The path you follow in the game is fairly linear. Sure you can sail to any island you like but if you don't actually possess the appropriate skill you will not be able to do much when you get there. A few islands dotted around house fairies that will grant you power-ups of various kinds, like being able to carry more arrows. But again these are rationed throughout the game with entrances that are blocked by various means. It was strange then that I found myself completely lost at a number of points, particularly towards the end. One of the later challenges is to find eight tri force shards that were scattered around the map. Where was I supposed to look for them? I had not a Scooby. I asked my boat, I asked some fish, still not a clue. The problem was there was no clue. No clue at all. If it wasn't for the ever useful www.gamefaqs.com I would probably still be stuck there to this day. In fact that whole treasure hunt felt like it was thrown in to stretch things out, especially when compared with the other carefully crafted portions of the game.

My main concern with the game though comes from a few small but irritating features. When you conduct the wind you have to sit through the little cut scene every time. When you pick up a joy pendant you are told that joy pendants spread joy like a butterfly spreads hurricanes, or something to that effect. These things get frustrating. The worst aspect though is the story telling, it is watered down to such an extent that I half expected it to start teaching me my a-b-c's. It's not really a fault with the story itself, which is quite good and contains some dramatic cut scene moments. But when things switch back to Link looking dazed, perhaps with an annoying giggle in the background, it becomes rather grating. This is where a weird disparity lies in the game. On the one hand show that they can be masters of their craft and with they are writing the book on how to make a great game. But on the other hand they have elements that would best suit a Gameboy rather than a next generation console. Consider that Enter the Matrix had over an hour professionally shot film, and yet the best Nintendo can muster is to use three different sized fonts preaching platitudes that even would cringe at. By aiming the game at such an infant level they are seizing defeat from the jaws of victory in the console wars. Don't get me wrong Zelda is a great game. Hell at times when things are firing on all cylinders its fantastic. All of the enclosed levels, where you fight weird and wonderful creatures only to then face a massive boss battle are simply magical. It's the surrounding elements that package them that will put many people off. Zelda - The Wind Waker may be suitable for all ages, but I'm just not sure if it's enjoyable for all.

90%

By Richard Clifford