The Legend of Zelda: Wind Waker is a masterpiece by modern standards. There are barely any flaws in this game, and not an ounce of fat. This is what video games should strive to be.
Let me start with the graphics. The cel shaded world is so colorful and vibrant. The gorgeous colors still hold up, and put modern AAA games to shame. Look at the Great Sea. How is it so good looking? I can feel the sea breeze against my face, the waves crashing into the boat. The water changes color, and we see higher waves deeper in and shallower textures towards the coast, which is genius.
All the character models are so cartoony and I love it. They let the characters show emotions more expressively and the overall design is just so damn charming. I love it. A really simple example early on - when Link is leaving Outset Island, the little facial expressions on his face and the Granny's face convey so much emotion.
On the same line, the themes in this game are fantastic.Link is just a child trying to bring his family together. He is not some pre-destined hero who is going to save the world, he just an older brother trying to save his sister. Residents of Outset island feel like a part of your extended family. Everyone is concerned about you and your sister, and try to support you. And its not just the people on Outset - the pirates, people on Windfall - you develop a connection with everyone in this game. Hell, even Ganondorf, but I won't spoil anything.
We cannot talk about Zelda without talking about the music. And oh my god - they killed it with this one. The Great Sea is such a fantastic track. You get that sense of adventure and grandeur as you sail the seas. For a game where you will be sailing a lot, this song is a blessing. Then we have Dragon Roost Island - we've got something upbeat and fun - really suits the vibe of the island. This game has one of the best Mini-boss themes, especially with the sword sounds mixed in with the music. And how can I forget about Grandma's theme - this almost brings you to tears, especially since the Grandma has been super caring and worried about you and Aryll through the entire game. Also, this game has the best rendition of the Fairy Fountain theme in my opinion.
Another integral part of any game is the gameplay, and this game does not disappoint. We've got the classics - the bomb, boomerang, and the hookshot, along with new tools like the grappling hook and deku leaf which make the dungeons and puzzles super varied and fun. The movement in this game feels snappy and smooth here. And combat is really great - its super simple but very satisfying to pull off.
Then we have the Dungeons. These dungeons are simpler from the older games, but I kinda preferred these, and had more fun with them. I love the atmosphere and theme of how a whole dungeon is an island. These dungeons have a larger sense of scale and size to them, but its not really possible for you to get lost in them, compared to older dungeons. And the checkpoint system in the dungeons is really really nice.
Speaking of dungeons, the dungeon bosses are a treat. You basically have to use all the stuff you learned in the dungeon to figure how to take down the boss, which is pretty standard, but the boss rooms and design are what make the fights even more fun.
This is definitely my favorite Zelda, and I really hope that we get a HD Switch port!
Let me start with the graphics. The cel shaded world is so colorful and vibrant. The gorgeous colors still hold up, and put modern AAA games to shame. Look at the Great Sea. How is it so good looking? I can feel the sea breeze against my face, the waves crashing into the boat. The water changes color, and we see higher waves deeper in and shallower textures towards the coast, which is genius.
All the character models are so cartoony and I love it. They let the characters show emotions more expressively and the overall design is just so damn charming. I love it. A really simple example early on - when Link is leaving Outset Island, the little facial expressions on his face and the Granny's face convey so much emotion.
On the same line, the themes in this game are fantastic.Link is just a child trying to bring his family together. He is not some pre-destined hero who is going to save the world, he just an older brother trying to save his sister. Residents of Outset island feel like a part of your extended family. Everyone is concerned about you and your sister, and try to support you. And its not just the people on Outset - the pirates, people on Windfall - you develop a connection with everyone in this game. Hell, even Ganondorf, but I won't spoil anything.
We cannot talk about Zelda without talking about the music. And oh my god - they killed it with this one. The Great Sea is such a fantastic track. You get that sense of adventure and grandeur as you sail the seas. For a game where you will be sailing a lot, this song is a blessing. Then we have Dragon Roost Island - we've got something upbeat and fun - really suits the vibe of the island. This game has one of the best Mini-boss themes, especially with the sword sounds mixed in with the music. And how can I forget about Grandma's theme - this almost brings you to tears, especially since the Grandma has been super caring and worried about you and Aryll through the entire game. Also, this game has the best rendition of the Fairy Fountain theme in my opinion.
Another integral part of any game is the gameplay, and this game does not disappoint. We've got the classics - the bomb, boomerang, and the hookshot, along with new tools like the grappling hook and deku leaf which make the dungeons and puzzles super varied and fun. The movement in this game feels snappy and smooth here. And combat is really great - its super simple but very satisfying to pull off.
Then we have the Dungeons. These dungeons are simpler from the older games, but I kinda preferred these, and had more fun with them. I love the atmosphere and theme of how a whole dungeon is an island. These dungeons have a larger sense of scale and size to them, but its not really possible for you to get lost in them, compared to older dungeons. And the checkpoint system in the dungeons is really really nice.
Speaking of dungeons, the dungeon bosses are a treat. You basically have to use all the stuff you learned in the dungeon to figure how to take down the boss, which is pretty standard, but the boss rooms and design are what make the fights even more fun.
This is definitely my favorite Zelda, and I really hope that we get a HD Switch port!