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. GameMan2005
    Aug 23, 2023
    10
    One of the most beautiful games I have ever seen, and the soundtrack is wonderful as well. Exploring the Great Sea and the dungeons is a lot of fun.
  2. VLG
    Aug 23, 2023
    6
    A good adventure game, kind of original, but pretty much shallow and boring.
  3. RefinedInsights
    Aug 16, 2023
    8
    A good Zelda game that has aged well and has better replay value than some of the others. Overall I wasn't a big fan of the cartoony animation. I liked the more realistic, gritty look of Ocarina, Majoras Mask, and Twilight Princess.
  4. Bcshiguemichi
    Aug 6, 2023
    10
    Best Zelda ever. From the action dynamics to the history. One thing that I really liked about this game is that you don’t get lost trying to understand what you need to do and at the same time is still challenging.
  5. Luisdmo
    Jun 25, 2023
    10
    One of my favorite games of all time. Csn be top 5 easily. Best zelda I have ever played. Graphics still looking so good on 2023.
  6. TheManOFruit
    Jun 24, 2023
    10
    How do you follow up Ocarina of Time and Majoras Mask? By going in a completely different direction. With a bright and cheery atmosphere the wind waker will draw you in like a magnet.
  7. Bokoblin
    Jun 15, 2023
    0
    worst zelda games ever to exist worse than the cdi pnes I would rather play twilight princess the artstyle for windwaker makes me wanna die and the story is crap

    all the negative reviews are realistic and I couldn't even have a single bit of joy. don't listen to the positive reviews they are all wrong soundtrack is awful I give it a 1 artstyle gets a -10 story:0 characters:-1 controls:2    worst zelda games ever to exist worse than the cdi pnes I would rather play twilight princess the artstyle for windwaker makes me wanna die and the story is crap

    all the negative reviews are realistic and I couldn't even have a single bit of joy. don't listen to the positive reviews they are all wrong soundtrack is awful I give it a 1
    artstyle gets a -10
    story:0
    characters:-1
    controls:2
    the single most overrated game in existence
    ocarina of time is better if you're looking for old games then twilight princess is the best traditional Zelda game and finally breath of the wild is the best game in existence    … Expand
  8. miguellopez99
    Jun 1, 2023
    10
    98/100 .
  9. ZackH25
    Jun 1, 2023
    9
    A fun and fairly easy Zelda game. Had good but relatively not great dungeons. The story is quite good and Ganondorf is an excellent final boss in this game, especially with the music in the background. The open world is fun when on an island but it can get repetitive sailing all the time. The arena area where you fight a bunch of different enemies by falling down a hole is extremely fun.A fun and fairly easy Zelda game. Had good but relatively not great dungeons. The story is quite good and Ganondorf is an excellent final boss in this game, especially with the music in the background. The open world is fun when on an island but it can get repetitive sailing all the time. The arena area where you fight a bunch of different enemies by falling down a hole is extremely fun. The best dungeon is either the foresaken fortress or the shadow temple. Overall a great Zelda game let down by some of its dungeons.… Expand
  10. OceanofBagels
    May 13, 2023
    10
    This is my favorite game of all time. I couldn’t possibly recommend it more.
  11. Evenstar1985
    May 8, 2023
    10
    I'll be honest, I was ready to hate on this game when I first saw the cell shaded graphics, the only reason I bought it, was for the limited edition that had a second disk for Zelda Ocarina of Time included because my brother sold the N64 and the GC was the first ever console I bought with my own money.

    After beating OoT I decided to give this game a try just to confirm my hate, man was    I'll be honest, I was ready to hate on this game when I first saw the cell shaded graphics, the only reason I bought it, was for the limited edition that had a second disk for Zelda Ocarina of Time included because my brother sold the N64 and the GC was the first ever console I bought with my own money.

    After beating OoT I decided to give this game a try just to confirm my hate, man was I 1000% wrong by judging a game by it's graphics, the amazing open sea exploration, oh my god the music! The great story like all Zelda games, the gameplay.

