The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker

The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker
File:Windwaker box US.jpg
Developer(s)	Nintendo EAD
Publisher(s)	Nintendo
Designer(s)	Eiji Aonuma (director) Shigeru Miyamoto (producer) Yoshiyuki Oyama (enemy design lead)
Picture format	480p, 480i
Released	Template:Japan December 13, 2002 Template:NAMarch 24, 2003 Template:Europe May 3, 2003 Template:Australia May 7, 2003
Genre(s)	Action-adventure
Mode(s)	Single player, two player multiplayer (via GCN/GBA link)
Ratings	ESRB: E (Everyone) ELSPA: 3+ PEGI: 7+ OFLC: G8+ USK: 12
Platform(s)	Nintendo GameCube
Media	GameCube Optical Disc
Input methods	GameCube Controller

The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker (ゼルダの伝説 風のタクト, Zeruda no Densetsu Kaze no Takuto, lit. "The Legend of Zelda: Baton of Wind") is the tenth game in The Legend of Zelda series of video games. The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass for the Nintendo DS is the direct sequel to The Wind Waker.

The game is set on a group of islands in a vast sea—a first for the series. What lies beneath this sea are the ruins of the kingdom of Hyrule from Ocarina of Time. The player controls Link, the protagonist of the Zelda series. He struggles against his nemesis, Ganondorf, for control of a sacred relic known as the Triforce. Link spends a significant portion of the game sailing, traveling between islands, and traversing through dungeons and temples to gain the power necessary to defeat Ganondorf. He also spends time trying to find his little sister.

The Wind Waker follows in the footsteps of The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time, retaining the basic gameplay and control system from the Nintendo 64 title. A heavy emphasis is placed on using and controlling wind with a baton known as the Wind Waker, which aids sailing and floating in air. Critics enjoyed the similarity to Ocarina of Time, but often complained that the large amount of sailing became tedious. Despite this, the game has met commercial and critical success, which resulted with generally favorable reviews.

In Super Smash Bros. Brawl

Toon Link's look is derived from this game, the game's overworld, the Great Sea appears as Toon Link's home stage, also the Wind Waker appears in one of Toon Link's taunts.

• Gamecube game windwaker scr8.gif
• Zelda wind waker 1.jpg