Below are user reviews of Legend of Zelda: the Wind Waker and on the right are links to professionally written reviews.
The summary of review scores shows the distribution of scores given by the professional reviewers for Legend of Zelda: the Wind Waker.
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Higher scores (columns further towards the right) are better.
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User Reviews (101 - 111 of 505)
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A Living, breathing cartoon!
5
Rating: 5,
Useful: 2 / 2
Date: April 01, 2003
Author: Amazon User
The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker is the newest game in the popular adventure games. This time, the graphics makes it looks like a cartoon. I'm a Zelda Veteran and I don't care about how the game looks. I just like it cause it's a Zelda game and I like the puzzles that made the Zelda games famous. Playing a Zelda game is the most fun I had playing a game console.
Wow... ok, so yeah I liked it.
5
Rating: 5,
Useful: 2 / 2
Date: August 22, 2003
Author: Amazon User
I preordered this game, had it rushed delivered, tore it own by with me teeth and admired it for it's shiny goldness. Then I went out to EB and purchased a Gamecube (Along with Metroid, another cool game). I sat, drop jawed and google eyed through the intro music, loving every bit of it, intrigued by the story it set up. It was a wonderful set up and the music went right along with the dialogue every moment. The opening scene of actual game play was really cool, the overwhelming cuteness was beginning to choke me, though it was quickly relieved after the story hook entered.
The new graphics approach was really cool, i really liked the cell shaded, cartoon look to the game. It completely turned it around from what Space World had given us as the Gamecubes promise as far as Zelda was concerned. But this was completely different... and it was a really nifty difference too. The gameplay is basically the same as Ocarina of Time, but with a few differences. Camera angles can be changed using the C-stick. The direction pad maneuvers between maps, a clock and others. There is a kind of cute pseudo-Metalgear thing with Link through the game as well, crawling around, pressed up against walls, hanging and scaling ledges, sneaking around in barrels. Through the first dungeon you have to go through it without a sword, so sneaking around is best (and almost mandatory). There is a wonderful assortment of gadgets, a new grappling hook that can be used to rob enemies, hunt for burried treasure and of course grapple to certain ledges, the pictograph box has returned from Majora's Mask.
The one most unique thing that this game brings to the table is the world map (the sea). In ocarina there was the world that you walked across, or you could pipe up the ocarina and teleport. In majora's mask there were owl teleportation stations practically everywhere. In Windwaker... well there's the far less than appealing Baton and nonsense choir that sings, but that only changed the direction of the wind... then you still have to sail across the great sea to reach the next island. Every square on the map has an island and every island has a secret, story or just something really cool about it. Throughout the waves are sunken treasure, enemies, large enemies, puzzles and the occasional barrel/ruppee run.
The story has a little to be said about it. First of all it's a completely deviation from traditional Zelda... there are many places in this game, including the intro, that disassociate the main character (your Link) with the actual Hero of Time (Link). So... anyway, as well one can easily discern that you are in Hyrule and that it has been flooded... and that every island is just a mountain popping through... well I do not remember Hyrule having so many mountains... ok so there is this is not just a new addition to the Zelda series, it's a totally new ERA of hyrule... no Kokiri, no Zora, or Goron (not enough), no Gerudo. A whole new race of people, familiar names are twisted and distorted, and the one name and character that pretty much stays the smae is Tingle (AHHH) and there's more than just one Tingle too... Oh well. So there's a lot that's different as far as a traditional Zelda game is concerned.
At the end of it all, it was a great game still. I still give it 5 stars for it's flavor, it's fun. It was challenging, somewhat, not too hard but not easy either. There were many side quest types of deals that could keep you distracted from the main story line for a while. It was fun, in the end and I liked it. Of course after seeing Spaceworld's Zelda Demo I was expecting really awesome depictions of reality... but after hearing of the new cell shaded graphics, all my expectations dropped, I didn't know what was coming. But it came and I've played it several times over already. It's not a traditional Zelda, but then it doesn't have to be. Most die-hard fans that I know of hate this game just becuase it's different. I like it becuase it's fun and enjoyable. There's an incredible silliness to it and commical value that really gave it flare.
But that's my opinion...
[This game is suitable for young children of young ages]
Great for Both Kids and Zelda Veterans!
5
Rating: 5,
Useful: 2 / 2
Date: April 23, 2003
Author: Amazon User
Wow. I've played every Zelda (even the Game Boy incarnations), and this is another amazing addition to the list. Whether you are 10 or 100, you will be able to enjoy a lot of fun gameplay. Some of the puzzles are very complicated, but these are reserved to side quests and are not crucial to completing the story.
