The Legend of Zelda: Wind Waker

THE LEGEND OF ZELDA: WIND WAKER

Alright, today let’s go over one of my . . . favorites? (Although come to think of it, this is Legend of Zelda, most of them are my “favorite” for one reason or another. Hmm, it’s my favorite version of Zelda herself anyway), The Legend of Zelda: Wind Waker! The game is best known for its breathtaking cel-shaded graphics and cartoony design, despite those aspects earning it undue criticism early on. The story follows a new Link whose sister is kidnapped by a giant bird, forcing him to set sail across a vast sea with a band of pirates.

Best known as Toon Link thanks to Smash, our hero wields a sword and shield with which he can perform horizontal and vertical slices, thrust, and perform a spin attack. He also carries such items as a telescope, a bag for spoils, bombs, a grappling hook, a Deku Leaf with which he can glide and blow wind, a boomerang, the skull hammer, fire and ice arrows, iron boots, power bracelets, and a mirror shield. He is also known to hide out in barrels, and carries the eponymous wind waker, a conductor’s baton with which he can change the flow of the winds and summon a tornado to warp around the map.

The first of our major supporting characters is Tetra, a young girl Link’s age and the captain of the pirate crew. She carries both a cutlass sword and a blunderbuss gun, though she does not seem to ever use them onscreen unlike Hyrule Warriors, but roping in her crew and ship, we also have cannonballs, raising platforms, rope swinging, a spoils bag, a catapult, and bombs at her disposal. Later in the game, she is revealed to be the direct descendant of Princess Zelda and true inheritor of the name, giving her access to the arrows of light.

Once separated from Tetra and her crew, Link joins forces with a talking boat called the King of Red Lions, which allows him to move around the map on his own. The boat is later revealed to be the spirit of the last king of Hyrule, King Daphnes Nohansen Hyrule. With his boat form, he carries a sail, an on-board cannon, and a grappling anchor to fish for sunken treasure, alongside such Wind Waker-based abilities as the tornado warp.

This game brings with it several major supporting characters, such as Link’s sister Aryll and his grandmother, Tingle once again providing you with maps, our first appearance of Beedle the merchant, traveling around in a boat to sell things to you, the Great Fairy who will heal you and expand your pouch, and two wind gods named Zephos and Cyclos. The game also introduced two new species, the Ritos and the Koroks, evolutionary descendants of the Zoras and the Kokiri respectively. The most important members of these races are the two new sages, Medli and Makar, who help you through the game’s temples and can even briefly be playable. Medli, the Rito caretaker of their prince Komali, can fly just like most of their race, carries a lyre with which she can play magical songs and reflect light, and gives Link his grappling hook. The dragon Valoo is also heavily connected to her. Makar is a musician prone to getting himself into trouble, who plays a violin, can fly with a spinning leaf, and can plant a tree. His fellow Koroks are also seen spitting flowers, using Deku Leaves, and throwing Deku Nuts.

Tracking the giant bird to an immense fortress, you soon discover the identity of the main villain, a toon version of Ganondorf, returned from the dead after Hyrule was flooded to seal him away. This version of Ganondorf is a bit different from other incarnations, wielding a pair of twin swords with which he can slash, launch a furious multi-attack, block, lunge, and swoop forward. He is also seen to punch and dodge during his fight. Though I’m hesitant, this just might be a good case for a separate slot. A phantom form also appears, once again doing its infamous tennis attack style, as well as a puppet form that mostly just flops around with its body.

The bird from the beginning of the game, the Helmaroc King, is probably the most iconic boss from the game, with the abilities shown to fly, peck at you, and destroy the platforms you’re standing on, but we also have a large centipede version of a Gohma that lives in lava and bites at Valoo’s tail, a giant plant called Kalle Demos, a floating idol head called Gohdan, a bunch of Poes stuck together called Jalhalla, and a flying sand worm called Molgera.

Our returning enemies include: the Moblins, which are seen carrying spears and dropping from Helmarocs; Keese; Chuchus, seen hopping, dropping from the ceiling, sparking with electricity, and turning to stone when hit with light; versions of the Deku Baba called Boko Babas; and giant forms of the Octorok which cause massive whirlpools, attack with tentacles, and shoot projectiles at you; aquatic versions of the Peahat called Seahats; Mothulas; Jackal-headed Darknuts with broadswords, shields, and spears who punch at you and collapse pillars; Toucan Wizzrobes that can teleport, cast fire spells, and summon allies; Poes who lay a curse on you; Stalfos that carry maces; and ReDeads. Bokoblins are our first major new enemy, smaller versions of the Moblin who carry clubs, swords, shields, broadswords, are dropped by Helmarocs, and can burst from pots. They also man most of the sea outposts. Other newcomers include the aforementioned Helmaroc birds, Miniblins (even smaller Moblins with bombs), and Magtails (basically centipedes that roll up into balls).

The entire game takes place on the Great Sea, replacing the kingdom of Hyrule which was flooded centuries ago. You start on Outset Island, before climbing aboard Tetra’s pirate ship and setting sail for the Forsaken Fortress. Other notable islands include Windfall Island, Dragon Roost Island (home of the Ritos), Forest Haven (home of the Koroks), Great Fish Island, the Tower of the Gods, and the Earth and Wind Temples respectively. Later in the game, you can descend to the sunken kingdom of Hyrule, a recreation of Hyrule Castle from Ocarina of Time, as well as Ganon’s Tower where the final battle is fought.

All items as previously listed, as well as such items as Rupees and Heart Pieces.

