The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker: Difference between revisions

Although the seafaring gameplay and cartoon-like graphics were a point of critique for some, {{TWW|-}} was, in the end, the fourth best-selling GameCube game of all time.<ref name="examiner.com">[http://www.examiner.com/x-544-Games-Examiner~y2010m1d14-Top-10-BestSelling-GameCube-Games Game Examiner: Top 10 Best-Selling GameCube Games]</ref> However, it should be noted that pre-orders of the game were significantly boosted by the inclusion of a pre-order bonus disc, which features {{OoT|-}} and {{MQ}}. ''Master Quest'' is an altered port of the original ''Ocarina'' game, with partially re-designed, more difficult dungeons.

Set hundreds of years after the events of {{OoT|-}}, {{TWW|-}} finds the hero [[Link]] in a sea scattered with 49 islands, which necessitates frequent sailing and naval combat. Link lives with his grandmother and younger sister Aryll on [[Outset Island]], one of the few inhabited islands in the Great Sea. The people of the Great Sea pass down a legend of a prosperous kingdom with a hidden golden power.<ref>{{Cite|Long ago, there existed a kingdom where a golden power lay hidden.|N/A|TWW}}</ref> An [[Ganon|evil man]] found and stole this power, using it to spread darkness until a [[Link|young boy dressed in green]] sealed the evil with the [[Master Sword|Blade of Evil's Bane]].<ref>{{Cite|But one day a man of great evil found the golden power and took it for himself… With its strength at his command, he spread darkness across the kingdom. But then, when all hope had died, and the hour of doom seemed at hand… …a young boy clothed in green appeared as if from nowhere. Wielding the blade of evil's bane, he sealed the dark one away and gave the land light.|N/A|TWW}}</ref> The boy became known as the [[Hero of Time]] and passed into legend.<ref>{{Cite|This boy, who traveled through time to save the land, was known as the Hero of Time. The boy's tale was passed down through generations until it became legend…|N/A|TWW}}</ref> It is clear that this legend is the story of {{OoT|-}}, wherein the Hero of Time, Link, fought [[Ganondorf]]. When boys on Outset Island come of age, they are customarily dressed in green to pay reverence to the Hero of Time.

[[File:TWW-Legend19.png|thumb|200px|left|The memory of the kingdom vanished, but its legend survived on the wind's breath.]]

Ganondorf, the great evil that all still thought to be sealed away in the [[Sacred Realm]] of Hyrule, crept forth, eager to resume his dark designs.<ref>{{Cite|But then…a day came when a fell wind began to blow across the kingdom. The great evil that all thought had been forever sealed away by the hero… …once again crept forth from the depths of the earth, eager to resume its dark designs.|N/A|TWW}}</ref> As the darkness was spreading over the kingdom, the people hoped that the Hero of Time would once again appear to save them, but the hero did not appear.<ref>{{Cite|The people believed that the Hero of Time would again come to save them. …But the hero did not appear.|N/A|TWW}}</ref> Ganon’s next step was to make another aggressive move for the [[Triforce]]. The king, [[Daphnes Nohansen Hyrule]], attempted to stop the fiend, but was not strong enough.

As doom drew nigh, the king and his people prayed to the gods, leaving their kingdom in the hands of fate.<ref>{{Cite|Faced by an onslaught of evil, the people could do nothing but appeal to the gods. In their last hour, as doom drew nigh, they left their future in the hands of fate.|N/A|TWW}}</ref>  The goddesses answered their prayers by instructing those chosen to flee for the mountaintops, before they flooded the land. Ganondorf and his minions were sealed along with Hyrule in an enchanted air chamber at the bottom of the sea, with the Master Sword serving as the key suspending the flow of time within the chamber. Over the centuries, the memory of the kingdom vanished, but its legend survived on the wind’s breath.  

[[File:WWGTunic.jpg|thumb|Link getting his new tunic.]]

