Toon Link can't ride horses

While it may not be common knowledge, The Wind Waker was supposed to get a more traditional sequel.

Sure, Phantom Hourglass takes place directly after the events of the game, but Nintendo was going to cast Toon Link in another adventure for consoles had fan reception been warmer. Twilight Princess happened, instead, because North American fans weren't plea??sed with the more cartoony style the series had taken.

I bet most people are blaming themselves for that, but it turns out that the US' penchant for realism isn't the only reason we never saw Toon Link return to the Gamecube. According to an interview contained in the upcoming "Zelda: Art & Artifacts" book, artist Satoru Takizawa says that, "Wind Waker 2 would have taken place in a more land-based setting, rather than on the sea, so that we could have Link gallop across the land on a horse, but Link's proportions in Wind Waker weren’t very well suited for ri??ding on horseback.??"

Now I'm sad that we never got a Toon Epona. Strange how she has become so iconic within the franchise, but she only appears in four games (unless you count that horse in the Oracle titles). T??hen again, most people don't realize that there are 17 games in the series, the major??ity of which are 2D.

Either way, the "Zelda: Art & Artifacts" book releases on February 21, 2017. I'm sure the rest of this interview is chock full of great information about Wind Waker 2 and so??me other cancelled Zelda project??s. Maybe we'll even see some concept art of Toon Link on Toon Epona.

Nintendo on why Wind Waker 2 became Zelda: Twilight Princess [Nintendo Everything]

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Did you ever use it and just not tell anyone?

Having played games since the '8??0s, I've seen my fair share of Easter eggs and secret boss strategies.

Whether it's an instant kill method or just a silly way to approach the fight, I used to love going to school and discussing these lesser known gems? with my gaming group. Back then you could read about them freely on the Internet on niche message boards, but with the advent of the Share button and other such tools??, anyone can start those same talking points.

Fish_waffle64 is the latest culprit, having discovered a lesser known tactic for killing the Kalle Demos boss in Wind Waker. The gist? They cut down all of its tendrils to drop it to the floor, then pour spring water on it, which immediately ends the conf??rontation.

Having spoken to a bunch of people these past few days very few had actually known about it, so make sure to try it on you?r next playthrough!

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Wind Waker edition plush characters are super cute

Did you by a certain loved one the new The Legend of Zelda: Wind Waker HD for Chris?tmas? Maybe you grabbed them the sweet limited edition Wii U console. Well, if you're looking for some more Zelda goodies to grab this holiday, you're gonna have to wait for these cute little plush characters.

Slated to ship around Valentine's Day next year are Tingle; Princess Zelda; and not one, but two Link plush toys. Based on their cell-shaded Wind Waker counterparts, the characters measure 16 centimeters in height and will cost ¥1,500 each (about $15). Additionally a larger version of Link, measuring 22 centimeters for ¥2,500 can also be purchased.

Pre-orders are currently being taken at both AmiAmi and HobbyLink Japan. 

Legend of Zelda: Wind Waker gets new plu?sh pre-orders [TomoPop]

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Nintendo 3DS best-selling console in US for fifth consecutive month

Sales of Wii U hardware increased dramatically at the tail end of September, jumping more than 200 percent over August's numbers in just 15 days, Nintendo of America has announced. The spike coincided with the system's September 20 price drop and the release of The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker HD.

However, the boost doesn't mean there aren't rough seas ahead for Nintendo. The swell follows months of  poor sales, indicating the actual figures might not be overly impressive. The Wii U only shifted 160,000 units betw?een April and July, lagging behind even the Wii with 210,000 over the same period.

Times aren't likely to get any easier for the Wii U going forward with increased competition from the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One looming on the horizon. At least Nintendo has a strong holiday lineup planned. Titles like Super Mario 3D World, Wii Fit U, Wii Sports Club, Mario & Sonic at the Soc??hi 2014 Olympic Winter Games, and Wii Party U will conceivably give the plat?form?? some positive momentum going forward.

Meanwhile in the United Kingdom, Nintendo reported a 685 percent rise in weekly Wii U sales following the release of Wind Waker HD. The title debuted at number four in its first week on the market behind Grand Theft Auto V, FIFA 14, and F1 2013.

