| Author: | AdmiralViscen |
| Posted: | Oct 15th 2006 |
| Desc: | On the eve of Twilight Princess: Is Wind Waker still worth playing? Can it be safely skipped? Is it a good game at all? We'll tell you. (Part 1 of 3) |
Warlock210:
Am I the only one who hasn't played Wind Waker? Just curious. Seems I ought to, considering how effin' long I've spent here. It'd be only fitting.
Am I the only one who hasn't played Wind Waker? Just curious. Seems I ought to, considering how effin' long I've spent here. It'd be only fitting.
Jimbo009:
Get it, great game. Damn sailing and easy difficulty almost ruin it though.
Get it, great game. Damn sailing and easy difficulty almost ruin it though.
Tediz247:
The sailing isn't that bad once you get that teleportation song. The easy difficulty and tedious Triforce hunting are major problems, though.
The sailing isn't that bad once you get that teleportation song. The easy difficulty and tedious Triforce hunting are major problems, though.
Face235:
It ain't as easy when you're doing the GBA thing and playing the game by yourself.
It ain't as easy when you're doing the GBA thing and playing the game by yourself.
Jimbo009:
On repeat playings (although I've only ever bothered beating the thing twice, it's certainly the worst Zelda game in the main series) the Triforce Quest isn't that bad but the first time's just pure annoying.
It was just some tool's way of extending the game because they were too lazy to sick a dungeon in there. I would've preferred a slightly shorter game than a lesson in rubbish gameplay, courtesy of Nintendo.
The dungeons are really good though and a lot more interesting than some of the more boring OOT ones (I find the Fire and Shadow Temples to be pretty uninspired).
On repeat playings (although I've only ever bothered beating the thing twice, it's certainly the worst Zelda game in the main series) the Triforce Quest isn't that bad but the first time's just pure annoying.
It was just some tool's way of extending the game because they were too lazy to sick a dungeon in there. I would've preferred a slightly shorter game than a lesson in rubbish gameplay, courtesy of Nintendo.
The dungeons are really good though and a lot more interesting than some of the more boring OOT ones (I find the Fire and Shadow Temples to be pretty uninspired).
MacDaddyMike:
I enjoyed the final dungeon and boss fight very much, but everything else was bleh.
I enjoyed the final dungeon and boss fight very much, but everything else was bleh.
AdmiralViscen IV:
Yes, Warlock, you are.
No, that shouldn't bother you.
Yes, Warlock, you are.
No, that shouldn't bother you.
ZIH:
There were quite a few good ideas that were poorly executed. The Cel-Shading bias made me not like the game when I played it, but thinking back on it, it was a decent game. You could get it real cheap now. Try it.
There were quite a few good ideas that were poorly executed. The Cel-Shading bias made me not like the game when I played it, but thinking back on it, it was a decent game. You could get it real cheap now. Try it.
KoG:
It's a pretty long game.
It's a pretty long game.
Ajain02:
I enjoyed the dungeons and I loved the graphics. I gotta say, I prefer Twilight Princess's visuals, but I'm really glad Wind Waker went in a different, more vibrant direction.
I enjoyed the dungeons and I loved the graphics. I gotta say, I prefer Twilight Princess's visuals, but I'm really glad Wind Waker went in a different, more vibrant direction.
McGray:
It's one of the shortest games in the series, Slayer. It's barely longer than Majora's Mask, and I don't even know if I can give it that benefit. The only way it'd manage to be longer than Majora's Mask would be if you include all of the ridiculous time you spend sailing hither and thither, but that and the Triforce hunt were pitiful ways of extending an otherwise lackluster title.
It certainly does nothing for the Zelda franchise. The Legend of Zelda brought Link to life. Zelda 2 continued its story. A Link to the Past brought it to the Super Nintendo and completely outdid itself. Link's Awakening brought it to the handheld. OoT remade one of Nintendo's most beloved series into 3D. Majora's Mask continued with OoT's very own Link iteration and gave him three transformation masks to play around with, altering the gameplay by quite a bit. Wind Waker is simply a lesson in tedium and showcased quite blatantly how easy games could possibly get. It was quite possibly the easiest game in the entire series.