On Outset Island, a young boy named [[Link]] finally comes of age to wear the green of the hero. Link's younger sister [[Aryll]]'s present to him is permission to use her [[Telescope]].<ref>{{Cite|I'm going to give you my most treasured belonging...but just for one day! HAPPY BIRTHDAY!|Aryll|TWW}}</ref><ref>{{Cite|I'm letting you borrow this special gift just because you're my big brother! Aren't you lucky?! Hee hee hee!|Aryll|TWW}}</ref> With it, Link sees a [[Helmaroc King|giant bird]] fly over the island, carrying a young girl in its talons. A [[Tetra's Ship|pirate ship]] is pursuing the bird, firing at it with a cannon. One of the projectiles causes the bird to drop the girl, who lands in a tree in the forest atop the island. Link grabs a sword and rushes off to find the girl. Link learns that her name is [[Tetra]],<ref>{{Cite|Miss! Miss Tetra!|Gonzo|TWW}}</ref> and that she is the captain of that band of pirates.<ref>{{Cite|Well, don't just stand there! Let's go! Time to repay our debt to that bird in full!|Tetra|TWW}}</ref>  

As Link leads Tetra back to her ship, the bird swoops down and kidnaps Aryll, mistaking her for Tetra. A [[Rito]] postman named [[Quill]] informs the stunned Link and the unsympathetic Tetra of stories of a large bird who kidnapped young girls with long ears and took them to the cursed [[Forsaken Fortress]].<ref>{{Cite|Young girls with long ears like yours have been getting kidnapped, never to be seen again. And unless my eyes fail me, the young girl who was just kidnapped from this island also has long ears, does she not? Much like YOU do, Miss Fearsome Pirate. My point is that the bird mistook that poor girl for you, and that's why it grabbed her!|Quill|TWW}}</ref> He charges Tetra with helping Link rescue his sister from the fortress.<ref>{{Cite|Under the circumstances, I don't think it would be unreasonable for you to give Link a little help, now, would it?|Quill|}}</ref> Tetra reluctantly accepts, and with her help, Link is able to infiltrate the fortress and reach the cell where his sister is being kept. However, the large bird discovers him, and at the command of a sinister shadowy figure, it hurls him into the sea.

Link is recovered by a talking boat, who introduces itself as the [[King of Red Lions]].<ref>{{Cite|I am the King of Red Lions. Do not fear... I am not your enemy.|King of Red Lions|TWW}}</ref> The King tells him of the story behind the shadowy figure at the Forsaken Fortress, revealing it to be Ganondorf. Somehow, the seal of the gods had failed.<ref>{{Cite|Link...I have been watching you since you went to the Forsaken Fortress to rescue your sister. I understand how your desire to protect your sister could give you the courage to fearlessly stand up to anything...But such a bold attempt was foolhardy! I suppose you saw him... The shadow that commands that monstrous bird...His name is...Ganon...He who obtained the power of the gods, attempted to cover the land in darkness, and was ultimately sealed away by the very power he hoped to command. He is the very same Ganon...The emperor of the dark realm the ancient legends speak of...I do not know why the seal of the gods has failed, but now that Ganon has returned, the world is once again being threatened by his evil magic.|King of Red Lions|TWW}}</ref> The King explains to Link that the key to defeating Ganondorf is locked away in a [[Master Sword|great power]] that can only be wielded after many trials are overcome.<ref>{{Cite|The key to defeating Ganon is locked away in a great power that you can wield only after much toil and hardship.|King of Red Lions|TWW}}</ref>