Here's what we've got so far:

Characters:

Link: Master Sword, Hylian Shield, Epona, Iron Boots, Megaton Hammer, Pegasus Boots, bombs, fire arrows, ice arrows, light arrows, hookshot, boomerang, bombchu, lens of truth

Young Link: jumping, rolling, crawling, Kokiri Sword, Deku shield, Epona, slingshot, Deku stick, bomb flowers, hookshot, boomerang, bombchu, Navi, lens of truth, mirror shield, travel back in time three days, slow time, song of soaring, song of storms, song of awakening, bunny hood, camera, heartless soldier, masks, Fierce Deity Mask

Toon Link: sword, shield, horizontal and vertical slices, thrust, spin attack, telescope, bag for spoils, bombs, grappling hook, Deku Leaf, boomerang, skull hammer, fire and ice arrows, iron boots, power bracelets, mirror shield, hide in barrels, wind waker, change winds, tornado

Princess Zelda: Zelda's Lullaby, jewel, light arrows, remove bars, spell of light, seal Ganon

Sheik: Zelda's Lullaby, Sun Song, Song of Storms, Song of Time, Epona's Song, Saria's Song, warp songs, disappear, leap, harp

Tetra: cutlass, blunderbuss, cannonballs, raising platforms, rope swinging, spoils bag, catapult, bombs, arrows of light.

King Daphnes Nohansen Hyrule: boat form, sail, cannon, grappling anchor, tornado warp.

Impa: disappear, Zelda's lullaby, Lens of Truth

Saria/Kokiri: Deku Sticks, Deku Nuts, Deku Sprouts, Great Deku Tree, Saria's song, slingshot, Mido

Darunia/Darmani/Goron: rolling, defensive curl, strength, bomb flowers, hammer, dance, punch, ground pound, roll, drums, powder keg

Ruto/Mikau/Zora: swim, dive, high speed swim, punch, fin blades, guitar, blue shield

Nabooru/Gerudo: twin blades, guard, spear, Iron Knuckle

Deku Scrub: launch from flower, fly with flowers, shoot bubbles, Deku Nut, spin dance, pipes

Medli/Rito: fly, lyre, reflect light, grappling hook, Valoo

Makar/Korok: violin, spinning leaf, plant a tree, spitting flowers, Deku Leaves, Deku Nuts

Happy Mask Salesman: draw in fairies, make chicks follow, milk bar, past Garos, Stalchildren, past Gibdos and ReDeads, become a giant, see hearts, detect smells, lead frogs, summon a Keaton, song of healing, shake

Tingle: balloon, maps, magic dust, Tingle Tracker

Beedle: ship

Aryll: telescope

Great Fairy: Din's Fire, Farore's Wind, Nayru's Love, magical power, sword, spin attack, heal, expand pouch

Malon: Epona, Epona's song, Cuccos, Lon Lon Milk, bow

Dampe: dig, float, fire

Kafei: push

Ganondorf: horse, blast of light, waves of darkness, ground pound, ball of lightning

Toon Ganondorf: twin swords, slash, multi-attack, block, lunge, swoop forward, punch, dodge

Phantom Ganon: ride horse, float, lightning tennis

Beast Ganon: two giant swords, barrier of fire.

Skull Kid: dance, steal, float, curses, call down the moon, Tatl and Tael

Majora: spins, tentacles, summon masks, laser beam, weird dance, long tentacles, top

Gohma: climbs, drops eggs, lava, bite

Dodongo: dig, leap, breathe fire, roll around, swallow bombs

Kotake and Koume/Twinrova: quicksand, fly around on brooms, fire and ice magic, combine.

Dark Link

Iron Knuckle/Darknut: giant axe, slam, collapsing pillars, broadswords, shields, spears, punch.

Stalfos: stalchildren, kick, sword, shield, dust breath, floating head, mace

Poe: disappearing, throwing flames, spinning with lanterns, paintings, puzzle blocks, illusions, curse, Jalhalla

Armos: Beamos

Octoroks: Big Octo, spit rocks, projectiles, tentacles, whirlpools

Moblins: charge with spears, clubs shockwaves, spears, Helmarocs

Deku Baba: crawl, hang upside down, Mini Baba, Boko Baba

Deku Scrub: hide, shoot Deku Nuts, merchants

Wolfos

Lizalfos/Dinolfos: jump, swords, breathe fire

Gibdo

Wizzrobe: teleport, spell of ice, staff, fireballs, fire spell, summon ally

Stalchildren

Chuchu: hopping, dropping from the ceiling, sparking with electricity, turning to stone

Gekko: punch, hop, ride a Snapper, Mad Jelly

Garo: hop, attack with swords, pop out of ground, barrier of fire, flaming swords, leap high

Bokoblins: clubs, swords, shields, broadswords, Helmarocs, burst from pots

Helmaroc

Bosses:

Gohma

Dodongo

Barinade

Phantom Ganon

Volvagia

Morpha

Bongo Bongo

Twinrova

Beast Ganon

Odolwa

Goht

Gyorg

Twinmold

Helmaroc King

Kalle Demos

Gohdan

Jalhalla

Molgera

Stages:

Lost Woods

Kokiri Village

Hyrule Field

Lon Lon Ranch

Hyrule Castle

Castle Town

Temple of Time

Kakariko Village

Death Mountain

Zora's Domain

Lake Hylia

Gerudo Valley

Great Deku Tree

Dodongo's Cavern

Lord Jabu-Jabu's Belly

Forest Temple

Fire Temple

Water Temple

Shadow Temple

Spirit Temple

Ganon's Castle

Clock Town

Termina Field

Woodfall

Snowhead

Great Bay

Ikana

Inside the Moon

Great Sea

Outset Island

Pirate Ship

Forsaken Fortress

Windfall Island

Dragon Roost Island

Forest Haven

Great Fish Island

Tower of the Gods

Earth Temple

Wind Temple

Kingdom of Hyrule

Ganon’s Tower

Thanks for reading! Next up, we cover Twilight Princess!