The Nintendo 3DS also had a hot September. The system continued its recent string of success by posting a fifth consecutive month atop hardware charts in United States. The portable's sales figure to soar to new heights going forward with Pokemon X/Y, which sold four million copies in just two days. Forthcoming potential hits such as The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds and Mario Party: Island Tour don't figure to hurt either.

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Nearly 700 percent weekly increase

Wii U sales increased by more than 685 percent in the United Kingdom last week, largely thanks to the release of The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker HD.

"We have long believed that software sells hardware and it's great to see that reaffirmed this week," Nintendo UK consumer marketing boss James Honeywell told MCV.

The title debuted at number four behind perennial chart-toppers Grand Theft Auto V, FIFA 14, and F1 2013. Perhaps the maligned little console isn't de??ad in the water after all.

Wii U UK sales spike 685% on Zelda launch [MCV]

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That doesn't mean it was easy

Nintendo's recent remake of The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker HD was one that had fans giddy with anticipation. Luckily, that anticipation didn't have to last all ?that long, because according to the series' producer, Nintendo turned the entire p??roject around in about six months.

In an interview with Siliconera, Eiji Aonuma revealed the considerably short development time, but didn't discount the amount of effort that his team had to exert. Aonuma stated that "development was still difficult. Y?ou had to consider the difference in hardware at the time." He continued "there is a technique known as toon shading, which gives the game a very animated look. At that time, the technique was established, but ha?d not been used before by our staff, so everyone had to do everything by hand."

However, it may ??have been the widescreen support that proved the most troublesome in preparing the HD version. "For dramatic purposes, we would have characters we didn't want in the frame, but in 16:9 ratio, you could?? still see those characters," Aonuma said. This meant that the developers had to manually edit all applicable scenes.

Zelda: The Wind Waker HD Remake Was Developed In Si??x Months Said?? Producer [Siliconera]

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Comprehensive

The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker HD is going to be different for its HD-ness, but there are plenty of other changes, too. We came across a really nice list of all the changes known (outside the graphical ones) so far for ??the game on NeoGAF today.

We'll have you head over there for the full list, but there are some pretty interesting c?hanges worth noting. Apparently, pu??lling items from the sea floor is now four times faster than in the original. You can also now move in first-person view when aiming. 

Little things make a difference, like being able to switch camera controls, or ??a slightly faster text speed. There ?are a lot of small changes like this as well.

The post A?? nice list of changes/improvements for Wind Waker HD appeared first on Destructoid.

'Hoy there, small fry!

The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker is easily my favorite Zelda game in the series -- a not altogether uncommon opinion, now that many years have passed and most people grew the Hell up over the "kiddie" visuals. One of the most original, charming, and funny entries in the series, The Wind Waker was different enough to truly stand out, but smartly retained everything that makes a Zelda game what it is.

Given its remarkable art style, not to mention the inherent timelessness of cel-shaded graphics, the decision to remaster the game for a high definition console seems like a no-brainer. It makes total sense to see Zelda's answer to Waterworld?? grace the Wii U as its very firs??t official HD remaster.

Oh,? and in ca?se you were wondering, it's still a lovely little game.

The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker HD (Wii U)
Developer: Nintendo EAD Group No. 3
Publisher: Nintendo
Released: September 20, 2013 (NA), October 4, 2013 (EU)
MSRP: $49.99

The Wind Waker debuted on the GameCube in 2002. Its visual style is crafted with such perfect simplicity, however, that the HD coat of paint effortlessly obscures any suggestion of it being over a decade old. From the moment the title screen appears, The Wind Waker HD delights with its bright, cr??isp, colorful visuals. It's the perfect ?kind of game to re-release in HD -- something that already looked fantastic, and was held back purely by the constraints of standard definition.

Unlike games that perpetually push the notion of "photorealism" and subsequently look pitifully dated when resurrected in future generations (the original Killzone springs immediately to mind), the elegant cartoon stylings of The Wind Waker lend it a timeless visual quality that raises a huge grin when gawped at for the first time in 1080p. To conclude this shameless fellating of The Wind Waker's art style, and its suitability for ??high definition, Nintendo made a fantastic call o??n this one.

Though visually timeless, the GameCube classic has aged in other areas, particularly when it comes to its basic interactivity. This is an issue exacerbated by the Wii U GamePad, the analog sticks of which are a bit too twitchy for Link's movements and have a tendency to overreact to the slightest of nudges. It doesn't help tha?t the combat itself is a little bit clunky these days, while the need to travel across vast quantities of ocean -- helped nonetheless by some excellent background music -- can feel like something of a chore these days -- at least until you get the Swift Sail.

