Template:GameNav Template:Game The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker HD is a Wii U remake of the Nintendo GameCube game, The Wind Waker. It was officially announced via a Nintendo Direct webcast on January 23, 2013. Further information on the game was revealed at E3 2013 and in subsequent Nintendo Directs.
The Wind Waker HD first became available on September 20, 2013 as a digital download from the North American Nintendo eShop.[1] The packaged version will be released on September 26 in Japan,[2] on October 4 in North America and Europe,[1][3] and on October 5 in Australia.[4] Upon the game's early eShop release, a special edition Deluxe Wii U bundle will also become available in the United States at a suggested retail price of $299.99.[5]
The remake boasts more sophisticated graphics than the original. Some changes to gameplay were also made, the most significant of which include new items—namely the Swift Sail, the Tingle Bottle, and an improved Picto Box—as well as the addition of a Hero Mode.
Changes and Additions
Graphics
Being a game for the Wii U, The Wind Waker HD runs at 1080p and 30 FPS, compared to the original's 480p and 30 FPS. The remake uses an enhanced version of the original game's cel-shading. It utilizes a full-fledged lighting and shadowing system that allows for more realistic and fuller lighting than the original.[6] The remake also features subtle bloom lighting to give a sense of "surreal realism".[7] In low-light areas, the cel-shading gives way to a softer, more realistic shading system. Other shaders are used to increase the expressivity of characters. The textures used are the original high-resolution ones created during development of the original game, which used scaled-down versions of the textures to match the GameCube's hardware capabilities. 2D elements such as icons and the HUD are completely redrawn to match the style of the game's promotional artwork.
Though all other graphical elements were updated for high-definition display, the 3D models of the original game were left untouched in the remake.
Audio
Music in The Wind Waker HD uses higher-quality instrument samples than the original game. The updated instruments are most noticeable in fanfares and some boss themes. Some music includes new instrumental tracks, creating a fuller sound. However, most sound effects are unchanged from the originals.
Gameplay Elements
The gameplay in The Wind Waker HD has been tuned up from the original to enhance the player experience. The infamous Triforce Shard Quest was shortened, with only a few shards requiring Triforce Charts to find. Certain item usage cutscenes, such as the cutscene that plays upon usage of the Grappling Hook, have been shortened.
Some items, such as the Pictograph Box, have new and improved functions. The Pictograph Box can now store 12 pictographs as opposed to 3.[8] Link is now able to take self-portraits while making any of five facial expressions.[9] All pictographs can also be uploaded to Miiverse. Sailing has also been improved with an upgrade to the sail, called the Swift Sail. The Swift Sail enables the King of Red Lions to sail faster and in any direction if the A button is pressed, regardless of the direction of the wind.[10] This replaces the function of the A button in the original game, which was used to stop the boat from sailing. The changed functions came about as a result of technical limitations in the original; the GameCube version loaded only a single "chunk" of ocean as Link traveled, requiring the slower sailing speed to mask loading times,[citation needed] while the Wii U is capable of loading the entire Great Sea at once.
The Tingle Bottle, which allows players to randomly send messages to other players, replaces the Tingle Tuner in the original game. The Tingle Bottle is used to send messages in bottles, which will subsequently appear on the shores of other players' islands.[11]
The game includes a Hero Mode similar to that of Skyward Sword, but is available upon the creation of a new save file.[12] Recovery Hearts do not appear in Hero Mode, forcing Link to use potions to regain health.[13] In addition, enemies deal double the amount of damage as in normal gameplay.[14]
The game supports GamePad-only play, allowing for play without a television, as well as control with the Wii U Pro Controller, for those who prefer a traditional control scheme.
Interface Changes
Because The Wind Waker HD was developed for control with the Wii U GamePad, many control methods have been changed. The Inventory is now accessed through the GamePad, with no need to pause the game. Items can be equipped onto the three item slots by sliding the item icon on the GamePad to the slot icon at the top of the screen. This allows players to switch items quickly.
Some items, such as the Wind Waker, are permanently mapped to certain buttons as opposed to being equipped to the three item slots. This allows players to quickly and conveniently access these items, as they are key to playing the game.
First-person aiming of items is achieved through either the left analog stick or the GamePad's gyroscope. Link can also move in first-person mode, though item usage is limited to the Hero's Bow.[15]
Development
The game was officially announced on January 23, 2013, in which only a couple of screenshots featuring Windfall Island, Link, Tetra, and Sue-Belle were shown. The decisions to remake the game came after the team decided to attempt to upscale the game's graphics to the Wii U's HD capabilities, after doing the same to the graphics of Twilight Princess in E3 2011. The game was also designed to decrease the gap in time between the release for Skyward Sword and Zelda Wii U.[16]
Nintendo showed the first trailer for the game during its E3 Direct livestream on June 11, 2013, revealing the game in motion as well as some of the new features of the game.