To access this power, Link must gather the three [[Goddess Pearls]]. First, Link and the King of Red Lions venture to [[Dragon Roost Island]], home of the Rito tribe, in search of Din's Pearl. Before Link takes off, the King gives Link an ancient conductor’s baton called the [[Wind Waker (Item)|Wind Waker]], which he can use to control the wind and navigate the Great Sea easier.<ref>{{Cite|This is the Wind Waker! It is a baton of sorts that was used long ago when the people played music in prayer to the gods.|King of Red Lions|TWW}}</ref> Link meets up with Quill again and learns that the Rito are having trouble with the sky spirit [[Valoo]] atop the mountain on the island. Fledgling Rito earn scales from Valoo that allow them to grow their wings, but the dragon has somehow lost control of itself.<ref>{{Cite|When a Rito reaches adulthood, he or she journeys to the top of Dragon Roost to receive a scale from the great dragon. It is this scale that enables the Rito to grow his or her wings. Recently, however, the once-gentle Valoo has grown violent and unpredictable.|Rito Chieftain|TWW}}</ref> He also learns that Din's Pearl is in the possession of a young Rito named [[Prince Komali]], who is afraid of earning a scale from Valoo.<ref>{{Cite|Oh, sure, telling me to be brave is easy enough for him... It's not like he's the one who went through that horrible experience... It's not like HE still has to go get a scale from Valoo.|Prince Komali|TWW}}</ref> However, Komali refuses to give the pearl to Link,<ref>{{Cite|What? What is it, huh? Listen, you can stare all you want, but I'm not giving this to you. This is MY treasure. You understand? I'm not going to just hand it over to some do-nothing guy, am I?|Prince Komali|TWW}}</ref> as it is a gift from his deceased grandmother.<ref>{{Cite|It's so pretty, isn't it? It's called Din's Pearl. My grandma gave it to me.|Prince Komali|TWW}}</ref> With the help of a friendly Rito named [[Medli]], Link ascends the mountain and learns that a large beast named [[Gohma]] is responsible for Valoo's outrage. Link defeats Gohma and brings Valoo back to his senses. Prince Komali gives Din's Pearl to Link and is inspired to earn a scale from Valoo.<ref>{{Cite|Well, I'm going to go and visit Valoo!|Prince Komali|TWW}}</ref>  

Link then sets out for [[Forest Haven]], home of the [[Korok|Koroks]] and the [[Great Deku Tree]], to find Farore's Pearl. The Great Deku Tree gathers his Korok friends to conduct a ceremony to give Link Farore's Pearl,<ref>{{Cite|As it happens, you have come just in time for a ceremony that the Koroks hold but once every year. It is about to begin. I shall grant the pearl to you once their ceremony is complete.|Great Deku Tree|TWW}}</ref> but a Korok named [[Linder]] flies in and informs the Great Deku Tree that their friend [[Makar]] has fallen into the [[Forbidden Woods]], a vine-covered island infested with monsters.<ref>{{Cite|Makar... fell into the Forbidden Woods!|Linder|TWW}}</ref> The Great Deku Tree immediately requests Link to save Makar from the sinister island,<ref>{{Cite|The King of Red Lions likely expects great deeds of you - it is why he brought you here. I am sorry to ask this of you, but can you go rescue young Makar for me?|Great Deku Tree|TWW}}</ref> and Link agrees to do so. He finds Makar in the depths of the dungeon and saves him from [[Kalle Demos]], earning him Farore's Pearl from the Great Deku Tree.<ref>{{Cite|You have done well, Link. I must thank you for your brave deeds. Here is that which I have promised you. Please accept it.|Great Deku Tree|TWW}}</ref>  

