Zelda - the Wind Waker

[H-Man]

The bloody sailing got far too annoying. I loved all the islands - and found the 'dungeons' to be excellent fun. There was just too much stopping and changing the wind direction - and pissing about with maps (oooooh look, this treasure is a red ruby :/)

I hope the next game does away with the massive sea. The populated islands looked so amazing (especially the first) Imagine if the whole game looked as charming - that would be special

(would be nice to have more viallges/castles/people too ......... my main gripe with Zelda games is that the land always feels unpopulated. You're basically risking it all to save 20 ppl and a handful of buildings)

[Max Zorin]

To be really nitpicking, conducting the tunes in WW felt like a watered-down version of playing the Ocarina of Time for me. The intricate melodies were replaced by some slightly crude fiddling on the C-stick, and H-Man, you're dead right that changing wind direction should have been possible on the fly. In fact, it was also a bit dumb to make the sail unusable in conjunction with other items whilst on board - having to stop to take out enemies with the cannon left you a sitting duck for their own attacks.
All minor points, but so easily avoidable..

DavidFallows - I definitely need to get back to MP and take on that final trilogy of bastar...I mean bosses. Going to make sure I'm loaded with energy and missiles first; I had a nightmare getting past Thardus, ffs.

[Tig]

I'm all for a return to the darker side evident in the latter half of OoT and MM, as long as you get to feel a real hero this time. That just seemed to be missing from WW. Maybe because you never felt you were making a real difference.

If the next Zelda game was 'darker', but still using WW-style cel-shading, it would be genius. Think MM - cartoony visuals and concept art, but an element of darkness running throughout. Yummy. The fear factor was definately missing from WW... I remember ****ting myself on the final stairway to Ganon in OoT, with the scary organ music in the background, but there was nothing like that in WW.

And you're right about 'making a difference'... in all the other games, there was some clever incentive to complete the next dungeon. In OoT, you could see the world half-destroyed by Ganon slowly regaining normallity as you went about your hero-y buisness. In LttP, the Dark world showed what would become of Hyrule if you failed. But in WW... what? Ganon has very little presence, and the events of the game take place without the inhabitants of the Great Sea even noticing.
No reason for a knees-up like the one at the end of OoT, then.

But it's still a great game. I'll stop bitching now.

[scottcr]

I acutally liked the ignorance of the NPCs in WW. They just didn't know what could happen to them.. they weren't aware of the evil that was about to be unleashed.

I thought it re-inforced the "loneliness" of link.. still, one of my favourite gaming moments in this generation is being alone on the sea, during a rain storm, rolling waves and lightning in the background... no music, just the sound the rain and distant thunder. Link was utterly alone.

I do reckon that the next WW, while using the same style (thank the lord, coz I loved it), will have a darker more sinister tone to it...

Off topic slightly, but, given that it's only 100 years since the TooT, why is it that no-one remembers Hyrule being flooded?

[Adam Stone]

I acutally liked the ignorance of the NPCs in WW. They just didn't know what could happen to them.. they weren't aware of the evil that was about to be unleashed.

I do reckon that the next WW, while using the same style (thank the lord, coz I loved it), will have a darker more sinister tone to it...

I have always thought similar to this Mr.

I found that I felt a little more closer to link in Wind Waker then I did in OOT and MM. This is going to sound a little silly, so please excuse me, but In them I felt I actually was with link, he was a hero of time...

However in Wind Waker that feeling was different. I felt I was somehow similar to link... as if i were somehow a part of him. I imagined how alone i would have felt if i were in the same circumstance and felt how alone he must have felt? He was just a normal child before those events. Obviously his blood was always ?special? but on the outside, he was just an ignorant child... like myself. The realization of his loneness must have hurt him?. He was one of the, of not the only one, truly aware of the pains, horrors and bitter darkness surrounding the lands/seas.

I think you described it perfectly here?.

I thought it re-inforced the "loneliness" of link.. still, one of my favourite gaming moments in this generation is being alone on the sea, during a rain storm, rolling waves and lightning in the background... no music, just the sound the rain and distant thunder. Link was utterly alone.

Very moving.

Off topic slightly, but, given that it's only 100 years since the TooT, why is it that no-one remembers Hyrule being flooded?

This is the fault of most Game sites i think. If my memory serves correct never during the game does it mention only being 100 years. The king actually says something like "after several hundred years" Something like that anyhow

[Tig]

Off topic slightly, but, given that it's only 100 years since the TooT, why is it that no-one remembers Hyrule being flooded?

But more to the point, why is that woofter Tingle still poncing about?

[Moodmon]

But Tingle must be immortal. He is a fairy...

