After playing the latest Zelda game on the GameCube, you come to understand why Nintendo is giving away The Ocarina of Time for free. First, they remind you how brilliant and revolutionary The Ocarina of Time was. Two weeks later, they blow you away with Kaze no Takuto and make The Ocarina of Time look archaic and outdated.

I am sure most of the staff has trouble finding the words to describe Kaze no Takuto. The best way I can describe the experience is that it is complete. The graphics, the music, the story, the facial emotions, the control and everything about the game all come together in a way that simply cannot be explained. While most games take a while to get going, Kaze no Takuo engulfed me right from the beginning. By beginning, I mean literally the beginning when you press that start button, and get treated to that classic menu select melody. The game begins with hieroglyphic images explaining the legend, which is intertwined with a melody that pumps you up for the new adventure.

The control scheme is pretty much based on the N64 predecessors, and it only took a minute or so to get used to it. With all the hype on toon shading, I was expecting graphics that were very cartoony, but that is not what the game looks visually. The visual presentation is a hybrid of cel-shading and the realistic style that was found in The Ocarina of Time. Trees and bushes look realistic. Dungeons and other landscapes are breathtaking, yet a touch of animation is applied to everything. The light, shading effects, and wind particles are done so naturally that you will not notice them. The truth is that once you start playing the game, you will probably forget about graphics, polygon counts, textures, and just enjoy and have fun with it.

Despite being a new and different game, Kaze no Takuto is true to the Zelda roots. You still have your grappling hooks and boomerangs, but when you try them out in the new Zelda world, they are as exciting as ever. You have your classic puzzle elements like lighting Deku sticks on fire or finding something to hold a switch down. Then of course, you have new items such as the baton that can control the direction of winds, and a big piece of leaf that serves as a fan and a parachute glider.

The GBA connection is cool and complementary to the game. It can be used whenever there are maps involved like dungeons, towns, and the ocean. Basically, a map is downloaded to the GBA, and as Link moves around, the map moves pretty much like a GPS device. From time to time, Tingle will give you hints. Besides serving primarily as a map, the GBA connection also offers interaction with the game. For example, in the Taura Island, Tinkel will tell you to go to benches around the town. And by searching using the GBA, rubies will pop out in the actual game. It is nothing amazing, but rather cool. Who knows, it might be that you cannot collect all the heart containers without the GBA connection.

Although you can get through the game without too much difficulty, I would not recommend importing it if you do not understand Japanese. It may be painful to wait until March, but the story and dialogue are essential to one of the best gaming experiences that you do not want to ruin.

Kaze no Takuto is revolutionary in that it feels like a new form of entertainment. I felt as if I were playing videogames and watching an anime movie at the same time. Miyamoto-san's claim is not overstated - Kaze no Takuto is touchable animation.