What is this game?
The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker is the tenth installment of the Zelda series. It is the first Zelda game for the Nintendo GameCube, and was released in Japan on December 13, 2002, in Canada and the United States on March 24, 2003, in Europe on May 3, 2003 and in Australia on May 7, 2003.
The Wind Waker is notable for being the first game in the series to employ cel-shading, a lighting and texturing technique that results in the game having a cartoon-like appearance. It also differentiates itself from other Zelda games with its massive overworld, the Great Sea, which must be explored using a boat, the King of Red Lions. It is an indirect sequel to Ocarina of Time, taking place several hundred years after the events of the previous games.
Although the sea-faring gameplay and cartoon-like graphics were a point of critique for some, The Wind Waker was in the end the fourth best-selling GameCube game of all time. 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 Ocarina of Time and Master Quest. Master Quest is an enhanced remake of the original Ocarina game, but features partially re-designed dungeons.
What's the plot?
On that island, a young boy named Link finally comes of age to wear the green of the hero. Unfortunately, his birthday plans were about to be dashed. A giant bird flew over his island, carrying a young girl in its talons. Hot on its tail is a pirate ship, sending a catapult barrage after it in an attempt to force it to touch down. 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. Her name is Tetra, and Link learns that she is the captain of that band of pirates.
As Link leads her back to her ship, the bird swoops down and kidnaps Link’s younger sister, Aryll, mistaking her for Tetra. A Rito postman informs the stunned Link and the unsympathetic Tetra of stories of a large bird who kidnapped young girls with long ears and took them back to the cursed Forsaken Fortress. He charges Tetra with helping young Link rescue his sister from that wicked place. Tetra reluctantly accepts, and with her help, Link is able to infiltrate the fortress and reach the cell where his sister was being kept. But the great bird discovers him, and, at the command of a sinister shadowy figure, it hurls him into the sea.
He is recovered by a talking boat, who introduces itself as the King of Red Lions. The King tells him of the story behind that shadowy figure, and the threat that that wrongdoer posed. The shadow was Ganon. Somehow, someway, the seal of the gods had failed. Ganon had returned, and the world was once again in danger. The key to defeating Ganon was locked away in a great power that could only be wielded after much toil and hardship. Only one who was able to overcome the trials that awaited in the Tower of the Gods would be permitted to wield the power to destroy the great evil. That power was none other than that of the Master Sword, the blade of evil’s bane, and it could banish Ganon from the world above. Or, at least, so the King of Red Lions believed.
Before entering the Tower of the Gods, Link has to gather the three pearls, which he accomplishes with the help of an ancient conductor’s baton called the Wind Waker. Though he does, indeed, succeed in the trials of the gods and claims the Master Sword from Hyrule below, when he returns to the Forsaken Fortress, destroys the monstrous bird, and proceeds to challenge Ganondorf, he learns of the unfortunate fate that had befallen the Master Sword, that it no longer sparkled with the power to repel evil. As it is revealed later in the game, Ganondorf had already attacked the temples where the sages were praying to the goddesses so that the Master Sword could retain its power to repel evil. He also gathered that by withdrawing the blade from its place in Hyrule Castle, he had broken the final seal placed by the gods on Hyrule and on Ganondorf’s magic, stirring all the monsters frozen in time in the kingdom below from their centuries-long slumber.
Tetra rushes to his rescue, and yet another revelation transpires. When Tetra approaches Ganondorf, his Triforce of Power resonates. This could only mean one thing—Tetra possessed the Triforce of Wisdom, none other than the sacred power of the gods that the royal family had kept from Ganon’s clutches for so many long years. Her mother had instructed her to keep it close, and to safeguard it always. The Triforce of Wisdom was proof of her birthright—Tetra was the true heir to the royal family of Hyrule, the last link in the bloodline. Tetra was Princess Zelda. Of course, Ganondorf notices this immediately, and so he tries to seize the Triforce of Wisdom then and there. Luckily, a pair of Rito manage to swoop down and rescue the children from Ganondorf’s grip.