Link and the King of Red Lions set sail for [[Greatfish Isle]] to obtain Nayru's Pearl from the Water Spirit [[Jabun]]. However, they find the island ravaged and Jabun nowhere in sight.<ref>{{Cite|Wh-What is the meaning of this? The island... It is... ...We are too late. I knew we had precious little time, but I never suspected how little... A great water spirit named Jabun once lived here, but no sign of him remains...|King of Red Lions|TWW}}</ref> Quill arrives and informs Link that Jabun fled to a cave behind Outset Island to hide from Ganondorf.<ref>{{Cite|I'm sorry to report to you that Jabun can no longer be found here. Just look at how this place has been torn to pieces... I suppose this, too, is the work of the shadow in the Forsaken Fortress. But fear not! Jabun was able to flee this island before it was attacked. He is in a safer abode now. Would you like to guess where that abode may be? ...On the island where you were born. On Outset.|Quill|TWW}}</ref> However, he tells Link that the cave is blocked by a stone slab that cannot be penetrated, and that Tetra and her crew of pirates tried to break through it to no avail.<ref>{{Cite|Yet even if you were to go to Outset now, you would not be able to see Jabun. The cave where he hides is sealed with a mighty stone slab that repels all who try to pass it. Why, not even the pirates with their mighty ship could get in...|Quill|TWW}}</ref> Quill tells Link to find the pirates on Windfall Island if he wishes to see Jabun.<ref>{{Cite|If you wish to see Jabun, I think you'd better search for the pirates on Windfall Island.|Quill|TWW}}</ref> Link sails there and discovers that the pirates have tied up [[Bomb-Master Cannon]] and are stealing his [[bombs]].<ref>{{Cite|Look, don't be mad at us! It's not our fault that we absolutely gotta have bombs to get the treasure we're after! How about you just think of it as payback for the nasty little monopoly you've been running here, yeah? So I bet you're thinking it was foolhardy to ask pirates to pay such an outrageous price, huh? Yup. I bet you are.|Mako|TWW}}</ref> After overhearing [[Gonzo]] telling [[Mako]] the password to enter their ship, Link proceeds to the ship and uses the password to gain entry. He takes the bombs the pirates have stolen for himself and returns to Outset Island to break into Jabun's cave with them. Although he is skeptical about Link,<ref>{{Cite|Promise? You suggest that I leave the fate of Hyrule up to mere chance?|Jabun|TWW}}</ref> Jabun agrees to hand Nayru's Pearl over to him.<ref>{{Cite|I give to you the guidepost to the gods.|Jabun|TWW}}</ref> Link proceeds to place the Goddess Pearls on their respective statues on the [[Triangle Islands]], which causes the [[Tower of the Gods]] to rise from the depths of the Great Sea.  

Link scales the Tower of the Gods and defeats its guardian [[Gohdan]], who opens a portal to the roof of the tower.<ref>{{Cite|The path can now be opened. Oh, chosen one... What will now come to pass is tied to your fate - to the path that you have chosen. Go forward with caution.|Gohdan|TWW}}</ref> Link finds a giant bell on the roof and rings it, revealing a golden portal on the waves in front of the tower. Link and the King enter it and travel beneath the waves to find a castle suspended in time. Link explores the castle and finds the [[Master Sword]], the blade of evil's bane capable of banishing Ganondorf.<ref>{{Cite|Now, take the sword that lies before you. It is none other than the Master Sword... The blade of evil's bane. It is the only sword that can banish Ganon from the world above!|King of Red Lions|TWW}}</ref> Link pulls the sword out of its pedestal, which restores the flow of time to the castle. Afterwards, Link returns to the Forsaken Fortress and defeats the Helmaroc King while Tetra and her crew rescue Aryll.<ref>{{Cite|If you're worried about your sister...don't be. I promise I'll deliver her safely back to your little island. Normally, I'd expect a huge reward for something like this...but this time, it's my treat! Listen, Aryll, your brother still has some things to take care of. Big, important, grown-up things. He'll be back soon, so you just wait nice and quiet until he returns, OK?|Tetra|TWW}}</ref><ref>{{Cite|Gonzo! Excellent! You're just in time! Take this one for me.|Tetra|TWW}}</ref> Link confronts Ganondorf, but the Master Sword proves to be ineffective against him. Ganondorf reveals that while the Master Sword is the blade of evil's bane, it is also the key to sealing his magic.<ref>{{Cite|Foolish child. While that sword is indeed the blade of evil's bane, at the same time, it has long played another role...You see, it is also a sort of key...a most wretched little key that has kept the seal on me and my magic intact!|Ganondorf|TWW}}</ref> Link broke the seal by pulling the sword from its pedestal and restoring the flow of time to the castle beneath the sea.<ref>{{Cite|By withdrawing the blade, you have broken that seal...|Ganondorf|TWW}}</ref> Ganondorf overpowers Link and declares that the Master Sword's power is gone.<ref>{{Cite|You cannot defeat me with a blade that does not sparkle with the power to repel evil! What you hold is useless.|Ganondorf|TWW}}</ref> Tetra intervenes, but Ganondorf overpowers her as well, and his [[Triforce of Power]] resonates. He realizes that Tetra is in fact [[Princess Zelda]],<ref>{{Cite|!?! My Triforce of Power is resonating! Ha! At long last, I have found you... Princess Zelda!|Ganon|TWW}}</ref> and recognizes Tetra's necklace as a fragment of the [[Triforce of Wisdom]].<ref>{{Cite|Tell me... If you are not Zelda, then why do you have this fragment of the Triforce?|Ganondorf|TWW}}</ref> Quill and Prince Komali (who grew his wings) swoop in and save Link and Tetra before Valoo engulfs Ganondorf's tower in flames.