There are some gyroscope controls thrown into the mix, because obviously there are, and they're maybe 50% effe?ctive at what they do. While I appreciate the theoretical ease of selecting the grappling hook, physically moving the GamePad to aim it, and instantly letting loose, the inescapable twitchiness and sensitive motion input makes it difficult to stay on target, and as such, t??he intended fluidity only works in about half of its uses. Fortunately, you can turn these features off, or you can use the Pro Controller if you want a far more traditional experience without the modern hindrances and benefits.

Griping aside, Nintendo's done a solid job of streamlining some of the more clanking elements of gameplay. The GamePad's touchscreen does an excellent job of presenting extraneous information, as well as making inventory management a breeze. The ability to swipe items into the action buttons at will eliminates that common Zelda problem, the constant need to pause the game and switch equipment around. Similarly, the lower screen also houses the world map, which provides sim??ilar convenience for sailing from island to island. These improvements are merely minor touches and do little to significantly overhaul the experience, but they're all welcome changes that subtly contribute to crafting a superior experie??nce.

On the subject of streamlining, some minor gameplay fixes have been made to reverse some of the game's most notorious drags. The hunt for the Triforce shards has been made far less infuriating, with most of them now available on land with only three requiring tedious ocean fishing. You can also wander around Wind Waker's pretty world in first-person view should you desire, ??but you won't be able to use all your items.

Other additions include a beefed up Hero mode -- available as soon as you begin a new game -- the ability to upload Picto Box selfies using Miiverse, and message bottles. At the time of writing, this latter feature is not currently online, but when it is you'll be able to write messages that, via Miiverse, shall appear as bottled messages?? in other peoples' games, floating in the ocean for random retrieval. While currently offline, it's a neat little idea that ought to give Miiverse fans something extra to play with.

At the press of a button, you may switch the entire game from your television to your GamePad, though obviously you'll lose the added benefits of having a permanent inventory/map screen in your hand. The controller's screen is also a subpar method of displaying how gorgeous Wind Waker is, and it's highly recommended you sti??ck to your TV as much as possible.

Most importantly, however, everything irrevocably enchanting about The Wind Waker has been preserved for this HD re-release. Its sense of color and optimism, the overwhelming eccentricity of its oceanic world, the vibrant sense of life and excitement that permeates this particular game more than any other Zelda title to date. There's something innately special lying at the heart of this one, something extra joyful that its series brethren lacks. This is not to say other Zelda's aren't as good, or even better in some ways, it's just that none of them have the same magnetism in the personality department. This is why it's my favorite entry in the series, even if I couldn't quite say it's the best one.

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 ens??ures you won't ever stay mad at it for lo??ng.

Af?ter all, in a world of?? greedy cartography fish and cynical French Minesweeper purveyors, how could you not keep smiling?

The post Review: The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker HD appeared first on Destructoid.

...

K'EEEEEEEEEEEH?

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It's not our first choice for a Zelda HD remaster, but we'll take it

So, I'm a jerk for having not played The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker to completion. That much became clear after my hands-on time with the upcoming HD re-release for Wii U at PAX Prime 201?3. The lines may have been ridiculous, but much of that insanity was due to the sweet t-shirts Nintendo was giving out, I'm pretty sure.

While this seems like an obvious buy for me, our Wind Waker veteran Spencer wasn't so sure. In addition to?? the visual polish, there are tweaks to Hero Mode, ??your sailing speed, the Triforce shards, and other appreciated but not exactly substantial additions -- a tougher sell for someone who has played through the original GameCube release many times.

We both agree that there are other titles in the Zelda franchise we would've preferred get the HD treatment before Wind Waker, which still holds up quite?? well to this day and can be emulated and further prettied?? up on PC if you're into such things.

The post We’re still making up our minds on Wind Waker HD appeared first on Destructoid.

Does this limited edition Ganon-dwarf the recently announced console bundle?

Nintendo is producing a limited edition of The Wind Waker HD that comes with a cool-looking figure of baddie Ganondorf, Tomopop reports. As of now, the limited edition is only officiallt announced for European release, but GameStop has it listed for a mere $??60, only $10 above t??he price of the game.

