The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker

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skepticism from producers Miyamoto and Tezuka. For instance, they requested an explanation for the characters' exaggeratedly large eyes. Aonuma's team jokingly suggested having Link shoot beams from his eyes before deciding to have him focus his gaze on significant objects nearby, giving hints to observant players about what to do next. Miyamoto remained dubious of the art direction and reminded Aonuma that it was not too late to change course. Ultimately Miyamoto relented due to the team's enthusiasm about the cartoon style and the fact that it could have taken a decade to make a more realistic

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which will grant his wish to rule the world. Before he can act, the King of Hyrule appears and wishes that the Goddesses wash Ganondorf and Hyrule away, and grant Link and Tetra hope for their own future. Link and Tetra battle Ganondorf with the Master Sword and magical arrows as water pours around them; with the final blow, the Master Sword turns Ganondorf to stone. Link and Tetra rise to the surface as the King and Hyrule are submerged. After reuniting with their friends, the heroes sail off to find a new land.

466: 642:. The game follows the "Adult Link" timeline, after Link, the "Hero of Time", defeats Ganon and time-travels back to his childhood. A crisis emerges when Ganon returns, but Link does not. Centuries later, the people live on islands in the Great Sea. They preserve Link's story as a legend, but his kingdom's fate is unknown. The main character, a young boy also named Link, lives on Outset Island, where boys dress in green like the Hero of Time when they come of age. 1067: 7924: 1353:, a controller similar to the one used in the original game. The developers made some changes to the gameplay as well: they introduced a new item, the "Swift Sail", allowing for faster sailing on the Great Sea. They also streamlined the Triforce quest, improved the Picto Box, and replaced the Tingle Tuner, which had required connectivity with a Game Boy Advance, with a Tingle Bottle item that connected to the 713: 7952: 7964: 1673: 1668: 1663: 1658: 1653: 1575: 1570: 1565: 1560: 1555: 1465: 1460: 1455: 1450: 1445: 1930:

wrote that the sailing was "convincingly organic", but even with the warp feature, "there remains an awful lot of relatively dull seafaring activity". Others complained about having to use the Wind Waker so frequently to change wind direction. Casamassina wrote that using the device became "a tedious

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s divisive reputation among fans improved over time and that it has come to be seen as a classic. Several writers have said that the game and its stylized aesthetic aged well, whereas contemporary games with more realistic graphics often became dated. The graphics that initially divided opinion have

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generated the most successful pre-order campaign in Nintendo history at the time. However, sales did not live up to expectations; director Aonuma noted that purchases were disappointing in both Japan and North America. Japanese sales suffered from a general decline in the video game market caused by

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s Bettenhausen and Greg Sewart appreciated the combat, exploration, and side quests available at sea. Another common criticism was the game's comparatively low level of difficulty. Casamassina wrote that once the player added enough hearts to Link's health meter, "he becomes nearly invincible, which

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The heavy emphasis on sailing was the game's most common criticism, especially later in the game when Link must trek around the ocean to collect Triforce pieces. Gerstmann wrote that while the main quest "starts out in a very brisk manner", by the last third of the game, the "focus on sailing ... is

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Link is rescued at Windfall Island by a sentient sailboat, the King of Red Lions, who explains that the bird's master is a returned Ganondorf. To defeat him, Link must find the Hero of Time's power, which requires the three Pearls of the Goddesses. Link finds Din's Pearl on Dragon Roost Island, home

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translated into high definition. When the team determined it would take less than a year to remaster the entire game, Aonuma approached Miyamoto about developing it. He faced considerable reluctance from management due to players' mixed response in 2003, but Miyamoto ultimately greenlit development

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behind the boat will give it top speed, while sailing against the wind is difficult. The Great Sea features enemies and obstacles different from those found on land; additionally, some items serve new purposes while Link is aboard the King of Red Lions. The grappling hook, for example, serves as a

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Development continued through late 2002, with targeted release dates of December in Japan and early 2003 in North America. During the final stages, two dungeons that fell behind schedule were cut and replaced with a quest to recover Triforce pieces around the Great Sea. Elements of these dungeons

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Link and the King return to Hyrule to discover that Ganondorf has captured Tetra. Link follows them to Ganondorf's tower, defeating Ganondorf's minions before Ganondorf overcomes him. Ganondorf joins Link's and Tetra's Triforce pieces with his own Triforce of Power, forming the complete Triforce,

