The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker

 GameCube
User Score
9.0

Universal acclaim- based on 1644 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 1,460 out of 1644
  2. Mixed: 110 out of 1644
  3. Negative: 74 out of 1644
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  1. JoeB
    May 31, 2006
    9
    This game is pretty awesome. Anyone who said it wasn't long enough clearly didn't spend much time finding all the extra goodies and sidequest stuff. And not hard? Um, there is one sidequest in which you must fight five of those huge armored knights--at the same time. Graphics are certainly based on one's own opinion but don't hurt the score simply because they're This game is pretty awesome. Anyone who said it wasn't long enough clearly didn't spend much time finding all the extra goodies and sidequest stuff. And not hard? Um, there is one sidequest in which you must fight five of those huge armored knights--at the same time. Graphics are certainly based on one's own opinion but don't hurt the score simply because they're not your taste--they certainly look GOOD. Although changing the wind did get annoying, I do seem to recall a lot of running around and ocarina playing in OOT. Great game, as Zelda always is.… Expand
  2. DragonKnightofFinalFantasy
    Nov 27, 2004
    10
    My favorite GC game thus far. It has everything you want from a Zelda game while still not as good as Ocarina of Time it comes in at a close second. The combat is very fun. The extras and the side quests kicks major BUTT! It is a little short and a wee bit on the easy side. Which almost made me give it a 9 for it's shortness but it is still awesome. I'm sad people pass it by for My favorite GC game thus far. It has everything you want from a Zelda game while still not as good as Ocarina of Time it comes in at a close second. The combat is very fun. The extras and the side quests kicks major BUTT! It is a little short and a wee bit on the easy side. Which almost made me give it a 9 for it's shortness but it is still awesome. I'm sad people pass it by for it's cartoony graphics. Pick this up NOW!… Expand
  3. Kevin
    Nov 18, 2007
    10
    This game is practically flawless. It has tons of sidequests, great dungeons, beautiful graphics, wonderful controls, amazing music and a brilliant story. Much better then it's predecessor Ocarina of Time.
  4. DeVr33z
    Nov 16, 2010
    9
    People should stop complaining about how bad the graphics are, they're actually really good. I didn't like how Link looked like an annoying little kid either, and the storyline is a bit immature but the gameplay is possibly the best there has ever been in Zelda. There are WAY more sidequests than in Ocarina of Time (and maybe even Majora's Mask) and the dungeons are a blast to playPeople should stop complaining about how bad the graphics are, they're actually really good. I didn't like how Link looked like an annoying little kid either, and the storyline is a bit immature but the gameplay is possibly the best there has ever been in Zelda. There are WAY more sidequests than in Ocarina of Time (and maybe even Majora's Mask) and the dungeons are a blast to play through, evne if they are a bit easy. Definitely worth your time.… Expand
  5. muzziklover
    May 27, 2011
    10
    Pretty much one of the greatest games ever made and have always preferred this over any Zelda game, especially the fan favorite Ocarina of Time. Amazingly charming and beautiful graphics which still holds up to this day, perfect controls, excellent music, fantastic gameplay, absolutely epic story and a seemingly endless and satisfying lasting appeal. There is so much to do and explore inPretty much one of the greatest games ever made and have always preferred this over any Zelda game, especially the fan favorite Ocarina of Time. Amazingly charming and beautiful graphics which still holds up to this day, perfect controls, excellent music, fantastic gameplay, absolutely epic story and a seemingly endless and satisfying lasting appeal. There is so much to do and explore in this game and all your time spent playing is worth the hours. If you have a Gamecube or a Wii, do yourself a massive favour and buy it for yourself, your friends, your family and your pets.… Expand
  6. Incarta
    Feb 8, 2014
    9
    All praise to Nintendo for the creative art direction that really brings such character to this entry in the Zelda series. As always, the quality of gameplay and puzzling is high. The sailing will no doubt get on some people's nerves, but for me, it's all build up for the atmosphere. Play this
  7. ukiki19
    Nov 21, 2010
    10
    Zelda wind waker es de lo mejor, buena musica ,excelentes efectos , un arte deslumbrante ,una buena historia y sobre todo un zelda de pie a cabesa.
    Lo bueno es principalmente su arte y jugabilidad, deseño de personajes su fantastica banda sonora y sobre todo el ambiente que procrea zelda.
    Lo malo es que es un poco corto nada mas. En conclusion el mejor videojuego de game    Zelda wind waker es de lo mejor, buena musica ,excelentes efectos , un arte deslumbrante ,una buena historia y sobre todo un zelda de pie a cabesa.
    Lo bueno es principalmente su arte y jugabilidad, deseño de personajes su fantastica banda sonora y sobre todo el ambiente que procrea zelda.
    Lo malo es que es un poco corto nada mas.
    En conclusion el mejor videojuego de game cube que uno no puede dejar de jugar aunque ya sea muy antiguo sigue teniendo un enganche y grafica maravillosa    … Expand
  8. KendylKlownfish
    Apr 26, 2011
    10
    The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker isn't perfect, but it is as breathtakingly innovative and visually groundbreaking as any NGC game will ever be. Pros: A visually stellar balance of cartoonish design and 3-D environment; excellent controls, camera, and audio; thoroughly involving story; charming characters; lots of bosses, puzzles, and secrets. Cons: The sailing is beautiful at first,The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker isn't perfect, but it is as breathtakingly innovative and visually groundbreaking as any NGC game will ever be. Pros: A visually stellar balance of cartoonish design and 3-D environment; excellent controls, camera, and audio; thoroughly involving story; charming characters; lots of bosses, puzzles, and secrets. Cons: The sailing is beautiful at first, but remember, this is more than half of the game; more islands to explore would've been even better; needs a GBA and link cable to unlock ALL of the secrets.… Expand
  9. Watermelon789
    Feb 2, 2012
    9
    The graphics are gorgeous , very gorgeous from the beginning to the end . While some stupid Zelda fans cried foul over that , they are considered the thrash in this list full of positive reviews. It looks fresh , tantalizing, impressed and pleased that Nintendo did this bold movement. The gameplay and the exploration are the main themes here. Even the sound/music is beautiful.
  10. drlowdon
    Jun 8, 2013
    8
    The Legend of Zelda franchise is highly regarded in gaming circles with the Ocarina of Time regularly featuring near the top of 'Best Ever Game' lists. As a result The Wind Waker had a lot to live up to on release, fortunately Nintendo have yet again delivered.

    Taking place 100 years after the classic N64 title The Wind Waker is arguably the most epic in the series to date. The game    The Legend of Zelda franchise is highly regarded in gaming circles with the Ocarina of Time regularly featuring near the top of 'Best Ever Game' lists. As a result The Wind Waker had a lot to live up to on release, fortunately Nintendo have yet again delivered.

    Taking place 100 years after the classic N64 title The Wind Waker is arguably the most epic in the series to date. The game starts on Link's birthday as he is given the famous green outfit that every boy receives upon reaching a certain age. Before the celebrations are over however his sister is kidnapped and thus begins his quest. Players will soon notice that Hyrule has changed greatly in the past 100 years and following a great flood everyone is forced to travel by boat. Despite this the play mechanics are similar to its N64 predecessors with the islands dotted around the world acting as the usual dungeons with puzzles to solve and enemies to defeat.

    Some of these dungeons are perhaps a little similar but a number of minor tweaks and improvements help to differentiate the game from others in the series. Control of Link is now far more intuitive and every action can be executed with a level of precision that even most modern games cannot match with the Gamecubes C-Stick now allowing for manual control of the camera helping to alleviate any line of sight problems. Combat is also improved with enemies offering visual clues as to their next attack allowing the player to react with cinematic attacks if they time there moves correctly.

    A sense of scale is maintained throughout the game with players being able to travel virtually anyway right from the get go with only few areas being inaccessible for plot reasons. Travelling across the seas in your boat is for the most part an enjoyable experience with random enemy encounters keeping you on your toes. Strangely it is the Wind Waker instrument itself that is the biggest annoyance. Playing it changes the direction of the wind allowing link to sail in the desired direction but an animation sequence, that cannot be skipped, means this takes far longer than necessary and can be particularly irritating when you need to change direction two or three times to reach your destination.