Zelda is brought to Hyrule Castle below the waves, and the King of Red Lions imparts news of her identity and her role in these events before giving her the missing shard of the Triforce of Wisdom. He then instructs her to remain in Hyrule 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 the land after completing his mission— until then, the portal to the world below the waves would be sealed, and he would be unable to return again to Hyrule.
To complete his task, those who carried on the blood of the sages had to be found to take the stead of the old in the temples and ask the gods for their assistance. The Korok Makar and the Rito maiden Medli are the ones who awake as the new sages of Wind and Earth respectively. 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 dwells within him, proving that he is the true hero, the Hero of Time, "reborn". 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.
Characters
Link: Link lives on Outset Island on the Great Sea, the region above Hyrule after it was flooded by the gods to prevent Ganondorf from conquering it. Link is given the green tunic and hat on his birthday to commemorate the Hero of Time, but an attack by the Helmaroc King in which his sister is kidnapped starts him on a whirlwind adventure. Link quickly sets sail and acquires the King of Red Lions in his quest to recover Aryll after she is kidnapped by the Helmaroc King and taken to the Forsaken Fortress. Instead of simply rescuing his sister, Link is drawn into a sequence of events that eventually puts the fate of all the islands of the Great Sea in his hands.
Aryll: Aryll is a character in The Wind Waker. She is Link's younger sister, where she lives with him and their Grandma on Outset Island.
Tetra: Tetra is a young pirate girl who made her first appearance in The Wind Waker. Orphaned at a young age, she followed her deceased mother's footsteps by becoming the captain of an unnamed ship with her crew of pirates, who all respect her deeply despite that she is much younger than them. Even though Tetra has a tendency to act tomboyish, take challenges head on and even act bossy and cold-hearted sometimes, she actually has a kind and caring personality whose goal is not always buried treasure.
The King of Red Lions: The King of Red Lions is a talking sailboat that Link meets after he is tossed out into the Great Sea upon being caught by the Helmaroc King in the Forsaken Fortress. It is with this boat that he is able to move from one island to another on the Great Sea. Good-spirited and filled with wisdom, the King of Red Lions is one of Link's greatest allies. The boat speaks to him and explains what is currently happening and what he needs to do next.
Medli: Medli is a young Rito from The Wind Waker. She is the apprentice attendant of Valoo, the patron deity of the Rito. She's close friends with Prince Komali and is always watching and worrying over him. Medli is known to be kind-hearted and responsible, and when it comes to helping others, she is not afraid to take on challenges and other obstacles that might get in her way despite not being able to fly too well.
Makar: A character who appears in The Wind Waker. He is a Korok from the Forest Haven, and every bit as adventurous as the Hero of Winds, though his adventuring usually puts him into trouble that he can't get out of without a little help from his friends.
Enemies (Common)
Bokoblins: These are common, bat-faced enemies found from temples to the great sea. Blue Bokoblins are normal enemies, wielding boko-sticks or machetes. Pink Bokoblins wield telescopes and are only found on rafts and submarines, despite their inability to swim. And green Bokoblins are the elites, wielding machetes and wooden shields, and are the first mini-boss of the series. Strangely, they drop joy pendants.
Moblins: Moblins are large, pig-faced creatures wielding spears and lanterns, usually used as infantry by ganon. If disarmed, they will engage in hand to hand combat. When defeated, they will drop skull necklaces.
Miniblins: Small but fast imp-like creatures that usually attack in groups. Alone, they are incredibly weak, but in high numbers, they can take you down in seconds. Hitting them with the skull hammer has a hilarious effect.
Keese: A bat creature found pretty much everywhere, in holes, caves, temples... Sometimes they come in a fire variety which burn Link on contact.
Rats: Found in many places, some types carry bombs to throw. When bait is placed in front of their homes, they may try to sell you items for high prices.
Kagoroks: Large birds found primarily on Dragon Roost Island. When defeated, they drop golden feathers. Many times, they will carry Moblins and Bokoblins into battle. They are distinguishable by a memorable "Whaaa?" sound.
Chuchus: These blob enemies come in 5 varieties and drop 3 types of jelly.
Red Chuchus are standard enemies, and drop red, health-replenishing jellies.
Green Chuchus will shrink into small puddles to avoid attacks and drop magic-replenishing jellies.