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With this decision, development proceeded swiftly. The team quickly decided the setting would be islands in an ocean, determining it would provide interesting visuals and mechanics in the cel-shaded style. This in turn inspired the central sailing feature. As Aonuma predicted, some features drew

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Tetra remains in the castle while Link and the King journey to the two sages who provided the Master Sword's power. They discover Ganondorf's forces murdered them both, so Link must awaken new sages, the Rito Medli and the Korok Makar, and guide them through the Earth and Wind Temples. The sages

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technology allowed the soundtrack to more closely approximate the sounds of real instruments than was possible in previous installments. The score features strings, winds, brass, percussion, and wordless vocals. The vocals are especially prominent in the tunes Link conducts with the Wind Waker,

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wrote that the game's user friendliness would appeal even to novice players. Casamassina praised the intuitive controls, the especially interactive environment, and the variety of game actions, which "can be executed with a precision that few other games could offer". Gerstmann appreciated the

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like the previous year's demo. Critics derisively dubbed the game "Celda". Miyamoto was surprised at the response and decided to limit revealing further information about the game until the team finished a playable demonstration, hoping to shift focus from the graphics to the gameplay.

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as Nintendo staff had found that opinions of the game had warmed over the years. Aonuma served as producer, while Daiki Iwamoto served as director. The soundtrack was updated by Kenta Nagata, Hajime Wakai, Asuka Hayazaki, and Atsuko Asahi. While the game was developed in-house at

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The soundtrack is primarily environmental; it modulates between various tracks depending on location, time and other conditions. Much of the score is inspired by traditional Irish music and is overall lighter and more upbeat than previous scores in the series. The advancement of

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restore the Master Sword, but the King learns that Ganondorf has abandoned the Forsaken Fortress and fears an attack. They then track down the eight shards of the missing Triforce of Courage, once kept by the Hero of Time, and the gods recognize Link as the Hero of Winds.

675:; and Nayru's Pearl with the water spirit Jabun on Outset Island. The King of Red Lions then takes Link to the Tower of the Gods, where he faces trials before descending beneath the ocean to a castle suspended in time. Here Link finds the Hero of Time's weapon, the 691:, which the goddesses submerged long ago to contain Ganondorf while the people fled to the mountaintops. The King of Red Lions reveals himself to be Daphnes Nohansen Hyrule, the last King of Hyrule, and Tetra is his heir, Zelda, keeper of the Triforce of Wisdom. 1058:. The compilation became a coveted item among fans; in the United Kingdom and Ireland, the 1000 allotted copies were claimed within minutes. To satisfy frustrated customers there, Nintendo offered additional copies to those who purchased select GameCube games. 1981:

gave it the Readers' Choice award for 2003 and named it Best Adventure Game for the GameCube. The game was ranked 157th in Electronic Gaming Monthly's "The Top 200 Video Games of Their Time" in 2006. It received the Excellence in Visual Arts award at the 2004

1339:'s touchscreen serves as a map and inventory, eliminating the need to toggle between gameplay and the menu interface. Players can use motion controls to control the Wind Waker. Some weapons, like the bow, can be aimed using the GamePad's gyroscope, as in 682:

Link returns to the Forsaken Fortress. Tetra's crew arrive and rescue the girls, but Ganondorf easily overpowers Link and Tetra; the Master Sword has lost its power. Ganondorf recognizes Tetra's Triforce necklace and realizes she is the incarnation of

357:, Link sails the ocean, explores islands, and traverses dungeons to acquire the power necessary to defeat Ganondorf. Wind, which facilitates sailing, plays a prominent role and can be controlled with a magic conductor's baton called the Wind Waker. 398:

received critical acclaim for its visuals, gameplay, level design, music, and story. The art direction proved divisive among players and contributed to comparatively weak sales; the game sold 4.6 million copies, far below the 7.6 million sold by

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become a favorite feature; some former skeptics have written about revising their initial opinions. Nintendo representatives describe this turnaround as a particularly dramatic example of the "Zelda cycle", in which fans' negative responses to

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is necessary to pass obstacles and defeat the boss in the Dragon Roost Cavern dungeon; it can then be used to enter previously inaccessible areas elsewhere. The "Tingle Tuner" is a special item allowing a second player to control the character

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into Outset Island's forest. Link rescues Tetra from monsters, but the bird carries off Link's sister Aryll. Tetra agrees to help Link find his sister, and they sail to the Forsaken Fortress, where the bird, the Helmaroc King, has been taking

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Nintendo presented a demo clip of the new game at the 2001 Space World. Response to the cel-shaded design was divided. While some attendees enjoyed the new look, there was backlash from disappointed fans who had hoped for a more realistic

