10 Ways The Legend Of Zelda: The Wind Waker Is Secretly A Masterpiece
This is but one of the legends of which the people speak...
Taking the series to the high seas, The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker was perhaps Nintendo's most ambitious entry into the esteemed franchise to date. Link's adventure across a flooded Hyrule, while critically and commercially recognised as a great game, has a myriad of other exceptional titles to compete against not only on its native GameCube, but in its own franchise.
The previous three home console games in the Zelda series are hailed as some of the very best that the medium has to offer, so following them up with a game that would be comfortable in the company of greatness was no easy accomplishment.
Releasing in the west in 2003, The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker had Link travel across hell and high water (the latter quite literally) to fulfil his destiny and relinquish the threat of evil. It's a familiar tale to us veteran rupee collectors and Master Sword wielders, but every Zelda is someone's first, and the charm of the series is so often the reason for players to return to the franchise with each new instalment.
In The Wind Waker, charm is present in abundance, alongside these 10 reasons why it's so criminally overlooked.
10. Sound Design
The first tell-tale sign of The Wind Waker's fantastic presentation will undoubtedly be its art style, yet the level of polish it consistently manages to achieve reaches the audio department also, and delivers the series' best sound design to date.
Original score aside, the auditory flourishes that litter the adventure contribute so fruitfully to the game's tone, story and charm. Link's vocal notes are adorable, and somehow manage to display his immense courage while still maintaining the feeling of youth.
Contributing largely to the sound design is the titular 'Wind Waker', a conductors baton that channels wind, changes time and controls allies, among other things. A replacement for the ocarina, the sounds that accompany the item fit seamlessly into the game's overall presentation, as each note strings together to create a light, wistful tune that can drastically alter a gameplay situation.
Mainstays of the series are present as ever. Opening chests, smashing pots and uncovering secrets are all met with the iconic jingles we consider synonymous with the series.
Wind Waker's approach to sound design stays true to the Zelda formula, yet also manages to forge a tone entirely its own.