The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker HD (Wii U WiiU)

The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker is, just in my own opinion, the best Legend of Zelda game ever made. It captures the open-world exploration that the series was founded on, brings a whole new level of characterization to the silent protagonist, and is a wonderful blend of natural exploration and linear gameplay. Everyone has their own personal favorite of the series, but for me, this was the high point, and this HD remake brings all of that back and improves on it.Right off the bat, a brief explanation for those who have never played it before: Wind Waker introduces an open-world sailing design to the series that totally changes how you play. Islands scattered throughout the huge ocean can be discovered and explored in virtually any order, and the game does a ... MoreThe Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker is, just in my own opinion, the best Legend of Zelda game ever made. It captures the open-world exploration that the series was founded on, brings a whole new level of characterization to the silent protagonist, and is a wonderful blend of natural exploration and linear gameplay. Everyone has their own personal favorite of the series, but for me, this was the high point, and this HD remake brings all of that back and improves on it.Right off the bat, a brief explanation for those who have never played it before: Wind Waker introduces an open-world sailing design to the series that totally changes how you play. Islands scattered throughout the huge ocean can be discovered and explored in virtually any order, and the game does a great job of not holding your hand too much, allowing you to really find secrets for yourself. In between exploring, the classic Zelda gameplay of exploring dungeons and defeating bosses is polished to a shine.The art style was controversial at the time, as a cell-shaded Zelda was not what some fans wanted. With this HD remake, there is some controversy again because the colours are turned up to 11 and the lighting and bloom are turned up even higher. It is jarring at first, but you soon get used to it, and it creates a great tropical atmosphere to the whole game.For those who played this on the Gamecube, the HD remake has brought a lot of welcome changes. Besides looking superb in HD, some aspects of the gameplay have been streamlined (less Triforce charts to collect) and new features have been added (a super-fast Sail that change the wind automatically for you). They don't influence the overall game too much, and despite being unsure of any such changes at first, I found I really appreciated what changes they did make. The Hero Mode is a particularly great addition, as it adds a whole new level of difficulty to the game that long-time Zelda fans will actually need to work hard to get through.The only downside to Wind Waker is that it can be quite fast-paced, asking you to learn a lot in relatively little time, and introducing non-gamers to it can take some patience. As long as they are willing to take the time to learn all the controls, however, this is a great introduction to the series.Overall, this is personally my favorite Zelda game of all time, and remains the my favorite Wii U game to date. It has a ton of replayability, a very long run-time for an average playthrough, and it really raises the bar for what to expect from Zelda.Pros+ Great HD update for a classic Zelda game+ Lots of exploration across a massive sea+ Plenty to discover naturally through play+ Enemy design is superb and some of the best in the series+ New Game Plus and Hero Mode give a ton of replayability+ New features and changes help streamline the gameCons- Can be tough for non-gamers to get a hang of the game's fast pace- Controls sometimes frustrating, especially when moving on small ledges

Faithful and pretty

To be completely honest, I didn't think a graphical remaster was something that The Wind Waker would benefit from. Its artstyle was already timeless, one of the best-aging games on the Gamecube.Turns out, it can. Maybe not a lot- all the models and textures are the same as before, less out of laziness and more because they didn't need them- but a single look at Outset Island is enough to know it gets better.However, the real draw of The Wind Waker HD is in the various small (and large) quality of life improvements that have been made. The Telescope? No longer useless, thanks to the improved draw distance. The Bow and Grappling Hook? Far, far easier to aim thanks to the addition of motion controls. Collecting Figurines is much quicker, as you don't have to do a ... MoreTo be completely honest, I didn't think a graphical remaster was something that The Wind Waker would benefit from. Its artstyle was already timeless, one of the best-aging games on the Gamecube.Turns out, it can. Maybe not a lot- all the models and textures are the same as before, less out of laziness and more because they didn't need them- but a single look at Outset Island is enough to know it gets better.However, the real draw of The Wind Waker HD is in the various small (and large) quality of life improvements that have been made. The Telescope? No longer useless, thanks to the improved draw distance. The Bow and Grappling Hook? Far, far easier to aim thanks to the addition of motion controls. Collecting Figurines is much quicker, as you don't have to do a sidequest to unlock color for the camera, can tell on the spot if your pictographs are good or not, can hold four times as many pictographs, and can turn them all into figurines in a single day-night cycle. Sailing is much quicker, thanks to the new sail upgrade. Unlocking the final dungeon is much quicker, thanks to the removal of over 3000 Rupees worth of payments required to do so. There's also a new hard mode, available from the start, that is actually legitimately hard (a first for post-N64 3d Zeldas).With the new price drop, The Wind Waker HD is well worth the cost for anyone considering replaying the original, and a must-have for fans of the series who never played it at all.

