The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker HD

 Wii U
User Score
9.0

Universal acclaim- based on 1399 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 1,274 out of 1399
  2. Mixed: 49 out of 1399
  3. Negative: 76 out of 1399
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  1. PPko
    Apr 27, 2023
    9
    A classic Zelda game that manages to set itself apart from the rest — unique graphics, playful character designs, enchanting music, and a surprising plot. The swift sail and the 2nd screen are marked improvements. It's fun to sail the open seas and discover new islands (but it can still get tedious late-game). The parry mechanic is cool but the combat is too easy to make it a requiredA classic Zelda game that manages to set itself apart from the rest — unique graphics, playful character designs, enchanting music, and a surprising plot. The swift sail and the 2nd screen are marked improvements. It's fun to sail the open seas and discover new islands (but it can still get tedious late-game). The parry mechanic is cool but the combat is too easy to make it a required skill. Overall, this game is just charming as all get-out. Oh, and Tower Of The Gods is a banger of a dungeon!… Expand
  2. blover
    Mar 19, 2020
    9
    Very good game. Maybe a little childish and naive, but the feeling of adventure and the atmosphere are wonderful
  3. ChesterField
    May 1, 2020
    9
    I don't usually buy remastered games but the truth is that this game is mandatory for Wii U. A zelda at the level of the saga and at the same time, different in the artistic section. Essential.
  4. Melon_man
    Aug 2, 2021
    9
    Swift sail alone makes this version worth it. I don't understand how you could put up with the sailing mechanics without it.
  5. jamescastells
    Jul 2, 2020
    9
    Excellent game (perhaps the best one of the Zelda series), hopefully some day it gets ported to the Switch.
  6. alxs621
    Jul 1, 2020
    9
    A timeless art style and charming storyline do a lot to save this game from its less appealing elements, like an empty overworld and a distressing dungeon count.
  7. Floatingtable
    Jul 25, 2020
    9
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. My second favorite Zelda. Would be first if not for the **** triforce hunt.… Expand
  8. S3XU4LH34L1NG
    Jun 10, 2023
    9
    Really relaxing classic zelda. The only negative i can think of is the very frequent menuing due to item switchting and the occasional confusing riddle. It could ve been like 2-3 hrs shorter overall but its a must play non the less.
  9. Triblue
    May 21, 2023
    9
    J'adore Zelda et ce Zelda est trop bien donc voilà 9. Tout est bien est encore une fois ce jeu arrive à avoir quelque chose qui lui est propre.
  10. birdman3
    Jul 26, 2017
    8
    This game is a Zelda game, which means you should know what you're getting into even before you start- there will be lots of fetch quests and temples to complete, all of which will test your brain a bit (and sometimes your patience), but it's all done quite beautifully and feels very rewarding. This game has all the positives of your typical Zelda game, but a couple of disappointingThis game is a Zelda game, which means you should know what you're getting into even before you start- there will be lots of fetch quests and temples to complete, all of which will test your brain a bit (and sometimes your patience), but it's all done quite beautifully and feels very rewarding. This game has all the positives of your typical Zelda game, but a couple of disappointing negatives, namely:

    -The open water didn't give me the feeling that I was exploring- it just served as a reminder to me that it takes even longer to get places than it normally should in a Zelda game, with lots and lots of open space filled with nothing useful. Luckily, I was told by a friend to pick up the Fast Sail early on, and I can't even imagine how dreadful the travel would be in this game without it.

    -The combat attempts to give you depth, but it's really quite shallow. A review I read said that "the combat in this game is my favorite of any action RPG". I can't support that statement at all- it's the same button-mashing that each other game in the series has had. It's not that it's a negative, but it's certainly not a positive.

