Summary
ALegend of Zelda: The Wind Wakerfan has shown off what they call the most obscure piece of memorabilia they own: a promotional popcorn bag from AMC Theaters. TheZeldafranchise has been around for a long time, so there’s a lot of strange and rare merch floating around out there that some people have held onto for decades. These promotional pieces are particularly interesting for titles likeThe Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker, which didn’t get the warmest reception upon release but have since become fan favorites.
Despite beingone of the highest-sellingZeldagames of all time,The Wind Wakergot off to a bit of a shaky start. As the first GameCube entry in the series, it had a lot to live up to, and fans initially found its cartoonish aesthetics to be an unpleasant surprise after the darker N64 titles and a grittier Zelda demo showing off the GameCube’s capabilities at Space World 2000. Still, it became one of the franchise’s most beloved games as time went on, and people warmed up to its cell-shaded art style.
The darker, grittier theme many expected is on full display in Redditor rawcookiedough’s promotionalWind Wakerpopcorn bag. According to the post, it’s from around 2003, the same year the game came out, making its relatively pristine condition an impressive feat for a 20-plus-year-old disposable bag. More interestingly, though, is how the artwork does not line up with the game’s actual visuals or themes.ZeldacreatorShigeru Miyamoto originally wantedWind Wakerto look more realistic, and so did many fans at the time, so the bag is an interesting bit of history, showing off the darker promotional material that likely led to the disappointment people felt once they saw what the game actually looked like.
Redditor Shows Off Wind Waker Popcorn Bag From 2003
It’s also intriguing how Nintendo promoted the game through a movie theater item, despite there being no tie-in film. The company is nowworking on aZeldamovie to come out sometime before 2030, but at the time, there was no such thing in the works. As others in the comments pointed out, though, that kind of marketing wasn’t unusual for the era. Game promotions weren’t always as closely tied to the game’s content as they are now, and campaigns had to appeal to all kids, not just dedicated gamers, to make an impact, as the industry wasn’t as big or well-established as it is today.
It’s unclear if Nintendo will go the promotional popcorn bag route again, butThe Wind Wakercould get some new developments in the near future. Some think that2025 could be ideal for aWind WakerSwitch portto finally come out, given the release of the Switch 2. That may be little more than wishful thinking for now, but if the excitement around a popcorn bag is proof of anything,Zelda’s first GameCube title still has plenty of fans.
The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker
WHERE TO PLAY
This epic Legend of Zelda adventure begins with our hero in the midst of a family crisis. Link’s peaceful life on a tiny island is shattered one fateful day when his beloved sister is snatched by a huge, menacing bird. Naturally, the sword and shield-wielding hero follows in hot pursuit. His search sets in motion an epic adventure across strange lands and high seas, as Link searches for clues to his sister’s whereabouts. Featuring a unique animation style, The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker expands on the revolutionary gameplay seen in Ocarina of Time and Majora’s Mask for Nintendo 64, offering a distinctive Legend of Zelda experience. You’ll see characters' expressions change as they laugh, cry, or show anger and surprise, with a variety of lively actions bringing them to life. Plus, Link’s world has never seemed so atmospheric. Amazing effects like flickering fire, shadows and smoke make you feel even closer to the action. Naturally, the great Zelda gameplay is at The Wind Waker’s core. Link can slash with his sword (including a mighty spin attack), deflect blows with his shield, swing across gaps, and pick up weapons that his enemies have dropped. Additionally, The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker features the incredibly intuitive control system that Zelda gamers have come to expect from the beloved series.
