|
Ocarina of Time VS The Wind Waker
So, kinda torn on which game you like better? Well, here's a little comparison editorial I cooked up to help you decide. I will compare OoT and TWW in 9 different catagories: graphics, sound, control, quest/dungeons, inventory, bosses, Links, storylines, and endings. The game with the most catagory advantages is declared the unofficial winner. Here we go: Graphics: This could be considered an unfair comparison, seeing as how Ocarina of Time is nearly five years old and on an obsolete system, while The Wind Waker has been recently released for a much more powerful system, but I'll be as fair as I can. OoT features a semi-realistic graphical style, with anime-like characters. But because of the N64's limitations, characters are somewhat stiff and blocky looking, mostly inexpressive, and textures are usually blurry and bland. But you must remember that these were some of the best graphics that could be achieved on the N64 at the time. The Wind Waker on the other hand, features much more fluid and lifelike graphics, styled like a super-deformed anime. Characters are very cartoony, expressive, and textures are certainly better (though still not that great). This was a no-brainer, because the Wind Waker's graphics just pop out at you and immerse you in its world, until you forget that it's even cel-shaded. Even Waker-haters would have to be in severe denial to think that OoT had better graphics. (Though to this day, I still would have preferred the darker, more mature style that OoT had, considering Gamecube's potential. Oh well--that's what Gamecube 2 can fix in the future.) Advantage: The Wind Waker Sound: In Ocarina of Time, we are introduced to a masterpiece of a soundtrack. We get remakes of some classic tunes, some very catchy and memorable original pieces, and dungeon themes that are absolute works of art. Each one obviously had a lot of time put into it, and they capture the vibes of their temples perfectly, be it foresty, fiery, watery, shadowy or spirity, heh. The music in OoT is some of my favorite game music of all time, and in future years I will be battling massive nostalgia when I hear it again. And boy, some of the best sound effects on N64 can be found here. Just stand still in the field at night and listen to all you can hear. And don't forget the targeting and battle effects. The only problem I have with OoT's sound is that ridiculous, annoying mini-game theme that sounds like it was ripped from Disney's Pinocchio. TWW cannot be counted out in this catagory either. Not only does it borrow some memorable tunes from OoT, remake some classic and obscure tunes from past Zeldas (you might not have noticed that the music during the fight(s) with Phantom Ganon is a remix of the "Final Fight with Ganon" music from A Link to the Past) but it has some damn good original ones too. The Windfall Village theme (a very vague remix of Kakariko) sounds kinda like the theme from that floating island in Chrono Trigger. The intro story music is awesome, sounds like its using real instuments, and eventually medleys into a celtic version of the classic Zelda theme. And there are at least four(!) remakes/remixes of the classic Hyrule Castle theme, one of which was absolutely astounding. There were some cons however. The dungeon themes (except for Tower of Gods) aren't quite the masterpieces that OoT's were. Hell, the Dragon Roost Cavern theme was ripped right from OoT's Dodongo's Cavern and just had some new beats of percussion added, while the main tune was toned down. Oh and the "Heart Container Get" jingle isn't as dramatic as OoT's, nor is the "God's Pearl Get" nearly as good or long as OoT's cinematic "Spiritual Stone Get." But the sound effects are just outstanding. And in Dolby Pro Logic II, you can get quite the audio experience while playing. This is a really tough call, but I think that we have a winner, though said winner just barely made it. Advantage: The Wind Waker Control: In OoT, I feel in touch with Link's every step and sword swing. The control scheme is like an extension of my mind. It's just that good. TWW is similar, though it will take some getting used to after extended OoT sessions, and vice versa. Link's jump attacks, backflips, etc. are a tad slower in TWW, but they are more fluid and cover more distance. TWW's parry attack system is very nice and stylish, but it makes combat easier and less strategic. All you have to do is wait for the "A" to flash and you can chip away at your stronger enemies effortlessly. The Parry Attack should've occurred less frequently, so it comes only when you really need it. The targeting system in OoT is much better than TWW, however. You have a more solid lock, it's easier to keep track of the enemy with, it's faster, and "sounds" a hell of a lot cooler. But TWW's camera is by far better than OoT's, mostly because of the added use of the C-stick. TWW's sword usage is also much more stylish than OoT's--Link will be twisting, jumping, and twirling when you're chopping down enemies and foliage, and don't forget the cinematic Parry Attacks. But I have one complaint. Combat in narrow corridors or anywhere close to a wall is near impossible because if your sword even taps the wall, it will recoil violently. In OoT, your sword would only recoil if you struck certain objects. But this is only nitpicking, and rarely ever interferes with my gaming experience. Really tough call. It's so back and forth; each game has