Reviews: Zelda

Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker (GameCube)

PUBLISHER: Nintendo
FORMAT: GameCube
GENRE: Adventure

The wait is finally over! The latest Zelda game, the first for the GameCube, is a veritable masterpiece, and worth buying the console for.

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Released in 1998 for the N64, Zelda: Ocarina of Time is widely regarded as the greatest videogame ever. Its fabulous mix of 3D exploration, devious puzzles and epic storyline made it a benchmark title. So there is a lot riding on Wind Waker, the first Zelda game for the GameCube. Luckily for Nintendo - and how they need this to be a success - Wind Waker is an absolute treat.

Unlike the land-locked titles of yore, this latest adventure sees the hero Link traversing the seas, island hopping his way to becoming world saviour. As with all Zelda games, it starts off slowly. Whimsical encounters on sandy beaches, chasing piglets and eavesdropping on old ladies are just some of the early exchanges. It's these sub-plots and mini-games that give this series its unique atmosphere.

But it isn't too long before the adventure proper starts, with plenty of trademark dungeons just waiting to be explored. These areas are beautifully designed with perfectly balanced difficulty levels. The conundrums are always logical, but enough of a challenge. The most controversial aspect of Wind Waker are the graphics. The cel-shaded look gives this a cartoon feel that has dismayed some fans. But while this makes for a lighter atmosphere - there is nothing like the zombie town scenes in Ocarina - it does allow for some excellent facial characterisation. Also the dust clouds, smoke and fire all look stylistically impressive. There's no debate over the combat though, which has been radically improved by the ability to use opponents weapons.

However, there are some disappointments. A surprisingly fiddly camera is the main niggle, although the over reliance on sea-travel can grate. The camera is easily controlled, but you will notice it is there.

But Zelda: Wind Waker certainly lives up to its predecessors. The challenge may not be as tough as Ocarina and Majora's Mask but the style and variety more than make up for it. The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker is the game of the year so far.