    This game was also a wake up call to me to never judge a game again by it's graphics.    … Expand
  12. chochinx16
    Apr 29, 2023
    9
    From my humble opinion, it is the most underrated game in the saga of the legend of zelda since it has a fun gameplay and a fun story and also has charismatic characters. Although it was criticized at the time for its graphics, I think it is the best experience to start in the Legend of Zelda franchise, since the game is very fun and creative and I only have one problem, which isFrom my humble opinion, it is the most underrated game in the saga of the legend of zelda since it has a fun gameplay and a fun story and also has charismatic characters. Although it was criticized at the time for its graphics, I think it is the best experience to start in the Legend of Zelda franchise, since the game is very fun and creative and I only have one problem, which is collecting the fragments of the triforce apart from that it seems to me a phenomenal and almost perfect game… Expand
  13. Fletch1027
    Feb 21, 2023
    9
    A fun Zelda game with great music, fun character designs and one of the most charming versions of Hyrule.
  14. someone11111222
    Dec 15, 2022
    4
    The whole "everything is on an island" idea quite literally gets in the way of the game. It doesn't do anything except waste time. You have to change the wind direction every time you want to go somewhere, because hurr durr you're in a boat. Gets old fast, they should have just made it something in the menu you select quickly, or better yet, eff the wind and the sail works in anyThe whole "everything is on an island" idea quite literally gets in the way of the game. It doesn't do anything except waste time. You have to change the wind direction every time you want to go somewhere, because hurr durr you're in a boat. Gets old fast, they should have just made it something in the menu you select quickly, or better yet, eff the wind and the sail works in any direction you want.

    The whole part with the triforce SHOULD NOT HAVE BEEN IN THE GAME AT ALL. You have to find a MAP that lets you find OTHER MAPS that FINALLY have a location of the piece of the triforce, and you need like 15 of them. Every step of the way it costs 500 rupees to have a map translated, so you need to collect 5,000+ rupees to beat the game. If you didn't know that you have a problem by the time the end of the game comes with the map business, have fun grinding for a few days before you can move further. You're "supposed" to treat it as a side-quest that you do bits and pieces of here and there throughout the game, but it's just SO boring that most players put it off, hoping there will be something at the end of the game that does it for them, but that doesn't happen.

    They screwed up the spin attack. HOW could you do that? You have to unlock it which is the first problem, but it makes you think it's good. It takes too long to charge up so most of the time you will get hit and not be able to use it. If you manage to charge it up, you spin for 10 seconds while Link screams, which is stupid but most importantly HE THEN STOPS AND IS DIZZY. Oh my god how could you screw that up? That would be like putting his pogo move in the game but making it damage you or something.

    The sneaking part of the game is forced and stupid, but at least it doesn't last long. It's at the beginning of the game before you have any items.

    The hookshot is not in the game, they use a stupid rope and claw thing. It's so bad because you can only use it in "approved" places, ie where there is a pole sticking out to latch onto. The hookshot was so good in OOT because it made you think about what was wood or vines or not and what you could or could not hook into. Also with the claw rope you have to swing across and time it, which just wastes time. That should have been automatic.

    The guy on the boat who baits you in to grind and get his bracelets or whatever is a complete waste of time, all he does at the end is says thank you. So you wasted your time. WHY IS THIS IN THE GAME!

    The cartoon style is fine, that doesn't really make a big difference. A lot of characters look stupid with their gorilla style arms, but it's fine overall it's a stylistic choice. It's dumb but it doesn't ruin the game.

    It's definitely trying to be a Zelda game and the main part of the game is great. The dungeons are great and the story is great. Nintendo at least learned from their mistakes, but they were definitely mistakes, because when they made an HD remaster of this game, several of the problems I've mentioned were removed. The only things they really kept from Wind Waker was the leaf item, where you use it as a little parachute to float across gaps, and also this was the first game where they started a huge deep dungeon that is very challenging and just a fun slaughterfest.