disadvantages that other game fixes. So I'll be generous. Advantage: Draw Quest/Dungeons: Ocarina of Time's Quest: Collect 3 Spiritual Stones, 5 Sages Medallions. Total Content: -Main Dungeons: 8 -Mini Dungeons: 4 -Final Dungeon -Required "Fetch"-Quests: 0 -Optional sidequests and items ----------------------------- The Wind Waker's Quest: Collect 3 God's Pearls, 2 Master Sword upgrades, 8 Triforce Maps, 8 Triforce Pieces. Total Content: -Main Dungeons: 5 -Mini Dungeons: 1 -Final Dungeon -Required "Fetch"-Quests: 16 -Many, many, optional sidequests and items ------------------------------ 'Nuff said. Advantage: Ocarina of Time Inventory: OoT had one of the richest item inventories in all the Zelda series. Loads of weapons, items, ability-enhancers, quest items, spells, suits, etc. All good stuff. TWW's arsenal is undeniably less stellar. No spells (the Magic Armor doesn't really count), few ability-enhancers, and mostly just the basic alternate weapons (bow, boomerang, hookshot, hammer) that have been reused over and over and over again. On the bright side, the boomerang is more useful than ever before in this game because of its new multiple-target lock-on feature. There are some original items in TWW, also; the Deku Leaf, Hero's Charm, Sail, and Grappling Hook come to mind. As for quest items, TWW only has three; the God's Pearls, (The Triforce doesn't count, as you don't beat dungeons to get it). Overall, OoT's inventory is so diverse and refined that is most undeniably the greatest the series has ever seen. Let's hope the next Zelda features something as good. Editorial Comment: Let's also hope the next Zelda game introduces some replacements for the oft-reused weapons, new magic arrows, and more original stuff (more spells, God forbid). But so help me, if they force either the Pictograph Box or Tingle Tuner down our throats again, there will be hell to pay. Advantage: Ocarina of Time Bosses: Ah, the creme de le creme of Zelda's dungeons. Yes, you'd better believe we're gonna devote a whole section to them. First, let's look over OoT's. There are 10 bosses in OoT: Gohma, King Dodongo, Barinade, Phantom Ganon, Volvagia, Morpha, Bongo-Bongo, Twinrova, Ganondorf, and Ganon. And each one is very fun to play. Sometimes, I try to drag out the fights as long as possible, because I know it's going to be a while before I can play them again. A few of them may keep you on the edge of your seat, difficulty-wise (Bongo-Bongo, Phantom Ganon, Volvagia) but the rest are generally kind of easy, especially if you know what you're doing. But that's okay, they're FUN. Now for TWW: it has 9 bosses. Not bad at all. There's Gohma, Kalle Demos, Gohdan, Helmaroc King, Jalhalla, Molgera, Phantom Ganon, Puppet Ganon and Ganondorf. But with the notable exception of Puppet Ganon, these bosses are laughably easy, especially since most of the boss arenas are littered with pots, bushes, and other enemies to get hearts out of. But what about fun-ness? Well, let's put it this way: how much fun can you have when you flatten a boss that doesn't put up a good fight in the first place? Advantage: Ocarina of Time Links: "What?" I know you're saying. That's right, we're gonna compare each game's version of Link, so sit back and read. OoT's Link: This Link was very mysterious and deep. He was an orphaned forest-dwelling boy, whose past was so shrouded and obscured that even he did not know who he really was--until a certain point in the story. Eventually he goes on to discover his sacred, higher purpose and hidden powers. And when he's fulfilled his tasks, he takes his place in legends for centuries to come. And then he even goes on to fulfill the prophecies of other lands. What a hero! It should be noted that this Link has multiple forms, (especially if you include his adventures in Majora's Mask). There was both young and older versions of Link, which provided more development of this interesting character. This Link was mostly inexpressive; poker-faced and solemn. But occasionally you could get a smile or gasp out of him. As for appearance, this was the first Link to really grab your attention and hold it. For the first time in the series, Link looked and fought like a bona-fide badass. His solemn nature and muscular build helped contribute to that vibe, and for that reason, he's a fan-favorite even to this day. As for abilities, this Link is pretty universal. He can use magic (spells), has incredible weapons prowess, ride horseback, swim indefinitely, is the second-fastest runner in all Hyrule, (the bunny-hood guy is always just one second ahead) and overall becomes very powerful towards the game's end. TWW's Link: By far the series' most controversial Link. He is an orphaned island-dwelling boy, but he has significant family ties in the form of a sister and grandmother, whereas the other Link, (and most Links in previous games) had none. Because of this, he's not nearly as mysterious or obscure as Link should be. Throughout the game, he pretty much lives in the shadow of the OoT Link; always hearing about his legendary achievements, and even forced to dress like him! But eventually he goes on to distinguish himself as the Wind Waker and Hero of Winds, and finishes the job on Ganondorf. This Link was very expressive, with everything from happiness, curiousity, anxiousness, sadness, anger, pain, and surprise conveyed throughout his adventure. Unlike OoT Link, he never gets older or changes shape throughout the course of