Artist and modder BigSharkZ recently released a trailer for a The Wind Waker hybrid mod that gives the 2002 GameCube classic a partial Ocarina of Time visual and story overhaul.
Titled “The Legend of Zelda: Winds of Time,” the three-and-a-half minute video showcases a young, cel shaded version of Ocarina’s Link traversing an equally stylized Hyrule set to the tune of what sounds to be a mashup of Ocarina and The Wind Waker’s iconic music. The scene opens to panning shots of morning spilling over Hyrule, and cuts to our hero traversing Hyrule Field and approaching Hyrule Castle.
Viewers are then treated to a visual showcase of the fully rendered Kokiri Forest, where Saria (also styled in traditional The Wind Waker form) greets Link and his new fairy. The next scene brings Link to Lon Lon Ranch, where he meets Malon and a horde of Cuccos. The trailer then depicts Malon as a playable character, where she demonstrates the ability to control a Cucco (much like Link could with a Hyoi Pear in The Wind Waker).
Though the trailer was published on April Fools’ Day, BigSharkZ noted in the video description that the sections shown “will someday be made available in the form of a mod pack.” No date has been set for the release of this mod, but other similar mods are currently available on the artist’s Gamebanana page.
According to BigSharkZ, “the character style is not meant to replicate [The Wind Waker]’s 1:1, but rather a mix between it and [Ocarina of Time],” and that three versions of the mod will be available upon its release for the player to choose from.
Though Adult Link is not available in the current version of this mod, the artist noted they are looking into it as a possibility. They also stated there are no plans to fully recreate Ocarina of Time in The Wind Waker’s engine.
Players interested in this mod (and others) can learn more/support the artist via BigSharkZ’s Patreon.