    It is easy to forget any minor problems however when given over twenty hours of gameplay and the best graphics of any game on the console (or most other consoles for that matter). The Wind Waker is an underrated gem in the Zelda series and well worth picking up on the Gamecube or Wii console.    … Expand
  11. doodlerman
    Jun 12, 2011
    10
    When I saw the game's graphics I was pretty disappointed having grown up with OOT and MM, but I grew to accept it the instant I stared playing. This is one of the best Zelda games there is, and the animation actually works to invoke a certain emotional sense that previous games in the series didn't allow the characters to have. This really is a great game, and the story increases the loreWhen I saw the game's graphics I was pretty disappointed having grown up with OOT and MM, but I grew to accept it the instant I stared playing. This is one of the best Zelda games there is, and the animation actually works to invoke a certain emotional sense that previous games in the series didn't allow the characters to have. This really is a great game, and the story increases the lore of Hyrule and creates an entirely new world to explore. There's lots of great side-quests and a vast ocean to explore. There's very little not to do in this game, and you can't beat it in a matter of a few hours. This is a game that will take you a few days at the very least and is definitely worth buying.… Expand
  12. Caestus
    Feb 26, 2013
    9
    Great Zelda Game. I like the whole Idea with the Sea and the Sailing and everything else is top. In the beginning I wasn´t sure about Wind Waker because of the graphics but it turned out to be a great game.
  13. asggamefan
    Jun 18, 2011
    8
    Much better then I expected! Sure sailing around the ocean was tedious at times but it was part of what made the Wind Waker unique. The graphics and look of the game had it's ups and downs but it was still filled with predominately ups. Still a great game that I would recommend especially for fans of the Legend of Zelda series.
  14. helena23
    Oct 31, 2011
    10
    one of the best games ever!!!! on par with oot and mm but very diferent, i ve played this game for more than 100 h just finishing side quests imagine how BIG is this game, it also features AMAZING visuals clean sharp with great animation a superb draw distance.....masterpiece.......haters go fawk yourself
  15. snowsnows85
    May 19, 2012
    8
    An epic game but could have been so much more. Less sailing would have been a lot more enjoyable and maybe better dungeons and richer story line. Saving your sister and bumping into Zelda is kind of strange. I did enjoy the art style very much though. Needed better items and better dungeons too.
  16. StevenEvans0
    Nov 3, 2011
    10
    Such a paramount piece of my childhood. i got this game back in 2003, shortly after its release, and was quickly addicted. To this day I love picking up the game with my college buddies and exploring the Great Sea. Great story, fantastic setting, unparalleled gameplay, and fantastic music.
  17. Zilcell
    Nov 6, 2011
    10
    Traveling through the Great Seas of Zelda Wind Waker shows that few games have ever had greater visuals. It is such a fun game that it made me forget about Ocarina of Time for a while. It deserves a 10 for many reasons, but none more than for its graphics and gameplay, which are amazing. It is better than Ocarina of Time in my opinion.
  18. makosheva7
    Nov 12, 2011
    9
    Wind Waker, the primary Zelda game in the Gamecube's lifespan, is one of the most unique Zelda games ever. Exploration is increased in this game, although you will find yourself in large patches of ocean that contain nothing a lot of the time. This time, Link transverses from point A to point B via boat over the Great Sea, instead of the land of Hyrule. The cel shaded graphics areWind Waker, the primary Zelda game in the Gamecube's lifespan, is one of the most unique Zelda games ever. Exploration is increased in this game, although you will find yourself in large patches of ocean that contain nothing a lot of the time. This time, Link transverses from point A to point B via boat over the Great Sea, instead of the land of Hyrule. The cel shaded graphics are gorgeous, definitely a smart choice by Nintendo. Wind Waker's story occurs 1000 years after Ocarina of Time, and expands on those events so effectively. It is so traditional Zelda, it gives me nostalgia shivers. The gameplay is as solid as ever, including a couple of additions to the swordplay like the parry attack, which is nice. The pacing in the game would be near perfect if it weren't for a very tedious collecting process close to the end of the game. The overworld design, despite some blankness is one of my favorites of the series. I actually feel like a sailor. If I could give this game a score between 9 and a 10 I would... specifically a score of 9.7.… Expand
  19. pankrazpancreas
    Nov 14, 2011
    10
    Every zelda game is great, they all just have feel to them that no other series can create, wind waker is simply magical. easily my favourite zelda, the vast ocean, is like i said: vast, with loads of little islands to explore, and hundreds of secrets to discover. what makes this zelda so much better than the others is the fantastic atmosphere it has, the cartoony cel shaded art style andEvery zelda game is great, they all just have feel to them that no other series can create, wind waker is simply magical. easily my favourite zelda, the vast ocean, is like i said: vast, with loads of little islands to explore, and hundreds of secrets to discover. what makes this zelda so much better than the others is the fantastic atmosphere it has, the cartoony cel shaded art style and fantastic music help create this but i can't help but think it would still have almost the same magic if it was sprite based and on the snes. all the characters in the game just ooze, well, character, and because of this you've got a permanent smile on your face while you play. sailing your ship across this huge ocean just feels infinitely more dramatic and exciting than running across the fields of OoT or TP. and there is a real fear of when you may actually be forced to fight while on the sea, your confined to the boat, which as a sail boat, has two settings: too fast or too slow for combat. this can make for some exiting battles but finding an island or submarine and climbing onto it to fight is ultimately more fun, luckily you'll get a cannon eventually, which means you wont just speed past most of the ocean enemies. i could waffle on about the game for hours but in the end, it's the same old zelda formula, and it's just as good as ever, and due to a fantastic game world, is the strongest entry in the series.… Expand
  20. Kirisoul
    Nov 23, 2011
    10
    If you can get past the graphics (which I personally prefer) then this is perhaps the best entry in the Zelda series. It has an absolutely massive overworld, it's often hard to progress the story because there's just so much random interesting stuff! Once you do get to the dungeons, they are cleverly designed, and the game overall has a sense of epicness to it. My favorite Zelda, and IIf you can get past the graphics (which I personally prefer) then this is perhaps the best entry in the Zelda series. It has an absolutely massive overworld, it's often hard to progress the story because there's just so much random interesting stuff! Once you do get to the dungeons, they are cleverly designed, and the game overall has a sense of epicness to it. My favorite Zelda, and I have played all of them from OoT.… Expand
  21. DevastatorBrawl
    Dec 8, 2012
    10
    There is a reason why this is my favorite game of all time. I had it as a kid and loved it. And I still love it today. Fun, amazing graphics, emotional, epic, and very recommended. 10/10.
  22. Blueburn
    Dec 7, 2011
    10
    Greatest Game Cube title ever made. Along with Ocarina of Time the greatest game ever made for consoles. People who like The Wind Waker will also like Phantom Hourglass for the Nintendo DS.
  23. Baub
    Jan 17, 2012
    9
    Fantastic Legend of Zelda game, very unique with a more light hearted approach. Although the game needed a few more dungeons and some harder boss fights.
  24. castillle
    Dec 20, 2011
    10
    This game is one of those games that I play and finish. Then after a while I play it again. Because its that good. I loved every single thing about this game! Only problem was my classmate taking it and never giving it back :( It was a special edition with the ocarina of time too!! T_T
  25. NyberX
    Apr 6, 2013
    10
    Im replaying this masterpiece at the moment. This game was my first LoZ game and its my favorite. I never grow tired of sailing over The Great Sea. The dungeons were a bit too short but that doesn't matter. Overall a great game!
  26. BeatHour
    Jun 11, 2012
    10
    Certainly my favorite Zelda game. Lots of fun content. cool storyline with a great ending, one of the best game atmospheres ever created. Beautiful graphics, great gameplay; although some dungeons are forgettable.
  27. Jackthebrit
    May 26, 2012
    10
    My favourite childhood game of all time. I loved every aspect of this game; story, gameplay, etc and I especially loved two aspects of the game alot of fans disliked; sailing and the cel-shaded graphics. The sailing was one of my favourite parts of the game because of the vast ocean that I loved to explore and find new islands to explore and find hidden treasure in them. The graphics was aMy favourite childhood game of all time. I loved every aspect of this game; story, gameplay, etc and I especially loved two aspects of the game alot of fans disliked; sailing and the cel-shaded graphics. The sailing was one of my favourite parts of the game because of the vast ocean that I loved to explore and find new islands to explore and find hidden treasure in them. The graphics was a nice turn of style as it was all bright and colourful which was nice and made me want to sail the ocean when it was day as it was all very bright and made me feel happy and adventurous. As I said before ever aspect was great and there were no flaws at all.… Expand
  28. wesker2012
    Apr 17, 2013
    10
    One of my favorite games of all time and my favorite Zelda game. Its one of the best gaming worlds ever created. The artsyle and graphics are still amazing to this day....better than a lot of games nowadays and a lot more fun. The game has this amazing whimsical charm that transports you to this Disney-like World where you have to overcome evil. The people are kooky and fun to talk toOne of my favorite games of all time and my favorite Zelda game. Its one of the best gaming worlds ever created. The artsyle and graphics are still amazing to this day....better than a lot of games nowadays and a lot more fun. The game has this amazing whimsical charm that transports you to this Disney-like World where you have to overcome evil. The people are kooky and fun to talk to and you encounter so many fun locations that you must explore and figure out how to traverse...its fantastic exploration element is what most games are missing nowadays. Its true, finding the triforce pieces near the end was truly a pain in the ass, but overall this game is still a masterpiece. Few games can match the soul of this game. Few games fully immerse and truly transport you to a faraway land. I remember first playing the game, and not liking the cartoony style or the simplicity of the characters, dialogue, and story. But as I played more and more, the game really grew on me. Years later, when I looked back on the game from time to time, I realized how much fun I really had playing the game. This is a game that sticks with you for a lifetime :D… Expand
  29. disview912
    Aug 10, 2012
    10
    Wind Waker is a once in a lifetime kind of adventure, and is certainly in my top 5 favorite games of all time. It is a game that is timeless, because even today it trumps many games being released, not only in gameplay, but in visuals and aesthetics. Wind Waker is a rare gem that will hold it's splendor and depth for decades, provided the hardware lasts.
  30. Globox
    Jun 13, 2012
    10
    One of the best Zeldas in the series. Fantastic art graphics and smooth gameplay. Easy for anyone to play. Storyline is once again top notch as is the entire environment. Probably one of the best soundtracks of any game out there. Aside from it being extremely fun, this Zelda title brought me back to loving the series since Ocarina of Time. In my opinion, it was probably the best inOne of the best Zeldas in the series. Fantastic art graphics and smooth gameplay. Easy for anyone to play. Storyline is once again top notch as is the entire environment. Probably one of the best soundtracks of any game out there. Aside from it being extremely fun, this Zelda title brought me back to loving the series since Ocarina of Time. In my opinion, it was probably the best in the series since I fell in love with the whole game.… Expand
  31. vervain
    Jul 4, 2019
    10
    For fans of exploration-based games, this chapter in the Zelda franchise is not to be missed.
  32. SwitSwat
    Jul 31, 2014
    10
    Much controversy still revolves around this title due to it's cutesy art style. Nonetheless, this has turned out to be an amazing title in the series. Clever dungeons, awesome art style (You know you like it), and memorable characters make it this one of the best Zelda adventures ever. 10/10 (I also reviewed the Wii U version)
  33. Someguy151015
    Aug 23, 2012
    10
    When I first saw this game I was like, "WHAT THEY DO TO THE GRAPHICS?". That kept me from buying WW in the first place. I then played this game at a friend's house and it was amazing. Large over-world to explore, great story and potential to speed-run. 10/10 and that's being strict in my rating.
  34. chronoT
    Sep 5, 2012
    8
    Before I say anything else, I will say that overall Wind Waker is an extremely innovative and intriguing Zelda title, worthy of the addition to the series. I will however say that there are a few things here that set this game back from being the "perfect gem" it could have been. First off, while the graphics are cartoonish, they feel smooth after adapting and fit well with the ZeldaBefore I say anything else, I will say that overall Wind Waker is an extremely innovative and intriguing Zelda title, worthy of the addition to the series. I will however say that there are a few things here that set this game back from being the "perfect gem" it could have been. First off, while the graphics are cartoonish, they feel smooth after adapting and fit well with the Zelda theme. Some environments including dungeons do lack some excitement though, the depth portrayed in previous titles is hindered by the graphics. The game play is very solid and boss fights are challenging, but overall I feel the difficulty is not on par with other titles. Finding certain items and areas can take some time, but the excessive time spent at sea can get EXTREMELY tedious. With a few flaws set aside though, Wind Waker is actually a blast to play, the story is great, and the entire adventure will take some serious time. If you are a Zelda fan like me, this game is worth exploring if you haven't already, just make sure you don't get sea-sick.… Expand
  35. Orangeknockout
    Jul 25, 2013
    9
    beautiful game, beautiful atmosphere, beautiful music, beautiftul story! what more can i say! its incredibly fun going out and exploring the islands in the deep great sea! the world is so vast with tons of content to discover! you feel so free in this game! you can literally go anywhere in the map right from the get go! it would probably take you about 30 to 40 minutes to travel from onebeautiful game, beautiful atmosphere, beautiful music, beautiftul story! what more can i say! its incredibly fun going out and exploring the islands in the deep great sea! the world is so vast with tons of content to discover! you feel so free in this game! you can literally go anywhere in the map right from the get go! it would probably take you about 30 to 40 minutes to travel from one side of the map to the other! a great and wondrous game! the music is great and fits in well with what this game is trying to portray! an epic story, epic final boss battle, and lots of interesting quirky characters to meet!

