10 Ways The Legend Of Zelda: The Wind Waker Is Secretly A Masterpiece
6. A Sense Of Adventure
With the King of Red Lions at his side (by far the least annoying companion in the entire series), Link's journey across the great sea eclipses the sense of adventure found in other Zelda titles.
With 49 islands to discover, the uncharted ocean slowly becomes charted, and the feeling of discovery when docking at such locations is immense.
It's true that the mandatory expansion of the map is frustrating and does nothing to maintain the excellent pacing the game otherwise achieves, but once the map is complete the overwhelming satisfaction that is earned makes the time spent feel justified. Link could just as easily replace his iconic green cap for a pirate tricorne with his undoubtedly encyclopedic understanding of the high seas he spends so much time traversing.
Bouncing from island to island it feels as though the people inhabiting each are truly disconnected from one another. Meeting the locals of Windfall Island or the proud people of Dragon Roost Island is a treat, and with every interaction the player feels like they're slowly learning the Hyrule that Wind Waker presents.
Returning once again to the high seas, it is evident that the horizon is always just a short adventure away.