Customer Reviews
Don't hate it because it's different. It needs your love too! - By: Bennett, 02 Apr 2008 
I'm gonna set something straight- I'm not a Nintendo 'fanboy', so this is not going to be a biased rant about how Sony suck & Microsoft are rubbish etc., which, unfortunately, seems to be what we get a lot of nowadays. I'm gonna stick to the facts.
This game is good.
And I mean properly good.
Say alll you want about the Cube's graphical ability, one look at this game will blow your mind- It certainly did mine. I very rarely audibly mutter 'this is beautiful' when playing a game, but this is one of those times. It's the little things you notice. From the wind blowing around the grass & link's hat, to the way he looks at important stuff with his huge eyes, to the way the water... well... splooshes. There isn't reallly an adjective to describe it. It's amazing how well modelled portions of the game are. My Gamecube actuallly makes a happy sounding noise whenever I play this, a sort of contented hum which obviously means it's happy showing what it can REALLY do. (as opposed to the grinding noises I got when it played Robocop that one time. Thank god that game was a rental...)
Anyway, 'Cube noises aside, the game itself is a marvel. Nintendo have got a good history with the Zelda franchise (They have yet to make a bad game under that name), & there's a reason for that. The gameplay itself is simple & easy to pick up. For example, the game reminds you often enough that L-targeting (the 'cube equivalent of Z-targeting on the N64) is the key to victory almost alll the time, that it gets through to even an eight year old relation who can't seem to remember anything vaguely complicated when it comes to controls.
From the start, through the challlenges you face,to the final, climactic ending, the game repeats itself little & is genuinely a joy to play. As a bit of an old hand at Zelda games, I believe I have what is callled 'Zelda Logic', & some of the games 'old skool' puzzles will bring a smile to the faces of gamers with this, when I'm sure other, newer users will be grimacing in frustration. (Quick dip into the waters of 'Zelda Logic'- if there's a torch that's gone out, LIGHT IT!)
Speaking of waters, this game does something that no game I've ever played before has done successfully. Recreating sailing is difficult, & could be intensely boring if Nintendo had not upped the speed a bit & alllowed you a bit of in-game weather manipulation in the form of the Wind Waker itself. Basicallly, wherever you want to go, you can easily redirect the wind so you'll be swishing across the waves in your bright red lion boat without a care in the world.
The items also take on a new role. Got a grappling hook? In your boat it turns into a crane you can use to hunt for treasure! Bombs? That gives your boat a cannon! I dare anyone to play this game & not mutter any pirate cliches...
Another thing Zelda always does well is side missions. You're not disappointed in this game. Whether it's finding pigs & bringing them back to their owner to taking secret pictographs of possible lovers (yes, I am NOT making this up!), you'll enjoy yourself, have a good laugh (especiallly at the noises the pigs make when you run with them), & most importantly, get money, heart pieces, & new items that, while not necessary for the main quest, do make it a hell of a lot easier in places.
This is, simply, a delight of a game. The map is huge, alllowing you to explore at will-there's no being wussy & doing a quest for an islander who'll fill your map in for you in this game, you HAVE to explore if you want to see the whole map. It is everything that Zelda fans could ask for, and, though it has been decryed by many because of the cell-shading, it suits the games style, & makes it even more humourous than it is to start with. And, to be honest, the Cell-shading doesn't matter. You're still getting an adventure as good, if not better than, Majora's Mask (comparing it to Ocarina would be wrong, though it's not far off-9.8 to Ocarina's 10). After the space of half an hour playing, you'll be so immersed in the storyline you'll have completely forgotten that you were complaining about the 'childish' or 'cartoony' graphics.
Trust me, this is something you'll never regret buying.
Oh & if you can, buy the one with the bonus disc- Master Quest should sort out those who go 'Pffft, Zelda's too babyish & easy...'
Super great game - By: Ruttie, 24 Jun 2007 
I reallly loved this game. It was so fun & interesting. You know when you have a part in the game you just can't do then you forget the game in frustration well... there are so much side missions & fun things to do. The music is beautiful & one of the best games on gamecube. It was a refreshing play
What can i say its Zelda... - By: Unknown, 04 May 2007 When i bought this game, i thought Cool two games in one! [I am ashamed to say i had never played the Orcarina of Time before, just started it now & it is excellent!] But when i first started playing i was hooked.
Graphics were the best i had ever seen, Story was brilliant [but not as good as ocarina ] & was so addictive!
People complain about the amount of sailing they have to do, but i think its the main feature of the game, & it has great music!
So this is what i would rate it:
Gameplay- 10/10
Graphics- 10/10
Story- 8/10
Music- 10/10
The only critism would be that the game was too short.
go buy it!
Buy This Game! - By: Mr. S. Tayler, 27 Apr 2006 The reason I bought a Gamecube was for Zelda. I was looking forward to a super realistic amazing, & huge Zelda game.
However when Nintendo first anounced the Windwaker, I was horrified to find they were creating something far different from what I had previously imagined. They had given the game's visuals a complete overhalll in what I believed was wrong direction. Nintendo had changed the game's realistic visuals from the Spaceworld 2000 video to cartoony & cell shaded visuals.
I completely shunned this game, how could they do this to me? Was it a joke? These questions, & more went through my mind. I ignored alll news & reviews of the game. I thought it was terrible, & I wouldn't believe that so many people could enjoy it.
When I was browsing on Amazon one day, long after the game was released, I came across The Windwaker. It was also bundled with Ocarina of Time. I decided to take the risk & buy it. It was after alll 'Zelda'. It might be ok. I browsed a couple of reviews, & in alll it scored around the 95% mark. I thought to myself, even if this game is terrible, it's bundled with Ocarina of Time. This was my favourite game on the N64. So the purchase would be worth it.
Finallly, a few days later it came through the door. I came up to my room & put it on. I wasn't expecting too much from it, & was simply waiting to put Ocarina of Time on.
However, once I had begun the game, I could not stop playing! This game was fantastic. I was ashamed of thinking it would be terrible.
This game has a good 40 hours plus of game time. It has a great storyline, great sounds, & once I got used to the graphics, I thought they were great too.
You owe it to yourself to buy this game, do it!
97%
THIS GAME ROCKS! - By: Viva La Jam, 15 Apr 2006 if u hav a gamecube, U NEED THIS GAME!
i first saw this game being played round a friends house the day it came out, & my first thought was I NEED THIS GAME! i hated zelda games with passion, but when i saw this i fell in luv.iv completed this about 11 times & still havent got alll the heart containers (never completed it with the PJs & extra stuff) this game is the work of gods! the first 2 hours suxs though (although the first time i played it it took me a whole afternoon but i sucked then, now im great).when i got this peice of the heavens i also got the amazing ocarina of time, & master quest disc with it which rocked! the best thing bout this game is the amazing graphics, the way links face jumps when he hits a rock with his sword, or starts losing health, & the music dont get me started on that, lets just say its rocks! if u play alot of games or r just reallly bored (like me) then this is a game u should get. until twilight princess comes out