    only complaint with game! its too easy! way too easy! and sometimes i cant help but wonder how great this game wouldve looked if it was aimed for realistic graphics! the graphics are good, they are,! its very stylized! so i wont bang on the graphics!

    overall the game is superb! if only this game was harder and more challenging, then this game wouldve fringed even closer to perfect!

    9 out of 10!    … Expand
  36. Blakenator
    Jan 19, 2013
    10
    One of the greatest games of my childhood and to this day is the Wind Waker. Never before have I seen such a beautiful, unique world that enraptures the player with a seamless combination of wonderful gameplay, story, and aesthetics. Everything in this game exudes a timeless magic that I hope one day my children, and even you, can experience.
  37. MegaBassMan13
    Jan 30, 2013
    10
    First off, this is my favorite game of all time. This game has an amazing nostalgia factor and the graphics style is my favorite of all Zelda games. I love the sailing mechanics, it felt open when sailing. It is kind of like Far Cry of Elder Scrolls, you want to walk everywhere because the world is beautiful and there are things you can do when not completing dungeons. The story isFirst off, this is my favorite game of all time. This game has an amazing nostalgia factor and the graphics style is my favorite of all Zelda games. I love the sailing mechanics, it felt open when sailing. It is kind of like Far Cry of Elder Scrolls, you want to walk everywhere because the world is beautiful and there are things you can do when not completing dungeons. The story is great, and with the official timeline out, it fits in. I love the characters and they are interesting. I want to delve into the lore of this game because the Zelda lore is terrific. The gameplay is terrific and the dungeons are great. The one I did not like as much was the final dungeon, it felt too short. The final dungeon of OoT was great, it was the perfect size. But other than that, I love everything about the game. The items are great (the telescope is the only exception), which is one thing Zelda does right. The items are always creative. The quests are great, using the advantage of the Great Sea and boat travel. The Wind Waker was great playing the different songs on, it felt easy to use but a bit more complex than other Zelda games. I love almost everything about this game. If I could give it a 9.9, I would. This game is a must-own for any gamer. Get OoT, MM, and this game. You will have enough Zelda games for quite some times.… Expand
  38. shprea
    Jun 21, 2013
    10
    Simply put, this game is a masterpiece. It takes the solid structure of OoT and the creativity of MM and perfects them both. It's not without flaw, but the faults are easy to overlook. One of the best Zelda games around.
    9.6/10
  39. JoshBresser
    Mar 23, 2013
    9
    This game is a beautifully crafted masterpiece. The graphics are not only colorful and vibrant, they really are timeless. This game doesn't look like a game from 2003 by any means.

    The game itself is rather easy, but offers hours upon hours of a fun gaming experience. The sailing gets a bit tedious after awhile and requires the right mindset to be in for a proper experience. However,    This game is a beautifully crafted masterpiece. The graphics are not only colorful and vibrant, they really are timeless. This game doesn't look like a game from 2003 by any means.

    The game itself is rather easy, but offers hours upon hours of a fun gaming experience. The sailing gets a bit tedious after awhile and requires the right mindset to be in for a proper experience. However, this is fitting for a game like this as it sets an adventurous tone. The middle part of the game drags a little bit, with the whole triforce fetch quest (to avoid spoilers, I won't go into here.) Let's just say that it takes a lot of time and is pretty repetitive.

    Overall, this game is one of the stronger Legend of Zelda titles out there. If you haven't picked it up yet, what are you waiting for?     … Expand
  40. JohnWitten
    Aug 12, 2013
    10
    Honestly, if I had to choose one of the Zelda titles to be my first and foremost favorite LoZ title of all time, I wouldn't choose Ocarina of Time, Twilight Princess, A Link to the Past, or any other game- I would choose Wind Waker. Everything from the reinvented art style to the awesome assortment of gadgets and gizmos you collect over your high flying high seas adventure just screams outHonestly, if I had to choose one of the Zelda titles to be my first and foremost favorite LoZ title of all time, I wouldn't choose Ocarina of Time, Twilight Princess, A Link to the Past, or any other game- I would choose Wind Waker. Everything from the reinvented art style to the awesome assortment of gadgets and gizmos you collect over your high flying high seas adventure just screams out 'epic!' to me for some reason. The boss fights were almost always phenomenal and invigorating. The areas of the world opened up to you after defeating bosses, collecting new items, or learning new tricks were always fun to explore and awesome to experience firsthand. Interacting with the awesome NPCs from Beetle to Pearl or Tetra was always exciting and even humorous or scary at times. Gannon's reimagined form was terrifying and powerful, the twist with Zelda comes at the perfect time, and tying all of that in to the original, driving story line behind nearly ever Zelda game- with Hyrule meeting some odd end or being trapped elsewhere, was epic if there ever was a true sense of the word. All in all, I loved the way the GC used the controls, even how it tied in your GB or GBA with the Tingle Tuner and other funny gizmos. The open world was one of the largest yet, and is still almost as big as others such as Twilight Princess. The experience was just...beyond true words for me. And for that reason, Wind Waker is the only perfect ten that I've ever given out in the years I've been reviewing games, and it is completely deserving of the hundreds of hours I've spent playing and replaying excellent dungeons such as Tower of the Gods and Earth Temple. You go Nintendo, and all because of what you did with this game, which is easily my favorite one out of all the others you've ever crafted. This is my love letter for Zelda essentially, and I implore you to at least give it a try if you haven't yet.… Expand
  41. BillzHere
    Jul 22, 2014
    10
    What can be said about this game other than that it truly defines Ethereal. I grew up with this game as a kid, it was certainly gaming at it's finest.

    Where do we begin? This game presents a great story, a very immersive one at that. The game controls and runs as smooth as butter. Combat is exciting and is as smooth as the rest of the gameplay. One of my favorite features of this game    What can be said about this game other than that it truly defines Ethereal. I grew up with this game as a kid, it was certainly gaming at it's finest.