    -The final boss was frustrating and anti-climactic. I struggled with fighting the final boss- his third stage was infuriating in how simple it was to tell what you needed to do, but how difficult it was to actually execute. The actual final boss fight was really fun (I actually felt like I was sword fighting for the first time in the game!), but it turns out that none of that really mattered because he's just going to get hit by arrows anyways. I was sad when I learned that- I wish there had been more of the sword-fighting type fights instead of just typical button-mashing against the typical henchmen.

    -The additional features in the game (mail system, pictograph, treasure charts, etc.) don't add anything to the game, as far as I can tell. It didn't seem fun to do or worthwhile; the game already had enough side quests that I didn't want to bother myself trying to heap even more onto my plate.

    There you have it- in spite of these negatives, the game is pretty enjoyable, but if only because it imitates its rich heritage in the right way. I have to say that I probably won't play this game again; I'd rather just replay Ocarina of Time.    … Expand
  11. J4MESOX4D
    Oct 29, 2013
    8
    The Wind Waker initially disappointed me a decade ago on the GameCube with it's more colourful presentation and less impressive gameplay elements compared to the unbeatable Ocarina of Time but the rejuvenation on the WiiU impresses with many other issues addressed. The general pacing and overall gameplay mechanics have been considerably tweaked which makes the flow of the game moreThe Wind Waker initially disappointed me a decade ago on the GameCube with it's more colourful presentation and less impressive gameplay elements compared to the unbeatable Ocarina of Time but the rejuvenation on the WiiU impresses with many other issues addressed. The general pacing and overall gameplay mechanics have been considerably tweaked which makes the flow of the game more satisfying as opposed to a once occasionally dull affair. The AI and combat seem much more polished and the irritating sea exploration has been vastly improved. Still not on par with the likes of Twilight Princess or Skyward Sword which may raise eyebrows as to why Nintendo are looking backwards as opposed to forwards but we can be guaranteed more Zelda titles in the future and this is a nice HD reworking of a title that wasn't perfect but just needed the odd-tweak and we now have a fine product.… Expand
  12. blopho
    Mar 13, 2015
    8
    This is a great game hampered by a few flaws.

    The Good: -Beautiful cell-shaded art design makes the game pop, visually. -The controls are mostly spot-on. -Story is captivating, even if it takes some detours. -Each new island you explore is unique and introduces new items/gameplay elements to be used for the rest of the game. -Combat/sword fights are fun and surprisingly    This is a great game hampered by a few flaws.

    The Good:

    -Beautiful cell-shaded art design makes the game pop, visually.

    -The controls are mostly spot-on.

    -Story is captivating, even if it takes some detours.

    -Each new island you explore is unique and introduces new items/gameplay elements to be used for the rest of the game.

    -Combat/sword fights are fun and surprisingly complex.

    -Creativity and charm ooze from this game.

    -Side quests give the game replay value.

    -The characters--in particular Link--have very expressive facial animations. This pretty much makes up for the lack of recorded dialog.

    The Bad:

    -No recorded dialog....it's all text, so get ready to read when you're playing this game.

    -There is no autosave and when you DO save and reload at a later time, it starts you at the BEGINNING of the level you're in every time. It's possible to spend 10 minutes or more just to get back to where you were when you autosaved. Apparently they forgot to update the save system from the 2002 Gamecube original. The game SHOULD just load at the exact spot where you saved or a nearby checkpoint--which many games do these days. But it doesn't. This is the game's biggest flaw.

    -The camera angle needs to be adjusted all the time. It's manageable, but can be slightly irritating.

    -Much of the time, you're given clues as to where you should go/what you should be doing through speech with other characters. However, there are times where the game really doesn't give you enough to go on and expects you to figure it out. It's like the exact opposite of games like Call of Duty, games that 'hold your hand' and give you hints as if you're an idiot. In these moments, if you're like me you'll break down and watch a YouTube playthrough of that particular section to figure out what the game should've been more clear about.

    -Although it technically is an open-world game, you aren't allowed to just wander out into the world within 20 minutes of starting the game. It's not a Fallout/GTA/Far Cry type of open world. It's closer to a Super Mario Brothers type of open world where you're only allowed to replays levels you've already been to, if only to look for other quests/stuff that you either missed or haven't unlocked yet.