The King of Red Lions takes Link and Tetra back to the castle beneath the sea and reveals that they are in the kingdom of [[Hyrule]],<ref>{{Cite|Tales of the kingdom spoken of in the legend of the great hero... The place where the power of the gods lies hidden... This place, where the two of you now stand, is that kingdom. This is Hyrule...|Daphnes Nohansen Hyrule|TWW}}</ref> which was flooded by the goddesses after the events of {{OoT|-}} to prevent Ganon's return.<ref>{{Cite|When the gods heard our pleas, they chose to seal away not only Ganon but Hyrule itself...and so, with a torrential downpour of rains from the heavens... Our fair kingdom was soon buried beneath the waves, forgotten at the bottom of the ocean.|Daphnes Nohansen Hyrule|TWW}}</ref> The King of Red Lions also reveals himself to be Hyrule's king, [[Daphnes Nohansen Hyrule]].<ref>{{Cite|And I am its king: Daphnes Nohansen Hyrule. Link, do you not recognize my voice? Indeed, I am the one who guided you here. I am the King of Red Lions.|Daphnes Nohansen Hyrule|TWW}}</ref> He fuses the missing shard of the [[Triforce of Wisdom]] in his possession with the fragment on Tetra's necklace to reveal her identity as Princess Zelda, the true heir to the royal family of Hyrule.<ref>{{Cite|You are the true heir of the royal family of Hyrule...the last link in the bloodline. You are Princess Zelda.|Daphnes Nohansen Hyrule|TWW}}</ref> The King instructs her to remain in Hyrule,<ref>{{Cite|Zelda... It is far too dangerous for you to join us in this task. Fortunately, this sacred chamber is not yet known to Ganon. It is my wish that you wait here in hiding until we return.|Daphnes Nohansen Hyrule|TWW}}</ref> and sends Link back to the sea above to reawaken the Master Sword’s power and reunite the [[Triforce of Courage]]—split when the Hero of Time left Hyrule after completing his mission.<ref name="Hero of Time">{{Cite|Once, long ago, he defeated Ganon and brought peace to the Kingdom of Hyrule... A piece of the Triforce was given to the Hero of Time and he kept it safe, much as Zelda kept hers. That sacred piece is known as the Triforce of Courage. When the Hero of Time was called to embark on another journey and left the land of Hyrule, he was separated from the elements that made him a hero. It is said that at that time, the Triforce of Courage was split into eight shards and hidden throughout the land.|King of Red Lions|TWW}}</ref> Until then, the portal to Hyrule is sealed to keep Zelda safe.  

