This review contains spoilers
Looking back on my time with Windwaker HD a few years later, it's not an exaggeration to say this game helped save my life. I was in a dark, terrible place. In the least cheesy way possible, this game helped me remember just how beautiful colors could be.
In late 2013, a younger, more hopeful me picked up a Wii U in preparation for Smash the following year. I bought a bundle that came with a digital copy of Windwaker HD, and really got into it. I played about 25 hours of it, getting about halfway through the game, and something cooler came along and I forgot about it. 3 days ago, I had the idea to dig up the ole Wii U, which has rightfully been collecting a lot of dust, and finish Windwaker. I remembered literally nothing about it, and indeed my last save was from November 2013. I fired it up and was immediately blown away by the colors.
My first point I want to make is that this game is beautiful. It is not afraid to use colors to their fullest effect, something games for the last 10 years have been afraid to do. The ocean is amazing, and I never got too bored just sailing for a minute or two to my next destination. The seagulls flying with you, the sharks swimming around you, the distant weather systems, it's all just so wonderful. I'm not a fan of Twilight Princess, and frankly Windwaker puts it to shame. There are more colors than brown, black, and dark green. Breath of the Wild is the only other Zelda that comes close to being this vibrant. I was immediately engaged.
Secondly, the absurdity of the design. Wizrobes are tucans now? I'm in. The Stahlchildren are big dumb brutes with hammers way too big for them to carry? Sign me up. Redeads screech and their heads inflate to 3 times their size? Terrified. The main thing about the color schemes and the ridiculous design is that they are so consistent about it. Each area looks more interesting than the last, and each character is immediately recognizable and memorable (I'm looking at you again twilight princess).
Third, the ending. I remember I had a hard time with main 4 bosses when i fought them in the dungeons, specifically the Sand Shark. When i realized I'd have to fight them all again, I groaned and didn't understand why they'd do this to me. But when I got in there... It was so easy. They even took away my new weapons and abilities and warped me back in time to the state i was in when i first faced them, so no powerups from the game side of it. I was better. I was able to take out 3 of those 4 bosses without getting hit once. I felt incredibly powerful. And then they threw me right into Ganon, and I was way more confident than I would have been otherwise. Excellent game design. I don't want to ramble forever, but Puppet Ganon was a great boss as well and super clever. I got a little angry fighting the caterpillar because I can't aim for shit, but other than that I couldn't be happier.
The triforce quests were a little too long and drawn out, and I honestly feel that there were too many of them with 8 shards. Other than that, I'm so impressed. I've been so burned out on games the last few weeks that I end up closing everything 5 minutes after I boot it up, including my old favorites. Windwaker made me remember why I love games so much, and how beautiful they can be.
In late 2013, a younger, more hopeful me picked up a Wii U in preparation for Smash the following year. I bought a bundle that came with a digital copy of Windwaker HD, and really got into it. I played about 25 hours of it, getting about halfway through the game, and something cooler came along and I forgot about it. 3 days ago, I had the idea to dig up the ole Wii U, which has rightfully been collecting a lot of dust, and finish Windwaker. I remembered literally nothing about it, and indeed my last save was from November 2013. I fired it up and was immediately blown away by the colors.
My first point I want to make is that this game is beautiful. It is not afraid to use colors to their fullest effect, something games for the last 10 years have been afraid to do. The ocean is amazing, and I never got too bored just sailing for a minute or two to my next destination. The seagulls flying with you, the sharks swimming around you, the distant weather systems, it's all just so wonderful. I'm not a fan of Twilight Princess, and frankly Windwaker puts it to shame. There are more colors than brown, black, and dark green. Breath of the Wild is the only other Zelda that comes close to being this vibrant. I was immediately engaged.
Secondly, the absurdity of the design. Wizrobes are tucans now? I'm in. The Stahlchildren are big dumb brutes with hammers way too big for them to carry? Sign me up. Redeads screech and their heads inflate to 3 times their size? Terrified. The main thing about the color schemes and the ridiculous design is that they are so consistent about it. Each area looks more interesting than the last, and each character is immediately recognizable and memorable (I'm looking at you again twilight princess).
Third, the ending. I remember I had a hard time with main 4 bosses when i fought them in the dungeons, specifically the Sand Shark. When i realized I'd have to fight them all again, I groaned and didn't understand why they'd do this to me. But when I got in there... It was so easy. They even took away my new weapons and abilities and warped me back in time to the state i was in when i first faced them, so no powerups from the game side of it. I was better. I was able to take out 3 of those 4 bosses without getting hit once. I felt incredibly powerful. And then they threw me right into Ganon, and I was way more confident than I would have been otherwise. Excellent game design. I don't want to ramble forever, but Puppet Ganon was a great boss as well and super clever. I got a little angry fighting the caterpillar because I can't aim for shit, but other than that I couldn't be happier.
The triforce quests were a little too long and drawn out, and I honestly feel that there were too many of them with 8 shards. Other than that, I'm so impressed. I've been so burned out on games the last few weeks that I end up closing everything 5 minutes after I boot it up, including my old favorites. Windwaker made me remember why I love games so much, and how beautiful they can be.