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There is no mistaking the fact that Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker, is an amazing, groundbreaking game. First shown at SpaceWorld in 2000, Zelda for GameCube has gone through a massive metamorphosis, and is now rendered in a delicate cel-shaded post-Hyrule world.
Those who bemoaned Miyamotos decision to make such a brave graphical shift can eat their words. The Wind Waker is the first game from Nintendo since Mario 64 that will amaze you with its bravery of development. From the outset you are equipped with a telescope and fully encouraged to explore every inch of the game world. Its almost a challenge to find fault with any part of the game, a really nice touch and a seal of quality above any review score youll ever read.
As you may well be aware, Super Mario Sunshine, the GameCubes original flagship franchise outing, was cobbled together from defunct 64DD code and that was obvious throughout the game. It was rough round the edges, badly finished and awash with filler gameplay. Zelda for GameCube is the complete opposite. Entirely crafted from the ground up for GameCube, running on its very own bespoke cel-shading graphical engine, Zelda is without question one of the games most deserving of the AAA moniker.
It is strangely more reminiscent of Mario 64 than previous Zelda outings and this fact begs a serious question of anyone caring to analyse The Wind Wakers content. Is it a platform game, or is it an RPG? You certainly play a role, but in terms of what one has come to expect from modern day RPG gaming, it offers nothing that ties it to the genre.
The development team, behind the backs of those charged with resurrecting Mario Sunshine, has delivered a killer platform game outing that knocks spots off almost everything that has gone before. In The Wind Waker, you do explore environments, and you do interact with non-player characters, but no more than you do in say, Mario 64.
Furthermore, The Wind Waker seeks to evolve the Zelda series, more so than any game released since A Link to the Past. It stays true to the 16-Bit classic, whilst taking the best bits from the N64 outings. Indeed, The Wind Waker feels a lot like its second-generation 2D forefather, and this friends, is a great thing indeed.
Its also worth mentioning that The Wind Waker represents perhaps the best reason to invest in a Game Boy Advance to GameCube link cable yet, presented by Nintendo in its ongoing quest to get everyone in the world to connect together its two machines. As you progress through the game, you encounter Tingle, a GBA-controlled fairy helper. An accomplice may control her actions, in a relationship akin to that enjoyed by Wizball and Catellite.
The world of The Wind Waker is alive with organic and meteorological happenings and really conveys the feel of a living, breathing cartoon ecology. The weather changes, leaves rustle, the sea churns with life. This achievement is one of the crowning glories of GameCube Zelda and is another reason why this game, perhaps above all others released on any system, perhaps ever, is a must-buy game.
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