The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker HD

Anyone who’s been holding out on buying a Wii U really needs to reconsider following the release of Wind Waker HD. What was already a masterpiece has become better than ever.

What impresses me more then the visual/gameplay updates is the fact that Wind Waker HD still can compete with any new game on the market today. The story is charming, the characters warm your heart, and the game remains as one of the best 3D adventure games to date. With the lack of killer software on the Wii U, The Legend of Zelda: Wind Waker HD is one of the only great games currently available to date.

While lacking somewhat in the new features department, The Wind Waker HD is still a great remake of a already fantastic game. The result is nothing short of stunning and one of the best games ever made.

Simply put, it's perfect.

No game is perfect, but the HD redux inches Wind Waker ever closer to that ideal.

Wind Waker HD is an excellent remake of an awesome game.

While playing, I marveled at things I normally don't pay attention to in games, such as the way light and shadows played off of Link and his enemies in battles, or the way the wind made little things, such as flags or windmills, come to life.

Although without presenting new content, Wind Waker HD comes to the Wii U after a restoration that puts it at the same level of productions of the current generation.

Just like its young hero, The Wind Waker is crisp and energetic, spirited and soulful, just a little bit wayward - and it hasn't aged a day.

The Legend of Zelda The Wind Waker HD once again proves that the HD remakes have a place in this modern world of gaming. They've tweaked the gameplay and graphics to create an almost new experience that Zeldaphites will enjoy and new comers will be captivated by the wonder and enjoyable stories and characters that they met.

Holds up as a marvelous game full of unique and wonderful surprises that remind me why it’s the best of the 3D Zeldas.

It is everything I could have hoped for in a remake as it has gameplay that doesn’t feel dated, it has spectacular HD graphics, it improves most of the problems from the original, and it incorporates fantastic use of the Wii U GamePad. Other than a few frame rate issues I find very little fault with this game as it feels almost perfect, which is why I highly recommend Wind Waker HD to any Wii U owner and Zelda fan alike.

If you’ve played the original, let’s face it, Nintendo prices don’t drop very quickly. You may as well just go and pick this up because you know you want to play it. This is easily the definitive version of Wind Waker and the best you’ll ever play.

The visual upgrades are superb and the gameplay hasn't really aged at all. This is not just a simple "HD update", it feels almost like a complete new Zelda game.

The changes Nintendo has made have been little, but important enough to enhance a great experience. Wind Waker still is a wonderful game, and this is the best opportunity to enjoy once again one of the most original adventures of Link.

This is one of the most memorable experiences in the history of gaming, and it is a shame if anyone misses out on it.

This HD version not only makes everything look sharper than before, but the new additions and features make for an even more enjoyable experience without tarnishing the spirit the original. Simply put, The Wind Waker HD makes one of Nintendo’s greatest games even better.

Although it maybe could have stood to add a little more content with some meat on its bones (maybe a new dungeon, or the areas that were cut from the original release), Wind Waker HD is one of the Wii U’s “must buy” titles without question.

Thanks to the Swift Sail, the bar for water-based exploration has been raised so high that I'll never be able to play Suikoden IV again. Not that I was planning to, of course.

The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker HD is the definitive version of the classic GameCube title. With HD graphics, lighting effects, a new soundtrack and gameplay and technical enhancements, this remake brings a memorable and emotional experience to a new generation.

Every change Nintendo has made to this game is smart and serves a purpose, and I envy anyone that gets to experience The Wind Waker for the first time via this remake. It takes everything that made the original a classic and greatly improves on its visuals and quality of play. If you’re a fan of classic remakes, you can’t ask for much more.

Makes some of 2013's brand new games look amateur in comparison. [Dec 2013, p.68]

We expected a voyage down memory lane, but were instead treated to an adventure that is as fresh as it was when it first appeared in 2002. Splendid stuff.

A remaster of a classic adventure that has been done lovingly but perhaps a little too conservatively. Luckily, few games have stood the test of time like The Wind Waker. [Oct 2013]

After ten years Wind Waker is still as magical as it was when it was first released. The Wii U is all of a sudden looking like a console worth considering.