Bundles
On August 23rd, Nintendo revealed a Wii U Deluxe Bundle with a Zelda-themed GamePad and The Wind Waker HD slated for a North American release.[17] On August 28th, Nintendo revealed more information regarding the bundle. The bundle comes with a black Deluxe Wii U console with a Zelda-themed GamePad, a download code for a digital copy of The Wind Waker HD for use on the Nintendo eShop, and a download code for a digital copy of Hyrule Historia. The bundle was released on September 20th, on the same date as the game's eShop digital launch—two weeks before that of the regular packaged version—at a suggested retail price of $299.99.[5]
The American video game retailer GameStop will offer an exclusive Ganondorf figurine bundled with the regular packaged version of the game released on October 4th. The exclusive GameStop bundle will be sold at the suggested retail price of $54.99.[18]
Gallery
Early Screenshots
E3 2013
The Wind Waker HD illustration
Artwork of Link conducting with the Wind Waker
Artwork of Link conducting with the Wind Waker
- Tetra HD.png
Artwork of Tetra
- Aryll HD.png
Artwork of Aryll
Link at Windfall
Link at Forsaken Fortress
Battling the Helmaroc King
Sailing the King of Red Lions on the Great Sea
Aryll waving
Tetra's signature wink
Sword Training with Orca
Infiltrating the Forsaken Fortress
Playing the Wind's Requiem at sea
Salvaging a treasure chest with the Grappling Hook
Gameplay illustration
Official Website
- Fishman HD.png
Artwork of a Fishman
- Tingle Bottle Art.png
Artwork of the Tingle Bottle
"1080p visuals will immerse you in the adventure like never before"
"Cruise the seas in style and reach your next adventure quickly with a faster sail"
- TWWHD Web 3.jpg
"Easily manage your inventory and maps with the Wii U™ GamePad controller"
"Play the game off-TV on the GamePad if your TV is already in use"
- TWWHD Web 5.jpg
"Find Tingle Bottles from other players, with game tips and screen shots, via Miiverse™"
Artworks
- Link Boat The Wind Waker HD.png
Artwork of Link and the King of Red Lions
- Ganon The Wind Waker HD.png
Artwork of Ganon
- Princess Zelda The Wind Waker HD.png
Artwork of Princess Zelda
Artwork of Tetra
- Fairy Queen The Wind Waker HD.png
Artwork of the Fairy Queen
Artwork of a Fairy
- Tingle The Wind Waker HD.png
Artwork of Tingle
Artwork of Link's Grandmother
- Niko The Wind Waker HD.png
Artwork of Niko
- Gonzo The Wind Waker HD.png
Artwork of Gonzo
Artwork of Beedle
- Medli The Wind Waker HD.png
Artwork of Medli
- Komali The Wind Waker HD.png
Artwork of Komali
Artwork of Quill
Artwork of Laruto
Artwork of Fado
Artwork of Makar
Artwork of four Seagulls
Box Art
North American box art
Japanese box art
- TWWHD Boxart (EU).jpg
European box art
Videos
| E3 2013 Trailer |
| Hero Mode Trailer |
| North American Commercial |
| Shorter North American Commercial |
| Launch Trailer |
External Links
Template:Refbar
 Names in Other Regions 
| ||
|---|---|---|
| Language | Name | |
The Legend of Zelda · The Adventure of Link · A Link to the Past (& Four Swords) · Link's Awakening (DX; Nintendo Switch) · Ocarina of Time (Master Quest; 3D) · Majora's Mask (3D) · Oracle of Ages · Oracle of Seasons · Four Swords (Anniversary Edition) · The Wind Waker (HD) · Four Swords Adventures · The Minish Cap · Twilight Princess (HD) · Phantom Hourglass · Spirit Tracks · Skyward Sword (HD) · A Link Between Worlds · Tri Force Heroes · Breath of the Wild · Tears of the Kingdom
Zelda (Game & Watch) · The Legend of Zelda Game Watch · Link's Crossbow Training · My Nintendo Picross: Twilight Princess · Cadence of Hyrule · Game & Watch: The Legend of Zelda
CD-i Games
The Faces of Evil · The Wand of Gamelon · Zelda's Adventure
Hyrule Warriors Series
Hyrule Warriors (Legends; Definitive Edition) · Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity
Satellaview Games
BS The Legend of Zelda · Ancient Stone Tablets
Freshly-Picked Tingle's Rosy Rupeeland · Tingle's Balloon Fight DS · Too Much Tingle Pack · Ripened Tingle's Balloon Trip of Love
Animal Crossing · SoulCalibur II · WarioWare series · Nintendo Badge Arcade · Captain Rainbow · Nintendo Land · Scribblenauts Unlimited · Mario Kart 8
Super Smash Bros. · Super Smash Bros. Melee · Super Smash Bros. Brawl · Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS · Super Smash Bros. for Wii U · Super Smash Bros. Ultimate
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- ↑ {cite web |quote=You can go into a full First-Person mode and shoot arrows like in an FPS[.] |author= Nathanial Rumphol-Janc |published= 2013-08-22 |accessdate= 2013-08-25 |url= http://www.zeldainformer.com/news/the-wind-waker-hd-triforce-quest-details-fps-mode-hero-mode-screenshots-and |title= The Wind Waker HD Triforce Quest Details, FPS Mode, Hero Mode, Screenshots, and More! |site= Zelda Informer}}
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