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aesthetic, but was much more divided in North America. Some players appreciated the design and Aonuma's vision, but others found it childish and too far removed from the more realistic designs of previous games. According to

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discs became popular items in their own right in North America, with some customers making and then cancelling pre-orders to get them. To avoid this issue in Europe, Nintendo released the item only in two-disc packages with

578:, which can be updated with information on each square and island. Through the game, Link acquires additional charts pointing the way to treasure chests and significant locations. On land, dungeons feature similar maps. 846:. Miyamoto encountered glitches while he attempted to demonstrate Link's new ability to use enemies' dropped weapons. However, reception was more positive than that for the Space World demo. The game received the 2002 2951: 910:. The sound team was significantly larger than for other contemporary projects to accommodate Nintendo's desire for a high caliber of work in the rushed development schedule. Koji Kondo, the primary composer for 2895: 1798:

While often noting fans' ambivalence about the cel shading, critics praised the game's visuals. Reviewers likened the game to a playable cartoon, with several positively comparing the animation to the films of

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that combines both a digital version of the game and the Deluxe Wii U console was released on September 20, 2013, in North America. The black console features a GamePad with a golden Hylian Crest and golden

5052: 4308: 2196:(2009) is set roughly a century later and features a new Link and Zelda, the latter a descendent of Tetra, as they traverse New Hyrule with a magical train. Toon Link also returned in indirectly related 5833: 589:. The first melody, the "Wind's Requiem", enables Link to change the wind's direction, allowing him to sail anywhere. Link can learn five other tunes for the Wind Waker, which provide abilities such as 540:

Throughout the game, Link acquires items and weapons that provide new abilities. Items are often needed to reach certain areas, defeat bosses or other enemies, and advance the story. For example, the

8029: 6287: 4084: 2067:. Nintendo of America attributed the game's comparatively weak North American sales in large part to the cel-shaded graphics, which turned off many players, particularly older teenagers who made up 2045:, much of the backlash came from a contemporary anxiety that Nintendo was losing its edge by focusing on games for children, as opposed to the more mature, realistic fare developed by competitors. 2515: 7407: 1991: 870:

games. The E3 demo also introduced new features, such as the ability to connect to the Game Boy Advance and receive help from Tingle. However, the art direction continued to divide audiences.

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One of the artworks used for the game's packaging in North America. Its original release, and later releases and releases in other regions feature different background patterns and gradients.

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If I had gone and talked to him from the very beginning, I think he would have said, 'How is that Zelda?'. Miyamoto had trouble letting go of the realistic Link art style until the very end.

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games. The team explored other directions until designer Yoshiki Haruhana created a cartoonish drawing of a young Link that caught their eye. Design manager Satoru Takizawa drew up an enemy

5317: 1857:, though they praised enhancements such as the ability to move the camera, perform counterattacks, and use enemy items. Casamassina reassured players that beyond visual differences between 687:

he is seeking. Link's Rito allies and Valoo save Link and Tetra from Ganondorf. The King of Red Lions brings the two back to the underwater realm, explaining it is the legendary kingdom of

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said that though some fans hold distaste for the graphics, Nintendo's execution represented the pinnacle of the GameCube's capabilities and of cel shading technology. Jeff Gerstmann of

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was critically acclaimed; Metacritic calculated a score of 90/100 based on 70 reviews. The improved graphics of the game from the original received positive commentary. Dan Ryckert of

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s underwhelming reception in North America, combined with the downturn in the Japanese video game market, convinced Aonuma that the only avenue to success would be a more realistic

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which allows him to control the wind and harness other powers by "conducting" specific melodies. The player controls the Wind Waker by moving the joypads to change pitch and

2548: 537:, minor objectives the player can optionally complete to attain rewards. For example, Link can use the "Picto Box" – an in-game camera – to take pictures to fulfill quests. 529:

features several dungeons—large, enclosed areas where Link fights enemies, finds items, and solves puzzles to continue. Each dungeon quest concludes with a battle against a

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was released on December 13, 2002, in Japan, on March 24, 2003, in North America, and on May 2, 2003, in Europe. To promote the release, Nintendo offered a bonus disc as a

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Critics also lauded the gameplay, in particular the responsive control system, fluid combat, and puzzles. Several reviews noted the similarity of its gameplay to that of

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breadth of items that can be used. Bettenhausen said that the high variety of options for progressing through fights and puzzles kept the game from ever getting boring.

