10 Ways The Legend Of Zelda: The Wind Waker Is Secretly A Masterpiece

Combat has always been one of Link's essential traits, as he is so often met with hostility on his travels. Thankfully, as the 3D era became the norm, his combat ability has evolved from a simple button press to swipe his sword.

Before his (largely unsuccessful) venture into motion controlled battle on the Wii, Link mastered the art of patience in The Wind Waker. Building upon the reliable lock-on system of previous titles, Link can now disarm enemies and give them a thoroughly good whacking with their own weapon no less. This is not only worthy of a chuckle, but offers a unique way of approaching combat.

Counter attacks and tagging enemies with the boomerang also offer a much-needed layer of strategy, allowing multiple different methods of dispatching enemies. No longer is it enough to frantically bash the B button to attack. It's certainly not Metal Gear levels of complexity, but it's undeniably a step in the right direction.

Boss battles naturally require the use of the item gained in their respective dungeon to achieve victory, but this doesn't mean that Link's collection of weaponry is only useful for specific enemies. Far from it.