The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker

There are many games that have been given the titles ‘classic’, ‘legendary’ and ‘best game ever’, and most of the time is rubbish PR hype simply to get the dumb minded public to spend money on it, but I doubt that any of those 3 names have fitted so snugly on any other series than that of Zelda, Nintendo’s own, almost cult, adventure series.

‘The Wind Waker’ is the latest instalment of the epic adventure, and one that has drastic changes from its N64 predecessors - gone are the attempts at life-like graphics and in has come a new style, one which looks like it has come straight from the heart of a great Disney movie, and one which only true gamers can see the intricacies of.

Also, the cast of the N64 games have massively changed – in fact, it’s 2 main characters are long gone, as the game is set 100 years forward in time from Ocarina of Time on the N64, meaning that a new Link, your character, has to step up and become a part of folklore.

But you don’t want to be tied down with the storyline before you try and take on this massive beast of a game, and me trying to explain the plot will ruin a lot of great moments in the game, moments I would have killed for if they’d have been ruined over the net.

It plays like a dream, buttons become instinctive within the first 5 minutes and the camera is a much improved version of Mario Sunshine’s irritating self-control method. From the instant that you get your sword and first infuriate a pig, you know that you’re going to fall in love with this game. But when you first set sail, you realise that, just like a partner, you’re going to have to put up with its bad parts if you’re going to fall in love.

It just confuses me why Nintendo put in such an annoying element of the game to spoil the experience. It ruins what could’ve been a contender for the greatest game of all time. All the lands are split up by water, which you have to cross using your boat, and these boats rides could take anywhere for 1 minute to 5, dependant on the length you have to travel. The annoying thing is that in these times you have absolutely NOTHING of interest to do -sure, you could mess around with the camera or watch the beautiful imagery around you, but in an adventure game you actually want some action, something to test you and you don’t want it broken up by annoying 5 minute waiting times.

The game does have its ingenious moments however, and the game itself is littered with sub-quests which will distract you from the main game. One of which is having to take pictures for a mans collection, as he asks you to accomplish certain tasks for him, like snapping a heart broken man sending letters amongst a barrage of others, like playing Battleships, finding pigs for a woman and even playing Hide and Seek with a bunch of school children.

Solving puzzles and dungeons is what Zelda games are all about, however, and without them it would be just an empty shell of a game. Puzzles have you wondering for ages as you try to figure what to do with which box and if there is anything you missed. Although the puzzles may not be as tough as they were on the N64, they still challenge your gray matter as you attempt to solve them, and any other game would be proud to have such inspirational and revolutionary problems to be solved on their disk.

The game does have its humourous moments as well, and the first time you encounter the shop keeper you may be forgiven for rolling on the floor. Maybe it’s because he looks like on of my school mates, maybe it’s his high pitched tone or maybe it’s just because he’s plain funny, but I do cherish every purchase I make from that travelling boat-shop. The game also has its cheesy in game jokes as well, the kind that you’d find on any CITV or CBBC programme, but at least the Japanese giants tried to inject a little fun.

All in all, Zelda is a great game, and possibly the best on the Gamecube, but the fact that a huge block of its 30 hour Gameplay is sailing around aimlessly on a ship takes away the shine on what could’ve been perfect.

The sound on the game is as awesome as ever, and as morning breaks you’ll fill with joy as you hear its tune begin. Definitely a great, inspiring moment in the game.

As I have said, the graphics are a thing of mastery and, although creating much up roar when first seen, should now become necessity to the Zelda experience.

Gameplay is class, and as you wonder through dungeons, unlocking doors and solving puzzles, you truly will feel great.

4 out of 5 Pacs