You're not missing much by not playing Wind Waker. Other than being the GameCube's only exclusive Zelda title, there's no reason to really mention the game. It does nothing that nearly every Zelda before has done better.
It's one of the shortest games in the series, Slayer. It's barely longer than Majora's Mask, and I don't even know if I can give it that benefit. The only way it'd manage to be longer than Majora's Mask would be if you include all of the ridiculous time you spend sailing hither and thither, but that and the Triforce hunt were pitiful ways of extending an otherwise lackluster title.
It certainly does nothing for the Zelda franchise. The Legend of Zelda brought Link to life. Zelda 2 continued its story. A Link to the Past brought it to the Super Nintendo and completely outdid itself. Link's Awakening brought it to the handheld. OoT remade one of Nintendo's most beloved series into 3D. Majora's Mask continued with OoT's very own Link iteration and gave him three transformation masks to play around with, altering the gameplay by quite a bit. Wind Waker is simply a lesson in tedium and showcased quite blatantly how easy games could possibly get. It was quite possibly the easiest game in the entire series.
You're not missing much by not playing Wind Waker. Other than being the GameCube's only exclusive Zelda title, there's no reason to really mention the game. It does nothing that nearly every Zelda before has done better.
Deity42:
I'm in the minority that actually really liked sailing.
Loved the graphics. Wish Twilight Princess was the same way.
Yeah it was easy but it seemed like there was so much to do.
It's my favorite 3D Zelda by far, and my second favorite Zelda over LttP.
I'm in the minority that actually really liked sailing.
Loved the graphics. Wish Twilight Princess was the same way.
Yeah it was easy but it seemed like there was so much to do.
It's my favorite 3D Zelda by far, and my second favorite Zelda over LttP.
Jimbo009:
I liked the Cel Shading, it looked really good. Honestly I'd probably have preferred a more OOT-style of graphics but it still looked really well done.
Sailing itself COULD have been fun if the sea wasn't just BLUE. It was almost empty save for the occasional teeny, tiny island or a SHARK THAT CHASES YOU LOL. If i were to get MS Paint open now and use that funky Paint Can option thing with the color blue it'd be like giving you a tech demo of Wind Waker.
Dungeons were really enjoyable and complex though, callback to the good old days of LTTP and LA.
I liked the Cel Shading, it looked really good. Honestly I'd probably have preferred a more OOT-style of graphics but it still looked really well done.
Sailing itself COULD have been fun if the sea wasn't just BLUE. It was almost empty save for the occasional teeny, tiny island or a SHARK THAT CHASES YOU LOL. If i were to get MS Paint open now and use that funky Paint Can option thing with the color blue it'd be like giving you a tech demo of Wind Waker.
Dungeons were really enjoyable and complex though, callback to the good old days of LTTP and LA.
Impossible II:
GCN's only Zelda title? So what's Four Swords Adventures?
All that really bothered me in WW was sailing over large distances (and in general, how oversized and spread out the map was), and ocean battling. There's the lack of a real challenge, which makes the game less satisfying, but the fact that the combat engine is far better and smoother than OoT's almost makes up for this... I just wish the enemy AI compensated for your increased ability to beat the crap through it better, and what's scaring me is that from what I can tell, it still doesn't in TP. The Wind Temple sucks, but most of the dungeons are really great. They're arguably better than many of the ones in OoT and MQ, although the puzzles can be kind of simplistic... Although then, I had that same problem with the other games anyway in some dungeons.
Oh, and WW can at times be the absolute worst as far as switching between all your items goes. Especially on the ocean, where you need your sail out constantly, the Wind Waker out a lot of the time, quite possibly the grappling hook out a lot of the time, and have barely any room for other things. And, again. Wind Temple. Ugh. OoT's last dungeon before Ganon's Tower was spectacular, and WW's was awful.
WW is quite a bit longer than Majora's Mask, I'm pretty sure. It has more dungeons, and a bigger required quest, with sections of the quest that take place outside of dungeons as well. Both games have a lot of optional stuff to do. In any case, I definitely think you should play WW at some point. Not everyone may love it, but it's still a pretty good game regardless. And cel-shading is awesome, TP almost looks bland in comparison.