    Nobody plays this game after their first time for a reason. It's not a completely terrible game but for being a Zelda... nobody remembers this or pines to play for it after their first time. You don't see people being nostalgic for it but you do for Zelda games both before and after. Things in other Zelda games were kept for the next one but this is definitely the dark horse of the series because it's all just a bunch of experiments that didn't work. Gamecube games exploded in value and it looks like the HD remake are both expensive. Both of them are a waste of money but if for some stupid reason you think you want to play this, the HD version on the Wii U is cheaper and also better in every way because they removed a lot of completely pointless things that are in the game. If this was your first Zelda game, you probably liked it but I feel really bad for you.    … Expand
  15. Crimson9
    Dec 12, 2022
    8
    Wind Waker continues the Zelda formula from Ocarina of time, but opens the rather tiny overworld of Ocarina into a massive ocean with lots and lots to explore. Beyond that, there isn't too much innovation to be found here, other than the wonderful art style. But at this point, the Zelda formula had not gotten stale, and I think the new story, the art style, the whimsical atmosphere, theWind Waker continues the Zelda formula from Ocarina of time, but opens the rather tiny overworld of Ocarina into a massive ocean with lots and lots to explore. Beyond that, there isn't too much innovation to be found here, other than the wonderful art style. But at this point, the Zelda formula had not gotten stale, and I think the new story, the art style, the whimsical atmosphere, the wonderful score, the minor enhancements to gameplay, and the huge world are all enough to make this game worthy of high praise. the only major criticism I have is that the dungeons are a step backwards from Ocarina's.… Expand
  16. DanielGG91
    Nov 15, 2022
    10
    Un cambio radical viniendo de los 2 anteriores juegos de sobremesa de Zelda de Nintendo, pero una apuesta fresca y super divertida. Juegazo muy recomendado para todos los públicos, a pesar de que pueda parecer más infantil se disfruta mucho aun siendo adulto.
  17. Xunkar
    Oct 8, 2022
    4
    While the game has interesting visuals, everything else quickly falls apart. The mechanics are far more tedious than in any other entry in the series, especially at sea and in dungeons that rely on the awfully slow character-switching song. The seemingly open-world is massive but also quite empty, full of invisible walls and required equipment that deter the player from exploring until theWhile the game has interesting visuals, everything else quickly falls apart. The mechanics are far more tedious than in any other entry in the series, especially at sea and in dungeons that rely on the awfully slow character-switching song. The seemingly open-world is massive but also quite empty, full of invisible walls and required equipment that deter the player from exploring until the very end of the game.… Expand
  18. Jattaman
    Sep 24, 2022
    8
    Bel capitolo di Zelda, con un colorato mondo in cell shading.
    Vario e divertente.
  19. donkaapo
    Sep 11, 2022
    10
    blank..........................................................................................................................................................................................
  20. FireBroFilms
    Aug 15, 2022
    8
    ‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎
  21. ylnylmn
    Jul 10, 2022
    9
    Like Ocarina and Majora, I played until the end without getting bored. I'm someone who can get bored of other games quickly, but Zelda games draw me in. Zelda has come up with a new formula with Wind Waker. Some aspects are good and some aspects are bad. In fact, if we look at the basics of the game, the OOT mechanics are still valid. Other than the concept, not much has been changed.Like Ocarina and Majora, I played until the end without getting bored. I'm someone who can get bored of other games quickly, but Zelda games draw me in. Zelda has come up with a new formula with Wind Waker. Some aspects are good and some aspects are bad. In fact, if we look at the basics of the game, the OOT mechanics are still valid. Other than the concept, not much has been changed. That's why there hasn't been a game that impressed me as much as OOT. The good aspects of the game do not end with counting. Main things I don't like. Dungeons are more mundane and simple than OOT. Boat riding can be tiring at times. You have to constantly change the wind direction. Sometimes it can be difficult to find the treasure even if you are in treasure sound. There are few important NPCs and towns, which made the game feel a bit empty. The drawings and music of the game are very very good. Very good game overall.… Expand
  22. Leviata_Reis26
    Jul 5, 2022
    10
    Jogo muito divertido , belos graficos , musica top , e a jogabilidade superou "Ocarina of Time & Majora Mask" . Incrivel que "Zelda : Wind Waker" e melhor que todo "Resident Evil" , "Kratos of War" e "The Last of Us" , e é melhor que "Star Wars : Force Unleashed" de Playstation 3 . Tive que anotar duas paginas pra completar missões e progredir a historia , mas o "Zelda" de Nintendo 64 eJogo muito divertido , belos graficos , musica top , e a jogabilidade superou "Ocarina of Time & Majora Mask" . Incrivel que "Zelda : Wind Waker" e melhor que todo "Resident Evil" , "Kratos of War" e "The Last of Us" , e é melhor que "Star Wars : Force Unleashed" de Playstation 3 . Tive que anotar duas paginas pra completar missões e progredir a historia , mas o "Zelda" de Nintendo 64 e mais dificil . Esse jogo e rico em detalhes , mas o tema sombrio de "Majora Mask" e mais cativante . "Zelda : Wind Waker" 10/10 .… Expand
  23. SoulSuckingCat
    Jun 29, 2022
    6
    There is a popular saying that this game's art style has aged well. Sure I will give it that, but that does not mean it is any less appealing that when it was released. With a weak story and excessive amount of sailing that becomes a slog to get through even late in the game. There are some unique weapons in the game, but otherwise it is your standard Zelda fair. Unfortunately due to someThere is a popular saying that this game's art style has aged well. Sure I will give it that, but that does not mean it is any less appealing that when it was released. With a weak story and excessive amount of sailing that becomes a slog to get through even late in the game. There are some unique weapons in the game, but otherwise it is your standard Zelda fair. Unfortunately due to some aspects of the game the replay value is very low. If you have not played it before it is worth a play through, otherwise your mileage may vary.… Expand
  24. joadson
    Jun 28, 2022
    10
    A game with unique graphics of the franchise with a very good design and great gameplay one of the funniest games in the zelda franchise
  25. GDsReviews
    May 27, 2022
    0
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Wind Waker is the record low point in Zelda for me with a flat cartoon art style that looks far more primitive than N64 Ocarina of Time and Majora’s Mask that were on a significantly less powerful system then the Game Cube, and a featureless ocean to travel over.