I'm always talking up my love for Wind Waker's Link, so I'm a bit disappointed that cute little scamp isn't getting immortalized, but the Ganondorf statue looks alright. I was never terribly into collector's editions, either, beyond the initial glint of novelty in seeing the cool things they come packed with. For thos?e on my side, there are some more practical options.

You can download Wind Waker HD two weeks prior to the retail release date. Or, if you don't have a Wii U, nab the Wind Waker HD bundle at the new price of $299. It comes with a download code for the game and Hyrule Historia. Anyone pulling the tr??igger on the cheaper Wii U bundle? Anyone hell bent on displaying Ganondorf on your ??mantle?  

Wind Wa?ker HD Limited Edition includes Ganondorf f??igure [Tomopop]

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Zelda: A Link Between Worlds is also coming in November for $39.99

When combing over Nintendo's fall lineup, did you notice one major detail regarding a certain waker of winds? Although Nintendo has confirmed an October 4th release date for Wind Waker HD, it appears as if there's a special caveat involved for digital adopters. Yep, the digital version of Wind Waker will instead launch on September 20th, a whole two weeks early. It's a neat idea for sure to increase digital sales -- one they've already done with Super Luigi U.

Nintendo also revealed the full details for the upcoming 3DS game The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds, as it's launching on November 22nd for $39.99. I think I speak for a lot of people when I say, "I want both right now!"

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What's another month?

The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker HD is shaping up to be to be a solid addition to the Wii U library. The core game is still there after all these years -- it's great, as if you needed to be told that -- and the upgrades aren't purely visual. As with the other big first-party releases, t??his one will have to wait just a tad longer -- Nintendo has confirmed an October 4, 2013 launch f??or the game.

The Legend of Zelda: Symphony of the Goddesses concert tour will be in Seattle on September 12, and Nintendo is bringing along demo kiosks for Wind Waker HD as well as A Link Between Worlds. There's also that Wind Waker HD Wii U bundle to consider, if this will be the game ??that pushes you into buying the system. Nothing wrong with that!

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Special Zelda art featured on the GamePad

This past week Destructoid was the first to bring you news on an upcoming Wii U bundle that would be bundled with The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker HD. Today Nintendo released a new trailer for the upcoming game showing off Hero Mode, but then quickly pulled the video down. Why? Because the special editi?on Wii U bundle was featured in the video before it's been officially announced by Nintendo. Oops!

The video was caught by NeoGAF user D-e-f, and has since been reuploaded for all to see. It will probably be pulled again, so here's a screencap showing off the Wii U featuring special Zelda-themed artwork like the Triforce.

No further details were revealed in the trailer, such as price?? or release date. We expect this bundle to be out this Octoer with the release of the game, and that the bundle will go for $349.99.

(Via NeoGAF)

The post Here’s what the Wii U Wind Waker HD bundle looks like appeared first on Destructoid.

What enhancements are in store for Link's return to the Great Sea?

The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker HD won't arrive in the States and Europe until October -- along with a new Wii U bundle to boot -- but we have yet to learn all of what has been updated since its former life on the GameCube. We know that Link can acquire a new sail that speeds up his boating, and the end-game Triforce hunt has been tweaked in some fashion, but that's about it. However, a recent IGN hands-on elaborated on p??ast? revelations while offering many new ones.

Wind Waker HD will have a Hero Mode like in Skyward Sword, which makes enemies deal more damage and prevents health restoration from anyth?ing other than potions. Hero Mo?de will actually be available right from the very beginning, and you can toggle between it and normal mode in the file select screen.

In the original, you had to collect eight Triforce shards by translating sea ??charts then fishing the baubles out of the water in order to enter the final area. This time, five of the shards can be found directly on land, while only three require a fishing expedition. As for the Swift Sail that speeds up ocean travel and even allows you to sail against the wind, it's a completely optional acquisition from Windfall Island's auction house after you clear the first dungeon.

You can now freely explore the environment in first-person view. However, the only items you can use from this perspective are ones that put you into that view anyway. So while you can't swing your sword like in Skyrim, you ca?n go all Rambo on enemies with your bo??w and arrow.

But perhaps the most oddball new feature is that Picto Box, whose pictures can be uploaded to Miiverse, will allow you to take self-photographs. Before you snap the shot, you can switch Link's expression between happy, sad, and surprised. The potential for some rather entertai??ning Miiverse shares is enormous.

