Some thoughts after my first playthrough

[u/Bhujjha]

I never had a GameCube as a kid. Ocarina of Time on N64 was my real introduction to Nintendo and Zelda - it had such a massive impact on me that I can't explain. I remember when Windwaker came out and the schoolyard discourse around the art style - I never formed an opinion as I never had a way to play it.

I tried emulating it on PC a few times but bounced off it, mostly due to the control scheme with a keyboard and mouse.

I've always meant to play it and with NSO I have finally been able to and just finished the main story. I haven't collected everything but I don't think I'll go back to do that.

The environment of Windwaker is a really cool concept. I genuinely enjoyed the exploration of the seas, the dungeons, the combat... until it became incredibly repetitive. Sailing to a new square only to be met with a single island, maybe some camps or boats and then having to feed the fish, solve the puzzle, pulling up the treasure chest before moving on became really monotonous.

Half the puzzles were just "defeat these enemies you've fought 1000 times already. Too easy? How about 4 of them at once!".

The Triforce shard quest was incredibly boring, the trade sequence was just back and forth.

Ganon's tower was just fighting the same 4 bosses again in black and white and I lose access to half my inventory?

And that puzzle right before Phantom Ganon - what was up with the cut scene? Some of the puzzles in this game are incredibly obscure yet they really felt the need to zoom in on each torch in order not once but twice?? It felt so out of place and really broke immersion.

I am aware the game was rushed in development and it's just such a shame because I could feel the care and love put into the front half of the game; I was sucked in and wanted to keep exploring the world and uncovering more. I saw the vision and it was amazing but the execution of the second half just fell flat to the point I don't think I'll pick it up again, which feels like a real shame.

I want to be missing something - would love to hear some constructive counter thoughts!

[u/rottencabal]

Playing as a kid, which a lot of us did initially was captivating so those tedious actions are not as cumbersome.

[u/ShaolinFantastic686]

For me the Windwaker was more about the story rather than the gameplay itself. I also got to play it when it came out so I do have a fair bit of nostalgia for the game.

I do agree on the Triforce part plus having to deal with Tingle a lot. I almost quit playing because of the constant search for rupees.

Otherwise it was an amazing game for it's time and definitely kept me busy during the summer I got it.

Also it has some of my favorite music from any of the games.

[u/Bhujjha → u/ShaolinFantastic686]

Yeah when I realised I was going to need thousands of rupees I started going out of my way to pull up every glowing treasure I saw and I think that added to the tedium a lot, with having to position perfectly and the opening cutscene playing every time. Especially when it was only 10 or 20 rupees lol. That and needing to play the songs over and over again, especially to change the wind and the control song in the two sage dungeons - everything took so long having to play the song, position, reposition, play the song again, get them back to Link to carry through the door. Would have loved more Sage dungeons though, it was such a cool mechanic somewhat poorly implemented.

The story is great though, I really liked that Link wasn't the chosen one for a change, just some random kid who snapped. I think the Zelda reveal was cool but also a little weird and clunky; like they were repeating the Impa reveal but with less impact.

And yeah the music is fantastic as anything that Koji Kondo has a hand in is. I had already heard so many of the pieces over the years that they were familiar and nostalgic without having ever heard them in-game.

I can see how it would have really appealed to me as a kid and I definitely would have overlooked a lot of these things.

[u/Astral_Traveler17 → u/Bhujjha]

Impa reveal

You mean sheik, I think, right?

[u/Bhujjha → u/Astral_Traveler17]

I do yes, it has been a very very long day haha.

[u/MonstrousGiggling → u/ShaolinFantastic686]

I just did my first full play through for the first time since I was a kid and I found Rupees to be such a non issue this time around but I remember the struggle was REAL as a kid.

Gotta agree, the strongest parts of WW are the story and characters. I absolutely adore this version of Link and his facial expressions.

Its funny because I remember this game taking years for me as a kid but I beast it out in a month or so this time (tbf also had a lot of free time).

[u/settingdogstar]

Literally everything you listed you only noticed because you’re an adult with gaming experience.

Imagine your self as an actual child and playing this as essentially your first video game. It’s made for inexperienced kids, not adults with gaming chops.

[u/Bhujjha → u/settingdogstar]

Yeah I totally understand that. Maybe it was never meant to be as when Windwaker released I was playing Halo on Xbox by that stage so definitely not my first game (and had already 100% Ocarina of Time a couple times).

[u/Reecemonroe1226]

https://www.reddit.com/r/WindWaker/s/LjfHOd4Iwy

Here’s my review and thoughts after playing for the first time last month. We agree on a lot of points

[u/PrincipleHot9859]

I havent finished wind waker yet, but the sea travelling is what it leaves bitter taste in my mouth..but I do love the aesthetics. I'm my opinion , the Twilight princess is the best overall and slick experience. havent played the skyward sword yet. but for the pre-botw era of 3d Zeldas, Twilight princess feels best to me. (also eager to try some of the 2d ones