    Where do we begin? This game presents a great story, a very immersive one at that. The game controls and runs as smooth as butter. Combat is exciting and is as smooth as the rest of the gameplay. One of my favorite features of this game is that enemies react to getting hit, losing armor, or not even having a weapon; it provides a good laugh or chuckle seeing them react to it. Level design is fantastic, dungeons are fun but can also be puzzling and difficult at some points (as to expect from a Legend of Zelda game). The game's style is great and is very attractive, but a major positive about this game is it's soundtrack. This game has one of the most memorable soundtracks I've ever played in a video game. I remember just about every boss theme, and area tune that plays every now and then.

    Out of all the Legend of Zelda games, I have to say that this game is probably the best. I recommend it to anyone.    … Expand
  42. Ridikulus
    Jun 22, 2013
    10
    Wind Waker is a very fun and epic game. Many have complained about the game being too short and sailing being boring, but in my opinion sailing was relaxing and, maybe I was just stupid or did a lot of sidequests, but the game felt really long to me. The dungeons are fun and diverse, there is a lot to see and do on the Great Sea, combat was fun (although too easy for the most part),Wind Waker is a very fun and epic game. Many have complained about the game being too short and sailing being boring, but in my opinion sailing was relaxing and, maybe I was just stupid or did a lot of sidequests, but the game felt really long to me. The dungeons are fun and diverse, there is a lot to see and do on the Great Sea, combat was fun (although too easy for the most part), characters are mostly great and unforgettable and the story was good too. There are a few flaws, like the easiness, but I enjoyed it so much, that I'm giving it a perfect ten.… Expand
  43. noel94
    Aug 20, 2013
    10
    I quite literally adore this game, forget that it is even part of a series, this is my favorite game ever.

    Are you looking for a game that you can sit down and play casually for half an hour before work? Are you looking for one that you could spend hours on without getting bored? Well you can do either with this game. The player friendly attitude of this game welcomes any type of gamer,    I quite literally adore this game, forget that it is even part of a series, this is my favorite game ever.

    Are you looking for a game that you can sit down and play casually for half an hour before work? Are you looking for one that you could spend hours on without getting bored? Well you can do either with this game. The player friendly attitude of this game welcomes any type of gamer, and I found myself sucked into the story for hours at a time. Its easy to say to yourself 'I'll complete this dungeon and go to bed' but then you find yourself curious as to where the adventure goes next and if it isn't your first play through of the game it's just as easy to find yourself remembering the next brilliant part of the story and playing for a bit longer.

    The one thing that will strike you about the game is the graphics, which are a lot more cartoony than some fans may appreciate but I think they work perfectly. They are a constant reminder of how you should be feeling whilst playing this game, calm and relaxed. Whether you like the graphics or not there is no denying that Link's facial expressions are hilarious and more importantly informative, you can always tell how our young hero is feeling. If he is angry you can tell, if he is frightened he will look scared and if he is happy then you will see this expression etched across his face.

    The gameplay is flawless and everything works how you feel it should, combat is fun and item usage easy. The gameplay in this game does everything it should, and because it is so easy to grasp you can put your focus into enjoying the well told story.

    Though this is quite a short game (for Zelda standards) this to just adds to the relaxed and light hearted atmosphere, it doesn't take long to get to the next part of the story and keeps momentum going for the most part.

    The main theme of this game is the sailing which is good fun and is a great way to add exploration to the game. It is easy to pick up and is an interesting way to travel around the huge world. There is one part of the story where the sailing did become a bit of a chore but I am not going to give away spoilers and people who have already played this will know what I am referring to anyway, but this is the only part of the game I didn't enjoy.

    The fairly low difficulty of the game does not make the experience at all unenjoyable but again fits with the atmosphere of the game. Everything just feels right.

    If you have already played this game, then go and play it again, if you have not then get yourself a copy! Either on GameCube or wait until the Wii U HD release. You will not regret it.    … Expand
  44. LairdEJM
    Sep 11, 2013
    9
    Very engaging, with a new take on the Zelda universe with the addition of the great sea, and cell shaded graphics. Although starts off a little sluggishly the game delivers an excellent plot where Link finds a new world on each island. The islands themselves are always exciting to stumble across, however I feel that they are a bit small and don't give the sense of habitability and realism.Very engaging, with a new take on the Zelda universe with the addition of the great sea, and cell shaded graphics. Although starts off a little sluggishly the game delivers an excellent plot where Link finds a new world on each island. The islands themselves are always exciting to stumble across, however I feel that they are a bit small and don't give the sense of habitability and realism.
    Nonetheless the game is rightly considered a classic, with many brilliant moments, my favourite being the construction of the Triforce during a difficult and challenging but thoroughly rewarding hunt.

    Well worth a purchase as it is a true legend, no pun intended.    … Expand
  45. DragooDJ
    Sep 18, 2013
    10
    The Best Game In The Whole UNIVERSE!!!! I loved it! So amazing,so...AWESOME!!!! Better than the other zelda games(Expect from Ocarina Of Time and Majora's Mask)
  46. Mangekeyo
    Sep 17, 2013
    10
    While most people say Ocarina of Time is the greatest game of all time (and it certainly is a true masterpiece) there is one Zelda which is even better: The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker. The game is possibly the greatest game ever created or if not, atleast the best on the gamecube. The game's visuals (which are unfairly criticized) are gorgeous even 10 years later. While the gameplayWhile most people say Ocarina of Time is the greatest game of all time (and it certainly is a true masterpiece) there is one Zelda which is even better: The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker. The game is possibly the greatest game ever created or if not, atleast the best on the gamecube. The game's visuals (which are unfairly criticized) are gorgeous even 10 years later. While the gameplay is mostly the same as Ocarina, the few slight tweaks and adjustments mix it, the games only poor section the the infamous Triforce Quest, however the rest of the game is incredible enough to overshadow that portion. Very few games can even come close to the amazing experience of The Wind Waker.… Expand
  47. YellowMan64
    Sep 18, 2013
    9
    It's better than Ocarina of Time in my opinion, but the sailing and Triforce quest is annoying. Using the Wind Waker for changing direction of the wind and the command melody gets extremely annoying.
    Advice for people that haven't played the game: Buy lots of bait from Beedle's, and put them out for a fish as you play the game, not all at the last minute. It helps a bunch.
  48. Klingozu
    Oct 23, 2013
    10
    Holy this IS the best game Ever EVERYBODY who dont like are brain****ted the time where I played this was the BEST time in my hole entire life I THANK YOU NINTENDO shame on me for playing this I don't deserve it.
  49. AugustusCB
    Dec 1, 2013
    9
    The Wind Waker is as good and as magical as any Zelda game can get. There is yet to be game that gives such an amazing sense of adventure as its being played. The combat feels refined, the characters and story are memorable, and the presentation with its stunning visuals, charming art style, and marvelous soundtrack fits perfectly with the experience. It's something great to experience toThe Wind Waker is as good and as magical as any Zelda game can get. There is yet to be game that gives such an amazing sense of adventure as its being played. The combat feels refined, the characters and story are memorable, and the presentation with its stunning visuals, charming art style, and marvelous soundtrack fits perfectly with the experience. It's something great to experience to this day. This is the series at its finest.… Expand
  50. MisterButter
    Dec 12, 2013
    10
    The best part about this game, is the big giant open world to explore, you can just sail for hours and never get bored. Sure some people may complain about the different style of graphics but that is what makes this game unique.
  51. OrochiSlayer
    Dec 20, 2013
    9
    The only reason I'm not giving this a ten is because sailing is kind of boring but that's what the Cyclone Song is for!!! The graphics look amazing, the music was great, and it had the only camera in a 3D Zelda game that I DIDN'T HATE!
  52. scarypancake
    Dec 20, 2013
    9
    This game is one of the best games I've played for GameCube! The graphics are awesome and shiny. The gameplay is very good when you actually know what you are doing. I used to play this game when I was 4 years old.
  53. poyumaps
    Dec 27, 2014
    10
    I review my games truthfully, and I have to be honest with you, the person reading this review... this game is AMAZING. I am not even a fan of the Zelda games, but the vast and colourful world was a huge step from the depressing world that was Majora's Mask (It was still a great game, just not a favourite of mine).

    The creativity put into this game was incredible! With jars that    I review my games truthfully, and I have to be honest with you, the person reading this review... this game is AMAZING. I am not even a fan of the Zelda games, but the vast and colourful world was a huge step from the depressing world that was Majora's Mask (It was still a great game, just not a favourite of mine).

    The creativity put into this game was incredible! With jars that teleport you back to the beginning, midway and to the boss door so you won't have to slog back to the beginning if you need supplies was pretty awesome. The follow up Zelda (Twilight Princess) just didn't feel as warm and cheerful as this game. Because when you sister gets abducted you just have that feeling to go rescue her as when you played Twilight Princess you just didn't know what was happening.

    The art style really captivated me, the cel-shaded look really brought the beauty of the game out and the amount of blue in this game almost blinds you it looks incredible!

    A great feature they added in this game was sailing from destination to destination. Sometimes you got interrupted with an enemy that you needed to kill or you find some goodies that you need to fetch makes it very interesting to see what else is in the ocean.