I have almost completed the second set of challenges after at least 36 enjoyable hours of game time, and I still have many, many hours left to complete the side quests!
The graphics are better than I had imagined, and it really is like playing a cartoon! Miyamoto has created another excellent adventure.
If you have been waiting for another good reason to buy a GameCube, this is it!
Beautiful visuals, wonderfully fun gameplay!
5
Rating: 5,
Useful: 2 / 2
Date: February 14, 2005
Author: Amazon User
I really do hope Nintendo puts out another Zelda like this one, cel-shading and all! Honestly, when the game first debuted, I was among those who cried and whined about the cel-shading and the 'kiddy' style. However, after having played it, I can say now that I regard this as the most beautiful Zelda game I've played. The world is gorgeous, the visuals are beautiful, and it's an absolute delight to play.
This title is a game worthy to be the latest Zelda installment on Gamecube. The story is tight and well-conceived, the characters are endearing, and it's done a wonderful job of taking serious situations and wrapped them in a veil of kid-friendliness. Like other Zelda games, it's fantasy, fun, and adventure for all ages. It's another story about the little boy who could. Gameplay is easy to grasp, as well, and like OoT, it starts off with some primer 'levels' to help you get started. So, by the time you actually embark on your adventure, you'll know the ropes.
The next Zelda game will go back to the style we're familiar with from OoT and I'm excitedly anticipating its release, but part of me wishes we could have another one like Wind Waker. Considering the drop in price, if you haven't bought this title yet and you own a Gamecube, now is as good a time as any to get it and experience it for yourself!
Wasn't too impressed... at first, but then...
5
Rating: 5,
Useful: 2 / 2
Date: March 14, 2005
Author: Amazon User
I rented this when it was a new release and wasn't too impressed, I too was turned off but the amount of ocean travel time. Then my wife picked it up for $15 at Costco this past Christmas and I gave it another shot. This time I got hooked and just couldn't stop playing! The ocean travel is not such a big deal IF YOU PAY ATTENTION. Hint: There is a way to "warp" around the ocean that you can acquire if you read the clues and do a little searching; once you get that the game becomes a whole lot faster.
This game is so full of side quests that I'll probably go back for months trying to find everything.
Like another mentioned here, the boss characters are pretty easy compapred to Metroid Prime or some other games but this game is more about the overall quest than fighting. (And I wouldn't call the end-of-game boss scenerio exactly easy. (Esp' if you don't look up any hints -figuring out *how* to kill some of the boss's can be pretty challenging even if the actual act of doing it isn't.)
A very engrossing adventure
5
Rating: 5,
Useful: 2 / 2
Date: September 20, 2003
Author: Amazon User
Look to the center of the console adventure gaming galaxy, and there you will find Link. Every heart piece you've ever collected and gem you've gathered, every block you've pushed and wall you've bombed open, every Dark World you've visited and 3D sword-lock you've acquired-all these things stem from Shigeru Miyamoto's incremental innovations in arranging adventure game 1s and 0s. This time, however, our Hero's had an inspiration of a different sort. Few things in this life have gotten gamers as riled up as the Great Kiddifying of Young Master Link; chances are you'd already convinced yourself whether you love Cel-da or hate him before you'd even played the game. For the cel-haters, no amount of gushing is gonna change your mind-even if you heard that the quality of the liquid watercolor animation rivals (heck, surpasses) Disney's best, or that the game's spirit taps into the same natural-mystical kid/adult crossover zone occupied by the finest films of Hayao Miyazaki (Spirited Away, My Neighbor Totoro, Princess Mononoke). For the cel-lover, The Wind Waker will be the adventure of a lifetime...a combination of vivid artistry and timeless gameplay that radiates magic shiny happy life light. Miyamoto's goal has always been to make sure that everything that goes into his games only serves to make them more fun...features lists and demographic data be damned. In that regard, The Wind Waker doesn't stray from the winning formula that's made the series such a smashing success. The Overworld still holds more secrets than you'll ever find. Dungeons contain the standard assortment of maps, new tools, and boss battles. Even Link's new baton is essentially a dressed-up version of the Ocarina of Time as you learn various songs to open doors, transport across the map, and change night into day. There are still blocks to push and chests to open-though all of this is handled with a bit more wisdom and a bit more refinement. The game features fewer "dungeons" in the traditional sense, but the ones that are here tend to be huger and more challenging with new twists (several of the more ingenious ones have you leading around another character, Ico-style, to solve puzzles). Later in the game, the notion of "dungeons" is all but overthrown by a series of wonderfully elaborate treasure hunts that are sure to tax even the most accomplished Zelda gamer.