    Now looking back, this game goes from just being plain bad to flat out deplorable. What happened? The most fundamental reason is the story. The more you grasp and think about it, the more sickening it feels. In the intro, we find that the Hyrulian leaders flood the entire land to contain the evil in Ganondorf, with only a few hilltops remaining above water. In Ocarina of Time, we see Ganondorf reek a seven year long reign of terror, but the land remains intact, and he did not completely decimate it. In Wind Waker, his goal is actually to see the kingdom of Hyrule drained of this ocean.

    So who do you feel is the real villain here? A Ganondorf that despite unleashing of dark reign of terror wants to see everyone back in their own lands again, or the Hyrulian leaders who basically drowned and displaced everyone just for one man in the end? I would go with the Hyrulian leaders here despite Ganondorf being certainly a truly evil and cunning tyrant in Ocarina of Time. He feels less evil here, and yet you are forced to preserve this ocean’s legacy of mass genocide and displacement in Wind Waker.

    Because of this, I felt like I was playing the villain, and that completely crossed the line for me. I find it morally reprehensible when you have no choice but to play a villain in a video game. Wind Waker’s deplorable factor also gets bumped up a notch when Tetra is revealed as a total brown faced Zelda that sinks this game even further. (Zelda’s disguise in Ocarina of Time in Sheik by sharp contrast has just a slight tan that could easily have come from being on the run outside for 7 years.)

    The only good parts are the soundtrack, and one scene where Tetra puts Link in a barrel, and catapults him into Forsaken Fortress to a spectacular failure and barrel of laughs.    … Expand
  26. Yaacgold24
    May 10, 2022
    10
    It is the best game i have ever played in my life. Really playable even 19 years after the release.
  27. RedLion
    May 2, 2022
    9
    The windwaker is a masterpiece. it may have some big flaws but everything from the exploration to the music to the artstyle it's just amazing. the only few flaws are the dungeon design and the triforce piece quest. I would make it a 9.5 if I could
  28. Brainfrez99122
    Apr 14, 2022
    10
    From start to finish this game is a joy to play with so much charm I'm smiling throughout the adventure. The characters are weird yet lovable the sailing is relaxing yet adventurous and that soundtrack is easily one of the best in the series. Combine all of that with an overworld with secrets to uncover tight controls and solid story this an easy game to recommend. Visually this holds upFrom start to finish this game is a joy to play with so much charm I'm smiling throughout the adventure. The characters are weird yet lovable the sailing is relaxing yet adventurous and that soundtrack is easily one of the best in the series. Combine all of that with an overworld with secrets to uncover tight controls and solid story this an easy game to recommend. Visually this holds up extremely well it still looks good even to this day and has truly stood the test of time. Items are far more versatile in this entry compared to most of the games in series in and out of combat every item you'll be using throughout the entire game while still feeling fluid and organic to play. I wish their were more dungeons in the game and it was a harder but unless your 5 most entry's in the series are pretty easy anyways and with general feel good atmosphere that the game is going for it does fit the whole experience. I don't think the triforce hunt is that bad at all and asking the player to explore the overworld in a game about exploring works here. Another criticism against the game is its use of space with people counting up the squares and breaking it down to which islands are story relevant and which one are not and while I do think it can utilize it space better every 3d entry in this series has the same issue arguably worse (except  botw) and if they decreased the size of the world too much it'd feel more like the great puddle rather then the great ocean. The ending is incredibly climactic and satisfying and ends right when it should this game holds up and deserves a perfect score by modern standards 5/5… Expand
  29. Mr_Fish
    Apr 11, 2022
    10
    This game confirms that Tingle is a serial murderer and link aids him in his escape from prison
  30. ElRagnarLocro
    Mar 31, 2022
    9
    A estas alturas ya es repetitivo hablar de la saga Zelda, que se transformó en sinónimo de excelencia. Wind Waker no se queda atrás en los estándares de la saga y es precioso en todo. Lo único negativo que puedo decir es que se hecha en falta la presencia de grandes escenarios para moverse y explorar en tierra. La idea del mar es excelente y lo hace el gran juego que es, pero siento queA estas alturas ya es repetitivo hablar de la saga Zelda, que se transformó en sinónimo de excelencia. Wind Waker no se queda atrás en los estándares de la saga y es precioso en todo. Lo único negativo que puedo decir es que se hecha en falta la presencia de grandes escenarios para moverse y explorar en tierra. La idea del mar es excelente y lo hace el gran juego que es, pero siento que las islas presentes por el mapa son demasiados pequeñas y no tienen tanto por explorar dentro de ellas, y ni hablar que algunas son solo islas de un solo puzzle.
    Nota final: 9    … Expand
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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
See all critic reviews »