The Symbolism of Zelda: a Textual Analysis of the Wind Waker

Book excerpt: It is hard to define what makes The Legend of Zelda so great. The magic of The Wind Waker is in experiencing it, not just critiquing it. This game, flawed but still great, incorporates elements of fairy tales and legend to craft something magical and mythical. The experience of playing a Zelda game is not only excitement, but enchantment. There is so much to see and do, that players cannot help but be sucked into the world and the magic of it all. These games are playgrounds where we enjoy their mystique, instead of being preoccupied with our role within them.This book can only attempt to capture and explain the magic of The Wind Waker. The sections of this book are only a stepping stone into an analysis of this great game. I think that anyone with the determination to do so will find even more to love after taking a closer look at The Wind Waker.But even so, the gameplay and narrative are wonderful and craft the game into something great. The stages of interest are built, but eventually sabotage the feeling of Flow during the third act. The theme of exploration resonates throughout every mechanic of the game, as evidenced by the telescope. The soundtrack is incredible, and its adaptive nature builds the epic feeling. The art style is timeless, and really creates an emotional response to the player. Each of the three central characters (Link, Zelda, Ganondorf) are essential to the story and the game, and are full of allusion and symbolism. The puzzles are good, but not strenuous. And the same goes for the dungeons, which are not difficult but a pleasure to explore. And this game ties into the epic genre as an interpretation of The Odyssey. With Link, the player completes this odyssey and learns more about the power of myth and storytelling within video games.