“I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.”
Maya Angelou
It would be difficult to write for a Zelda fansite if I didn’t enjoy playing Zelda games. But if I had to pick one game that evoked the purest sensations of joy, it would be The Wind Waker. While other Zeldas have come close, none have quite matched the estheses of delight I experience after coming to an overlook and gazing upon the infinite sea and endless islands on the horizon with a cool breeze gently ruffling my hair. Emphasizing this sense of comfort was a driving force in the development of The Wind Waker HD.
Part of the reason Nintendo decided on The Wind Waker as its first high-definition Zelda remake was that the original development team was constrained by the technology available at the time, resulting in the inability to make the visual environment exactly as they envisioned. In a 2013 Iwata Asks interview, the Wind Waker HD developers explained that they had tried to do more than the GameCube could handle for the original, comparing it to trying to stuff too many things into a small container. When they realized the capability of the Wii U could free them to make the world they had wanted to a decade earlier, they had to go for it.
The team then explained that the artistic design in Wind Waker allowed them to focus not on hyper-realism, but on producing a sense of comfort through a stylized atmosphere that emphasizes the pleasant aspects of island life. In The Wind Waker HD, this was partially accomplished by adjusting the lighting and coloring to provide a vivid visual range, creating sharp contrasts between bright, sunny spots and cool, shaded areas. The team incorporated a means of making the player experiences things that can’t be physically conveyed, such as the wind blowing through your hair (think of the white lines that float through the sky). These features make the game feel real, even though few of us would describe the game’s graphics as realistic. I can sense the calm breeze and sea spray just thinking about it.
Satoru Takizawa, who presented the test images for Wind Waker HD to producer Eiji Aonuma, divulged his inspiration for designing the game’s visual environment. “I love Okinawa and the southern islands, so I often go there […] I think I was able to make that world convincing because when I made those first test images, I envisioned how good I feel when I’m there.”
It’s no surprise that Okinawa and the Ryukyu Islands played a role in the game’s development. This archipelago contains over 100 tropical islands of varying size and habitat, much like those found in Wind Waker. The Ryukyus are a popular destination for vacationers, and the native people have long been regarded as hospitable to all who come to their shores, despite fairly consistent natural disasters, lack of resources, and political uncertainty throughout its history. Mr. Takizawa successfully transferred the tranquility from his trips to these islands into video game form.
As I mentioned, no other game has awakened sensations of pure joy in me like The Wind Waker. The characters are among the most emotive in the Zelda series. It’s hard to not to relate with Link’s amazing facial expressions, including his infectious smile. Of course, the music and relationships with well-developed characters also enhance the experience. But some of my favorite moments are simply taking in the scenery, feeling the wind, and listening to the waves crash and gulls call. Only Ganondorf seems to be the one with something against the relaxing breezes.
While I may forget all the minutiae of Link’s journeys across the Great Sea, I will never forget the joy I felt playing Wind Waker for the first time. A joy that, I am happy to report, continues with each playthrough.
