‘Waker’successfully expands Zelda
series in a cartoony blast of color
The latest ‘Zelda’ incarnation gives fans a little bit
of everything to spice up the Nintendo gaming tradition
Came review
Mason West
Movies/Music/TV Columnist
With each Nintendo system, a Zelda game that sets a new
standard for adventure games appears. Just the mention of a
new Zelda is comforting — like hearing a favorite distant rela
tive is coming to visit.
It’s impossible to sum up the importance of the previous 15
years of Zelda. Each game builds on the next, preserving the
spirit of the Zelda myth while adapting the technology to kick
the Joneses in the ass.
This rich history has converged in “The Legend of Zelda:
The Wind Waker.” It is everything a modern Zelda game
should be: fun, challenging, innovative and beautiful. Its
base is sound, being fundamentally similar to the Nintendo
64 incarnations, but the look is completely reinvented, en
dowing new joy into gaming.
The game is a living cartoon: a stylized explosion of color
that moves like a symphony of Crayola. Just the sight of it
makes you smile. Characters have facial expressions that say
more than any dialogue could — which is good, because
“Wind Waker” only uses emphatic soundbytes. Where other
cell-shaded games have outlined shapes in black, “Wind Wak
er” wisely uses contrasts of solid color that smooth the edges.
Enemies explode in puffs of purple smoke. Link leaves tiny,
wet footprints after getting out of the water. There is an end
less list of small details that make the game incredible.
This drastic change in style makes the game look childish,
but this is not just a game for kids. Nintendo developers have
to bring the younger demographic into the fold, but they have
just as much responsibility to the devoted older fans, which
they fulfill by incorporating the nostalgic with the new.
All Link’s favorite weapons are back and beefed up. There
is a new parry sword technique allowing Link to dodge an at
tack and launch one of his own. The boomerang can now tar
get multiple items in one throw. A grappling hook is used for
swinging and climbing as well as hoisting sunken treasure. The
new Deku Leaf also has a dual purpose: fanning powerful gusts
of air and serving as parachute to glide over long distances.
The most innovative aspect of the game is the ability to link
with a Game Boy Advance so a second player can control Tin
gle, a sprite who can help Link with hints, items and attacks. A
two-player option has been absent from previous Zeldas and
is much appreciated here.
The world in “Wind Waker” is huge, and the opportunity to
explore its complexity should draw all gamers. Link sails from is
land to island through a sprawling ocean by changing the direc
tion of the wind with a musical wand — the Wind Waker. Sailing
straight across the world would take at least 15 minutes without
stopping to inspect ships and islands found along the way. Sail
ing is sometimes boring, and sadly, the world is flat so you can’t
get on the right side of the map by going past the left boundary.
I’d wager that at a later point in the game, Link can warp to
various locations with certain songs as in “Ocarina of Time.”
But honestly, 15 hours of play didn’t get me very far. The story
in “Wind Waker” takes place in the distant future after the
events from Ocarina. It can only be assumed that Link is a
reincarnation of the ancient hero, but he is questing to save
his sister — there has been no mention of Princess Zelda. The
Courtesy
likely candidate for that role, should it appear, is the young pi
rate leader Tetra, who vaguely helps Link on his quest.
But searching to answer these questions only makes play
ing the game more exciting. The story of an ordinary boy
drawn to an extraordinary destiny never gets old, and the
combination of great stories with engaging game play en
sures Zelda’s repeated success. It is an awesome and reas
suring feat that a game as highly anticipated as “Wind Wak
er” can exceed all expectations.
Contact the Pulse columnistatmasonwest@dailyemerald.com. His
views do not necessarily represent those of the Emerald.
Pulse brief
Magyar musicians to perform on campus
Students will have two opportunities to explore a part of
East European culture on Wednesday. Kdlmdn Balogh and
The Gypsy Cimbalom Band from Hungary will give a free
lecture-demonstration at noon in 229 McKenzie. The lec
ture will be open to the entire community. The band will
also perform at 8 p.m. at Cafe Paradiso, located at 115 W.
Broadway. Tickets will be available at the door, #13 for
adults and $9 for students.
— Jacquelyn Lewis
Carlson
continued from page 9
earth-friendly way is to go to Bring Re
cycling Center. Bring is one of the oldest
non-profit recycling centers in the coun
try and takes in nearly 40 tons of used
material per month. In addition to
stacks of doors and glass and old car
parts, they have all sorts of gardening
pots. If you’re willing to search through
the labyrinth of junk, you can pick out
more interesting vessels. I found two old
feta cheese tins with colorful designs to
pot my tomatoes in. I lined a wood crate
with plastic window screen for my peas
and carrots. I also bought five pots and
two tomato cages. Total cost: $1.
I haven’t potted my plants yet. I’m
keeping them in their plastic starter pots
until the weather warms up. It is too
cold outside for the lettuce and peas,
and it won’t be warm enough for the
tomatoes until late spring or early sum
mer. I’ll take the cold weather plants
outside on sunny days as long as there is
the danger of frost. Until then, they’ll sit
in a sun-filled window. Vegetables re
quire about eight hours of sunshine per
day to grow good produce, though let
tuce can grow on only four or five hours
of light.
I spoke with my mom on Saturday
and realized I still have a ways to go
before I truly become her. While we
both gardened that day, only I bought
stiletto heels.
Contact the Pulse columnist
at nikacarlson@dailyemerald.com. Her
opinions do not necessarily represent those
of the Emerald.
Resident
practitioner
Stuart Greenleaf
practices out of
his office, located
at 1245
Charnelton St #3.
Acupuncture
involves the
insertion of
needles into the
body to relieve
health problems,
most commonly
in the back and
neck.
Adam Amato
Emerald
Acupuncture
continued from page 9
treatment that sends mild electronic im
pulses through the needles at specific
points. Greenleaf, who designed his own
equipment, said the process is ideal for se
lective nerve ending stimulation and pre
cise tissue penetration.
Acupuncture Alternatives even offers
needleless acupuncture for children and es
pecially sensitive adults. Greenleaf applies
gentle electronic impulses to points on the
surface of the skin. In some cases, tiny met
al pellets or magnets positioned at acu
points, can achieve the same benefits as
acupuncture — without the needles.
Greenleaf also has his share of success
stories. He recalled a 20-year-old woman
suffering from intense headaches after a
bout of meningitis. He said the patient
had become dependent on medication.
After a number of treatments, Greenleaf
said the woman’s condition had improved
substantially.
Harmon and Greenleaf both said they be
lieve the future of acupuncture is an in
creased sensitivity to the benefits of alter
native medicine. Both said they hope the
practice will be incorporated into everyday
use in the near future.
“We’re making progress in that direction
every day,” Harmon said.
Contact the senior pulse reporter
atryanbornheimer@dailyemerald.com.
join us at the 9th annual
Holistic Options for Planet Earth Sustainability
Eco-Design Arts Conference
APRIL 10-13,2003
Events will include:
Keynote Speakers: Stuart Cowan,
Lois Arkin, Kathryn McCamant,
Mark Lakeman, Richard Register,
panels and workshops
24 hour design charrette
Saturday night party
ecological Urbanism
U of 0 School of Architecture and Allied Arts
ttp://edc^uoregon.edu/ (541) 346-3696
IPNOSI
women’s clothing
shoes hats
jewelry parses gifts
| 1022 Willamette • Eugene, OR • 541.345.7020
Free Camera
Health Check
April 8-11,1-3 pm
✓ Shutter Speeds
✓ Exposure Metering
✓ Flash Synch
✓ Film Transport
jlckerlise in Oregon foody Zmercdd Classifieds! Call 346-4343!