GCN's only Zelda title? So what's Four Swords Adventures?
All that really bothered me in WW was sailing over large distances (and in general, how oversized and spread out the map was), and ocean battling. There's the lack of a real challenge, which makes the game less satisfying, but the fact that the combat engine is far better and smoother than OoT's almost makes up for this... I just wish the enemy AI compensated for your increased ability to beat the crap through it better, and what's scaring me is that from what I can tell, it still doesn't in TP. The Wind Temple sucks, but most of the dungeons are really great. They're arguably better than many of the ones in OoT and MQ, although the puzzles can be kind of simplistic... Although then, I had that same problem with the other games anyway in some dungeons.
Oh, and WW can at times be the absolute worst as far as switching between all your items goes. Especially on the ocean, where you need your sail out constantly, the Wind Waker out a lot of the time, quite possibly the grappling hook out a lot of the time, and have barely any room for other things. And, again. Wind Temple. Ugh. OoT's last dungeon before Ganon's Tower was spectacular, and WW's was awful.
WW is quite a bit longer than Majora's Mask, I'm pretty sure. It has more dungeons, and a bigger required quest, with sections of the quest that take place outside of dungeons as well. Both games have a lot of optional stuff to do. In any case, I definitely think you should play WW at some point. Not everyone may love it, but it's still a pretty good game regardless. And cel-shading is awesome, TP almost looks bland in comparison.
Jimbo009:
Four Swords Adventures? Are you the only one who has played that?
That should be the topic at hand.
Four Swords Adventures? Are you the only one who has played that?
That should be the topic at hand.
Impossible II:
FSA is one massive homage to LttP. It's an awesome game, even single player, although even then I prefer to play with a GBA (although it's not necessary unless you have more people). I think a few other people here have it... The only somewhat disappointing thing is that it doesn't keep high scores for levels, limiting any reason to really go after heaps of force gems and replay levels to perfect them. But the replay value is really high regardless, because every area resets completely when you back to it, and they're extremely fun and replayable levels (more so than 3D Zelda dungeons where that would get tedious).
That said, with TP on the horizon, it might not be a bad idea to get WW first... Unless you have a few people to play multiplayer with. Beware, though... When playing FSA, best friends become evil mortal enemies, out to do nothing but light you on fire over and over instead of actually progressing. It's a commonly reported occurrence, really.
FSA is one massive homage to LttP. It's an awesome game, even single player, although even then I prefer to play with a GBA (although it's not necessary unless you have more people). I think a few other people here have it... The only somewhat disappointing thing is that it doesn't keep high scores for levels, limiting any reason to really go after heaps of force gems and replay levels to perfect them. But the replay value is really high regardless, because every area resets completely when you back to it, and they're extremely fun and replayable levels (more so than 3D Zelda dungeons where that would get tedious).
That said, with TP on the horizon, it might not be a bad idea to get WW first... Unless you have a few people to play multiplayer with. Beware, though... When playing FSA, best friends become evil mortal enemies, out to do nothing but light you on fire over and over instead of actually progressing. It's a commonly reported occurrence, really.
Deity42:
I have Four Swords Adventures. I never got a chance to sit down with it, really. I remember I disliked either having a mini-screen pop up or have to glance down at my GBA. I really didn't give it a shot though. Seemed cool.
I have Four Swords Adventures. I never got a chance to sit down with it, really. I remember I disliked either having a mini-screen pop up or have to glance down at my GBA. I really didn't give it a shot though. Seemed cool.
KoG:
I agree with you McGray. To strip the game down and just have yourself do the bare essentials to finish it makes the game really short. But I took my time and got everything; that's why I said it was long.
I agree with you McGray. To strip the game down and just have yourself do the bare essentials to finish it makes the game really short. But I took my time and got everything; that's why I said it was long.