[rjpageuk]

But Tingle must be immortal. He is a fairy...

Why dont they bloody send him to save the world next time then!

[SharkAttack]

STILL playing this believe it or not. I have just to collect 3 sunkern Tri Force parts then I'm onto the beginning of the end. BUT I still want 2 more Golden Feathers, 19 more joy pendants, water the kokiri trees, various Nintendo Gallery figurines and the Flying game heart piece. Plus to be called Master by the trainer on Outset Island (did anyone get this honour?).

The game is fantastic and would have been perfect if they had somehow made the Tri Force search seem more epic and not silly (i.e. Ganondorf is after the tri force, so why are his henchmen defending the maps instead of handing them over to him?). The search for Links sister seemed urgent, but the search for the master sword power and the tri force not so. Think they should have maybe had a side quest cut off point as I mentioned either earlier or in another topic, like a devastating event that destroys outset or windfall and makes the quest seem urgent and life threatening (like the arrival at Great Fish Island revealing it had been completely destroyed).

It will be interesting to see what they do with the Wind Waker 2 to explain things like the recollection of already owner items, remapping? I say they should start you off with everything you could have ended the previous game with and there is a big festival on Outset Island. People from all across the globe are present and various mini games can be taken part in. Then someone points out that Medli has not arrived and is needed for the ceremony of the sun (or something).

You set of to the temple in your boat to collect medli. When you arrive a host of new enemies are rampaging through the temple. After destroying them and the games first boss, you get a cut scene of a witch flying off with her. You return to the boat and must follow their direction.

Eventually near the edge of the map a huge storm hits and the boat capsizes. A cut scene shows the king of red lions being carried away by a flock of huge black ravens. Link passes out.

He awakes on the beach of a mysterious land. He has no items other than say, his spoils bag, a bottle, etc. First thing you find is a quarterstaff. This is your starting weapon. Then 2 giant crabs break out of the sand and you must fight them off with the staff. On defeat a chest appears than contains the hookshot. This will be used to get out of the beach landing area. At this point a fairy appears who says she will help you, she introduces you to the land. She goes into your bottle and will act like Navi.

Basically the game sees you exploring this huge land and trying to find the king of red lions and Medli. It will soon emerge that Makar was also kidnapped as was Zelda. The 2 sages and Zelda are needed by the witch character to resurrect Ganondorf. You travel through villages where you buy items, have side quests. You will get an Epona style horse. Items will include the Catapult. Master Sword is embedded in a rock in a clearing of a dark forest. King of Red Lions is found in a tribe minus sail. You must purchase a motor and free him, then escape down a river being chased by tribes boatsmen.

During the game New Navi shows you images of the bad things happening back at outset and in your land, and why you must hurry.

The final set piece sees you battling the witches main henchman first, then you get into a room that has Zelda tied up, the witch flying round on her broom bombing you and a gigantic ganondorf seeping back into the world through a veil. He is only a quarter, then a half through the veil but he can swipe and attack you. You need to kill the witch the break the connection of magic to close the veil and seal Ganondorf away.

This is based on my assumptions taken from how I thinK Wind Waker will probably end (not sure yet!) and through my monday morning boredom! haha

[scottcr]

I won't spoil the ending for you, however, I must admit to wondering about how they're going to take items from you in the next one... especially if it is a direct sequel. It wouldn't make sense to start the next one with *nothing*... however, I'd also like them to expand a little by adding some new items.. the new boomerang is great, as is the deku leaf, however, do I *really* need to get questing to find my bow again?

I loved TWW, I absolutely adored it, however, part of me feels that it's about as far as they can go with the old Zelda mechanics... to expect us to go questing again to find the same stuff will be a real p.i.t.a.

[SharkAttack]

Yep they definitely need to do something, so thats why I thought having link lose them in the storm would be ideal. Maybe old items could be found in bays washed up whilst newer items are found inland. Its like the next Metroid though - People will find it silly finding all the power ups and weapons again.

[Shin_Iori]

The ending of TWW has setup a possibly excellent scenario involving the Master Sword for the sequel. I won't say what obviousy seeing as SharkAttack has yet to complete the game but those who have will know what I am talking about. Such a scenario would be perfect for a darker Zelda game.

[Moodmon]

Indeed Shinster. More importantly, I agree with SharkAttack that Navi is needed in the sequel. The rubbish pendant pales in comparision to her. Better yet, bring back Tatl. She prWns joo.

[Firsty]

I doubt it'll be a direct sequel.

[SharkAttack]

I doubt it'll be a direct sequel.

Apparently it is. In one of the recent news articles "A full sequel to the wind waker".