    The one truly thing about this game that was the icing on the cake was the soundtrack. With the catchy tunes when you first arrive on an island (Dragon Roost FTW!) from when you go into a boss battle and that intense music that gets you motivated to kick some butt!

    Lastly, not much to say about gameplay as its the same with every other Zelda game. Fluent controllers, perfect camera angle, and its easy to slice someone up without missing. The puzzles can be tedious at points but when you finally solve it, it feels like you just became God for about 5 seconds.

    I recommend this game to anyone who owns a Gamecube (or a Wii U and grab the HD version). Its a 10 for me, the one game that felt almost near perfection because nothing is perfect so it deserves a 10.    … Expand
  54. thegamermaimer
    May 11, 2014
    10
    I remember all the hate this game got when it first came out. I was just a kid and had no preconceived notions, so I gave it a chance and bought it new. Nostalgia aside, this game is truly one of those experiences that only Nintendo can provide. Its just magical, and if you doubt me, just give it a try.
  55. Togepix
    Jun 3, 2014
    10
    Cool artstyle, great gameplay, flawless story and an amazing soundtrack. What more can you ask for?

    I can understand how some wouldn't take the game seriously because of the artstyle, but this **** is not to be underestimated. I felt sorry for the game, at the time, as many fans were disappointed in the way it looked, but I believe so many were really suprised when it came out. The    Cool artstyle, great gameplay, flawless story and an amazing soundtrack. What more can you ask for?

    I can understand how some wouldn't take the game seriously because of the artstyle, but this **** is not to be underestimated. I felt sorry for the game, at the time, as many fans were disappointed in the way it looked, but I believe so many were really suprised when it came out. The story, as I said, is the unique part about this game, along with the beautiful music. One of my faves. Thank you, Nintendo.    … Expand
  56. hon777
    Sep 20, 2014
    9
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. This game gave me the opposite reaction of Twilight Princess. When I saw they had decided to make a cartoonish Zelda, it was a massive turn-off for me, so much that I hesitated to play it (the complete opposite of Twilight Princess where I was excited to play it). Then when I got the game, it exceeded my expectations (once again opposite of Twilight Princess where it failed my expectations), the overworld is beautiful and the exploration is just magical. The characters were vibrant and memorable, and the gameplay was well done (though it did not bring much gameplay to the series). The one qualm I have with this game is that the sailing takes too long, even when warp points start to appear in the game. The Triforce quest was also boring and took away from the excitement I had in this time so that when I got to Ganondorf I had to hype myself up again. However, overall that does not take away from how good this game was. 9.3/10… Expand
  57. Sephiroth_X
    Oct 25, 2014
    9
    After a link to the past, this is my favorite zelda, may be not as challenging as ocarina but the nice world in which happens this tale won me over, love the visuals, they are stunning.

    Only bad thing i can say about this game is the boat travel, gets tedious quickly and thanks to it i never played it again. Ive read that in the WiiU remake they fixed this so im getting it for sure!
  58. Courageismight
    Nov 28, 2014
    10
    Windwaker fantastic game lacks some sophistication on some levels and has some lack of replay value but the characters in the game are incredible and so are the controls not a whiff of the wretched WII MOTE GARBAGE great puzzles a fascinating ocean great storyline enemies and a great plot with seriousness and humor both in it its a game that everyone should like.
    If you don't like this    Windwaker fantastic game lacks some sophistication on some levels and has some lack of replay value but the characters in the game are incredible and so are the controls not a whiff of the wretched WII MOTE GARBAGE great puzzles a fascinating ocean great storyline enemies and a great plot with seriousness and humor both in it its a game that everyone should like.
    If you don't like this game you should try Ocarina of Time a game SO good I have NOTHING to say bad about it because its completely sophisticated and it has almost everything that you liked about Windwaker except the ocean and some of the humor.
    Twilight Princess and Skyward Sword are also good as for Hyrule Warriors its good but has problems
    Windwaker definitely worth playing and getting but thats just my opinion I am impartial to giving it a high rating    … Expand
  59. WheelzFourReelz
    Dec 30, 2014
    8
    This game does have some frustrating moments and the controls take some getting used to, but The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker is a very fun and charming game that everyone needs to play.
  60. LuisAntonio
    Dec 6, 2015
    9
    A lot of red numbers again. Jesus. Anyway, this is one of the best zelda´s. The graphics are excelent, the music gives you a feel of liberty, the gameplay is very good. One of the best games of 2003. In the other side I would like more islands hehe. At the beginning I was not comfortable with the design of the characters, but now I think that was a good move from nintendo because it gaveA lot of red numbers again. Jesus. Anyway, this is one of the best zelda´s. The graphics are excelent, the music gives you a feel of liberty, the gameplay is very good. One of the best games of 2003. In the other side I would like more islands hehe. At the beginning I was not comfortable with the design of the characters, but now I think that was a good move from nintendo because it gave to zelda´s franchise a new perspective. If you have the game keep it. If you dont have it, get it now !!… Expand
  61. Ross115
    Aug 11, 2015
    10
    Even though I'm not a Legend of Zelda fan (I'm mostly a Playstation gamer) this is easily one of my favourite games of all time and the best game on the GameCube hands down (followed closely by Super Smash Bros Melee). The beautiful for it's time graphics, the memorable characters, the great level design in the dungeons, the brilliant combat along with plenty of interesting items and theEven though I'm not a Legend of Zelda fan (I'm mostly a Playstation gamer) this is easily one of my favourite games of all time and the best game on the GameCube hands down (followed closely by Super Smash Bros Melee). The beautiful for it's time graphics, the memorable characters, the great level design in the dungeons, the brilliant combat along with plenty of interesting items and the interesting islands waiting for you to explore are some of the many reasons why this entry in the series is up there with Ocarina of Time and Majora's Mask.… Expand
  62. DailySalesman
    Mar 22, 2015
    9
    The Wind Waker had quite a challenge ahead of it: overcoming Ocarina of Time and Majora's Mask would be no easy feat. Unfortunately, it didn't accomplish it but it's still an excellent Zelda experience nonetheless. One of my favorite things here is the graphical art style. It's definitely timeless. The sea exploring and combat are all nice even if sailing for hours on end will getThe Wind Waker had quite a challenge ahead of it: overcoming Ocarina of Time and Majora's Mask would be no easy feat. Unfortunately, it didn't accomplish it but it's still an excellent Zelda experience nonetheless. One of my favorite things here is the graphical art style. It's definitely timeless. The sea exploring and combat are all nice even if sailing for hours on end will get repetitive. That's really the only thing keeping the game from getting a perfect score. Other than that, The Wind Waker is an amazing game.… Expand
  63. Shadobeaf
    Apr 11, 2015
    10
    This game was my childhood. Although I watched my big brother play it when I was young, I loved it. Now I have Wind Waker after losing it a few years ago. It has brought back so many childhood memories.
  64. DanHazy
    Mar 1, 2016
    9
    So you will know what type of gamer is writing this review, I'll list three of my favorite games
    .
    Atelier Totori Danganronpa Fire Emblem  THE BAD: So, as you may have heard, the game has blurry backgrounds. This was intentional and not many liked this. Believe me, it will bother you for the first few hours, but you quickly get used to it and won't even notice it after awhile.    So you will know what type of gamer is writing this review, I'll list three of my favorite games
    .
    Atelier Totori
    Danganronpa
    Fire Emblem 

    THE BAD:

    So, as you may have heard, the game has blurry backgrounds. This was intentional and not many liked this. Believe me, it will bother you for the first few hours, but you quickly get used to it and won't even notice it after awhile. 

    THE GOOD:

    GRAPHICS: Great look and art style. Very unique and colorful. This is part of what made the Wind Waker such a gem. 

    MUSIC: Great music, some of the best music you will hear in a platformer.

    GAMEPLAY: In my opinion, the Wind Waker has the best gameplay of any other Zelda title because they took out much of the complexity of the puzzles that is in a usual Zelda title.
      
    CLOSING COMMENTS:

    I'm not really a platformer guy, but this game was an exception. It's the best platformer I have played and I've played quiet a few in my day. Super Mario Sunshine runs a close second, but I still have to give the prize to the Wind Waker. 

    I recommend this game to anyone under 13. It may not be a game for every adult out there. Check out some YouTube videos of this game if you still do not know if it's right for you.

