Standard Edition
StandardUS$49.99 at launch
In the box
- Wii U disc
- Case with cover art
Wii U
The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker HD
The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker is a 2002 action-adventure game developed and published by Nintendo for the GameCube. An installment in The Legend of Zelda series, it was released in Japan on December 13, 2002, in North America on March 23, 2003, and in Europe on May 2, 2003.
PuzzleAdventure
- Update patch
- No patch
- Time to beat
- about 30 hours
- Plays offline
- Yes
Overview
The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker is a 2002 action-adventure game developed and published by Nintendo for the GameCube. An installment in The Legend of Zelda series, it was released in Japan on December 13, 2002, in North America on March 23, 2003, and in Europe on May 2, 2003.
The game is set on a group of islands in a vast sea, a departure for the series. The player controls series protagonist Link as he attempts to save his sister from the sorcerer Ganon and becomes embroiled in a struggle for the Triforce, a sacred wish-granting relic. Aided by allies including pirate captain Tetra, an incarnation of Princess Zelda, and a talking sailboat named the King of Red Lions, Link sails the ocean, explores islands, and traverses dungeons to acquire the power necessary to defeat Ganon. Wind, which facilitates sailing, plays a prominent role and can be controlled with a magic conductor's baton called the Wind Waker.
The Wind Waker was directed by Eiji Aonuma and produced by Shigeru Miyamoto and Takashi Tezuka. Development began in 2000. It retains the basic 3D gameplay of its predecessors, Ocarina of Time and Majora's Mask, but the team chose to avoid the realistic graphics of previous games. Instead, they implemented a distinctive cartoon-like art style created through cel shading.
Official trailer
Trailer. Watch on YouTube
Gameplay
Legend of Zelda: Wind Waker HD on iPad | Wii U Gameplay Test!, Techjunkie Aman. Watch on YouTube
Screenshots
Game details
- Genres
- Puzzle, Adventure
- Developer
- Nintendo EAD Software Development Group No.3
- Publisher
- Nintendo
- Series
- The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker
- Platforms
- Wii U
- Age rating
- ESRB E10+
- Modes
- Single player
- Yes
- Local multiplayer
- No
- Online multiplayer
- No
- Co op
- No
- Age ratings
- PEGI
- 7
- CERO
- A
- ACB
- PG
- ESRB
- E10+
- CLASS IND
- 10
- USK
- 6
Release dates
| Platform | Region | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Wii U | North America | 2013-09-20 |
| Wii U | Japan | 2013-09-26 |
| Wii U | Europe / PAL | 2013-10-04 |
| Wii U | Australia | 2013-10-05 |
| Wii U | Brazil | 2013-11-26 |
Editions
Wind Waker HD Wii U Deluxe Set
In the box
- Black Wii U Deluxe console
- GamePad with a golden Hylian Crest and Wind Waker Hylian markings
- Download of the game
- Download code for The Legend of Zelda: Hyrule Historia
GameStop special edition
Limited or specialIn the box
- Wii U disc
- Ganondorf figurine
Space and patches
Update patchNo patch
Playable today
Playable offline todayYes
The whole adventure still plays; only the Tingle Bottle messages are gone.
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Price at release | US$49.99, 20 September 2013 Download first; the disc followed on 4 October 2013. |
| Ever released on disc | Yes, on Wii U disc From 4 October 2013 in North America. |
| Ever released in the store | Yes, 20 September 2013 |
| In the store to buy today | No The Wii U eShop closed on 27 March 2023. |
| Can be downloaded again if you already bought it | Yes |
| Disc runs with no patch | Yes |
| Disc runs with the final patch | Does not exist No update was ever released. |
| Has online features | Yes Tingle Bottle messages through Miiverse |
| Online servers running today | Shut down Miiverse closed on 8 November 2017. |
| Playable offline today: campaign | Yes |
| Playable offline today: local multiplayer | Does not exist Single-player. |
| Playable offline today: online multiplayer | Does not exist No online play. |
Online
Plays offlineYes
Reception
- Aggregates
Outlet Platform Score Scale Metacritic Wii U 90 100 - Critics
Outlet Score Scale IGN 9.8 10 GameSpot 8 10 Game Informer 9.25 10 Electronic Gaming Monthly 8.5 10 Nintendo World Report 10 10 Polygon 9 10 GameTrailers 7.8 10
Staff and cast
- Staff
Role Name Developer Nintendo EAD Publisher Nintendo Director Daiki Iwamoto Producer Eiji Aonuma Music (updated) Kenta Nagata, Hajime Wakai, Asuka Hayazaki, Atsuko Asahi
Notes for collectors
- An HD remaster of the 2003 GameCube game, made in six months.
- The GamePad holds the map and inventory, aims some weapons with motion, and can play the whole game off the TV.
- Adds the Swift Sail for faster sailing and a shorter Triforce quest.
- The Tingle Bottle replaced the Game Boy Advance Tingle Tuner and sent messages through Miiverse until 8 November 2017.
- No update was ever released for the game.
Credits
- Publisher
- Nintendo
- Developer
- Nintendo EAD Software Development Group No.3
- Director
- Daiki Iwamoto
- Released
- 2013-09-20
- Age rating
- ESRB E10+
- Disc ID
- WUP-P-BCZE
- Region
- US
- Time to beat
- about 30 hours
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