It is revealed that Ganondorf's forces killed the sages of wind and earth whose prayers contributed to the Master Sword's power, rendering the sword useless.<ref>{{Cite book|quote=Hundreds of years passed, and Ganondorf, who should have been sealed at the bottom of the ocean along with Hyrule, was resurrected once again. He gave an order to his minions to attack the Wind and Earth temples, killing the two sages whose prayers gave the Master Sword the ability to destroy evil.|book=HH|page=124}}</ref> To restore the Master Sword's power, those who carry the blood of the sages must take their stead in the Wind and Earth Temples and pray to the gods. Makar and Medli awaken as the new sages of Wind and Earth, respectively.<ref>{{Cite|Link... This sacred song that you've conducted has awakened me... I know myself now! I am the sage of the Wind Temple...|Makar|TWW}}</ref><ref>{{Cite|Link... Thanks to you, I've been awakened to the knowledge that I'm a sage of the Earth Temple.|Medli|TWW}}</ref> With their power and prayers, Link is able to restore the blade of evil’s bane to its original form. He then hunts down the scattered shards of the Triforce of Courage and brings the completed piece back to the Tower of the Gods to present it to the gods. The [[Triforce]] piece then passes into him, proving that Link is the true hero, the Hero of Time "reborn".<ref>{{Cite|Oh! What is this? There, on your hand - the Triforce piece now dwells within you! It is the Triforce of Courage - proof that you are indeed the true hero.|King of Red Lions|TWW}}</ref> Because Link had used the power of the Wind Waker to travel the Great Sea, the King of Red Lions declares him the [[Hero of Winds]].<ref>{{Cite|You have controlled the wind and crossed the seas, and here, near the end of your quest, the power of the gods has been bestowed upon you... Surely, from this moment on, you shall be known as the Hero of Winds... Link! Hero of Winds! Go forth! To Hyrule! To Zelda's side!|King of Red Lions|TWW}}</ref>

[[File:Final Battle in Hyrule.jpg|thumb|left|The final battle.]]

However, the King of Red Lions touches the Triforce first. The King wishes for Hyrule and Ganondorf to be buried beneath the waves of the Great Sea. He also wishes for hope for Link and Zelda; that they might be able to create a better world.<ref>{{Cite|Gods of the Triforce! Hear that which I desire! Hope! I desire hope for these children! Give them a future! Wash away this ancient land of Hyrule! Let a ray of hope shine on the future of the world!!! And let our destinies finally be fulfilled...Ganondorf! May you drown with Hyrule!!!|Daphnes Nohansen Hyrule|TWW}}</ref> The Triforce grants the King's wish, flooding the land of Hyrule once again before vanishing.

In a fit of madness, Ganondorf attacks Link. With the Master Sword at its full power, Link and Zelda battle Ganondorf as Hyrule floods around them. Link eventually deals the final blow to Ganondorf, stabbing him through his head and turning him to stone. After bidding farewell to the King of Red Lions, Link and Zelda are spirited away to the surface of the Great Sea as the floodwaters come crashing down, burying Hyrule and its king beneath the sea. Link and Zelda (as Tetra) are reunited with Aryll, the pirates, and some of Link's friends. In a post-credits scene, Link and Tetra sail away with their crew in search of a new land with the wind as their guide.<ref>{{Cite|Ah, but child... That land will not be Hyrule. It will be YOUR land!|Daphnes Nohansen Hyrule|TWW}}</ref> This scene marks the beginning of the first [[Nintendo DS]] Zelda game, {{PH}}.

[[File:Zeldawindwaker01.jpg|thumb|Sailing is the main method of transportation in ''The Wind Waker.'']]

Unlike in previous ''Zelda'' games, {{TWW|-}} features items with multiple usages. The [[Grappling Hook]], for example, can be used to pass over cliffs and big holes, to steal enemies' items, and to retrieve sunken chests from the sea; the [[Deku Leaf]] can be used for flight or to blow gusts of wind. [[Bomb]]s can now be used both on land and from the boat (the boat includes a long-range cannon used to fire bombs) while at sea. Elemental arrows are now accessed upon usage of the Hero's Bow instead of as separate items; the [[Hookshot]] can both take Link to higher spots and, together with the [[Iron Boots]], be used to remove heavy statues out of the way; and the [[Boomerang]] can now hit up to five targets with the same launch.