    That wraps this review up, hope it helps.     … Expand
  65. redyoshi777
    Jun 25, 2015
    9
    This game is the first game I've ever played in my life and i just love it. Collecting everything is such an adventure, and the characters are awesome. this game rocks!
  66. forevernes
    May 20, 2018
    9
    Un Zelda distinto y especial, uno de los the legend of zelda más profundos, nota 9.5
  67. kyle20ellis
    Mar 10, 2022
    10
    Warning: Spoilers
    You know I really don't hesitate to use the word masterpiece here, and I can assure you I'm not one to whip out the word lightly! It is so damn enormously charming and endlessly fun to play and get into. You get monsters, pirates, bird folk, adorable tiny leaf people, a ghost ship that's a real pain in the ass and a half to track down, a funny talking boat that helps you    Warning: Spoilers
    You know I really don't hesitate to use the word masterpiece here, and I can assure you I'm not one to whip out the word lightly! It is so damn enormously charming and endlessly fun to play and get into. You get monsters, pirates, bird folk, adorable tiny leaf people, a ghost ship that's a real pain in the ass and a half to track down, a funny talking boat that helps you to explore the sea and haul up endless treasure, and a classically evil dark lord who's far more powerful than you and who laughs in the face of dragons! It's seriously one of the most memorable and satisfying gaming experiences ever. From the moment you are able to move around and hit the pigs until they turn demonic and chase you off the little island you're hooked and the other reviewers that say so are right, you really can't help getting sucked into the world of Wind Waker and falling in love with it, at least I sure couldn't. I love the cell shaded style that it has, I think it makes it, it's gorgeously vibrant and it allowed for a lot more expressionful movement in the faces of the characters than ever before, with the whole story being told without a single real word being spoken, just very expressionful murmuring, and I loved that. And the whole wind conducting and sailing motif is really the heart and soul of it all... Yes the sailing never ends but it gives the game the grand sense of vastness and of exploration that makes it feel like a truly epic adventure, and the at the time 'controversial' cell-shaded style goes together with the big tone and theme of it. The child version of Link is my favourite version of the character, I got Phantom Hourglass and Spirit Tracks initially because of that and they were good games in their own right, if mere shadows of this one. For me it was fun just to explore and do all the side quests and smash the myriad types of Moblins and Chuchus into puffs of purple smoke with your sword! And the boss battles are suitably daunting, my favourite one is the battle against the giant bird, it's so satisfying to crush and conquer with the Skull Hammer the winged beast that swiped your little sister! My one complaint is that it's a bit on the easy side, with only the final extended boss fight against Ganon being genuinely difficult to defeat. It is a bit grindy at points, but that's hardly something to moan about the way I see it, at least it makes you work to progress through it a little. Anyway it's amazingly fun and I'll always love it, as it is a joy and a great classic of video-gaming. Thank you, and may you ride the fair winds of destiny wherever they may lead you!!!    … Expand
  68. xKahta
    Sep 4, 2015
    10
    A masterpiece that will always have a special place in my heart ... It's truly a magical game. My uncle bought it for me when I was 4 and I still play it to this day .. And it was so ahead of its time, every charcter evey place in the universe has its own personnality. Possibly one of the most underreated game of all time :)

    PS: Sorry for my bad english, but I had to write this review.    A masterpiece that will always have a special place in my heart ... It's truly a magical game. My uncle bought it for me when I was 4 and I still play it to this day .. And it was so ahead of its time, every charcter evey place in the universe has its own personnality. Possibly one of the most underreated game of all time :)

    PS: Sorry for my bad english, but I had to write this review. ^^
    Big ♥ - xKahta    … Expand
  69. Alef123
    Nov 4, 2015
    8
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. This is a Passable zelda game, only good, at the start was awesome with those cartoon graphics and everything, those expressions were good. Then the second act come, the earth temple was great but the wind temple was awfull. Then the search for the treasure chart and triforces i was dead by that part of boring. It's a good zelda game to beat but it's because is a zelda game. Expect good things at first expression but also expect things drop excitment after.… Expand
  70. EpicLadySponge
    Feb 23, 2016
    10
    Behold, my GameCube owners and Legend of Zelda fans, there's something you forgot to pick up if you're new to the fan base. It's the Wind Waker. Don't miss your shot to get this once in a lifetime game!
  71. Adrenalin
    Jan 3, 2016
    10
    The best Zelda ever, at least until now. Superb gameplay, story, music, graphics (for its time) and above all open world (especially for its time). However, if I look at games like Skyward Sword I think this franchise is dead. - Not forgetting that the average solo RPG just outclasses the Zelda-concept these days. Zelda: NX has to be a better Skyrim or Link will probably only live on inThe best Zelda ever, at least until now. Superb gameplay, story, music, graphics (for its time) and above all open world (especially for its time). However, if I look at games like Skyward Sword I think this franchise is dead. - Not forgetting that the average solo RPG just outclasses the Zelda-concept these days. Zelda: NX has to be a better Skyrim or Link will probably only live on in Smash like Pit and other legacy characters.… Expand
  72. yoshistar456
    Mar 21, 2016
    8
    What many consider the best Zelda game along with Ocarina of Time, uh, no. I don't hate this game, but I can never say this is the best Zelda by far. Let's start off with the problems. The soundtrack is a tiny eensy little bit dull. Especially for a Zelda game. The great sea is really, really huge and bare. It has to be the most expansive overworld in any Zelda game. But it's a little easyWhat many consider the best Zelda game along with Ocarina of Time, uh, no. I don't hate this game, but I can never say this is the best Zelda by far. Let's start off with the problems. The soundtrack is a tiny eensy little bit dull. Especially for a Zelda game. The great sea is really, really huge and bare. It has to be the most expansive overworld in any Zelda game. But it's a little easy to get lost, so watch out. Also, the dungeon design is somewhat simple. Never in this game did I have a part that stumped me for hours trying to figure out what to do next. Now the positives. This game is absolutely gorgeous. It's in my opinion, the best looking game on the Gamecube. Next, the story, oh god the story. It's one of the best in the series. I won't spoil it, but all I can say is... wow. Next, the combat. This game's combat is arguably the best in the Zelda franchise. It makes some enemies, like Darknuts, really, REALLY fun to fight. It feels really good to attack enemies again and again. When you killed the enemy, it makes you feel like you've killed a real life monster. In the end, Wind Waker, while not the best game in the series, is still something I recommend you beat at least once.… Expand
  73. KayVen17
    Jan 4, 2017
    9
    Deutsche Review - Kritik

    Der folgende Test ist in 5 Kategorien zusammengefasst. Diese 5 Kartegorien ergeben die Gesamtpunktzahl von 0 - 100 Punkten. Um einen passenden Userscore zu geben wird auf oder abgerundet. Bei 84 Punkten ergibt das einen User Score von 8. Bei 86 einen von Userscore von 9. Falls eine 85 kommt entscheide ich ob ich es eher positiv oder negativ nehme. Regeln    Deutsche Review - Kritik

    Der folgende Test ist in 5 Kategorien zusammengefasst. Diese 5 Kartegorien ergeben die Gesamtpunktzahl von 0 - 100 Punkten. Um einen passenden Userscore zu geben wird auf oder abgerundet. Bei 84 Punkten ergibt das einen User Score von 8. Bei 86 einen von Userscore von 9. Falls eine 85 kommt entscheide ich ob ich es eher positiv oder negativ nehme. Regeln verstanden?
    Dann sind hier meine Punkte.

    Mein persönlicher Score = 92/100
    Mein User Score = 9/10    … Expand
  74. GamecubeLover
    Jul 3, 2016
    10
    Your killing me Nintendo with these amazing games! Nintendo never makes me mad with this series. This game yet again is perfect. The graphics look so amazing and so relaxing. The story is great. Controls are amazing and I recommend it with all my heart. Play it now!
  75. mvpeter24
    Jul 2, 2016
    8
    The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker is the most divisive Zelda game ever. When it came out, fans criticized its visual style, but now, the game should be scrutinized for much different reasons.

    This is a Zelda game, and there are no *bad* Zelda games. But, admittedly, this game may be the weakest of the five currently released 3D Zelda titles. For all its highs, the game has more    The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker is the most divisive Zelda game ever. When it came out, fans criticized its visual style, but now, the game should be scrutinized for much different reasons.

    This is a Zelda game, and there are no *bad* Zelda games. But, admittedly, this game may be the weakest of the five currently released 3D Zelda titles. For all its highs, the game has more lows than any of the others in the series. More than anything else, this game seems bipolar, giving us some of the best moments in any Zelda game, but burying these moments under unnecessary sloppy gameplay and tedium.

    The game's atmosphere, visuals, and story are the best we've ever seen from the franchise. The sense of adventure in a Zelda game has never been as palpable as it is here in The Wind Waker. Sailing, while painfully slow, gives the player a sense of wonder that is unmatched in other Zelda titles. The graphics look incredible even 15 years down the line. The cel-shading graphical style may have been controversial at the time the game was made, but it has aged better than any other game in its generation. In terms of the story, Ganondorf's plight has never been as poignant as it is in this game. The game inspires you to care for its characters through dialogue that will make you laugh (mostly from Tetra) and make you think (mostly from Ganondorf).

    But while The Wind Waker hits it out of the park in so many respects, the game drags its feet an equal amount. The game's pacing is terrible. The first 3-4 hours of the game are filled with boring and frustrating stealth quests and overlong exposition. When the game finally takes the reins off and sets the player free, it feels like you've already been playing the game forever and leaves a bad taste in your mouth. The final two dungeons in the game: the "Wind Temple" and the "Earth Temple" are among the most forgettable dungeons in series history. The game never really introduces any groundbreaking items or concepts in its dungeons, just sort of rehashing the familiar puzzles we've done before. But, without a doubt, the biggest offense that this game has is its excessively tedious third act. After dungeoncrawling through the first two-thirds of the game, the entire game is mixed up and the player is stunned to find that there are no more dungeons for him to play. Instead, he must comb the open sea, looking for nine mini-dungeons where he will find "Triforce Charts." After obtaining these charts, the player must pay exorbitant amounts of money to have them translated. After they are translated, the player has to further decode the maps and find where they hide their treasure. Then, the player must go fishing in the open sea to for this treasure, called "Triforce Shards". Once all nine shards are obtained, the player can unlock the final boss. If this sounds tedious, it's because it is. This whole section of the game just serves to pad play time, and it is not satisfying at all. Any momentum the game had going for it is totally stopped when the player reaches this point, and the game just slowly crawls along, while the player just wants to fight the final boss already.