First time I played this game is on Wii U.

I remember when this game first released on Nintendo's Gamecube, I did not play it then. So this new Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker in HD is like a different experience from how I remember the original, and let me tell you potential consumer, that there is nothing wrong with that. The graphics in this game are outstanding, watching Link's facial expressions as I maneuvered him through dungeons is a visual feat. This game is like playing a highly detailed cartoon with smoke and lighting effects that look almost alive next to the dynamic backgrounds. The swordplay is really fun and fluid, it is also satisfying to slay a foe of any size and claim victory over a pesky dungeon. The character design is something to admire with Ganon looking like a total bad guy even ... MoreI remember when this game first released on Nintendo's Gamecube, I did not play it then. So this new Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker in HD is like a different experience from how I remember the original, and let me tell you potential consumer, that there is nothing wrong with that. The graphics in this game are outstanding, watching Link's facial expressions as I maneuvered him through dungeons is a visual feat. This game is like playing a highly detailed cartoon with smoke and lighting effects that look almost alive next to the dynamic backgrounds. The swordplay is really fun and fluid, it is also satisfying to slay a foe of any size and claim victory over a pesky dungeon. The character design is something to admire with Ganon looking like a total bad guy even though he doesn't really say anything until later in the game.I'm glad that Nintendo gave this game a makeover, or else I wouldn't have played it at all. There is a certain trend that is beginning to develop as I break in my recently purchased Wii U, and that is that Nintendo doesn't mess around. Sure they say it could be weaker than the new XBOX One and PS4 but in what regard? I have played the other two systems and I say that the Wii U is on par with the competition as far as graphical output is concerned. Nintendo has strict quality measures and I like that because they will not release a game until it is polished beyond any bugs or glitches. The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker was apparently a game changer when it was first released back in 2003, and it is no surprise that this HD remastered version is still revolutionary in 2014. I'm not a Nintendo fan boy, I am a video game fan, and I am proud to have the Wii U Deluxe and Legend of Zelda in my library, a great compliment to my gaming PC.Highly recommend the gaming console and the Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker.

Great game, awesome story, appealing cartoonist visuals.

This is a remake for the original game that came out in 2002. Surprisingly, the artwork of this game remains appealing after all those years. bright colors and images that pop out. The story is rich and suspenseful at times too. There are new additions to the game-play like the hero mode, swift sail, picto box now holds 12 photos at a time, tingle bottle, and no need to press pause to equip a certain item. do it in real time with the WiiU gamepad. and many more secrets!!! you'll love this game either if it's your first time playing it, or if you are revisiting because of nostalgia. Some of the songs have changed though.

HD update of a classic

As if this game wasn't wonderful the first time around, Zelda the Windwaker HD is even better now. The graphic improvements are obvious and beautiful, but it's much more. Significant quality of life upgrades that really take advantage of the Wii U controller. Item selection, mapping the seas, even sharing photos with other collectors for those that want to pursue the often tedious task of completing the in game photo gallery. Targeting with the grappling hook, boomerang, and other items is much easier now thanks to the dual joysticks, and gyroscope. A slight learning curve compared the the original Gamecube controls, but worth every penny. A shame this system never realized its full potential, but this game is a must own.

