The Legend Of Zelda: Wind Waker wasn't controversial in the Daily Mail sense. Keith Vaz didn't raise his concerns in the House Of Commons about Link's transformation from a lifelike young man into a cel-shaded cartoon character (although he could have said something about the damage he does to the environment. How many trees did he chop down during Wind Waker?). Yet after Nintendo revealed the new Legend Of Zelda game for GameCube at SpaceWorld 2002, many fans were appalled with Link's new look.
Looking back, it's hard to see why. After all it wasn't as if Link had always been portrayed as a realistic human and many Zelda fans love A Link To The Past. However, Ocarina Of Time had been such a huge leap forward that returning to the cartoony style of old seemed like a step backwards to many fans. Of course it would have been difficult to match the impact of the first 3D Zelda game but fans were expecting a new Zelda for a new console. They got the new Zelda but it wasn't what they were expecting.
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New Decade, New Zelda Of course the fact that Nintendo had teased fans with a new 'realistic' Zelda game at SpaceWorld in 2000 didn't help matters. Like Mario 128, this new demo whetted gamer's appetites for Nintendo's next console but it gave a false impression of the future Zelda game. This would all become clear at the same event two years later.
On the eve of the release of Spirit Tracks many gamers will be wondering what the fuss was all about. The release of Twilight Princess has helped matters as those fans who were upset in 2002 have been placated by a return to realism but even they might just admit that the cartoon Zelda games have been a massive success and haven't done anything to diminish the series. If anything, they've offered an alternative - something to enjoy alongside Ocarina Of Time and Majora's Mask.
This only became clear at E3 2003 when the world's press finally got their hands on the new Legend Of Zelda game. Even sceptics were forced to admit that this new adventure was not only a joy to play but familiar to anyone who had enjoyed the N64 games. There were free-roaming environments and the dungeons stuck to the tried-and-tested Zelda blueprint with Link picking up items that enemies left behind and lighting up a wooden staff to illuminate dark passages. What was amazing was how beautiful it all looked with the cel-shading creating a real cartoon atmosphere.
Gold Standard Fast forward nine months and the reviews were in. With almost every magazine and website giving Wind Waker over 90%, it became clear that Nintendo were right to stick to its guns with Link's makeover. No one was complaining about the visuals any more. In fact they were being hailed: "The characters flex and stretch and shimmer as if ol Disney or Miyazaki had got out their paintboxes," said GamesMaster magazine on the way to giving the game 97%.
Not only was it visually stunning but it was a charming adventure and the moment where you nurse your Grandma back to health with fairy dust warms the heart. It also featured a delightfully twisting storyline, some tricky puzzles and a tough boss battle in the shape of Moldorm.
Looking back Wind Waker did have it's annoying moments. While many complained that it was too short, the bit where you were forced to sail the high seas searching for the eight Triforce charts did drag a little. Miyamoto himself even admitted that that two dungeons had been dropped to ensure the game was finished on schedule.
Of course it's still a classic Zelda adventure and despite the initial scepticism, the cel-shaded art style has been embraced by Nintendo fans who have since enjoyed the delights of Minish Cap, Phantom Hourglass and now Spirit Tracks. With the forthcoming Legend Of Zelda Wii game sporting an art style in keeping with Ocarina of Time and Twilight Princess, we can't see Nintendo returning to cartoon visuals on a home console any time soon though...
In the years since Wind Waker many have debated whether they prefer cel-shaded or realistic Link? Would it be so wrong to sit on the fence and say we like them both? How about you? Are you a Wind Waker fan? Share your favourite moments from the game by commenting below...