    I recommend this game to die-hard RPG fans who can stomach some of the more frustrating aspects of this game. There's a great game to behold in there, but at times it can be buried in a lot of **** Just know what you're getting yourself into.    … Expand
  13. Lar372
    Jul 7, 2014
    8
    I'm not a Zelda veteran, and I've seldom sat down to put the time into a Zelda game since Ocarina of Time. I originally missed the Wind Waker due to being caught up in the frenzy that was Sony, so I have no original to compare it to.

    To start, I find the visuals beautiful, if this is upscaling I must say they have done a tremendous job, the aspect works perfectly being able to see far    I'm not a Zelda veteran, and I've seldom sat down to put the time into a Zelda game since Ocarina of Time. I originally missed the Wind Waker due to being caught up in the frenzy that was Sony, so I have no original to compare it to.

    To start, I find the visuals beautiful, if this is upscaling I must say they have done a tremendous job, the aspect works perfectly being able to see far off into the distance from a simple point is quite stunning.

    The use of the touchpad is done fairly well, although simply used for inventory purposes, it allows you to control it from the secondary screen while still being able to move.

    Gameplay wise, I've only just cleared the first dungeon, it has taken me quite some time to get into the game, this is possibly due to me not having huge excesses of time to play on it, I feel if I had a whole day to sit and play it I would get into it more, but at parts I can find it slightly drab and tedious.

    I think my reason for shying from Zelda games is because it's never had that experience point laden RPG experience I appreciate from so many other RPGs, I realise this isn't really the Zelda premise, but I sometimes think heralding back to the Zelda II: Links Adventure, may help the franchise slightly.    … Expand
  14. TheSiriocaz
    Oct 27, 2014
    8
    An excellent combat system is Wind Waker's biggest strength, offering tactical and precise fights with a very nice variety of enemies. Gorgeous design and overall interesting puzzles are abundant as well, but you may be patient with the very tedious sailing mechanic, which is very important in this game.
  15. rosnk30
    Jun 21, 2015
    8
    A great zelda game bytheway...This time in high definition. Funny game with a certain challenge. Not the best zelda anyway, but great game after all. Amazing gameplay, sound na graphics. A "must buy" game.
  16. XV_
    Jan 12, 2020
    8
    When I was a teenager and the original Wind Waker came out, it blew my mind, I loved the art style and the sense of adventure, everything seemed perfect except for some minor issues, now replaying it, I see why I loved it (I still do) however, its flaws are more noticeable.

    As far as remasters go, this HD revisión pretty nails it, the cel-shaded effect is not exactly the same but it    When I was a teenager and the original Wind Waker came out, it blew my mind, I loved the art style and the sense of adventure, everything seemed perfect except for some minor issues, now replaying it, I see why I loved it (I still do) however, its flaws are more noticeable.

    As far as remasters go, this HD revisión pretty nails it, the cel-shaded effect is not exactly the same but it looks good, there are not a lot of modifications which make your experience more or less the same as the original, one welcomed addition is the introduction of a faster boat veil which is not tied to the direction of the wind, this veil comes at 2/3 of the game, so is more like an endgame item and doesn't affect your playthrough as intended. Another addition is to change items with your Wii U Pad, you don't need to pause the game in order to access your items, however, the game was not intended for this active system, so at least when you're fighting, expect to pause the game and change your item or be prepared for some annoying moments otherwise. There is also a message system (that was replaced with the GBA compatibility of the original) which sounds a lot like the message system of Dark Souls but it was part of the Miiverse ecosystem that has long gone, so I couldn't try it at all.

