Selects: The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker HD Standard Edition - Nintendo Wii U
Model: WUPPBCZ3
SKU: 5408200
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Owned this for the (GC) and was glad to see the HD remake. Will have a lot of fun playing this.
Posted by mark79ks
It's a sad testimonial to game making that a polished up 13 year old game from the Gamecube is the 5th highest rated game on the Wii U but there is something special about Wind Waker that survives the test of time. I played the original Wind Waker and it may well be my favorite Legend of Zelda game beating even Ocarina of Time and Majora's Mask. I loved the cell shaded graphics and lighthearted artistry and I never understood why Nintendo never returned to the style of Wind Waker (outside of the DS). If there had never been a Wind Waker released in 2003 this game would absolutely feel like a current generation game and not some retro throwback. There are some subtle game mechanic changes and some quests were modified in response to criticisms of the original game but the vast majority of changes are graphical and not game play. Don't expect to find more NPC's littering the world or all new quests. What sets Wind Waker apart from a lot of recent games is a sense of grandeur and a feeling of an organic, living world. I complained in my reviews of Super Mario 3D World and Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze that it feels like game making is going backwards. 3D World is polished like a gem but ultimately feels small and sterile. It's a great game but lacks the bigness of Super Mario 64 or Mario Sunshine. DKC: Tropical Freeze is an unremarkable 2D platformer that came 15 years after Rare brought Donkey Kong into the world of 3D with Donkey Kong 64. Wind Waker, by contrast, feels big. The islands feel large and substantial and it's a joy to explore them. Windfall Island feels alive with dozens of people you can talk to. I love being able to sail around and look far into the distance at the island I'm sailing to (supposedly the HD version has an improved draw distance). There is simply no other game that I know of like it on the Wii U which is a real shame. Where are the adventure and exploration games. Where are the games that give the player a sense of grand scope? Climbing to the top of windmill on Windfall Island is such a breathtaking experience and there is absolutely nothing like it in Mario 3D World. I still have some issues with the game. It's so easy to max out your rupees and then it makes no sense to do any treasure hunting which ruins one of the funnest parts of the game. I was praying for something expensive to buy to deplete my money. I've also had issues with the Zelda series, in general, having meager rewards for time consuming side quests. I love side quests but when the reward is ANOTHER quarter heart or a high rupee gem when you're already maxed out it takes away some of the thrill. When you're out on the sea there is a passage of time with day eventually turning into night and back to day again. There are also atmospheric effects with sunny days or raging storms but not so when you're on an island like Windfall. That always seemed weird to me. Eventually you'll be able to turn day into night with your wind waker but it would have been cool if it happened automatically. The Wii U is a powerful machine. Just compare Mario Kart 8 to Mario Kart Wii to see the stark difference. In the case of MK 8 Nintendo did a fantastic job but I miss the adventure games. Is it a dead genre? Is a fully realized world just too much effort for today's developers? If you've never played Wind Waker you really owe it to yourself to play it. If you played Wind Waker on the Gamecube I don't think you'll be disappointed revisiting it. I think it would have been cool if Nintendo added some new stuff to the world but it's awesome nonetheless and the new Nintendo Selects price makes it a must have. It is such a slick and unique game and really stands alone in the Zelda series. Maybe someday Nintendo will make an HD version of the awesome Mario Sunshine.
Posted by hollowfenix
This is the traditional Zelda game but has its own unique story line. Very fun game play and decently long. Great graphics, easy controls, and fun all around. It took me a bit to find a copy with the Wii U no longer being printed, seems like the games aren't being carried as much.
Posted by Smallville101
Customers praise the enhanced graphics and gameplay of "Nintendo Selects The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker HD," frequently citing the improved HD visuals and engaging story. Many also appreciate the game's classic art style and the affordable price point. The improved sailing mechanics and controls were also highlighted as positive aspects of the remastered game.