Nintendo has just treated fans to an extended look at The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker on the upcoming Switch 2, and it’s everything you’d hope for—sail into this deep dive to see what makes this classic’s return so special.

📰 [Nintendo GameCube™ – Nintendo Classics] The Legend of Zelda™: The Wind Waker Gameplay Video (Battles) View this content in the Nintendo Today! app: 🔗 today.oatmealdome.me

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— TodayNews (@today.oatmealdome.me) May 8, 2025 at 12:06 PM

For longtime Zelda enthusiasts, The Wind Waker occupies a unique corner of the franchise’s history. Originally released for the GameCube back in 2002, its bold, cel-shaded visuals marked a stark departure from the more realistic style of Ocarina of Time and Majora’s Mask. At first, many players balked—those cartoonish waves and bulbous character eyes felt off-beat compared to the series’ established aesthetic. But almost overnight, Wind Waker’s charm won them over. Its vibrant seascape offered a refreshing canvas for exploration, trading brown dungeons and dank corridors for bright, endless horizons and sunlit decks. Almost immediately, the game’s warmth and whimsy began to shine through, transforming skeptics into ardent admirers.

This new compilation of footage arrives via Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack, handing over more than five minutes of pure nostalgia—and a few surprises—for those gearing up for Wind Waker’s Switch 2 debut on June 5, 2025. The video opens with the familiar sight of Link’s sail billowing in the breeze, cutting across azure water as the sun sparkles on the waves. From there, we jump into combat scenarios that showcase everything from quick skirmishes with moblins and bokoblins to more intricate face-offs against mid-tier bosses. The animations look sharper, the sword clangs feel more impactful, and even the classic Fire Rod flare-ups carry a newfound punch.

One of the highlights in this preview is a training session with Orca, the master swordsman who famously helps Link hone his swordplay. Watching Link parry, dodge, and counter under Orca’s stern tutelage feels both familiar and invigorating. You can almost hear Orca’s gruff praise as you stick the landing on a well-timed counterattack. The developers have clearly gone back over these animations, smoothing out any rough edges and ensuring that every swing, thrust, and block feels weighty and satisfying on the Switch 2’s hardware.

But it’s not all about swordplay. The footage also teases a few key boss encounters, letting us glimpse the octopus-like Helmaroc King swooping down near Dragon Roost Island, as well as a truncated dive into the eerie corridors of the Wind Temple. The lighting in these darker segments strikes a perfect balance—moodier than the sun-soaked overworld, but still retaining that signature cell-shaded glow. And speaking of glow, I couldn’t help but notice how the bloom effect on lantern light dances in the nighttime scenes, lending just the right amount of atmosphere without ever feeling gaudy.

For those who remember the Wii U’s HD remaster, a few of the enhancements feel delightfully familiar. The camera now moves with extra fluidity, and character models sport subtle detail upgrades—from the stitching on Tetra’s pirate coat to the individual strands of Link’s hair blowing in the wind. Yet, rather than radically overhauling the art style, Nintendo has wisely chosen to preserve the game’s timeless aesthetic. After all, it’s that very cartoonish charm that turned Wind Waker into a fan favorite, and nothing would be more disappointing than stripping away its soul in the name of graphical fidelity.

On launch day, The Wind Waker won’t stand alone. Nintendo has lined up SoulCalibur II and F-Zero GX as fellow classics hitting the service on June 5, offering a trifecta of nostalgia and variety. Picture this: you finish your Wind Waker session, then hop into F-Zero’s breakneck racetracks before winding down with SoulCalibur’s weapon-based duels. It’s like a retro theme park, each attraction carefully curated to bring back that early-2000s magic.

Looking beyond launch, the lineup gets even more tantalizing. Super Mario Sunshine, Luigi’s Mansion, and Pokémon Colosseum are all slated to make their way to Switch Online + Expansion Pack in the months following. Imagine swooping through Piranha Plant-infested waters in Sunshine, then slipping into a Poltergust-fueled ghost hunt in Luigi’s Mansion, and finally challenging Gym Leaders one more time in Colosseum’s familiar arenas. Nintendo’s clearly mapping out a summer and autumn of classic-powered gaming.

And while many fans clamored for a simultaneous Switch and Switch 2 release, this exclusivity feels strategic. By making Wind Waker a Switch 2-only title, Nintendo is sending a clear message about the new console’s capabilities. The improved load times, the richer lighting, and the beefier frame rates stand out precisely because they’re tethered to more advanced hardware. It’s a gentle nudge: if you want the definitive Wind Waker experience, Switch 2 is where it’s at.

There’s also talk in the community about potential quality-of-life improvements beyond what we’ve seen so far. Some dataminers speculate about faster sailing options, enhanced treasure charts, or even an optional second quest. While nothing’s confirmed, the mere possibility has fans speculating furiously on forums and social media. After all, who wouldn’t want the freedom to breeze across the Great Sea at hyper speed or revisit dungeons with new challenges baked in?

Still, for every rumor, there’s a palpable appreciation among longtime fans for how Wind Waker has weathered the years. Its core narrative—a young hero on a vast ocean, chasing after a kidnapped sister and uncovering a submerged kingdom—remains as poignant now as it was over two decades ago. There’s a timelessness here, a sense of wonder that transcends hardware generations. Seeing new footage reminds us why Wind Waker struck such a chord in the first place.

In the end, Nintendo’s latest video isn’t just a marketing teaser—it’s an invitation to rediscover a beloved world. Whether you’re a die-hard Link loyalist ready to relive every wave-riding moment or a newcomer curious about why Wind Waker still resonates, there’s plenty to feast on in these new clips. And with a release date set in stone—June 5, 2025—it’s never been clearer when to set sail once more.

So polish your spyglass, chart your course, and prepare to hoist the sails: the Wind Waker voyage is coming back in style, and this latest glimpse proves it’s worth the wait. Whether you’re slicing through bokoblins, parrying under Orca’s watchful eye, or exploring every hidden nook of the Wind Temple, this remastered adventure promises to rekindle the spark that first made you fall in love with Zelda’s oceanic odyssey.

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