As previously noted in the above sections, the game makes use of cel-shading graphics. Contrary to popular belief, programming the game with an engine based on this style was more difficult than programming {{TP}}, after modifying said engine, to favor realistic graphics.<ref>[http://gc.kombo.com/article.php?artid=2777 Eiji Aonuma Interview]</ref> The style was influenced by the input of a former Japanese animator, whom Nintendo consulted for inspiration.<ref>{{Cite web|quote=. . .Hota-san [said] that one of the art directors from these old movies came out of retirement to help art-direct or at least do some of the concept stuff for Wind Waker.|published= March 4, 2012|retrieved= September 9, 2012|url= http://www.siliconera.com/2012/03/04/how-the-legend-of-zelda-the-wind-waker-inspired-skulls-of-the-shoguns-art/|title= How The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker Inspired Skulls of the Shogun's Art|site=Siliconera}}</ref> The cel-shaded graphics style was found to mask system limitations well and was later adopted for handheld Zelda games such as ''[[The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass]]''.

The game is set in the [[Great Sea]], a vast body of water consisting of 49 islands, which are of different sizes, shapes, and purposes. Some are inhabited islands, and they house dungeons, sidequests, shops, and many other things; these include [[Dragon Roost Island]] (inhabited by the [[Rito]] tribe, and guarded by the sky spirit [[Valoo]]), [[Forest Haven]] (inhabited by the [[Korok]] tribe, and guarded by the earth spirit [[Great Deku Tree]]), [[Outset Island]] and [[Windfall Island]] (both inhabited by [[Hylian]]s). [[Greatfish Isle]] used to be inhabited by Hylians as well and guarded by the sea spirit [[Jabun]] until Ganondorf destroyed it and cast a curse on the entire Great Sea.

There are islands that are either uninhabited or overrun by monsters, but are still key places for Link's quest. [[Forsaken Fortress]] houses the whereabouts of the evil Ganondorf, and is where the girls hijacked by [[Helmaroc King]] are held captive. The ancient [[Tower of the Gods]] shows the gateway to the deceased land of [[Hyrule]], but it will only appear after the chosen one retrieves the Goddesses' pearls, and the aforementioned gateway will only open when that hero completes the challenges given to him by the deities. [[Mother & Child Isles]], [[Fire Mountain]] and [[Ice Ring Isle]] all house major treasure weapons and tools that help the young hero have access to temples where the sages blessing the [[Master Sword]] must pray; said temples are, respectively, in the [[Headstone Island]] and the [[Gale Isle]]. Additionally, there are numerous islands where Link finds the widely-spoken [[Triforce Chart|"triumph forks"]], which pinpoint the fragments of the [[Triforce of Courage]] as long as they're deciphered (which can be done by negotiating with [[Tingle]] in [[Tingle Island]]).

There are also islands that are similar to each other, for they share a similar purpose. For example, [[Triangle Islands|the three triangle-shaped islands]] are where Link must place the sacred pearls in order to unveil the aforementioned Tower of the Gods. [[Fairy Islands|Five islands]] house [[Great Fairy]] entities, ready to improve Link's capabilities for weapon ammunition or even money amounts. There are also [[Eye Reefs|six giant coral reefs]] invaded by multiple enemies and belic cannons, hiding Treasure Charts that lead to much more special charts. These charts give Link location of a wide variety of quest items or secret features. Finally, there are [[Star Isles|three archipelagos]] that are nothing but isolated rock formations with no possibility for human landing.

The rest of the islands serve for optional and minor purposes, mainly collection of [[Treasure Chart|Charts]] and other prizes.