    As for a Zelda game is a solid entry, although it has pretty noticeable flaws, the most important to me is its linearity, from the start and till completing 1/3 of the game, you can't sail to wherever you like, your boat, in a Fi fashion (from Skyward Sword) will tell you that he doesn't recommend you to go to "X" way and reallocates you to the right way, this is pretty upsetting since the sea is there for you to conquer it but you can't. Another thing is the difficulty, you can play it in Hero mode from the start which is nice but is still pretty easy, the enemies with a few exceptions have pretty noticeable attack patterns, so you will be exploiting them a lot, also the dungeons are OK with the last one being pretty bad and annoying, the boss fights are fun but also incredibly easy and formulaic.

    For the good aspects, I loved the story, it has some nice twists and turns and also thanks to the art style it also tells it in an expressive fashion like no other Zelda before, to me there is no better iteration of Ganondorf, it feels like a human and he gives one of the most memorable fights and moments at the end of the game, it makes worth your time just to see what I'm talking about. Once you break the linearity barrier, Wind Waker offers a nice freedom of exploration, for budget reasons, there are not a lot of islands like towns (there are like 3 only) but in every island or "corner" of the sea is a treasure or a secret waiting for you, so it gives a nice sense of exploration, merge it with an outstanding score (which was also rearranged but is still true to the original) and you will have an amazing time onwards. As for the art style which was heavily criticized back in the day, it has aged like wine, maybe it was developed that way because of budget reasons but it turned out great, Link and every character has a lot of soul, mainly because it's easy to see their expressions through their eyes or animation.