One of the best, made better.

One of the best Zelda from the franchise. Easy to get immersed in the magical action and adventure game. The HD Edition features stunning graphics, updated gameplay, and enhanced controls that is making this classic even better then before. I highly recommend!

One of the very best

I have played most of the Zelda games and this is one of my favorites. I still am noticing new things after finishing this version countless times and playing since the game-cube version was released. Always more to explore in this nautical-themed game, where stealth is sometimes as valuable as a good sword-combo... A large world to explore. Link learns a number of valuable new skills in this upgrade with an optional new tool to make sailing easier. Defeating certain enemies has a new enjoyment since they often drop valuable items that are special to each enemy. The game menu is easy to navigate. The boomerang in this game is strong and easy to target with. Lots of puzzle/problem solving. Helping other people is a common theme, which so often benefits Link by making ... MoreI have played most of the Zelda games and this is one of my favorites. I still am noticing new things after finishing this version countless times and playing since the game-cube version was released. Always more to explore in this nautical-themed game, where stealth is sometimes as valuable as a good sword-combo... A large world to explore. Link learns a number of valuable new skills in this upgrade with an optional new tool to make sailing easier. Defeating certain enemies has a new enjoyment since they often drop valuable items that are special to each enemy. The game menu is easy to navigate. The boomerang in this game is strong and easy to target with. Lots of puzzle/problem solving. Helping other people is a common theme, which so often benefits Link by making his great task easier in big and small ways. This game has a fairly light tone. Light humor is seen throughout. I would put it at medium on the difficulty scale, which makes it fun and relaxing.

The game just got better!

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 ... MoreIt'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.

The listing is Misleading

I payed $106 because the listing makes it sound like you get the console and the game. I even had others read the listing to make sure I didn't mess up. Very upset as it is hard to find these things and I was excited to be able to play again. going to have to track down replacement gamepad and game.

Wonderful HD version of a classic.

When The Wind Waker first was released on the Gamecube back in 2002 folks were mixed on the "toon shaded" artstyle Nintendo had chose coming off the success of the N64's Ccarina of Time and Majora's Mask, but after discovering how great an adventure was to be had underneath its new coat of paint, they warmed up to the change and "Toon Link" carried over to various other games and spinoffs of the series.First and foremost the graphics are the most striking element of this title and even more so in this really well done HD remake. It's like you're playing a cartoon, and its animation....especially when in battle is a sight to behold. If only future Zelda were a fluid as what they delivered in Waker.The game itself is a grand action adventure where you sail the ... MoreWhen The Wind Waker first was released on the Gamecube back in 2002 folks were mixed on the "toon shaded" artstyle Nintendo had chose coming off the success of the N64's Ccarina of Time and Majora's Mask, but after discovering how great an adventure was to be had underneath its new coat of paint, they warmed up to the change and "Toon Link" carried over to various other games and spinoffs of the series.First and foremost the graphics are the most striking element of this title and even more so in this really well done HD remake. It's like you're playing a cartoon, and its animation....especially when in battle is a sight to behold. If only future Zelda were a fluid as what they delivered in Waker.The game itself is a grand action adventure where you sail the seas of Hyrule and traverse many a dungeon to ensure the safety of the title's Princess, who actually plays a much larger role in this particular installment. Making things easier, Nintendo added items like a new sail for your boat in this version which eliminates having to change the direction of the wind which made sailing a bit of a hassle back in the day constantly having to readjust your bearings.Also included is a photo capture side quest of every character and enemy in the game which unlocks statues of them for you to collect and check out when you want a little down time in the game's massive quest. A quest that should be pretty accessible for most gamers outside of some stealth bits here and there which require patience if you're not down with that style of play.Classic game. Amazing visuals. Must buy title.