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s designs, with graphics enhanced for the new system's capabilities. The team hastily created a brief clip of Link fighting Ganondorf for a demonstration at the 2000

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in a similar style, and the team seized on the new gameplay and combat possibilities afforded by the stylized cartoon aesthetic. To achieve this look, they used

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Other elements that commonly received praise include the expansive game world and level design, especially in the dungeons. The storyline also received praise;

5847: 1807:. In particular, critics appreciated the characters' unique expressiveness, and found that the fine details and environments added richness to the game world. 1757:

calculated a score of 96/100 based on 80 reviews, indicating "universal acclaim". It was the fourth game to receive a perfect score from the Japanese magazine

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Player response to the game remained divided over the cel-shaded design. Reception was comparatively warm in Japan, where various media commonly borrow an

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s Steven Grimm called the game "a masterpiece of style and storytelling". Several critics lauded the score and soundtrack, though some cited the lack of

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said that skepticism about the visuals was "unfounded" and wrote that the character design "adds emotional weight" to the storyline. Steve Thomason of

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game that would appeal to the stronger North American market. He persuaded Miyamoto, who authorized development of a realistically styled game using

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was included in another GameCube bundle and was made available to existing GameCube owners who either registered their system or subscribed to

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wrote that the gameplay expanded upon that in its predecessors to become "far greater, deeper, and more complex", while Shane Bettenhausen of

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wrote that though he was initially skeptical, the visuals worked "brilliantly, framing the most enjoyable game play experience I've had since

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s traditional audience. Miyamoto further blamed a failure to introduce major innovations to excite established players or attract new ones.

7994: 7609: 7195: 6581: 5012: 4176: 1371: 617: 4392: 3895: 2571: 6254: 6006: 7142: 2206: 1999: 1329:(EAD), high-resolution textures were produced with the help of a few external companies. The entire project took six months to develop. 506:

features a targeting system allowing Link to "lock on" and constantly face an enemy or target. A new feature is the ability to move the

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nuisance" and that the inability to skip the accompanying animation was "more bothersome still". Some reviewers enjoyed the sailing;

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series, contributed to the score but did not serve as sound director. However, the score incorporated some of his pieces from older

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noted that the upgrade was immediately apparent, and that "the vivid colors and crashing waves of the flooded Hyrule fantastic".

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consumers shifting away from games, a phenomenon known as "gamer drift". The overall market remained strong in North America, but

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exposition, where Nintendo announced the GameCube. The clip resonated with fans and commentators who hoped it previewed the next

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elements. The control scheme is comparable to its predecessors: the player moves the protagonist Link in three dimensions from a

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with limited edition GameCubes in North America and Europe. On November 17 that year, Nintendo launched another promotion via a

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was also included. A Ganondorf figurine was released with a special edition copy of the game, available exclusively through

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The game is set on a group of islands in a vast sea, a departure for the series. The player controls series protagonist

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team, however, had exhausted its ideas for this style and format. Aonuma hated the demo, finding it derivative of past

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Medina-Gray, Elizabeth (2014). "Meaningful Modular Combinations: Simultaneous Harp and Environmental Music in Two

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Medina-Gray, Elizabeth (2014). "Meaningful Modular Combinations: Simultaneous Harp and Environmental Music in Two

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blur, making the game look stylistically similar to a cartoon and setting it apart from other games in the series.

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and magic; Link can expand his health meter by finding "heart containers" and container pieces in the game.

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among other references, leading some fans to speculate that it follows the "Adult Timeline" established by

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Averill, Alan; Shepperd, Christopher; Joffe Stein, Jessica; Thomason, Steve; Grimm, Steven (April 2003).

3378: 3314: 2979: 498:. Link fights with a sword and shield as well as a variety of other weapons and items. He interacts with 7834: 6858: 4299:"Zelda: The Wind Waker HD & Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze hands-on preview – mostly new" 4263: 3190: 2499: 1295: 1276: 1141: 507: 487: 316: 288: 123: 5264: 2778: 2110:

The game's first week sales in Japan were 30,000 physical copies. In the week following the release of

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s reviewers wrote that the rich design brings all the game's elements together into a cohesive whole.

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editor Fran Mirabella said the cartoon look "works very nicely" and that "it feels very much like

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on their list of the "Top 50 Games That Belong On the 3DS". In a retrospective on the GameCube,

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listed its ending as one of the greatest in Nintendo history, due to the final battle's climax.

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with some changes, including new dungeon challenges, had been developed for the Nintendo 64's

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