    Maybe in some aspects, WW has not aged that well, but in anothers it broke the pass of time, is not a hardcore Zelda by any means but it has a lot of charm and pleasure to be had nonetheless, I think this is a nice introduction to the Zelda universe to a newcomer or someone that is not that "hardcore" with videogames.    … Expand
  17. WaluigiOverlord
    May 15, 2018
    8
    This game is great. First off the art style is charming and beautiful, and there is not a single part of the game that wasn't visually stunning. It is a lengthy adventure with an amazing sound track and fun dungeons...Except for one, leading to the problems. First off, the pacing in the game is really wonky, going from an extremely slow and dull first mini-dungeon to a fast-paced sailingThis game is great. First off the art style is charming and beautiful, and there is not a single part of the game that wasn't visually stunning. It is a lengthy adventure with an amazing sound track and fun dungeons...Except for one, leading to the problems. First off, the pacing in the game is really wonky, going from an extremely slow and dull first mini-dungeon to a fast-paced sailing section. Also, one of the later dungeons, the Wind Temple, was confusing to the point where it had no enjoyment in it, just torment, despite it using one of my favorite items in the series. Overall, this game is pretty good, but has many flaws.… Expand
  18. AxemmelaGX
    Dec 27, 2018
    8
    Very nice looking game with satisfying combat and decent puzzles. This game is best for gamers new to the Legend of Zelda franchise.
  19. iMustang
    Mar 24, 2019
    8
    For years I had been wanting to give The Legend of Zelda The Wind Waker a second chance, and thanks to Nintendo I got to play this game beautifully remastered on the Wii U, and I'm glad that was the case because the power of HD really brought out the beauty of this great game. Despite the fact that the majority of the largest plot points were spoiled for me prior to playing it, myFor years I had been wanting to give The Legend of Zelda The Wind Waker a second chance, and thanks to Nintendo I got to play this game beautifully remastered on the Wii U, and I'm glad that was the case because the power of HD really brought out the beauty of this great game. Despite the fact that the majority of the largest plot points were spoiled for me prior to playing it, my enjoyment of the game was not hindered in the slightest. The characters were fun and colorful, and the art was a fun change in the classic franchise. I do wish the game had more side quests available beyond treasure maps, which to me left a lot of wasted potential with such a big sea. But I'll give them credit that with it being a Gamecube game there was only so much they could do, and the amount of content in Windmill Village made up for it. Wind Waker may not have made my top favorite Zelda games list, but it definitely made for an amazing experience I'm sure I'll relive again one day.… Expand
  20. Zeldafan22
    Jul 19, 2020
    8
    It was super fun, but was a bit boring at times, and the parrying sucks. The best thing that comes from the remake is the visuals.
  21. Frost_Cube
    Aug 11, 2021
    8
    The original was amazing and was filled with so much adventure. The same is true for The Wind Waker HD. Also, I love being able to play this on my Wii U as the HD remgyioygfiake looks spectacular.
  22. MaddoxWhite
    Apr 24, 2021
    8
    Great visuals/art style. This was my first Zelda game, and it's still my favorite.
  23. B00tador
    Dec 5, 2021
    8
    Really enjoyable climax to a fabulous looking game, but a bit flat in parts early on. Lovely stuff overall though.
  24. BaldursThones
    Apr 14, 2022
    8
    I never played the original but from what I gather this is just the original but with better graphics. I love this game, the only flaw is sailing for the blue orb.
  25. Radlerdani
    Dec 4, 2022
    8
    Wunderschönes Spiel. Die Musik bleibt bis heute im Kopf und verhilft zur guten Laune! Und genau das wollte man mit dem Spiel auch bewirken. Es hat zwar seine Schwächen, insbesondere die Suche im Mid Game, jedoch behält es seinen Charme und kann vollends überzeugen. Habe die Gamecube Version nie durchgespielt, da mir das ganze Segeln zu langsam war - die Wii U Version hat einiges besserWunderschönes Spiel. Die Musik bleibt bis heute im Kopf und verhilft zur guten Laune! Und genau das wollte man mit dem Spiel auch bewirken. Es hat zwar seine Schwächen, insbesondere die Suche im Mid Game, jedoch behält es seinen Charme und kann vollends überzeugen. Habe die Gamecube Version nie durchgespielt, da mir das ganze Segeln zu langsam war - die Wii U Version hat einiges besser gemacht und ist definitiv the way to go. Wann kommt es endlich auf Switch?… Expand
  26. Beatsaberzzz
    Feb 13, 2023
    8
    After more than 20 years, this game still holds up and its all thanks to the all so perfect and amazing toon style. Plus its fun to control and the story is so good. And this Wii U port just makes this masterpiece even better.
  27. Robinhio84
    Jan 2, 2021
    7
    An entertaining game with both flaws and great elements It’s a good game, but not perfect. Let me start eith tbe cons. It’s sooo repetitive with 49 treasure charts of which 80% or rupees that you don’t need. All enemies get best beaten by a parey attack or the grabbing hook, which again with the moderate size of enemies becomes a bit of drag. Whenever there was a build up of strongerAn entertaining game with both flaws and great elements It’s a good game, but not perfect. Let me start eith tbe cons. It’s sooo repetitive with 49 treasure charts of which 80% or rupees that you don’t need. All enemies get best beaten by a parey attack or the grabbing hook, which again with the moderate size of enemies becomes a bit of drag. Whenever there was a build up of stronger enemies ur already waiting for the darknuts to arrive. One thing that really stood out is that I never had to buy arrows and only 3times bombs in the whole game. You keep being on 5000 rupees with nowhere to spend them on, One orher thing is that the game doesn’t tell you about the golden statues and how to obtain them as a person who played the first time without a strategy guide that is unacceptable. I don’t want to need to resort to the Internet to complete something.

    There are some great rhings about the game too. Windfalls village is near to perfect and the implementation of enemy parts and their weapons is great! Most of the side quest are great. And there’s so great stand outs like with Maggie. The Rito and Koroks have become staples of the series. And this the first -non sequel- game that was trying to build some lore.

