The Wind Waker arrived Tuesday morning. I intended to have impressions online Tuesday evening. Here they are, on Saturday morning. I think that speaks volumes.

Graphically, Wind Waker is peerless. Characters are alive and vibrant, beautifully animated with a sense of realism never before seen in a piece of interactive media. Grass gently sways in the wind. The sea changes color with the passage of time, the setting sun casting the mass of water to a deep red, while the full moon gives way to pale oceans of gray. Everything is simply gorgeous. To think that anybody will pass up this game because of its “kiddie” graphical style is sickening.

The game plays as well as it looks. Large, complex, dungeons filled with giant bosses and mind-bending puzzles lie scattered across an absolutely massive sea. However, they are not the only attraction and, unlike in Ocarina of Time, the game’s many “diversions” are actually entertaining. Over fifty islands and other floating points of interest wait to be discovered, explored, and experienced. On land there are hidden caves, filled with danger, waiting to be fully probed. At sea, giant monsters dwell deep below the surface, guarding great treasures, and lying in wait for anybody foolish enough to venture near.

Perhaps the most shocking aspect of the game is the fact that it sports actual continuity. The game makes direct references to Ocarina of Time at numerous points throughout storyline (so far). Some familiar faces even turn up from time to time, further highlighting the fact that Wind Waker is a sequel to its N64 brethren. Anybody expecting the mandatory princess kidnapping (by a pig demon) to be Wind Waker’s only ties to previous Zelda games will be pleasantly surprised.

The Wind Waker, to put it simply, rocks. I’ve spent nearly five days blindly bouncing around the gameworld and I feel as though I’ve barely scratched the surface.