During the time of this game's release, the [[Zelda Timeline#Split Timeline|split timeline theory]] was confirmed by [[Eiji Aonuma]] in a summer 2002 Game Pro interview;<ref name="GamePro 2002 interview">{{Cite person|quote=Q: Where does The Wind Waker fit into the overall Zelda series timeline? <br>'''Aonuma:''' You can think of this game as taking place over a hundred years after Ocarina of Time. You can tell this from the opening story, and there are references to things from Ocarina located throughout the game as well.<br>'''Miyamoto:''' Well, wait, which point does the hundred years start from? <br>'''Aonuma:''' From the end.<br>'''Miyamoto:''' No, I mean, as a child or as a...<br>'''Aonuma:''' Oh, right, let me elaborate on that. Ocarina of Time basically has two endings of sorts; one has Link as a child and the other has him as an adult. This game, The Wind Waker, takes place a hundred years after the adult Link defeats Ganon at the end of Ocarina.<br>'''Miyamoto:''' This is pretty confusing for us, too. (laughs) So be careful.|name=[[Eiji Aonuma]] and [[Shigeru Miyamoto]]|url=http://www.gamepro.com/article/news/27362/interview-with-nintendos-shigeru-miyamoto-and-eiji-aonuma/|title=GamePro 2002 interview}}</ref> thus, the confirmed timeline placement for {{TWW|-}} is after the Adult ending of ''Ocarina of Time,'' but in a separate timeline from {{MM|-}} and ''Twilight Princess,'' which both follow the Child ending.

A limited edition version of the game was released only in Europe. The game was bundled with {{MQ}} in a single case, different from North America where ''Master Quest'' was only available as a pre-order bonus and came in a separate case.

A limited edition pak was also released only in Europe. The bundle included a copy of the limited edition version of the game with ''Master Quest'', a [[Nintendo GameCube|GameCube]] console available in both platinum and purple, and a controller matching the console's color.

From Eurogamer, another review site, Tom Bramwell also praised the game, giving his personal recommendation to it, although he also argued that Epona used to be a better means of transportation than the boat.<ref>[http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/r_zelda_gc The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker Review]</ref> Nintendo Power ranked it ''sixth'' in their list of best ''The Legend of Zelda'' games, criticizing its sailing concept but praising the graphics and the refined gameplay "while on land."<ref>Nintendo Power Issue #248 (December 2009), p. 72.</ref>

In March 2011, {{TWW|-}} was ranked 5th on GamesRadar's list of "The 100 Best Games Of All Time", placing it above {{TP|-}} (29th), and ''A Link To The Past'' (17th).<ref>[http://www.gamesradar.com/f/the-100-best-games-of-all-time/a-20110330182119708031/p-12 GamesRadar - The 100 Best Games Of All Time]</ref>

* The engine of the game was the basis for those of ''[[Navi Trackers]]'' and {{TP|-}}. {{TP|-}} contains some leftover data from {{TWW|-}}, namely models for the Wind Waker and Bomb Flowers.<ref>[http://tcrf.net/The_Legend_of_Zelda:_Twilight_Princess#Wind_Waker_Leftovers The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess - The Cutting Room Floor]</ref>

*According to the ‘Guinness World Records Gamers Edition 2008’, The Wind Waker had around 500,000 pre-orders and was at the time (2002) the most pre-ordered game on record.

**''Hyrule Historia'' contains a compendium of this game's early concept art. It reveals many unused ideas for the game, some of which were implemented in later games. The most well known concept was of Link getting progressively older as the game went on, but was scrapped because of difficulties implementing this idea. Another example, an island resembling a Nintendo GameCube was drawn, possibly the source of inspiration for [[Dee Ess Island]] in {{PH|-}}. Another concept was that Link could interact with the submerged Hyrule through special portals around the Great Sea, guarded by actual fishermen. This would likely have been the implementation of walking underwater, as described above. Remnants of that idea can be seen via hacking Link to be under the ocean; he can walk on invisible ground below the water.

**The version of the [[Dragon Roost Island]] theme found on the game's [[The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker Original Sound Tracks|soundtrack]] includes a plucked bass, which is not present in the original version of the theme found in the game. The version with the plucked bass was also used in ''Super Smash Bros. Brawl''.