    If you're coming into the Zelda series as a new fan, don't pick this game to play as your first Zelda title. The visuals may be enticing, but the pacing is so poor that you should certainly choose a different title to start with. If you're a Zelda veteran, this game might not hit your highest expectations, but you'll still have fun with it.    … Expand
  76. Ferdud
    Sep 26, 2016
    9
    The legend of Zelda The Wind Waker is a highly enjoyable game. The story may seem cliché at times and always stressing the point that you are a hero in a huge adventure that is, personally, unrelateable. The graphics have not aged a bit even though the wii u remaster is indeed better. Gameplay is smooth and it will hardly ever feel repetitive since it masterfully makes the different andThe legend of Zelda The Wind Waker is a highly enjoyable game. The story may seem cliché at times and always stressing the point that you are a hero in a huge adventure that is, personally, unrelateable. The graphics have not aged a bit even though the wii u remaster is indeed better. Gameplay is smooth and it will hardly ever feel repetitive since it masterfully makes the different and varied gadgets to tackle specific enemies. Needless to say, most of these items are carried over from The Legend of Zelda Ocarina of Time and The Legend of Zelda Majora's Mask. Niw its time to talk about the new feature of this game, sailing. It never gets to be boring and the sailing song is simply a masterpiece. I actually pissed off whenever an enemy approached me in the sea because not only it was really difficult to hit the bombs but also the music changed. The worst thing that can happen with the wind waker is to pass the island you wanted to go and you need to use it again to change the wind course due to a lack of a proper minimap. Overall The Legend of Zelda The Wind Waker is recommendable.
    PS- English is no my mother's tongue so sorry if i made any mistake    … Expand
  77. MaxiThresher
    Mar 18, 2017
    10
    For me, The Wind Waker is the best Zelda ever made. Even if I only played 6 Zelda's (link to the past; ocarina of time; majora's mask; the wind waker; twilight princess and link between world's). The graphics of wind waker are beautifull, funny and very cartoonish/original. The gameplay is very nice, and you have a nice camera control, The gameplay is fun and challenging, the maps areFor me, The Wind Waker is the best Zelda ever made. Even if I only played 6 Zelda's (link to the past; ocarina of time; majora's mask; the wind waker; twilight princess and link between world's). The graphics of wind waker are beautifull, funny and very cartoonish/original. The gameplay is very nice, and you have a nice camera control, The gameplay is fun and challenging, the maps are great and the dungeaon are sometimes easy, and sometimes very hard. The music are funny and very nostalgic.The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker is a must have !… Expand
  78. weskergamer
    Apr 8, 2017
    10
    mi juego favorito de toda la saga zelda. Mazmorra super geniales, grandisima historia, personajes memorables y ni hablar de la banda sonora. Es un juego muy especial, una de las mejores obras maestras hechas por nintendo y por la industria del videojuego en general
  79. Rstiles7
    May 16, 2017
    10
    Sometimes games seem to get better as time goes by, meaning that a game that doesn't get the praise it deserves when it first comes out later on does get praised. This is definitely the case with The Wind Waker. When it was first revealed, people instantly started hating it because it wasn't a realistic looking Zelda game along the lines of Ocarina of Time or Twilight Princess. However, ISometimes games seem to get better as time goes by, meaning that a game that doesn't get the praise it deserves when it first comes out later on does get praised. This is definitely the case with The Wind Waker. When it was first revealed, people instantly started hating it because it wasn't a realistic looking Zelda game along the lines of Ocarina of Time or Twilight Princess. However, I found Wind Waker to be vastly superior to both of those games in almost every way. First off, the story. Wind Waker's story is a much more unique and interesting narrative than almost any Zelda game prior to it had. Hyrule barely even exists within the game, and instead Link sets out on his journey on board a small boat into a huge open ocean with plenty of places to explore in order to rescue his kidnapped sister from a massive bird within an area known as the Forsaken Fortress. Along the way, he eventually learns that he must defeat Ganondorf, the leader of the Forsaken Fortress, in order to restore peace to the world once and for all. Though it's not the best story we've seen in any Zelda game, it's still a great narrative. Next, lets talk about the aspect of this game that fans are the most split on: the sea. Personally, I love the sea, because it really helps capture the feeling of being on a grand adventure by having both large and small islands that are either required to visit or exist for the purpose of being completely optional to visit. But regardless, it is one of my personal favorite over worlds of any Zelda game and one that looks truly amazing. Also, just like most other Zelda games, Wind Waker is home to some very enjoyable gameplay and combat elements that keep the game from feeling stale at all. The dungeon and temple design within this game is fantastic as well, as it is home to some of absolute favorite temples in the entire franchise, most notably the Earth Temple. However, there are some bad moments within the game, the sailing may eventually start to feel tedious after awhile and the Triforce Scavenger Hunt is insanely monotonous (though it can be fun at times as well).

    In conclusion, The Legend of Zelda The Wind Waker is a truly amazing Zelda experience unlike any other that easily trumps Ocarina of Time in nearly every conceivable way. And the HD remake of this masterpiece is just another example of how less realistic graphics can still look breathtaking.    … Expand
  80. Panzidane
    Mar 8, 2017
    10
    ESSE É UM JOGO QUE VOCE PRECISA JOGAR. O jogo é lindo, uma obra prima, um jogo que temos um por geração. Esse jogo precisa ser estudado por todas empresas. Além de ser super divertido, tem fases muito bem projetadas com ótimas musicas, a fluidez combina perfeitamente com o controle de Game Cube que é anatômico demais. RECOMENDADÍSSIMO.
  81. bellonman
    Jun 1, 2017
    8
    The most unique Legend Of Zelda game I've ever played. This game has a surprisingly good story for a series that can sometimes feel a little predictable. The gameplay was expanded upon and can be very rewarding. Where the game gets a little iffy for me is with the lack of dungeons, by the end of the game it feels a little rushed. It seems to me like the creators chose to remove someThe most unique Legend Of Zelda game I've ever played. This game has a surprisingly good story for a series that can sometimes feel a little predictable. The gameplay was expanded upon and can be very rewarding. Where the game gets a little iffy for me is with the lack of dungeons, by the end of the game it feels a little rushed. It seems to me like the creators chose to remove some dungeons to add a triforce scavenger hunt, which is more annoying than it is fun. Overall, still a great Zelda game.… Expand
  82. Kanoonn
    Mar 20, 2017
    10
    I don't know how to say how amazing it was experience of crossed the seas, explore all kind of islands and beat excelent bosses that creep you out the first time you saw it. Most of the people criticize this game just by his graphics. It's really sad that many people can not understand what an artistic direction is. Not all games should take the realistic way. The risky games like windI don't know how to say how amazing it was experience of crossed the seas, explore all kind of islands and beat excelent bosses that creep you out the first time you saw it. Most of the people criticize this game just by his graphics. It's really sad that many people can not understand what an artistic direction is. Not all games should take the realistic way. The risky games like wind waker bring us a beatiful expirience that show us how videogames can not stop to explore the posibilities of art. The draws remembers every minute to those medieval stained glasses of epic legends.

    The music is just perfect and a personal thought: Is really satisfactory see zelda as a badass pirate and not only like a messy princess.    … Expand
  83. TheRocker
    Mar 22, 2017
    10
    Ill say this loud and clear, this game is by far the best Zelda game out there, if you need a game to introduce you to the world of TLoZ this is your game, its the most balanced of them all in terms of difficulty, has the most interesting characters, a very good plot, and the sense of adventure is there ready to take on, the boss battles are really well done (except one) and the dungeonsIll say this loud and clear, this game is by far the best Zelda game out there, if you need a game to introduce you to the world of TLoZ this is your game, its the most balanced of them all in terms of difficulty, has the most interesting characters, a very good plot, and the sense of adventure is there ready to take on, the boss battles are really well done (except one) and the dungeons are very interesting and very easy to differentiate from one another, the combat is solid and there is a good bunch of different enemies, there are numerous objects and collectables around the world complete this game at 100% is really hard but it is fun as hell.

    I personally recommend this game because even though it was not my first Zelda was the one that hooked me up to this universe a thing that the other games haven't done for me.    … Expand
  84. JoseAn13Torres
    Mar 22, 2017
    10
    The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker, no tengo nada más que decir, obra maestra, ópera magna de los vídeo juegos, 128 Bits de oro puro en Nintendo GameCube
  85. MrTacoBob
    Sep 12, 2017
    10
    When I first looked at this game I was skeptical cause the graphics were so out of touch from the other games but you can't judge a book by the cover. And, once I played the game it was fun and felt like any ordinary Legend of Zelda game but a bit better!
  86. joacoandresen
    Oct 25, 2018
    10
    Beautiful in every single way, from the amazing art-style to the mind bending puzzles, The Wind Waker is one of the most unique Zelda games. Although there is that one quest everyone hates (including me), it can't take down this amazing game.

