The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker review

 It was five years after the release of the Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time. Gamers around the world were anxiously awaiting the next installment of the legendary series. Recently, a screen shown at E3 displayed Link fighting Ganondorf in an epic battle with amazing graphics. But then when Wind Waker was released, it appeared to be more of a cartoon than a Legend of Zelda game; it looked nothing like that picture. Though many still believe this ruined the game, most agree that you can't judge Wind Waker by its cover: The cel-shaded graphics give it a new look, but there's no doubt that the feel emulates that of its predecessor, Ocarina of Time.

For those of you who played Ocarina of Time, you'll remember that at the end Ganondorf was plunged into a void in which he did not die, but was suspended for 100 years. For those of you who didn't, a short sequence before the game begins explains the basic plot of Ocarina of Time. When the game starts, you are sleeping on a lookout tower on your home, Outset Island, which is set in a vast Ocean; you wake to find your little sister leaning over you, reminding you that it's your birthday. After a series of events involving your grandmother and various island residents, a large armored bird is spotted flying over the island carrying a young lady. A pirate ship is in hot pursuit, firing cannonballs and the like. And of course, you must go save her - that is, after you've found a sword. After a few battles in the island's forest, you manage to save the mysterious girl, who turns out to be the captain of the pirates down below. You exit the forest, only to see your sister sprinting towards you, clearly excited about something. But then out of nowhere, the giant bird swoops down and takes her off into the distance. After repeatedly begging the pirate captain to take you with them and help save your sister, your adventure begins. The pirates take you to the Forsaken Fortress, a cursed stronghold where the bird and the man who commands it live. The pirates attempt to shoot you to the room where your sister is being held, but they miss, and you end up losing your sword. After sneaking through the castle by hiding under barrels and being taken to the prison about a million times, you finally retrieve your sword and encounter your sister - only to be taken away by the bird, who thrusts you out into the ocean. You are rescued by a talking ship called the King of Red Lions, who tells you that your sister is in the captivity of Ganondorf, the evil man who was thought to be destroyed a century prior. Your first objective is to find three sacred stones that will raise the Tower of Gods; this ancient citadel will help open up the path to the Master Sword, the only thing that can destroy Ganondorf. On your journey you find the Wind Waker, a conductor's baton that allows you to perform various melodies that control the world around you. With the help of the Wind Waker, you discover a stunning secret about the ocean and its many islands. You return to the Forsaken Fortress in a desperate attempt to defeat Ganondorf, only to have the Master Sword's power drained. The only way to restore it is to awaken the Earth and Wind sages, and guide them to the heart of their temples; afterward you must retrieve the broken pieces of Triforce from the depths of the ocean.

The controls in this game are much like Ocarina of Time, A being an action button (you jump automatically), B using your sword, and the C button used for setting items. The items are similar to those in Ocarina of Time: Bombs, Hookshot, Bow & Arrow, etc. However, there are some new items like the Grappling Hook, which wraps around protrusions and lets you swing; and the Deku Leaf, which acts as a sort of parachute, allowing you to gracefully glide across large gaps and even fly with the help of a gust of wind. The L button allows you to target, replacing Z in Ocarina of Time; however, instead of toggling on and off, you hold and release it to lock on and off.

The gameplay itself is very fun; a wide variety of areas in a huge overworld pose many challenging puzzles and battles. The world is a huge ocean consisting of forty-nine sectors, each with a unique island. The islands range anywhere from small, moon-shaped lumps with a single chest to giant spiraling pillars of rock riddled with caverns and even an entire civilization. Though the game is not as difficult as Ocarina of Time, it will still thoroughly frustrate you at times. But overall, the game is just fun and exciting.

One of the things that separates Wind Waker from most other Legend of Zelda titles is the change of graphics. Though the game is played in three dimensions like Ocarina of Time, this game is cel-shaded, giving it the 2-D, cartoon-like look to the characters and world. Some may say this downgrades the game, but I think that it is simply a new method of presentation, and looks beautiful.

Like other Zelda games, Wind Waker has wonderful music. It really fits with the surroundings, and make you feel like you're really in the game, garbed in green and saving Hyrule. Whether you're on Dragon Roost Island listening to the soothing wind music and harmonic finger snaps, or sailing across the ocean taking in a creative medley of the original Legend of Zelda overworld theme, you can't help but enjoy Wind Waker's music, and maybe even hum along.

Like most Zelda games, this one goes above and beyond in its replay value. Nearly every inch of the gargantuan overworld is filled with secrets and side quests. You can hunt for rare items in hidden mini-dungeons, play a countless mini games, and much more. And when you beat the game, you have the option of starting another file in which you go through the whole game in normal clothes, and you have the Deluxe Picto Box; this is an item that allows you to take pictures of pretty much every character and enemy (yes, bosses too) and turn them into figurines! In other words, the replay value in overflowing; it will take years to do every little thing there is to do.

Overall, the Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker is an amazing game that will not be forgotten. Even now, after they've stopped making Gamecube games, most stores still have copies of this game. If you have a Wii, or still have a Gamecube, get this game! It is a must-have for any Nintendo fan.