Analysing 'The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker HD' - Rhys Wallett
For my chosen game, I will be analysing "The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker, HD" which was released in 2013 in "The Legend of Zelda" franchise on the Wii U. The Wind Waker HD was released by Nintendo in 2013 to commemorate the 10 year anniversary of the original game "The Wind Waker" available on the Nintendo GameCube, therefore Nintendo have effectively used the selling point of nostalgia as remaking and improving the retro game released in 2002-2003 allows older audiences who had previously enjoyed the game to replay it with improved 1080p graphics, extras and general improvement, and so will prompt them to purchase the game on the Wii U console.
In addition, Nintendo has been able to use the already successful "The Legend of Zelda" to attract loyal consumers for The Wind Waker HD as they would be excited to either relive the game for older audiences and allows a younger audience to be tempted to play this game and purchase it. This was also effective by Nintendo as in 2017, 29% of people who play video games were 18 and under, therefore the decision to rerelease The Wind Waker on the new Wii U would attract a younger audience. Plus, The Wind Waker HD was one of the first games to be released alongside the Wii U, hence why they also released a Wind Waker themed Wii U console, with the Wii U Gamepad being designed with aspects from The Wind Waker shown below:
This shows that Nintendo was attempting to use their successful "The Legend of Zelda" franchise to boost the sales of the Wii U (with around 65 Million units being sold amongst the different Zelda games over 25 years.). However, this did not go as well as Nintendo would have hoped, with the release of the Wii U being relatively poor ( with 16 million units being sold.)
Game Play
The game is played in 3rd person format as you control the main avatar link through the fantasy world which is referred to as the 'New Place'. Nintendo's choice of animation was very well received by fans and customers to its utter unique layout, with strong primary colours, simplistic animation of objects and the music playlist for The Wind Waker HD which can make the audience associate certain feelings regarding the situation. EG: When sailing in daylight, the tune is happy, regal and easily discernable, however in frozen Hyrule, it's eerier which makes the theme of suspense prevalent.
In addition, on both the original GameCube version and 'The Wind Waker HD' on the Wii U, the actual controls are relatively simplistic and easy to get, with no extremely advanced moves which can confuse starting players. This can help Nintendo push their product as it advertises how this game can be both for professional Zelda players and beginners.
Plot
The plot of 'The Wind Waker HD' is rather unique from other games. The game starts with the main avatar (whose default name is Link but can be changed by the customer before GamePlay) asleep on a remote island in a blue poncho. This is different from the other 'The Legend of Zelda' as it first strays from the all too famous outfit of Link: a green tunic, elf hat and beige boots and trousers.
In addition, instead of the primary mission being to rescue Princess Zelda like most Zelda games (Eg: The Legend of Zelda: Breath of The Wild), whilst that is the end mission, the first turning point of the games is when Link's sister Aryll is snatched by the Helmaroc King and taken to the Forbidden Fortress, where the famous villain Ganondorf firsts resides. This allows a somewhat new plot for the consumers to follow, which is effective as it allows a fresh outlook to be added to the Legend of Zelda franchise, which prevents fans from tiring as the games are too similar. On the other hand, Nintendo is also effective in preventing the fan's concerns about 'The Wind Waker HD' straying too far from traditional Zelda games by including the character of Princess Zelda later, and as the final end mission is to slay Ganondorf and rescue Princess Zelda like most traditional games, this allows the familiarity of the games to pass through, which consumers love.
Type of Game
The Wind Waker HD can fit into many of the gaming categories. the first one can be fantasy and it is fantasy because it is set in the make-believe world of the 'New Place'. With Dragons, Spirits and supernatural creatures (such as wise talking trees and living sailboats.), this allows the macabre element of fantasy to be embedded in this game. In addition, the actual Wind Waker which the title stems from is fantastical and supernatural also as it is a device that allows you to change the direction of the wind which allows you to sail in whichever direction you choose, and can be used to solve certain puzzles.