Blue Chuchus are electrified and are the rarest of all. Blue jelly can restore health and magic.
Yellow Chuchus are electrified, nothing else.
Black chuchus are invincible, as they disintegrate and reform on an attack, but will be turned to stone on contact with light.
Enemies (Rare)
Stalfos: Large skeletal enemies wielding spiked clubs. When blown apart, the head will jump around, and that is when to attack. If you grab it's club before it regenerates, it will take it back by force. When they do spin attacks, they will knock Link backwards, but become dizzy afterwards.
Darknuts: Jackal-like humanoids wearing thick armor and wielding enormous swords. When their armor is cut off, they become incredibly vulnerable. They drop Knight's crests. A purple variety known as mighty darknuts sometimes wear capes that must be removed.
Floormasters: These are dark portals in the ground with dark arms protruding from them. When grabbed, link will be taken to the beginning of the dungeon or to another room, and Makar or Medli will be taken to a cell. When items are thrown at them, they will catch them and throw them back. Even if it's a bomb.
Redeads: Blue skinned zombies who, when approached, will let out a piercing shriek which paralyzes Link. What they do to Link is unknown, whether they are biting, crushing, or trying to snap his neck, many fans have made jokes that they are raping him.
Boko-babas: Large carnivorous plants that will bite Link. If they lick their lips before attacking, it means that they will grab Link and try to swallow him. They are found solely in the Forest Haven and the Forbidden Woods.
Bubbles: Flaming, levitating skulls surrounded by fire or gas which burn or disarm link on contact with them. Blue bubbles are only found in the earth temple.
Magtails: Large, lava-themed centipedes known as known as magtails are common in fire-themed dungeons, but rare outside of them. When their eyes are attacked, they roll up into a vulnerable ball.
Wizzrobe: Large, cloak-wearing birds who will float around, teleport, shoot spells, and summon other enemies.
Poes: These ghosts will throw lanterns at Link and charge at him. If touched, he will become possessed and the control scheme will be switched around. They become solid and vulnerable if exposed to light. These ghosts may be a reference to Edgar Allen Poe.
Bosses
Gohma: The first boss in the game, you must use the dragon, Valoo's, tail to swing over it and drop bedrock on it to remove it's shell, then attack it's eye.
Kalle Demos: A large plant who must be cut down from the ceiling with the boomerang. When it falls, it will open up, after that, go to town on it's small, Boko-baba like core. If you stay inside too long, however, it will close on you and cause massive damage. It is strangely obsessed with makar.
Gohdan: A large set of hands and a head made of stone. The eyes of the hands must be shot to get the head, and once the head's eyes are shot, you must throw a bomb in it's mouth. This is the only boss in the game who is not evil, but was made as a challenge for potential heroes.
The Helmaroc King: A giant bird wearing a mask that must be destroyed. It will attack many ways, including stomping, pecking, and trying to blow Link into spikes. It is responsible for Aryll's kidnapping.
Jalhalla: A large ghost who will attempt to blow Link into spikes and burn him. When is exposed to light, can be lifted and thrown into spiked pillars. He will then split into many poes and you must kill them before they reform. In reality, Jalhalla is just a mask who's body is made up of poes.
Molgera: An enormous sandworm responsible for the death of the sage, Fado. His weak spot is his tongue which can be brought out with a hookshot and attacked. He will attempt to swallow, and crush Link. He also will spawn smaller versions of him to distract Link.
Puppet ganon: A large puppet with three forms, the first is in the shape of a pig monster, who must be cut down from the ceiling with the boomerang. The second is a spider who you must watch their reflection to see where it is before it drops. The final is a snake who moves fast and rams into Link. All bosses are defeated by light arrows to the blue orbs on their tails.
Ganondorf: The final boss. To defeat him, you must get Zelda to shoot him with light arrows to stun him, then go batstuff-crazy on him. Once a few hits have been landed, he will backhand Zelda, rendering her unconscious. You must use a parry attack to hit him during that time. After that, Zelda will wake up and start shooting arrows at you. you must reflect the arrows to him with your mirror shield. He must then be parried, and you will embed the sword in his skull, turn him to stone, and win the game.
By the way, don't attack the pigs. Just don't.
