When I first played Wind Waker after getting my Wii U, I remember thinking it was one of the most beautiful-looking games I’d ever seen. That’s not a dig against the Wii U and Nintendo Switch’s graphical capabilities it’s a compliment to the original’s timeless cel-shaded art style and the fantastic job Nintendo did at upscaling it. The Legend of Zelda: Wind Waker HD is still one of Nintendo’s best-looking games ever. The best place to see this all in action is Wind Waker’s Wii U remaster. I hope Nintendo’s unabashed drive to do something this unique is a spirit that carries over to The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom’s development. And I haven’t even touched on its heartfelt story and quirky cast of characters. It’s not very controversial nowadays to say Wind Waker is a great game, but it deserves even more credit for holding up so well and demonstrating that taking risks is worth it for storied franchises. Especially in 2004, a game with this much water going for a realistic style probably wouldn’t have looked great as such, its art style enables it to have a surprisingly vast world for a 20-year-old game and gives the developers the creative freedom to make each island players come across visually distinct and memorable. While it was incredibly divisive 20 years ago, I adore it. Of course, the most radically different thing about Wind Waker is its cel-shaded art style. Wind Waker isn’t the most revolutionary Zelda game, but it takes a risk and focuses more on its good vibes and the sense of adventure players can get while sailing around more than anything else. To me, it’s the first 3D Zelda game that feels like it’s taking place in a living open world, and it captures an exhilarating feeling that the series wouldn’t recapture until players exited the cave for the first time in The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild. Much of it is spent exploring a vast ocean on a boat, not quite knowing what Link will encounter next as he charts out the sea and islands scattered about it to defeat Ganondorf. Although the core combat and dungeon exploration isn’t too dissimilar to what’s present in The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time, it takes plenty of bold swings elsewhere. In retrospect, The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker was a prime candidate for a remaster heading into the Wii U era. Wind Waker HD is one of the Wii U’s most definitive releases in my eyes, and something I recommend picking up in honor of its 20th anniversary before the eShop is discontinued on March 27. Fitbit Versa 3ĭespite many rumors, The Legend of Zelda: Wind Waker HD is still not on Switch, but that doesn’t bother me.
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