The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker is a Nintendo video game. It was the first Game from the Legend of Zelda series to be released on the Nintendo Gamecube and is set 500 years after Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time.

Table of contents
1 A new take on Zelda
2 Graphics
3 Bundling

A new take on Zelda

Nintendo's decision to render the game's graphics using a technique called cel-shading, an advanced computer graphics technique applied to 3D objects to make them appear flattened, was controversial among zealous Zelda fans prior to its release. It gave the game a look slightly similar to Japanese anime and American cartoons, while fans were expecting a more "grown-up" Zelda game featuring realistic graphics. That graphically realistic Zelda game that was presented in E3 2001 will actually be another Zelda game taking place at a later time. The Zelda game demo at Space World 2000 that were to feature realistic graphics would be another Zelda game, possibly a sequel to Zelda II: The Adventure of Link. The gaming public and even Nintendo-faithfuls were divided to whether the graphics would ruin the game or not. However, upon release the game received critical acclaim, and rating scores above 90% from most game reviewers.

Graphics

Overall the game offers realistic physics while not emulating the more serious 3D games available by using a cel-shaded appearance. For instance:
  • Link can shoot an arrow at a great distance and hit an enemy providing the aim is accurate.
  • There are weather patterns such as clouds, rain, sun and wind which affect gameplay.
  • When Link steps out of the water he is dripping wet for approximately 15 seconds.
  • When he reflects light with his Mirror Shield the embossed pattern is rendered along with the reflected light on walls and other surfaces.
  • While sailing the boat sways with the swelling ocean.

Bundling

In North America a special bonus disc was given out to people who pre-ordered the
game. It contained a direct port of the Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time as well as Ura Zelda otherwise known as Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time Master Quest (which was planned to be released for the 64DD).