The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker
News, coverage and analysis tracking The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker across the outlets.
Nintendo is phasing out the Switch in February 2027, just weeks ahead of the console's 10-year anniversaryNintendo has confirmed that production of the original Nintendo Switch, Switch Lite, and Switch OLED Model will cease in mid-February 2027, just before the console's 10th anniversary. While sales will continue through 2026, the company will no longer sell hardware to retailers or on its own store after that date. This decision comes as the Switch approaches its decade-long lifespan and faces potential competition from a successor console.
Are these the 100 most influential games of all time?Kitfox Games CEO Tanya Short discusses a list of the 100 most influential video games of all time, compiled by professional game designers. The list, assembled through the Polaris game design retreat, aims to serve as a tool for designers to improve their craft and create influential games.
Shigeru Miyamoto decided Zelda dungeons aren't "really that much fun" while making Ocarina of Time, but they're what I'm looking forward to in the remakeShigeru Miyamoto expressed doubts about the fun factor of traditional Zelda dungeons even during the development of The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time. Despite his reservations, the author finds the classic dungeon designs of Ocarina of Time to be memorable and looks forward to experiencing them with modern graphics in an upcoming remake.
Review: Retro Fighters Battle Dock For Switch 2 - Time To Dig Out Those Old GameCube PadsThe Retro Fighters Battle Dock is a new accessory for the Nintendo Switch that allows players to use original GameCube wired controllers. While it effectively replicates the functionality of Nintendo's official adapter, it requires the Switch dock to be connected via USB and lacks dedicated Home and Minus buttons, necessitating a separate controller for menu navigation. Despite these drawbacks, it offers a low-latency gaming experience for $40, making it a solid option for fans of classic GameCube titles.
Evening Reading - June 11, 2026This edition of Shacknews Evening Reading covers various game news, including speculation about Destiny 3, reviews for titles like The 7th Guest Remake and Alien: Isolation 2, and a discussion on whether Grand Theft Auto 6 or The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time Remake would be played first. It also highlights Famitsu's 40th anniversary and lists all games that have received its perfect 40/40 review score. The article also touches on non-gaming news such as SpaceX, Elon Musk, and the NBA Finals.
Nintendo Fans Don’t Know What They WantThis article discusses the evolving and often contradictory expectations of Nintendo fans regarding game aesthetics. It highlights historical examples like The Wind Waker and Breath of the Wild, where initial fan reactions to stylistic changes eventually turned positive, contrasting with recent divided responses to more realistic remakes of The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time and Star Fox.
Does The Ocarina Of Time Remake Teaser Signal Zelda’s Sanding Down Its Edges?A teaser for the upcoming remake of The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time has raised concerns about Nintendo potentially 'sanding down' the series' unique artistic edges for broader market appeal, especially in light of the upcoming live-action movie. While the remake's visuals are technically impressive, the author worries it lacks the distinct personality seen in previous Zelda titles and may be overly sanitized for mass consumption.
Aonuma says Zelda Wind Waker was more compact than intended due to deadlinesThe Legend of Zelda producer Eiji Aonuma revealed in a 2005 interview that The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker was made more compact than originally intended due to development deadlines. Aonuma expressed regret for this decision, stating his determination to avoid similar issues in future Legend of Zelda titles.
Zelda boss Eiji Aonuma became part of the series because Miyamoto saw him making his own SNES game in the wake of A Link to the Past: "I really wanted to incorporate some essence of Zelda into it"The Legend of Zelda series producer Eiji Aonuma revealed that his directorial debut, Marvelous: Another Treasure Island, which was inspired by A Link to the Past, led to Shigeru Miyamoto recruiting him for the Zelda series. Aonuma has since been a pivotal figure in the franchise, directing Ocarina of Time, Majora's Mask, and The Wind Waker.
Eiji Aonuma believed it was his "fault" that The Wind Waker wasn't as meaty as other Zelda gamesThe Legend of Zelda series producer Eiji Aonuma expressed that he felt responsible for The Wind Waker's perceived lack of content, attributing it to the need to make the game more compact for its release. He aimed to avoid a similar impression with future titles. The article also briefly mentions Shigeru Miyamoto's desire for horseback combat in Twilight Princess.