    If you own a GameCube, play it. If you own a Wii U, play it. If you don't own any of those systems, buy one at a sale and play it. It is that    Beautiful in every single way, from the amazing art-style to the mind bending puzzles, The Wind Waker is one of the most unique Zelda games. Although there is that one quest everyone hates (including me), it can't take down this amazing game.

    If you own a GameCube, play it. If you own a Wii U, play it. If you don't own any of those systems, buy one at a sale and play it. It is that good. No Zelda fan can miss this one.    … Expand
  87. kawaiikitten
    Jul 29, 2017
    9
    I really liked this game. First off, the music really conveyed the feel and tone of the scenery. If you were in a town, the instruments and tune of the song made it generally feel like a town. If you were in a boss fight, the music really conveyed the action of the scene.

    Next, the graphics were just beautiful. The shadowing and the light effects onto buildings made it feel real and    I really liked this game. First off, the music really conveyed the feel and tone of the scenery. If you were in a town, the instruments and tune of the song made it generally feel like a town. If you were in a boss fight, the music really conveyed the action of the scene.

    Next, the graphics were just beautiful. The shadowing and the light effects onto buildings made it feel real and just made it even more beautiful.

    The story is great too. The lore was amazing and the ending felt satisfying. This is a game I'd recommend, despite the few bugs and glitches, it's great.    … Expand
  88. NicM
    Sep 3, 2017
    8
    So, I didn't finished the game yet, but I'm going to do a review, anyway. I'll do a more detailed review when I finish it, aight? Also, this review contains mini-spoilers.

    I really liked the presentation of the game more than Ocarina of Time. But's still not great. The graphics are really beautiful, the cartoon style make the game so pretty. I'm not going to give spoilers of the story,    So, I didn't finished the game yet, but I'm going to do a review, anyway. I'll do a more detailed review when I finish it, aight? Also, this review contains mini-spoilers.

    I really liked the presentation of the game more than Ocarina of Time. But's still not great. The graphics are really beautiful, the cartoon style make the game so pretty. I'm not going to give spoilers of the story, but I really liked it. The open world is so good, I really appreciate it, and it is really good to travel through the sea. It can also be scary , if you don't like the sea like me. The combat is great, it isn't annoying, unlike some Zelda games. I don't like how you can't travel faster through the land, but that's fine. The music is great, obviously. The puzzles aren't annoying to complete, unlike Ocarina Of Time, because Zelda have very boring puzzles;but I had fun completing The Wind Waker's puzzles. The game itself is very fun.    … Expand
  89. Artyfonseca
    Feb 25, 2018
    10
    Now I don't really care about the Cartoonish Graphics that this game had as it only added to the huge amount of creativity that this game had. The Boss Fight's in this game were epic especially Ganondorf's and The Gohmas. It had a unique Story I mean the fact that Hyrule is Underwater, We've never seen that in a Zelda game before. The Gameplay in this game is also good and the Combat. InNow I don't really care about the Cartoonish Graphics that this game had as it only added to the huge amount of creativity that this game had. The Boss Fight's in this game were epic especially Ganondorf's and The Gohmas. It had a unique Story I mean the fact that Hyrule is Underwater, We've never seen that in a Zelda game before. The Gameplay in this game is also good and the Combat. In General this is a Masterpiece and for me the Best Game on the Gamecube.… Expand
  90. joehi1
    Jan 15, 2018
    9
    The Legend Of Zelda: The Wind Waker is a visual masterpiece and an amazing addition to the already phenomenal series. Wind Waker completely overhauled the graphics of the Zelda series, and while some may say that the graphics catered too much to a younger audience, in reality, the cell shaded graphics are the best fit for Zelda. Wind Waker offers some of the most fluid gameplay ZeldaThe Legend Of Zelda: The Wind Waker is a visual masterpiece and an amazing addition to the already phenomenal series. Wind Waker completely overhauled the graphics of the Zelda series, and while some may say that the graphics catered too much to a younger audience, in reality, the cell shaded graphics are the best fit for Zelda. Wind Waker offers some of the most fluid gameplay Zelda series, with fast-paced exciting combat, and one of the first experiences of an open world in video games. A large part of Wind Waker involves riding on the sea and it's truly amazing how free you feel while operating the King of Red Lions. Sailing around gives the game such an open feeling that makes the player feel as if they are in control of where they want to go and not the feeling of linearity that players so used to in the Zelda franchise. Puzzles are still as fun as ever, and the game does a fairly good job at directing you where you have to go to continue the story without outright forcing you to go there. The story is still as charming as ever to the triforce shard quests do feel quite boring and uninspired, causing a part of the game to lose its immersiveness. Overall Wind Waker is by far one of the greatest games ever created by Nintendo and probably one of the greatest games ever made. Wind Waker proves that changes to a well-established franchise are not always a bad thing and can sometimes rejuvenate a franchise and make it feel new to players all over again

    Cons
    Triforce shard quest is still boring.    … Expand
  91. Adubis27
    Mar 19, 2018
    10
    10/10, this game is unrealistically good. Go play it if you can, be it on the Wii U or GCN. The greatest game to ever sport "The Legend of Zelda" in the title.
  92. brendo214
    May 21, 2019
    8
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. This game has the highest of highs and the lowest of lows. The Link in this game is so adorable and funny (especially with the faces he makes). The game is simply beautiful. But then there are moments like the frustration that is the Wind Temple. And oh my lord, I don't think I've ever gotten more frustrated by a boss in a video game than I did with the abomination that is this game's Ganon fight. But at the end of the day, the highs overshadowed the lows, and I ended up really enjoying this game. And that's what matters.… Expand
  93. Lyndxn
    Feb 12, 2018
    10
    Although the triforce part was a bit annoying, this game is still very enjoyable and fun.
  94. peterjack
    Apr 6, 2019
    10
    My second favorite Zelda, after Breath of the Wild. The sailing mechanic is such an innovative and fun take on traditional Zelda.
  95. Meta1234
    Apr 25, 2018
    8
    The Zelda game returned on the Gamecube console with an original sea concept and nice cartoony graphics.

    Great effort, 2 point deduction due to multiple story reuses.
  96. SkyrimGod
    Oct 4, 2021
    10
    The Legend of Zelda The Wind Waker is a timeless masterpiece
    in game design. The world, the combat and the cel shaded art style
    make this such a unique game. I don't care if it's the nostolga glasses
    but it's a top 3 Zelda game to me and a top 10 video game in my book.
    Oh and dare I say the best Zelda soundtrck besides TP and OOT.
  97. DarrionVale
    Aug 14, 2019
    9
    My personal rating for "The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker" (GC): 8,6/10 - Awesome
    Gameplay: 9
    Video: 8
    Audio: 8
    Scope: 9
    Balance: 8,5
    Story: 7
  98. yitus
    Sep 18, 2018
    10
    This The Legend of the Zelda is my favorite by far. I have been lucky to have played all the Zelda's that have come to the market and this marked me a before and after in the saga (on a personal level). It's aesthetic cartoon, gameplay, characters, music, scenarios, open world, dialogues, history ... is a cluster of things that make it become today in my favorite Zelda. With this I do notThis The Legend of the Zelda is my favorite by far. I have been lucky to have played all the Zelda's that have come to the market and this marked me a before and after in the saga (on a personal level). It's aesthetic cartoon, gameplay, characters, music, scenarios, open world, dialogues, history ... is a cluster of things that make it become today in my favorite Zelda. With this I do not mean that the other The Legend of Zelda are not good, on the contrary, they are all fantastic, but personally The Wind Waker is my favorite.… Expand
  99. Jawey
    Jul 21, 2018
    10
    This game is one of the best games ever made. It has an amazing story, the combat is fun, the animation is beautiful and the soundtrack is breathtaking. While the triforce quest was a little tedious it's not as bad as some people have said and other great franchises like Halo and GTA had similar parts that were tedious. The ending for this game is one of the best endings in video games andThis game is one of the best games ever made. It has an amazing story, the combat is fun, the animation is beautiful and the soundtrack is breathtaking. While the triforce quest was a little tedious it's not as bad as some people have said and other great franchises like Halo and GTA had similar parts that were tedious. The ending for this game is one of the best endings in video games and disproves the myth that nintendo makes childish games. This game is unfortunately criminally underrated due to it being released on two unsuccessful consoles, the gamecube and wii u and the sequel getting cancelled was sad since the wind waker needs a proper sequel that takes place right after the game ends.… Expand
  100. castillo2war
    Sep 21, 2019
    9
    Only problem this game has, for me, is Tingle. The game would be a perfect 10/10 if it had no Tingle.
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Awards & Rankings

1
#1 Best GameCube Game of 2003
1
#1 Most Discussed GameCube Game of 2003
4
#4 Most Shared GameCube Game of 2003

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
96

Universal acclaim - based on 80 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 80 out of 80
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 80
  3. Negative: 0 out of 80
  1. Weekly Famitsu
    100
    10 / 10 / 10/ 10 - 40 platinum
  2. NTSC-uk
    100
    When one picks up the controller, the ability to step into that time and place (never more hauntingly beautiful than in this latest instalment) never loses its allure. Even the most hardened of cynics would have to admit that this title is something else entirely. It's the stuff of dreams. [JPN Import]
    Read full review
  3. Eurogamer
    100
    Simply a stunning, magical game.
    Read full review
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