hailed for its creative art style and is widely regarded as one of the best games to be released on the GameCube.

Nintendo is now re-releasing The Wind Waker with brand new HD graphics on the Wii U. For this reason we here at Nintendo World Report will be sharing our memories of this, now, classic Zelda title with all of you.

If you have any memories feel free to share them in the comments section below for everyone to see.

[StrawHousePig]

I loved this one. The sailing could be a bit much, as well as the grappling hook / crane animation. It wasn't a dungeon fest, which was also a disappointment, but all-in-all a fabulous game.

No other Zelda game really nailed home the legendary hero aspect as well. Sure they all talk about it, but here it isn't just a vague prophecy.

And the ending... Jaw, meet floor.

I replayed it on a Wii and it's a serious lament that you couldn't have used the Wii remote to control the Wind Waker the whole time. I've always wondered since if that was where the whole motion control came from.

[ShyGuy]

I never bought it! I borrowed it from a friend soon after I purchased my Gamecube. He told me his toddler son would just sit and watch him play like he was watching a cartoon.

[Chad Sexington]

I never had a problem with the graphics.  Funny that now everyone (including the general gaming media) is finally coming around to the cell shaded style.

[Adrock]

I did at first because the Spaceworld 2000 demo had and still has unrealized potential. I'm not a huge fan of the character designs, but I like cel-shading. I still prefer Zelda keep the more realistic graphical style. The Twilight Princess inspired Wii U demo is the direction I hope Nintendo takes with the upcoming Wii U game.

The Wind Waker still has my favorite Zelda final boss fight even if it's not my favorite Zelda game. I only beat the game once so I'm looking forward to playing it again. I don't really need the remake, but I'm buying it anyway. If Nintendo rereleased Majora's Mask, I'd probably buy that again too.

[Leo13]

I was “that guy” I HATED the art style and therefor refused to play it. My best friend bought it and told me it was an incredibly fun Zelda game and that if I can just get past the art style I’d have a lot of fun. But I was a very immature jr. high kid and I couldn’t have cared less if it was a fun game there was no way I was going to play this game. Luckily I have a Wii U and I’ve now gotten over my problem so in a few days I’ll have a chance to try this game out.

[Ian Sane]

Okay so you've got the infamous art style switcheroo, the flooded world storyline that pretty much singlehandedly fucked up the Zelda timeline, slow paced sailing across a big blue ocean of nothing, and the Triforce hunt tacked on at the end.  I realize that this is actually the turning point for me for the Zelda series in that every game from this one on had some questionable game design element that kept the game from feeling truly special.  It's the first Zelda since I got into the series with A Link to the Past where my reaction was "well that was pretty good" instead of "HOLY **** THIS IS AWESOME!"  Frankly Wind Waker kicked off a rut that the series has yet to get out of.

But despite all that this still is a great game and I had a blast playing it and for any new Gamecube owners it is absolutely a must-play game for the system.  I think it speaks to the Zelda franchise that even the "lesser" games in the series are still phenomenal by the standards of other games.  Bitching as a Zelda fan is like a New York Yankees fan bitching that your team hasn't won a title in the last few years despite consistently making the playoffs and contending.  Us fans are so used to excellence that we expect the very best, not just "great" and certainly not merely "good".  But then I think Nintendo has something special with Zelda and should take great care of it.  It is so associated with quality that if Nintendo let that stray it would kill the commercial value of the IP.  Even from a business perspective it is in their best interest to invest a lot of care into it.

[Chad Sexington]

I did at first because the Spaceworld 2000 demo had and still has unrealized potential. I'm not a huge fan of the character designs, but I like cel-shading. I still prefer Zelda keep the more realistic graphical style. The Twilight Princess inspired Wii U demo is the direction I hope Nintendo takes with the upcoming Wii U game.

The Wind Waker still has my favorite Zelda final boss fight even if it's not my favorite Zelda game. I only beat the game once so I'm looking forward to playing it again. I don't really need the remake, but I'm buying it anyway. If Nintendo rereleased Majora's Mask, I'd probably buy that again too.

OT: Adrock, did you used to post in the old NChamber forums?  Your name sounds familiar.  My old username on NChamber and Teamxbox used to be "Metroids."

[Wah]

Graphics don't make a game, gameplay and storyline does, so i injoyed this one!
p.s i think you can tell i don't like long replys i just say what i want and don't bother about "stuff to support it"

[Adrock]

OT: Adrock, did you used to post in the old NChamber forums?  Your name sounds familiar.  My old username on NChamber and Teamxbox used to be "Metroids."

Why, yes. Yes, I did. I migrated to NWR after nChamber closed for the like 37th and final time. I remember your old username. The good ol' days...

[Mommar]

My memory of the game was skewed.  I loved the artwork but I remember my roommate hating it with a burning passion (these days he loves it...)  I could only play it in short bursts between classes.  I didn't particularly like how few dungeons there were, and I still dislike the fact they haven't added any extra in this HD remake.  The biggest thing that really struck me was that final scene where, up until then everything came off as a charming cartoon, suddenly became the most outwardly violent Zelda with that final battle/conclusion with Gannon.  And then watching what was left of Hyrule be swallowed back up by the ocean. 

[pololmejor]

I played this game when one of my friends borrowed it to me for about 1 year in late 2009, so it took me around 1 year to actually beat it.
The memories I have about it are pretty nice, I remember playing it for the most part on cold mornings and for long long play times, I don't know how it took me 1 year to beat it, but I'm really glad it did.
Also I remember another friend buying it at the same time I borrowed it, so we beat it together. If I had problems he would tell me, and the other way around, the best part is that even in late 2009, we never ended up on the internet... At least not me. I've only beaten it once and I barely remember how frustrating it was, I only remember the good stuff, but those memories are just too good. Can't wait to pick up my limited edition Wii U

[VickiL]

My bro-in-law hates this game with a passion.  Just proves me right in that my sister coulda done better.  The first time I saw an enemy go up in a cloud of purple smoke, I was in love.  I enjoyed sailing and exploring; my only beef with the game was that it seemed about four dungeons short.  Wind Waker had probably one of the most depressing Zelda endings, but somehow still so full of hope and optimism.  It moves me to this day.

[Sundoulos]

For whatever reason, I always associate the art style in Wind Waker game with that of Samurai Jack (at least a little).  Probably mostly because that series was going on at the time that this game was released.  It sort of had the same storybook look.