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First 4 Figures teases a Wind Waker Ganondorf statue
First 4 Figures, makers of highly detailed - and highly priced - video game collectibles, has set its eyes on the Triforce of Power wielder, Ganondorf. Specifically, the villainous version which originally appeared in 2003's The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker. Though maybe you prefer the 2013 HD remaster? The company released a small teaser image to whet fans' appetites via their Facebook page this week, and those so tempted to make the evil-doer a part of their collection will be able to pre-order the figure starting on January 20. The figure's price has yet to be revealed. [Image: First 4 Figures]
New Super Mario Bros. U ships 3.89M, Super Mario 3D World almost 2M
Between Super Mario 3D World and New Super Mario Bros .U, Nintendo's mustachioed mascot (whose year it wasn't) has shipped almost 6 million units on the Wii U. In figures revealed in the big N's financial briefing, NSMBU is now at 3.89 million for its lifetime shipments, while SM3DW is at around half of that with 1.94 million. Keep in mind that 2D Mario had the head-start on its 3D sibling when it launched alongside the Wii U, not to mention a much larger presence in system bundles. The Mario platformers are two of five Wii U games that have shipped more than a million so far this fiscal year - that's between April and December 2013, by the by. The other three launched after April, so their shipments for the period represent lifetime figures anyway. Coming in third behind the two Marios is yet another Mario, namely Mr. Luigi Mario with Super Luigi U. The green man's standalone expansion to NSMBU shipped 1.51 million after arriving in the summer. It wasn't just the year of Luigi because Wii Party U and Zelda: Wind Waker HD both got on in the act, shipping 1.24 million and 1.15 million respectively after their fall launches.
Here is Club Nintendo's favorite Wii U and 3DS games of 2013
Nintendo compiled a list of 20 games that Club Nintendo members noted as their favorites from 2013 recently. Nintendo featured ten games for each for 3DS and Wii U, with Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate as the lone game that landed on both lists. Among the Wii U games selected by Club Nintendo members are the obvious Nintendo-published choices in The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker HD, Super Mario 3D World, The Wonderful 101 and Pikmin 3. The best-of list also includes Assassin's Creed 4: Black Flag, Rayman Legends and Runner 2: Future Legend of Rhythm Alien, the latter being the single eShop-only game of the Wii U group. The list of 3DS favorites are marked by both Pokemon X and Y, Fire Emblem: Awakening, The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds and Animal Crossing: New Leaf. Head past the break to see the full Club Nintendo-selected Wii U and 3DS list of favorites from the year.
Wind Waker HD launch trailer depicts a bright, colorful world
The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker HD makes its retail debut on October 4, bringing with it improved graphics, a handful of gameplay alterations and enough bloom effects to choke a first-year photography major.
Wind Waker stained glass wall decals turn your home into a Legend of Zelda cathedral
Need to get your living space ready before downloading Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker HD? Removable wall graphic company Blik is currently offering Wind Waker-themed wall decals for $37 apiece, each designed to look like a stained glass window. The company has six designs available, featuring Link with the Wind Waker, Link with his sword, Link with the Hero's Bow, Link with a grappling hook, Link and the Helmaroc King, and Link with a Zelda profile background. Unfortunately, these renditions of Link can't come alive and go on adventures; you'll have to wait for A Link Between Worlds for that.
Deja Review: The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker HD
This is a Deja Review: A quick, unscored look at the new features and relative agelessness of a remade, revived or re-released game. A decade ago, cynics wrote off The Legend of Zelda: Wind Waker by joking that the game's "kiddy" cel-shaded art style perfectly matched the Gamecube's purple lunchbox appearance. It certainly looked strange, but as I scrounged the Great Sea looking for treasure charts and pirate ships to sink, I explored a 3D Zelda game that was comfortable with letting me off my tutorial-laden leash to just explore. Instead of a grating fairy or wordy owl, I was given a baton, a sail and a spattering of islands to discover. Wind Waker was a bold artistic venture with a central love for the original Zelda's emphasis on finding things on your own. But as enjoyable as it was to piece things together across pages of notebook paper, the oceanic quest was always a bit sluggish. Juggling three items from the game's menu, two of which were required for any successful venture across the sea, made sailing tedious. Thankfully, The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker HD corrects almost every flaw the original had, simplifying the task of besting evil and finding treasure without ruining what made it so satisfying in the first place.
