My journey started in the ocean today, which again helped me recalibrate my coordination and gameplay mechanics as well as remind myself of why I love this game so much. The color of the ocean looks so incredible, and with the sound of the waves crashing against the King of the Red Lions, I am reminded of a time when I went whale watching in Vancouver, British Columbia.
Living in Canada is truly amazing. The country is surrounded by three different oceans, so the beauty of the marine world is always well within reach. I have only ever visited the Pacific Ocean along the shores of Vancouver and Vancouver Island, and when I visit the coast, I usually make a plan to take in some whale watching. With the exception of only one time, I have always seen at least a whale and often more. Seeing a pod of orcas, or humpback whales, enjoying their morning or afternoon is breathtaking. The tours often last several hours, which means there is a lot of time spent looking out at the vast ocean and seeing only the waves crashing into your small vessel. These are some of my favorite times visiting the coast, because I truly love just riding around in the ocean and listening to the waves. This is exactly how my journey in The Wind Waker started out for this article: cruising around with the King of the Red Lions and just enjoying the endless ocean.
But of course, the peace didn’t end up lasting very long.
Just as I was enjoying a nice little beverage while sailing along to my next destination, I was surprised to be attacked by a giant squid! It popped up in the middle of nowhere, giving me quite a fright and causing me to spill my drink as I clutched my controller to get out of this predicament. I knew that I probably had to throw something at it, so I armed myself with the boomerang and let it eat some wood (at least I think the boomerang is made out of wood). Just like how you can be graced by the appearance of a whale at any moment in the Pacific Ocean, a flooded Hyrule can grace you with a giant monster just as abruptly. After defeating the Big Octo, a shimmering light appeared in the ocean beneath it. Now this part gave me some trouble; I guess I just didn’t track it well enough. I spent about 15 minutes using the crane function before I finally got the loot. Next time this happens, I will be more prepared. I should also practice playing the crane game at my local arcade to completely perfect my skills.
After defeating the giant beast, I continued along the various stops and islands along my journey. One event that I loved was getting to play Battleship. Well, not quite the same as Battleship, but I did get to fire a cannon at some ships in order to win a Piece of Heart. This mini-game was so much fun; it truly is remarkable how, despite this game’s dark and serious tone, it still has moments of beauty and fun. There really is something for anyone in this game. My aiming wasn’t too bad either, which made the game less frustrating than other parts of The Wind Waker.
A final interesting mini-game that happened on my journey was getting to participate in an auction! One of my favorite episodes of Seinfeld is when the character Elaine Benes has to outbid her arch nemesis, Sue Ellen Mishke, on a set of golf clubs used by John F. Kennedy Jr. for her boss. Going into this mini-game, I knew the intensity that I would have to bring out in myself in order to win. I channeled my inner Elaine for this one. I used a strategy that I had hoped would help me win: waiting until the time was about to run out and then placing a bid. The auction can go a few rounds before your final bid is actually the winning one. I enjoyed the auction so much that I replayed it several times, even bidding for Joy Pendants and Treasure Charts.
Again, this was a very fun and creative mini-game to play as you are trying your best to save Hyrule and find your sister again. This adds to the depth and exploration of the game. One thing that I always feel disappointed about in Pokémon games is that the entire world is obsessed with all things Pokémon. There is no job or hobby in the world that doesn’t involve raising Pokémon to battle at all. In The Wind Waker, you meet teachers, dancers, postmen, auctioneers and gameshow hosts too. This makes the world feel so alive and real because everything just doesn’t revolve around the central plot. At no point does this deter or detract you from completing the main quest. It simply brings out some fun and entertainment. I remember when my Baba and Gido (the Ukrainian terms for Grandma and Grandpa) had to sell their farm and move into a smaller home. They held an estate sale, and I got to watch a live auction. It was sad to see their farm being sold, but it was really something to witness the spectacle. Now I got to experience that same feeling in The Wind Waker.
Catch up on the previous chapters in this series with the links below!