While the game occasionally shows its age in several departments, it more than makes up for it by crafting one of the finest Zelda adventures ever made and being irresistibly charming.

As the most successful and dramatic HD upgrade ever, and of one of the better adventure games of all time, The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker HD seems like a no-brainer if you own a Wii U and have any love for Zelda games.

It’s incredibly telling that all Wind Waker needs is an HD spit-shine to belong in 2013. No game is released in a vacuum, but the greatest games are fun no matter when you play them. This re-release puts Wind Waker in that column, right along classics like Super Mario Bros. and Pac-Man. It’s an incredible game.

A brilliant remake of one of the best Zelda games ever made. The motion control is fun, but at the same time limited to the technology today. Although I miss the opportunity to make notes on the map, this is the same fantastic game you remember.

Even though I am sad, that after ten years there isn’t any additional content (actually the number of dungeons is reduced), I am overjoyed that this GameCube-classic shines in a new HD light and is visually more impressive than ever.

For anyone who has never played The Wind Waker, this HD release is one that you must own for your limited (for now) Wii U library. It’s a charming experience that has been improved visually and mechanically to make for a better game.

So if you’ve played it before, you should leap on the opportunity to revisit The Wind Waker in all of its newfound visual glory. And if this is your first time tackling the hazardous waters of the Great Sea, feel free to view the below score as a horrendous insult.

It takes note of the finger-wagging gripes unreasonably lobbed at the original and tweaks details to elevate an already fantastic journey to towering heights.

A brilliant odyssey full of memorable moments, and an adventure that is still as great as ten years ago.

The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker HD is the definitive version of the GameCube classic.

Ten years later, The Wind Waker is still a great videogame. Its unique visuals and enjoyable gameplay deserves the remake that Nintendo made for Wii U. Simply timeless.

If you've never had an opportunity to experience The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker, now is the best chance to do so.

The Legend of Zelda: Wind Waker was a great game, one of the most important in the last decade. And this HD remake is better in visuals, sounds and some good gameplay changes.

The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker HD proves how timeless Nintendo titles are. Enhanced, revised and revisited, the game is certainly one to explore again or for the first time on Nintendo Wii U.

If you own the original, this is not an essential buy, let alone a reason to get a Wii U. It is basically the same fantastic game that crowned one of the best years of the GameCube's run. If you're new to this particular iteration, though, by all means, get this. I kind of envy you, because I will never be able to experience it with that set of fresh eyes again. Don't let this chance pass you by.

The resulting game is stunning — its colors are muted just a shade or two from the Gamecube original — it's tidier and more organic. Wind Waker looks and feels like a living cartoon, with its bold colors and clean lines, and the animation is expressive and fluid.

The Wii U is now home to the definitive version of The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker.

Despite the cel shading which might have mislead our judgment, we would like to state the following: from a technical point of view, The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker HD is the best HD conversion ever made.

In many ways, Wind Waker represents a high point for the Zelda series. Its tremendous world, lovely art, amazing combat, and welcome new features have yet to be surpassed by its sequels. For my money, Wind Waker is Zelda at its best. But this time, it's even better than before.

As a remake, The Legend of Zelda Wind Waker HD is absolutely fantastic. Astonishing visuals, great character design and a heart-warming story make for one of the best games on Wii U.

Nintendo has done a valiant job of breathing new life into what was already an exceptional Legend of Zelda title. It has taken the game’s timeless art style and given it a glorious new sheen thanks to HD technology, while also making an extensive amount of worthwhile improvements to previously flawed aspects of the gameplay.

This isn't 2004 anymore, however, and refinements have been made. The touchpad helps a lot, obviously. The constant faffing about through your item inventory is all but dispelled, as a quick flick of your Wii U Gamepad sees you equip something else in a flash.

It's a brave move to delve into the mechanics of a classic, but Nintendo was right to do so. These changes can easily be forgiven, and as a result Nintendo has created a masterful recreation of one of its most cherished games of yesteryear.