the game. His abilities are similar to OoT Link's, except there are no horses to ride in his world, he never learns any spells, cannot swim very long, and never gets to be quite as souped-up as other Links have. This is kind of tough to call. Each Link is very likeable and deep, but the OoT Link is a time-tested fan-favorite that just can't be bested. Be sure to pick up Soul Calibur II to see him in action again! Advantage: Ocarina of Time Storyline: Ocarina of Time was the first game in the Zelda series to really bring the story to the forefront, whilst not having it interfere with the gameplay (*cough*Xenosaga, Final Fantasy*cough*). The balance was perfect. The gameplay was addicting, and the compelling plot provided even more incentive to keep playing. Though it wasn't nearly Final Fantasy-caliber, the plot was quite satsifactory, and had some great character development. The Wind Waker is just as good, and maybe better in this area. It's plot is so closely tied to Ocarina of Time that one might be quick to call it "Ocarina of Time: Part II" (but don't, because there is no actual Ocarina of Time in it) and this marks the first time any Zelda game ever had that tight a connection with its predecessor. The plot is also much deeper than on the surface--which is good, since I was left sour when I heard that it was about a giant bird kidnapping Link's sister. Thankfully, it proved to be much deeper than that, and when I found that out, that was possibly THE reason that made me buy it. There's enough character development, mood, cinema sequences, and key events in this plot to put it slightly above OoT. Unfortunately, the plot pretty much disappears from the time Link finally does rescue his sister to the final fight with Ganon, which wasn't the case in OoT, in which the pacing of the story was fairly consistent. Again, said winner just barely made the cut, as it was really close. Advantage: The Wind Waker Ending: In OoT, Link slashes Ganon's fallen form repeatedly with blood flying everywhere. Very cool. Then he administers the coup de grace and jams the sword in Ganon's head. Zelda and the Sages seal him away with a very cool lightshow, and Ganon threatens that he will return just before he is imprisoned. Zelda and Link share a final moment, and Link is returned to his own time. Nice. Credits roll with beautiful serene and epic music playing, and you see that all locations of Hyrule are completely deserted. Why? Because everybody is celebrating and dancing at Lon Lon Ranch! Sages watch from mountain top and nod at each other. Scene switches back to present Hyrule and Link's fairy leaves him unexpectedly. Next comes a cinematic zoom-in on the Master Sword, with bells ringing in the background. Fantastic touch. Link then comes face to face with young Zelda. The End. A mostly-satisfying end to a satisfying game, and leaves itself open for a sequel. In TWW, Link rolls around Ganon, jumps up, slashes him in the neck and then jams the Master Sword in his forehead. Very nice. Ganon turns to stone with the Master Sword still in his head. King tells Link and Zelda to live for the future and that wherever they live will not be Hyrule. Okay . . . --the water floods all around them, and the Hyrule we all knew and loved is lost forever. Not cool at all. Link and Zelda float back to the top and are lying unconscious on the surface of the water when Prince Komali revives them. Where'd he come from? They see the pirate ship full of flamboyant pirates and Link's sister and they all wave like dumbasses at each other until credits roll. Ho-hum. Next, we are treated to 5-10 minute long(!) credits sequence. But we don't see a panning view of Hyrule or citzens celebrating, or cool lightshows. No, no. Instead we have to stare at bubbles floating around the screen that have pictures of all the characters' many facial expressions inside them, like some kind of crappy PC screen-saver, all the while the much-reused Wind Waker theme plays the whole time with little to none of the emotional impact that the previous Zelda ending themes had. Is Nintendo getting lazy or what? Finally Link and Tetra are shown sailing off in their individual boats, leaving us with a very unsatisfying and vague line: "The wind will guide us." What a crock of sh--. Why, pray tell, did they have to destroy Hyrule? Doesn't it basically make all the characters' efforts (especially the OoT Link's) for naught? Why couldn't they make the flood waters recede and have everybody live happily in the land of their ancestors? That would've helped the Zelda games' storylines fit together much better (especially concerning A Link to the Past, which is supposed to be the real sequel to OoT) and would have made a much more satisfying and epic end to an otherwise great game. OoT's ending was much more epic and cinematic, and you always wanted to kick back and enjoy it. TWW's ending is good in the first half, but after they return to the surface everything starts sucking the big one. On the whole, it's boring. For the quality game that TWW is, I was expecting much more than just a hokey reunion and predictable closing words. I think we have a clear winner here. Advantage (by a landslide): Ocarina of Time. The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time--Final Score: 5/9 The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker--Final Score: 3/9 Draws: 1/9 WINNER: Ocarina of Time Adieu.
|
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