Scientist pg:
*Wind Waker's combat is easy, but that 'criticism' can be equally leveled at OoT and MM. In none of these games will you ever really die save for one-off situations like antagonizing Cuccos. And if you never die, whether enemies take away a fourth or a half or a full heart is a moot issue. If you do want to die or tighten the margin for error, you can purposely avoid heart containers, bottles, and fairies without much effort.
*The dungeons, with the exception of the Wind Temple, are brilliantly designed. Earth Temple is probably the best dungeon in the series and paces its partner concept better than entire dedicated teamwork games. The prior three dungeons have a unique, 'ritualistic' design of linear rooms and natural puzzle solving that escapes from OoT/MM's excessive backtracking.
*The Triforce hunt, while it could be awkwardly saved for the end, is flexible enough that its objectives can gradually be completed over the second half of the game, creating a nondeterministic sense of exploration that the series hasn't seen since the original Zelda. Windfall Island, despite being a relatively minor and optional part of the game, has NPC interest and depth that rivals some of the best parts of Majora's Mask.
*Wind Waker's theme is better integrated with its gameplay than any other adventure/RPG that I'm aware of.
*Wind Waker's combat is easy, but that 'criticism' can be equally leveled at OoT and MM. In none of these games will you ever really die save for one-off situations like antagonizing Cuccos. And if you never die, whether enemies take away a fourth or a half or a full heart is a moot issue. If you do want to die or tighten the margin for error, you can purposely avoid heart containers, bottles, and fairies without much effort.
*The dungeons, with the exception of the Wind Temple, are brilliantly designed. Earth Temple is probably the best dungeon in the series and paces its partner concept better than entire dedicated teamwork games. The prior three dungeons have a unique, 'ritualistic' design of linear rooms and natural puzzle solving that escapes from OoT/MM's excessive backtracking.
*The Triforce hunt, while it could be awkwardly saved for the end, is flexible enough that its objectives can gradually be completed over the second half of the game, creating a nondeterministic sense of exploration that the series hasn't seen since the original Zelda. Windfall Island, despite being a relatively minor and optional part of the game, has NPC interest and depth that rivals some of the best parts of Majora's Mask.
*Wind Waker's theme is better integrated with its gameplay than any other adventure/RPG that I'm aware of.
Again02
No, I played FSA too, and I loved it. I actually am getting a very, very strong urge to replay it now. GREAT game.
As long as we're making confessions here... I have never gotten past somewhere in the first dungeon (outside of the castle, obviously, and going for the first trinket - forget what it was) in LttP. FSA got interesting much faster for me - it was just more accessible - so I've actually had more fun with it. I don't seem to have as much patience these days, but once I have some time and the willpower I'll keep playing further into LttP until I hit the real good stuff.
I never even got to play it with friends. I had two GBA-GCN link cables, and one of my friends had a GBA and I did too, so I played it two-player with him... but he was a total moron who was just complaining about the graphics the whole time. A real shame. Maybe I'll get a chance someday... I've still got both cables and one working GBA. But this is why I really wanted the DS Zelda to be a sequel to Four Swords Adventures, with the same awesomeness in both single and multiplayer - and with online. Instead we got Phantom Hourglass, which looks great, but.... ;_;
No, I played FSA too, and I loved it. I actually am getting a very, very strong urge to replay it now. GREAT game.
As long as we're making confessions here... I have never gotten past somewhere in the first dungeon (outside of the castle, obviously, and going for the first trinket - forget what it was) in LttP. FSA got interesting much faster for me - it was just more accessible - so I've actually had more fun with it. I don't seem to have as much patience these days, but once I have some time and the willpower I'll keep playing further into LttP until I hit the real good stuff.
I never even got to play it with friends. I had two GBA-GCN link cables, and one of my friends had a GBA and I did too, so I played it two-player with him... but he was a total moron who was just complaining about the graphics the whole time. A real shame. Maybe I'll get a chance someday... I've still got both cables and one working GBA. But this is why I really wanted the DS Zelda to be a sequel to Four Swords Adventures, with the same awesomeness in both single and multiplayer - and with online. Instead we got Phantom Hourglass, which looks great, but.... ;_;
Check back for parts 2 and 3!