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‘Zelda’ presents true gaming adventure

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Say “Zelda” at any game shop in Madison right now, and you’ll probably be swamped with all sorts of opinions. In the end, there is a genuine possibility that every single person had nothing but good things about “Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker.”

This review then will probably be nothing new — just another drop into the huge lake of positive reviews for Zelda.

Long after the Ocarina of Time has passed and the tale has been passed through generations, it is now a rite of passage to dress in the garb Link wore to defeat the evil Ganon. On his birthday, the hero (insert your name here) is getting ready to enter the rights of manhood when his sister gets swept up by a huge bird. Needless to say, this doesn’t sit too well with you, and — wasting no time — it’s off to the high seas.

That’s a rough descriptor at best, and it’s meant to be, so you are able to enjoy the game without having to read a review about the entire game.

The controls are quirky at first, mostly due to the Gamecube controller itself, but users quickly acclimate to the many buttons needed to operate the system. Options abound, and access to multiple items in the user’s inventory are easily accessible while still keeping users’ fingers ready for the swordplay.

The monsters come in numbers — large amounts of monsters that never seem to stop multiplying. While at times it can hinder your progress, doing away with the culprits does not have to be monotonous.

At certain times in a fight, the A button on the screen will start flashing — pressing down on this will unleash a parry attack that, if not deadly, looks impressive. Keep on the lookout for some familiar characters from past Zelda games making an occasional appearance — if not for the trivia, at least to get a good laugh for being such a gamer.

Now for the graphics. There isn’t much to say that wouldn’t make a gamer salivate all over themselves and fall to the floor in a bliss-filled dream of orange soda and television lights. Absolutely “impressive” is the first thing that comes to mind; the next would have to be “freaking mindboggling.”

There are two sides to this coin — at least in the beginning stages of development there were. Cel animation (you might have seen something like it in the Genesis version of Aladdin) is present in this Zelda game, only now it’s a million times better. The graphics are absolutely crisp and representative of the facial expressions.

For instance, when the hero falls off a cliff and is hanging by an arm, he actually looks worried instead of displaying the bland, pixilated face we are too used to; that alone speaks volumes for the detail.

This game is dangerous for finals, as side effects could include flunking and gaining 30 pounds. Roll the dice if you can’t wait — you’ll be enjoying every single minute.

You probably won’t even notice the boot kicking you off the campus.