Nintendo Music Adds Another Zelda Soundtrack, Here's Every Song IncludedThe Nintendo Music app has been updated to include the full soundtrack for The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds, featuring 105 tracks composed by Ryō Nagamatsu. This addition joins other Zelda soundtracks already available on the service for Nintendo Switch Online subscribers.
Zelda: Twilight Princess did what Ocarina of Time couldn't because Nintendo's Shigeru Miyamoto really "wanted to see Link fight on horseback"The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess implemented mounted combat, a feature Shigeru Miyamoto had desired since The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time. While Ocarina of Time allowed horseback riding, it lacked combat capabilities, a gap Twilight Princess filled with Link fighting on horseback. Director Eiji Aonuma confirmed Miyamoto's long-standing wish for this gameplay element.
Eiji Aonuma tried to "graduate" from Zelda after Wind Waker, but Shigeru Miyamoto assigned him to Twilight Princess anyway and he figured he "should give up escaping" his "fate"Eiji Aonuma revealed that he initially wanted to "graduate" from The Legend of Zelda series after directing three titles, including The Wind Waker. However, Shigeru Miyamoto assigned him to Twilight Princess, leading Aonuma to accept his "fate" as a Zelda game director. Aonuma noted that even his earlier game, Marvelous, shared essences with Zelda.
Is Nintendo Switch Online worth it in 2026? Our verdictThis analysis evaluates the value of Nintendo Switch Online in 2026, considering its evolution since its 2018 launch. While initial online play faced criticism, the service now offers a robust library of retro games from NES, SNES, Nintendo 64, GameCube, and more, alongside features like cloud saves and free DLC for Expansion Pack members. Despite some drawbacks like limited drip-feeding of new retro titles and certain game exclusions from cloud save functionality, the subscription is deemed a worthwhile investment due to its expanded benefits and competitive pricing, especially with family plans.
Random: Nintendo Once Sent WWE's Cody Rhodes A "Cease And Desist"WWE Champion Cody Rhodes revealed that Nintendo sent him a 'kind' cease and desist letter due to his use of the Triforce logo on his wrestling boots. Rhodes explained his admiration for the Triforce's principles of power, courage, and wisdom, which he found applicable to his wrestling career. He also expressed his love for The Legend of Zelda series, specifically mentioning Twilight Princess and The Wind Waker.
"I also got a cease and desist from Nintendo": WWE Champion Cody Rhodes explains why he stopped wearing his…WWE Champion Cody Rhodes revealed that Nintendo once issued him a cease and desist letter for using the Triforce symbol from The Legend of Zelda on his wrestling gear. He also drew parallels between the release of Twilight Princess and fan reception to The Wind Waker's art style, comparing it to fan campaigns in professional wrestling.
Shigeru Miyamoto thinks Zelda 2 was "sort of a failure," and A Link to the Past is the "real sequel"Shigeru Miyamoto believes that Zelda 2: Adventure of Link was a commercial and critical failure, considering The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past to be the true sequel to the original game. He suggests that the reception of Zelda 2 influenced the series' return to its classic style with A Link to the Past, which then laid the groundwork for future titles like Ocarina of Time and Breath of the Wild.
Talking Point: Is Legend Of Zelda's Link Left Or Right-Handed? Let's Look At The EvidenceThe dominant hand of Link, the hero of The Legend of Zelda series, has been a subject of debate among fans for decades. While Link was predominantly left-handed in early titles, including the original The Legend of Zelda and Zelda II: The Adventure of Link, later games like Twilight Princess (Wii version), Skyward Sword, Breath of the Wild, and Tears of the Kingdom have featured him as right-handed. This shift is often attributed to design choices related to motion controls and controller layouts, though the character's ambidexterity remains a point of discussion.
Majora's Mask: Nintendo's Darkest Game Still Haunts Players | HappyGamerThe Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask, released in 2000, is remembered for its unusually dark and mature themes, exploring concepts of death, trauma, and existential dread within the familiar Zelda framework. Despite its unsettling content, including body horror and psychological elements, the game is praised for its artistic depth and innovative narrative design, influencing modern game development and demonstrating Nintendo's capacity for sophisticated storytelling.
Talking Point: Do You Play Zelda Games For The Story?This article discusses whether players engage with The Legend of Zelda series primarily for its story. Contributors from Nintendo Life share their varying perspectives, with some valuing lore and character development while others prioritize gameplay and emergent narratives over overarching plots.