Today is September 20th, and Zelda fans know what that means. Yes, the anticipated digital release of The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker HD has occurred, offering Wii U owners a chance to download the updated and remastered classic from the Nintendo eShop, for a cool $49.99. However, since every gamer with interest in the re-release surely doesn’t own a Wii U, the company is also offering a $299.99 limited edition system bundle, which contains a (black) Deluxe Wii U console, a GamePad adorned with the Hyrule crest, a special art book, a digital download code for the Hyrule Historia and, of course, a download voucher for the game itself.
With The Wind Waker HD, we’re being treated to a high-definition, visual overhaul of one of the industry’s most colourful games. One that tells the story of a young boy whose sister is kidnapped by a giant bird, forcing him to set out on a ship to save her.
Honestly, if you’ve yet to play the original version of this seafaring tale, you should definitely check this one out, especially considering its addition of a faster sail. Sure, the Tingle Bottle slash Miiverse stuff is kind of neat, but it’ll only appeal to certain people.
Look for our review of The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker HD, which will be up in advance of the game’s retail launch date of October 4th.
NINTENDO’S REMASTERED CLASSIC LAUNCHES DIGITALLY WITH HD GRAPHICS, LIMITED-EDITION BUNDLE
The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker HD Renews an All-Time Great
VANCOUVER, B.C., Sept. 19, 2013 – Sept. 20 marks a day of new adventures for fans of The Legend of Zelda franchise with the digital launch of the remastered version of one of the greatest video games of all time, The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker HD, for the Wii U home console. Fans who do not own a Wii U system can opt for the limited-edition bundle, which comes with a black Deluxe Wii U console; a GamePad controller adorned with the gold Hyrule crest and symbols from the game; a download code for the digital version of Hyrule Historia, a book that details the chronology, history and artwork of The Legend of Zelda series; and a code to download The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker HD from the Nintendo eShop. The bundle is available at a suggested retail price of $299.99. Current Wii U owners can also download the game on Sept. 20 from the Nintendo eShop for $49.99.
“For more than 10 years, The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker has remained a standout entry in one of the most beloved series of all time with its distinctive graphics, fun adventures and charming story,” said Ron Bertram, Nintendo of Canada’s vice-president and general manager. “This HD version and Wii U bundle are cornerstones of Nintendo’s season of value and variety. These characters and experiences are exclusive to Nintendo systems, and a must-have for video game fans of all kind.”
The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker tells the story of a young boy on an island who sets out on a quest after his sister is kidnapped by a giant bird. Along the way, he encounters a talking boat, interacts with many interesting characters, explores numerous exquisitely designed dungeons and helps a kingdom emerge from under a shadow of evil. The original game, created for Nintendo GameCube, earned a Metacritic score of 96, ranking it among some of the most elite video games of all time. This newly remastered version includes enhancements that make an amazing game even better. Some changes include Miiverse functionality that lets players with broadband Internet access attach helpful messages or fun images to Tingle Bottles, which will then wash up on the shore in another player’s game. Also, the game now includes the “Swift Sail,” which doubles the speed of Link’s boat, the King of Red Lions.
Note that the packaged version of The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker HD launches Oct. 4 with distinctive gold-foil packaging at a suggested price of $49.99.
Remember that Wii U features parental controls that let adults manage the content their children can access. For more information about this and other features, visit http://www.nintendo.com/wiiu. For more information about The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker HD, visit http://www.zelda.com/windwaker.
About Nintendo: The worldwide pioneer in the creation of interactive entertainment, Nintendo Co., Ltd., of Kyoto, Japan, manufactures and markets hardware and software for its Wii U™ and Wii™ home consoles, and Nintendo 3DS™ and Nintendo DS™ families of portable systems. Since 1983, when it launched the Nintendo Entertainment System™, Nintendo has sold more than 4.1 billion video games and more than 655 million hardware units globally, including the current-generation Wii U, Nintendo 3DS and Nintendo 3DS XL, as well as the Game Boy™, Game Boy Advance, Nintendo DS, Nintendo DSi™ and Nintendo DSi XL™, Super NES™, Nintendo 64™, Nintendo GameCube™ and Wii systems. It has also created industry icons that have become well-known, household names such as Mario™, Donkey Kong™, Metroid™, Zelda™ and Pokémon™. A wholly owned subsidiary, Nintendo of America Inc., based in Redmond, Wash., serves as headquarters for Nintendo’s operations in the Western Hemisphere.
For more information about Nintendo, please visit the company’s website at http://www.nintendo.ca.