The game can also fit into the category of Adventure as the game provides you with a huge ocean to explore alongside the missions. Plus, The Wind Waker HD provides you with many other bonus missions, with examples being to feel all the fish in certain squares to get the full map of the New Place and upgrading your Beedle Membership card. These extra missions allow the consumer to play the game in their own time and choose to do the additional missions and enjoy more of the game.
Lastly, the game can also be counted as a Combat game due to how your avatar must fight monsters, sea mutants and bosses in order to win the game. Throughout the game, Link must attack these monsters for both bonus missions and main missions, therefore this safe violence can count it as a combat game. However, this term would be used loosely as the game does not include blood, gore or extreme violence, almost childlike violence instead, hence why the game has a PEGI rating of 7.
Game Play
The game is played in 3rd person format as you control the main avatar link through the fantasy world which is referred to as the 'New Place'. Nintendo's choice of animation was very well received by fans and customers to its utter unique layout, with strong primary colours, simplistic animation of objects and the music playlist for The Wind Waker HD which can make the audience associate certain feelings regarding the situation. EG: When sailing in daylight, the tune is happy, regal and easily discernable, however in frozen Hyrule, it's eerier which makes the theme of suspense prevalent.
In addition, on both the original GameCube version and 'The Wind Waker HD' on the Wii U, the actual controls are relatively simplistic and easy to get, with no extremely advanced moves which can confuse starting players. This can help Nintendo push their product as it advertises how this game can be both for professional Zelda players and beginners.
Plot
The plot of 'The Wind Waker HD' is rather unique from other games. The game starts with the main avatar (whose default name is Link but can be changed by the customer before GamePlay) asleep on a remote island in a blue poncho. This is different from the other 'The Legend of Zelda' as it first strays from the all too famous outfit of Link: a green tunic, elf hat and beige boots and trousers.
In addition, instead of the primary mission being to rescue Princess Zelda like most Zelda games (Eg: The Legend of Zelda: Breath of The Wild), whilst that is the end mission, the first turning point of the games is when Link's sister Aryll is snatched by the Helmaroc King and taken to the Forbidden Fortress, where the famous villain Ganondorf firsts resides. This allows a somewhat new plot for the consumers to follow, which is effective as it allows a fresh outlook to be added to the Legend of Zelda franchise, which prevents fans from tiring as the games are too similar. On the other hand, Nintendo is also effective in preventing the fan's concerns about 'The Wind Waker HD' straying too far from traditional Zelda games by including the character of Princess Zelda later, and as the final end mission is to slay Ganondorf and rescue Princess Zelda like most traditional games, this allows the familiarity of the games to pass through, which consumers love.
Type of Game
The Wind Waker HD can fit into many of the gaming categories. the first one can be fantasy and it is fantasy because it is set in the make-believe world of the 'New Place'. With Dragons, Spirits and supernatural creatures (such as wise talking trees and living sailboats.), this allows the macabre element of fantasy to be embedded in this game. In addition, the actual Wind Waker which the title stems from is fantastical and supernatural also as it is a device that allows you to change the direction of the wind which allows you to sail in whichever direction you choose, and can be used to solve certain puzzles.
The game can also fit into the category of Adventure as the game provides you with a huge ocean to explore alongside the missions. Plus, The Wind Waker HD provides you with many other bonus missions, with examples being to feel all the fish in certain squares to get the full map of the New Place and upgrading your Beedle Membership card. These extra missions allow the consumer to play the game in their own time and choose to do the additional missions and enjoy more of the game.
Lastly, the game can also be counted as a Combat game due to how your avatar must fight monsters, sea mutants and bosses in order to win the game. Throughout the game, Link must attack these monsters for both bonus missions and main missions, therefore this safe violence can count it as a combat game. However, this term would be used loosely as the game does not include blood, gore or extreme violence, almost childlike violence instead, hence why the game has a PEGI rating of 7.
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