The biggest (non-Celda-related) change comes in the way the Overworld is presented: as a vast ocean, set in a 7x7 grid, each square containing an island with something to find-a heart container piece or rupee stash at the least, an entire bird-person city or multi-level dungeon at the most. Each island is surrounded by tons of other stuff to tax your to-do list: some magic fish to find, some unexpected mini racecourse to traverse, some shark to kill, some random treasure trove to yank up from the brine. In many ways, the structure resembles Westwood's underappreciated Pirates: The Legend of Black Kat. While trekking between islands threatens to become tedious, there's always a million somethings to do on the way if you're so inclined-treasure maps to decipher, giant squids to encounter, submarines to pilfer, Great Fairies to free. Even so, the game's surprisingly non-linear, exploration-nurturing nature often requires patience and sturdy sea legs for backtracking. Combat is a supreme joy-it incorporates Ocarina's lock-on system, though new additions like countering and disarming are a cause for celebration (combos create awesome Looney Tunes-y "dynamic soundtracks"), and experimenting on foes with your newly acquired tools generates lots of happy fun hormone. You'll rarely die, and while the boss battles are glorious, they're not exactly tough. More fun/less frustrating is the game's fighting philosophy. Unfortunately, the camera can really freak out on you, and you'll often find yourself in first-person mode when you meant to be locked on. Where things get truly challenging is in the puzzles: For most of the game, the fun-to-frustration ratio is pitch perfect, but be warned that you will get stuck as the Wind Waker has a knack for turning the most mundane box-pushing puzzle into a test for a Mensa membership. Take, for example, the Earth Dungeon, which does for "reflecting light" what Ocarina of Time did for "changing water levels." All this, of course, is stitched together by one of the most creative and beautiful worlds ever conceived and brought to life...not just in video gaming, but in the whole realm of animation, film, and art. While The Wind Waker may be a bit too complex for the young, it's definitely made for the young at heart. The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker dares to defy the notion that games need to be more "gritty and realistic" by choosing instead to become exactly the opposite. Link's is an adventure as old as time, but it feels like the most refreshing game in the world thanks to creative daring, insanely superior production values, and-above all-gameplay that would be fun even if Link were five colors, 16 pixels, and carried a blue monochrome block for a sword
CELSHADING RULES!
5
Rating: 5,
Useful: 2 / 2
Date: February 07, 2003
Author: Amazon User
This game is a great game! The cell shading is cool because all the creatures are smooth. it also lets Link, the main character, look around the room. If he sees something, his eyes will lock on to it. the story line is great(it happens a bit after Occarina of time), the characters are awesome, and the controls are really easy. I reccomend it.
Truely a "LEGEND"
5
Rating: 5,
Useful: 2 / 2
Date: March 24, 2003
Author: Amazon User
When I first saw the "new" Zelda, my mouth dropped open in horror. I thought, "What have they done to LINK???"
But when I saw the videos, and played the demos, I changed my mind...
Wow!
The new graphic style may be different, but it brings a whole new area into the Zelda franchise, that we, as gamers, can enjoy...Feelings. Link can now look sad, happy, frightened, etc. etc. Before in N64 games, Link's face never moved, except for the occasional blink or too. Now, if Link stands still long enough, his eyes will train in on a neccesary item.
On to Gameplay... As usual, Nintendo keeps up its tradition with an intese storyline, and incredible gameplay.
The new camera system includes a new "free" mode, in which you can actually turn the camera around Link to get a better view. Totally Super Mario 64 style!
New items, new characters, brand new storyline, this game has it all!
I strongly reccomend this to any age.
stop it with the graphics
5
Rating: 5,
Useful: 2 / 2
Date: March 25, 2003
Author: Amazon User
what's with people saying this game will be terrible just because of the graphics?
GRAPHICS DO NOT MAKE A GAME BAD OR GOOD, WHAT MATTERS IS THE ACTUAL CONTENT
so please ignore those people who say this game is bad just because of the graphics, they don't know what they are talking about...
Link has emotions!
4
Rating: 4,
Useful: 2 / 2
Date: March 15, 2003
Author: Amazon User
This game's graphics are wonderful. Link can do a thing called sidle, where he squashes up against a wall and walks sidways. His facial expretion is hilarious. And when he falls in the lava, his butt catches on fire and he goes flying in the air. Then when he lands his butt is still smoking. The rest of the playing part is a little different but its still the same consept, esspecially since you don't have Navi or Tatl around to bug you all of the time. (that really annoyed me)(if you don't know who Navi and Tatl are then you should play the nintendo64 games: The Ocarina of Time and Majora's Mask. And just to let you know those two games are awsome. Majora's Mask is a little harder though because your only given three days to complete 4 temples, so you have to keep going back in time and it is kind stinky.)
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