New Nintendo eShop releases: Wind Waker HD, Scribblenauts Unmasked, Super Mario Bros.
It's kind of a big week for Nintendo's eShop. The obvious headline is that The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker HD will arrive on September 20 at midnight. Perhaps even bigger than that is the fact that Wind Waker HD won't be available at retail until October 4. This could be the beginning of a new trend with Nintendo games, as the company has announced a similar staggered release for Wii Fit U. Meanwhile, he Wii U Virtual Console gets another heavy hitter in the form of Super Mario Bros. The 3DS Virtual Console also gets some love with the classic puzzler, Solomon's Key. Next week on September 24, both the 3DS and Wii U pick up Scribblenauts Unmasked: A DC Comics Adventure. You know, the one with DC Comics characters in it. Beyond new releases, there are a few sales going on. Both the 3DS and Wii U versions of Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate are 50 percent off until September 22 at 9am PT, putting them at $19.99 and $29.99, respectively. You can also grab Chasing Aurora, from Secrets of Raetikon developer Broken Rules, for $4.99 until October 1 at 9am PT.
Zelda: Wind Waker HD graphics compared to Gamecube version
Just how different are the graphics in The Legend of Zelda: The Windwaker HD? This video comparison by GameXplain puts the upcoming Wii U update and the picturesque Gamecube classic side-by-side, showing improvements in draw distance, textures and resolution especially. The new lighting, on the other hand, may be a source of debate among fans.
Wind Waker HD details challenging 'Hero Mode' in trailer
The new difficulty mode in The Legend of Zelda: Wind Waker HD doesn't look to change a whole lot, but it still sounds tough enough thank you. Like the mode of the same name in Skyward Sword, 'Hero Mode' not only doubles the damage enemies do, but also removes all recovery hearts from the environment, leaving players to rely on other means of health nourishment like fairies and potions. Ouch. According to IGN, Hero Mode is selectable at the start of the game (unlike Skyward Sword) and can be toggled on and off when loading a save file, so wary adventurers won't have to commit to it. If you've been holding out for a 'Hero Mode' until the end of the night, you'll have to hold out a bit longer than that - but only a bit longer. Wind Waker HD will sail to North America on September 20 in a new $300 Wii U deluxe bundle, and via the eShop. Packaged versions of the game reach retail shores on October 4.
Wind Waker HD Wii U bundle is up for pre-order at GameStop
The Wind Waker HD Wii U bundle is coming in October and GameStop is already taking pre-orders. The $299 package, which will be available at retailers starting September 20, includes a custom black 32GB Wii U console and download code for The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker HD. Nintendo announced a price drop for its 32GB Wii U console today, now down from $350 to $300. The price drop was part of a torrent of news from Nintendo, which announced a new handheld called the Nintendo 2DS and an early eShop availability for Wind Waker HD on September 20 – weeks ahead of its retail launch date on October 4.
Nintendo outs release dates for Super Mario 3D World, DK Tropical Freeze
Nintendo has detailed its fourth-quarter software lineup for the Wii U, revealing that multiple high-profile games are slated to launch in the months leading up to the holiday season. The Wii Remote Plus-bundled minigame compilation Wii Party U will launch on October 25, while Nintendo's multiplayer platformer Super Mario 3D World will premiere on November 22. The Donkey Kong Country Returns sequel Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze will debut December 6. Two additional games, Wii Fit U and Mario & Sonic at the Sochi 2014 Olympic Winter Games, are scheduled to launch "this holiday season." Nintendo notes that further details regarding both games will be released at a later date. Nintendo additionally revealed its launch plans for The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker HD, announcing that a digital download will arrive in September, ahead of a planned October retail release.
Wii U deluxe price cut to $299, Wind Waker HD coming to eShop Sept. 20 [Update: Trailer!]