It is undoubtedly an excellent effort, which breathes new life into a decade-old title, and is a bright and arresting way for Link to debut in HD. What Nintendo need to do now is set about crafting something more than just a do-over, and move the wonderful old series forward on their richly promising hardware.

The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker HD is an old gem perfectly polished by Nintendo itself. The new shiny graphics are quite stunning and the huge number of small changes Nintendo made to this version make it a game worth your money.

Beautiful, fluid, and tactfully modernized, The Wind Waker HD heavily preserves its base while adjusting the ingredients when absolutely necessary to correct the original’s most glaring imperfections.

Gamers who never cruised with Link on a home console before can look forward to this great version of a great adventure, which still is worth playing.

The Wind Waker HD is a fantastic remake. Lovers of the original can enjoy the visuals and improved gameplay to their hearts content, including the extra tough Hero Mode. New players can get ready for an amazing adventure that they'll cherish for a long while after playing.

Much like when it was first released, Wind Waker is a visual and auditory feast and it works brilliantly for its first few hours.

In the end, the biggest problem with The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker HD is that it feels like a relatively poor value compared to other HD collections.

The Wind Waker HD might even be better than the original version. This remake is a must have for anyone with a Wii U, no matter if you already played the original or not.

Several design flaws are noticeable a decade after the original release, but with a host of minor, welcome gameplay tweaks and a gorgeous HD upgrade, this is the definitive version of perhaps the most original Zelda adventure.

Indeed, The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker suffers from some archaic mechanics, its fundamentals not having aged quite so gracefully as its aesthetics. Its unwieldiness and occasional sluggish pace can, in fact, grow temporarily infuriating. However, the streamlined menu system and map access go some way toward making up for any setbacks, while the unmistakable Wind Waker charisma ensures you won't ever stay mad at it for long.

If you’re willing to power through some unfortunate pacing, you’ll still get to experience a fantastic and wondrous adventure of epic proportions, upscaled for the modern era.

Fond memories of older games can oftentimes come to shatter when revisited but The Wind Waker still shines bright even after ten years. It is almost hard to believe the game is even that old. The battles, the dungeons and the sidequests are all still top notch and wrapped in timeless cartoon graphics. Have you not yet been enchanted by The Wind Waker then now is a better time than ever.

Perfect remake of the original Gamecube game that retains its magic and polishes it where time made adjustments necessary. [Nov 2013]

The HD-remake of wind Waker shows how strong the original GameCube-game was. In nearly every way it feels like a modern and fresh take on Zelda, that’s absolutely worth playing. Especially for newcomers. A few control issues and boring sail moments hardly detract from this magical experience.

It’s no system seller, but instead an excellent addition to the existing Wii U owner’s library—whether you’ve played it already or not.

Zelda: Wind Waker doesn't feel entirely fresh anymore and the cell shading isn't as stunning as it was ten years ago. Still, this is a true masterpiece that truly demonstrates that Nintendo is more creative than any other developer and also is mandatory in all Wii U collections.

Like Ocarina of Time before it on 3DS, Nintendo once again proves that it has a deft hand at reviving its classics, preserving their timeless essence while making them easier than ever to revisit for new and old audiences alike.

A bad Zelda is still a good game by any other standard but this does frustrating little to improve its standing, beyond making the graphics look even more stunning.

The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker HD is a loving restoration of a bold and beautiful adventure, with Nintendo shifting some elements of the original game's aesthetic, and streamlining the pace where it had occasionally sagged.

As time goes by, our mind tends to embellish memories of particularly fond moments. That's why we shouldn't embark twice on a journey, hoping to relive the same experience, no matter how wonderful we might remember it because it's often disappointing. However, Wind Waker HD demonstrates the opposite. Not only does its remarkable visual style appear even more vibrant in high definition, but this remake smooths unnecessary digression away, while preserving the freedom and the contemplative aspirations created by this huge world. Therefore, it sets out a truly unforgettable odyssey, both fresh and timeless.