By extension, it's also the first game to evidence that the character Link, like Princess Zelda, has multiple incarnations over the decades/centuries.

After Link defeats Puppet Ganon, Ganon remarks that Link is "the Hero of Time, reborn". [79] Ganon most likely says that metaphorically. Link in this story is the Hero of Time "reborn", since he possesses the same skills as his predecessor (despite not being an actual descendant). a b McDonald, Thomas L. (December 2003). "2004 Buyer's Guide To Games". Games. Vol.27, no.196. GAMES Publications. p.53. ISSN 0199-9788. European Zelda Bundle". IGN. March 26, 2003. Archived from the original on April 21, 2016 . Retrieved July 6, 2016. Overall Game of the Year". IGN. 2004. Archived from the original on April 23, 2009 . Retrieved March 2, 2017.Nintendo's Zelda team initiated plans for a new game early in the development of the GameCube system, before Majora's Mask was completed for the Nintendo 64 in 2000. Eiji Aonuma, director of Majora's Mask, returned to helm the project, while Shigeru Miyamoto and Takashi Tezuka, the creators of the Zelda series, served as producers. [15] [16] Early concepts generally followed Ocarina of Time 's designs, with graphics enhanced for the new system's capabilities. [16] [17] The team hastily created a brief clip of Link fighting Ganondorf for a demonstration at the 2000 Space World exposition, where Nintendo announced the GameCube. The clip resonated with fans and commentators who hoped it previewed the next Zelda game. [18] [19] As mentioned above, the magical baton gives Link the ability to control the wind's direction as soon as he learns the proper melody. Manipulating the wind not only makes sea navigation faster, it also gives the legendary hero multiple other possible uses for the wind, such as being able to glide with the Deku Leaf for long periods of time, making a character give different notes of information, helping other characters fly farther, and even causing a treasure chest to appear when Link stands before a marked wind spot, among other things. After learning another song, Link can use the power of cyclones to warp from one island to another, reducing the amount of time taken to reach a destination. Other melodies serve purposes less related to wind, but still give more versatility and usefulness to the Wind Waker. Miyamoto: This is pretty confusing for us, too. (laughs) So be careful." — Eiji Aonuma and Shigeru Miyamoto ( GamePro 2002 interview) a b c Gerardi, Matt (December 19, 2014). "Readers wonder why Zelda fans railed against the Wind Waker look". The A.V. Club. Archived from the original on August 31, 2016 . Retrieved February 22, 2017. You cannot defeat me with a blade that does not sparkle with the power to repel evil! What you hold is useless." — Ganondorf ( The Wind Waker)

A significant portion of the game is spent sailing between islands on Link's boat, the King of Red Lions. The boat's sail is driven by wind that blows across the game world in one of eight directions; a tailwind behind the boat will give it top speed, while sailing against the wind is difficult. The Great Sea features enemies and obstacles different from those found on land; additionally, some items serve new purposes while Link is aboard the King of Red Lions. The grappling hook, for example, serves as a crane for recovering sunken treasure. [11] Link explores the sea with the help of a sea chart, which can be updated with information on each square and island. Through the game, Link acquires additional charts pointing the way to treasure chests and significant locations. On land, dungeons feature similar maps. [12] My Triforce of Power is resonating! Ha! At long last, I have found you... Princess Zelda!" — Ganon ( The Wind Waker) Teetsel, Sarah (August 2015). Musical Memory of the Player, Characters, and World of The Legend of Zelda Video Game Series (PDF) (Master of Music thesis). Bowling Green University. p.6. Archived from the original on February 16, 2017 . Retrieved July 1, 2016. IGN. (2023). Top 10 Legend of Zelda Games of All Time. YouTube. Retrieved July 24, 2023, from https://youtu.be/4yYDUuenSMI.a b c Mallory, Jordan (August 28, 2013). "Zelda: A Link Between Worlds and Mario Party: Island Tour hit 3DS Nov. 22". Joystiq . Retrieved September 9, 2013. Iwata, Satoru (August 28, 2013). "Iwata Asks: The Legend of Zelda: Wind Waker HD: Archeology". Nintendo . Retrieved September 9, 2013. As I’d only played Ocarina of Time before this point (badly, as my enduring fear of Skulltulas lasted longer than my time with the game), I was unaware of the controversy that surrounded Wind Waker prior to its release. Forums were flooded with hate after a demo was played at Nintendo’s 2001’s Space World trade show. Long-time Zelda fans lamented the “childish” cel-shaded art style and even Zelda creator Shigeru Miyamoto “cringed” on first seeing early footage. Below, we’ll list where you can play every mainline Zelda game in 2023 (for now) and talk about our caveats to the list. Some caveats and notes... Link... This sacred song that you've conducted has awakened me... I know myself now! I am the sage of the Wind Temple..." — Makar ( The Wind Waker)

The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker [b] is an action-adventure game developed and published by Nintendo for the GameCube. An installment in The Legend of Zelda series, it was released in Japan in December 2002, in North America in March 2003, and in Europe in May 2003. Yes, surely you are the Hero of Time, reborn... Your time has come... Come now... Stand before me!" — Ganondorf ( The Wind Waker) 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. a b c d e f g h i j k l Iwata, Satoru (2013). "Iwata Asks: The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker HD". iwataasks.nintendo.com. Nintendo. Archived from the original on July 25, 2015 . Retrieved June 24, 2016. The Wind Waker HD features high definition graphics and improved lighting. [16] The Wii U GamePad's touchscreen serves as a map and inventory, eliminating the need to toggle between gameplay and the menu interface. Players can use motion controls to control the Wind Waker. [63] Some weapons, like the bow, can be aimed using the GamePad's gyroscope, as in Ocarina of Time 3D. The game offers Off-TV Play which enables the player to play the game solely on the Wii U GamePad. The game can also be played on the Wii U Pro Controller, a controller similar to the one used in the original game. [64] The developers made some changes to the gameplay as well: they introduced a new item, the "Swift Sail", allowing for faster sailing on the Great Sea. [65] They also streamlined the Triforce quest, improved the Picto Box, and replaced the Tingle Tuner, which had required connectivity with a Game Boy Advance, with a Tingle Bottle item that connected to the Miiverse prior to its shutdown on November 8, 2017. [66] [67]

GameSpot editor Jeff Gerstmann called the game "The Wind Waker is a strong achievement in every way, from its stunning graphical presentation to its tight control and interesting story line," [84] but also criticized the relatively long periods of sailing (particularly in regards of the search for the Triforce Shard collection) and the relatively easy puzzles and boss battles. 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." — How The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker Inspired Skulls of the Shogun's Art, Siliconera, published March 4, 2012, retrieved September 9, 2012. 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. a b c d "Review: Zelda The Wind Waker". Computer and Video Games. May 15, 2003. Archived from the original on December 1, 2006 . Retrieved March 7, 2017.