The Wind Waker is definitely in my top five when it comes to Zelda games. I wouldn’t say that the original version for the Nintendo Gamecube completely holds up over time, what with the lack of the Swift Sail, no Touch Screen Map, and that horrid Tingle. Even still, I’d still argue that the original is a fantastic game, and the remaster definitely made it a lot better for current generations as well.
One thing I can say is that The Wind Waker had some creative, memorable, and enjoyable dungeons–my personal favorite being the Tower of the Gods. I remember when I finally returned all of the pearls to their proper resting places and the tower rose from the depths of the ocean. Despite getting a huge kick out of watching Link splat against the wall, I truly felt a wave of intimidation when this monument stood before me.
Everything from the steps needed to access it, the music that plays once you finally enter, the imagery of the interior, and how the dungeon itself challenged me always made it an incredible progress point. I felt like I had made it to a truly mythical place. The music inside the dungeon really stood out to me as well; the constant chants humming around you and the unconventional instruments used to create the theme really made it stick out amongst the other dungeons.
Despite being this game’s “Water Temple” — which is ironic, given that this is the only water-based dungeon in this particular game — I really did enjoy the mechanics present in this dungeon. It introduced the guidance system via the statues, which allowed for some particularly intriguing puzzle-solving when needing to open doors or cause certain platforms to move. Personally, it was also nice to have something resembling a partner for this dungeon, considering that the two previous dungeons had you exploring them all alone. I also enjoyed how the beginning segment made use of the King of Red Lions, however limited it may have been.
The mini-boss and the actual boss were the true highlights of the dungeon for me. The Darknut stood out to me because it wasn’t just some monster, this was an actual swordfighter. You couldn’t just mash “B” to beat this thing as a kid. Gohdan was a fun challenge as well, being the first machine boss in the game who rocks some of the best boss music in the game. It’s also the first boss fight where your sword is practically useless. I actually died the first time I fought him as a kid: He shot me with the fireballs and I fell into the electrified floor around the arena. I definitely didn’t expect that my first time.
But after fighting my way up the tower, getting the Zelda staple in the Bow and Arrows, and pummeling the tar out of Gohdan, I finally made it to the top of the tower. It was there I saw a lone bell. At this point, I knew that if you saw a huge handle hanging down from the top, you were meant to swing from it. I equipped the Grappling Hook, hooked onto the bell, and began to swing.
The chiming bell was a truly epic moment for little me. I had a thousand thoughts racing through my head, like “What happens now?”, “Why am I ringing this bell?”, and “What’s going to appear?” Even to this day, I still get an adrenaline rush from how awesome the moment is, similar to the one I always get when I pull out the Master Sword in the other games. When I saw the yellow portal open up in front of the Tower, I knew my quest was still far from over. While this wasn’t the hardest dungeon I’d ever done, or the longest, it left one of the biggest impacts on my childhood gaming.