    Overall this is 100% a true Zelda game. It got hindered by having to cut elements because of release deadlines. And that must have influenced decisions. I’m reviewing after completing it for the first time. The first time I cleared all the main dungeons and got put off by the triforce fetch quest. But as a true Zelda fan I had to finish the game completd with all charts, hearts and figurines. Which lesves me to the questions: is it replayable. Twice is MORE then enough If you are a Zelda fan, stop reading and play this game once from start to finish .    … Expand
  28. Jorchking
    Nov 26, 2018
    7
    Valoración: 75/100. Wind Waker HD, una remasterización innecesaria para un juego medianamente nuevo, cuando pudieron aprovechar el potencia de la consola y lanzar el Majora's Mask en Wii U.
    Wind Waker es uno de los Zelda más peculiares, con su estética caricaturesco e infantil, pero con una gran trama y profundidad en la historia de ese mundillo.
    Zelda WW presenta varias cosas    Valoración: 75/100. Wind Waker HD, una remasterización innecesaria para un juego medianamente nuevo, cuando pudieron aprovechar el potencia de la consola y lanzar el Majora's Mask en Wii U.
    Wind Waker es uno de los Zelda más peculiares, con su estética caricaturesco e infantil, pero con una gran trama y profundidad en la historia de ese mundillo.
    Zelda WW presenta varias cosas interesantes, como el de navegar por el mar en vez de montar al caballo epona, saquear cosas de los piratas, ser un poco más "traviesillo" en lo que a las aldeas respecta (ser un terrible, vamos), etc.
    Es un Zelda con una duración muy buena, y que sientes que en cualquier parte puede haber algo de mucho valor, algo que le quita pesadez a la hora de navegar por el desolado y aburrido mar.
    Todo lo que es interacción está bien ejecutada y las mazmorras muy bien hechas. La música es muy buena con un estilo diferente a los anteriores.
    Ahora, lo que no me gustó nada y que es muy personal fue su estética infantil. A muchos les gustó, a mí no me gustó mucho y se podría haber aprovechado mejor ese ambiente pirata con unos gráficos más realistas (como después lo terminaría siendo el último juego con gráficos realistas como Twilight Princess). Otra cosa es el mar, muchas veces se hace denso, por más que puede haber cualquier cosa en todo momento, sigue siendo un MAR azul sin nada, como lo podría ser también el desierto.
    Pero este juego tiene todo para divertir por muchas horas y hasta rejugarlo luego de haber terminado. Sí se siente bien el conseguir lo mayor posible dentro del juego.
    La remasterización, por cierto, me pareció innecesario en este juego y el cambio fue mínimo para lo que la estética y edad del juego tiene. Muy desaprovechado haberlo trabajado aquí y no, por ejemplo, en el Majora's Mask para Wii U (y no en 3DS).
    Conclusión: Es un Zelda muy divertido y con buena duración y ambientanción, pero con una estética infantil caricaturesca que no me termina de agradar y que, desgraciadamente, se ha estandarizado en la saga Zelda. Mar un poco tedioso por lo vacío que puede llegar a ser. Juego rejugable y con muchas posibilidades. 2 escalones por debajo de OoT y Majora's Mask.    … Expand
  29. hileger
    Oct 19, 2022
    7
    Середняк Середняк Середняк Середняк Середняк Середняк Середняк Середняк
  30. Vitalus
    Apr 15, 2023
    7
    I wanted to love it as much as I thought I would, but it simply wasn't a great time any time I wasn't in one of the primary 4 or so dungeons. The world is so big yet so empty, and just served to get in the way of the fun dungeon puzzles and fights.
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Awards & Rankings

3
#3 Best Wii U Game of 2013
2
#2 Most Discussed Wii U Game of 2013
3
#3 Most Shared Wii U Game of 2013

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
90

Universal acclaim - based on 70 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 70 out of 70
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 70
  3. Negative: 0 out of 70
  1. Gamestyle
    Jan 6, 2014
    90
    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.
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  2. Level7.nu
    Dec 12, 2013
    80
    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.
    Read full review
  3. Universo Nintendo
    Nov 10, 2013
    100
    Wind Waker HD is a must play game not just for Zelda fans, but for every gamer.
    Read full review
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