Nintendo has slashed the price of its deluxe version of the Wii U to $299 effective September 20, Nintendo announced. The deluxe version, featuring 32 GB of storage, will now match the same price as its basic, 8 GB counterpart. Additionally, The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker HD will launch digitally first on Nintendo's eShop September 20, with the boxed version coming October 4. The Wind Waker HD Wii U bundle will include a download code for a copy of the game, and yes, will now be the same price as other Wii U systems, $299. News of the Wii U's price drop comes after Nintendo President Satoru Iwata said earlier this month that the Wii U's price wasn't the issue in regards to the system's underwhelming sales. While the company posted a profit in Q1 2013, it moved just 160,000 Wii U systems during that three-month span. Nintendo also announced an entirely new system today, the Nintendo 2DS. Update: The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker HD will not launch earlier on the UK's eShop like it will in North America, Nintendo told VideoGamer. The European release date for the game, both digital and retail, is October 4.
Nintendo adding demo kiosks to Zelda concert's Seattle stop
The Legend of Zelda: Symphony of the Goddesses concert tour will add game kiosks featuring demos for The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker HD (launching October 4) and The Legend of Zelda: Link Between Worlds for 3DS to its Seattle show on September 12. Nintendo is also currently accepting submissions on its Facebook page for fan art that will be displayed during the performance. According to Nintendo, the top 50 submissions will appear in a video that'll run before the performance. The top five submissions will be displayed in the lobby of the Benaroya Hall venue.
Rumor: Wii U 32GB bundle with Wind Waker HD incoming
A purported Target retail listing suggests a new 32GB Wii U bundle is on the way, and that it includes The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker HD. Word comes from Destructoid, which claims a source at retailer Target shared some listings from the company's internal tracking system. The Destructoid source pegs the new console at $349.99, the same price as the 32GB console offered now at retail. That same source also claims Nintendo will offer two special 3DS XL bundles that include a copy of Pokemon X/Y for $199.99. And though no launch date was provided for these proposed bundles, we'd assume Nintendo is eyeing October – that's when both Pokemon games and Wind Waker HD will launch.
Wind Waker HD coming October 4 in Europe
While we were totally aware the Wii U port of The Legend of Zelda: Wind Waker HD was arriving in October, Nintendo dated it for October 4 in Europe in today's Direct broadcast. However, Nintendo of America didn't provide a date in its presentation, so the game remains in its October release window in North America. We'll have to wait to see what release date washes up on North American shores in the near future.
Wind Waker HD includes new difficulty mode, says Amazon
Even if you already played The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker on the GameCube, there are plenty of reasons you may want to pick up the HD remake for Wii U. It's really pretty, for starters, you can use the GamePad controller for your map and inventory, and the Tingle Bottle feature, which lets players send Miiverse messages in bottles that wash up on shore, sounds pretty nifty. But if Amazon's listing for Wind Waker HD is to be believed, there's one more reason to pick up the game: a new difficulty mode. The listing is frustratingly sparse on info, saying only that you can "Take on a more challenging difficulty level," thus adding to "replay-ability." We're so happy about the possible inclusion of a new mode that we're willing to overlook the misuse of the hyphen. We've reached out to Nintendo for further information. The Legend of Zelda: Wind Waker HD will be out in October for Wii U.
Pre-order Legend of Zelda: Wind Waker HD at Amazon for $50
The upcoming Wii U port of the Gamecube's treasure-hunting The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker HD is currently $50 on Amazon. The remake features off-screen play and revamps the original's cel-shaded visuals into a Pixar-esque cartoon style in 1080p. The new "Tingle Bottle" item allows players to communicate over Miiverse by channeling Sting hurling bottled messages into the ocean. Messages will also wash up on the shorelines of other players. The original game's "Pictograph" camera now carries Miiverse support and will allow players to post screenshots in the social service's Wind Waker community. Wind Waker HD will launch in October 2013 on Wii U.
Legend of Zelda: Wind Waker HD hits Wii U in October
Nintendo just announced the HD remaster of The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker sets sail for the Wii U this October. Nintendo also detailed that it's altering the original GameCube game's Tingle Tuner functionality with the Game Boy Advance. In the 1080p Wii U remaster it'll be titled Tingle Bottle, and will be compatible with Miiverse. The tingly feature will see Miiverse messages will appear in bottles on the shores of players' games.%Gallery-191110%