I guess all that's left to do is wait for Nintendo to settle on a price. Certain rumors have pegged Wind Waker HD as a full $60 t??itle, but eve??ryone's holding on to hope that Nintendo loosens up and gives it a sensible reduced tag.

The Legend of Zelda: Wind Waker HD Offers a D??efini??tive Experience [IGN via NeoGAF]

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Second wind (waker): Legend of Zelda eats up all the bytes

I don't think I ever get tired of looking at Wind Waker.

Winder Waker HD is dropping soon (October), so you better set aside a good chunk of time to delete all those games off of your Wii U to make some room. The game, now over a decade old, will command 2.6GB of download space should you choose to nab it from the eShop, according to Nintendo Everything. And you'll give it its space, damn it. It?? deserves every ??byte.

It will also run at 1080p, support surround sound, and sup??p?ort Wii U Pro Controllers.

Do you have the 2.6GB to spare? Are you going retail on this one? Maybe wait until it's on sail? Will Link's emotive little Wind Waker face ever not? be the cutest thing? (No, it won't)

Zelda:?? Wind Waker HD supports Pro Controller, file size revealed [Nintendo Everything]

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My most anticipated Legend of Zelda game since The Wind Waker

Yep, I'm definitely more excited for The Wind Waker HD than A Link Between Worlds. I'm not trying to wind you guys up, really. Wind Waker is just one of the few Legend of Zelda games that I really dig ??and everything about seeing it in HD makes me smile. Its aesthetic is so clever, so colorful (literally and figuratively), so emotive. It doesn't just hold up. In HD, visuall?y, this decade old title still leaves most contemporary efforts in its winding wake.

Things in the video aren't too different from what you remember, which is fine by me. A couple of the small to??uch ups, including faster sai??ling and smoother, quicker Wind Waker movements, are plenty welcome. Otherwise, this one really stands the test of time. Now I just need a Wii U before October.

Look at his adorable little face.

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Oh so shiny

I don't know what I was expecting with The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker HD. It's.. The Wind Waker... in HD. Surprise, surprise!

The GameCube original is such a great-looking game that holds up extremely well today, and it looks even better polished up in 1080p with rounder models and softer shading. Everything about it is exactly like how you remember it.

Except for a couple of teen?sy but lovely differences, that is.

For ?the demo, we coul?d choose to either roam Outset Island and float around a bit on the ocean, or battle the Helmaroc King in the Forsaken Fortress. Running around is the same, targeting and attacking is the same, everything. No big twists here.

With the GamePad, you can do as in Ocarina of Time 3D and sift through your inventory without having to pause t??he game. And with the press of a button, you can bring the action down to the GamePad for off-TV play. Sadly, there doesn't seem to be an option to display the pause menu on the main screen, but that's a mi?nor quibble.

You will be happy to know that you can acquire a red sail cloth that allows you travel the seas slightly faster. It's a noticeable increase in speed, but it's not instantaneous. I wasn't able to leave the vicinity of Outset Island, so I couldn't determine how much quicker the?? new sail is compared to the old one.

Finally, there a?re Tingle Bottles. You'll find?? these washed up along the shores of every island or floating out in the water. These bottles contain Miiverse messages from players all over the world, and you can of course filter messages by those from friends, those containing spoilers, and so on. Miiverse integration is such a wonderful thing, and it's even better here because of how well it is incorporated into the game's environment.

If you are ready to return to the Great ?Sea, you'll have to ??wait until October.

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Aiming to tide us over while a brand new Zelda is made

Nintendo today announced that it has an all-new Zelda game in the works, but admitted it'd take some time to reach us. However, it did have something very exciting to satiate hungry Zelda fans in the interim -- The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker Reborn!

A full HD remake of the classic GameCube title, Reborn? is slated for release in Fall and will feature one of the prettiest games of all time getting even prettier. It'll feature some gameplay tune-ups to make it more of an elegant experience,?? it can be played on the GamePad, and there'll be Miiverse integration. 

Looking at comparison images, this is no mere upscale. Nintendo can make its games look gorgeous now, and it seems committed to getting Wind Waker as gorgeous as can be. More textures, more detail??s, more eye-tonguing glory. M??ost exciting. 

Is this fluid in my p?ants? I think this is fl?uid. 

In my pants. 

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