The Wind Waker: 10 oddball characters that the fans love

There’s a long list of things to love about The Wind Waker, and for most fans, its charming and endearing characters often sit at the top of that list. Link, Tetra, and the other key players in the game’s story have taken up a permanent home in the hearts of millions of Zelda fans.

But as great as the main characters are, they aren’t the only ones that give the game its vibrance. There are plenty of characters who bring a lot to the player’s experience. This is especially true of the more goofy or eccentric characters who could only come to life in a game like The Wind Waker.

10. Tott

There are men who love to dance, and there’s Tott, a man who lives to dance. Day and night, rain or shine, all this striking performers wants to do is get down to any beat or rhythm he can. And to top it all off, he’s got the perfect wardrobe for someone who only has dancing on the brain.

Link meets Tott while the man is dancing in front of what appears to be a tombstone. He tells Link that he’s trying to recreate a dance that he saw some stranger perform that turns day to night and vice versa, but he just can’t get it right. Despite all of his dancing prowess, and even having Link teach him the necessary moves with the Wind Waker, the dancing trick still eludes poor Tott.

9. Old Man Ho Ho

Who Old Man Ho Ho truly is and where he comes from, no one can say for certain. All that people do know is that he’s made himself busy exploring the Great Sea. In fact, he moves around so much that it often seems as if there is more than one of him. But people’s perception of him matters little to the strange man, and that’s mostly due to the fact that he rarely seems to notice when other people are around.

Link and Old Man Ho Ho meet on multiple occasions, most times being when Link is close by to some worthwhile treasure or important location. Ho Ho is a retired old man who needed a hobby, and sightseeing and exploring the world seems to be his new favorite way to pass the time.

8. Niko

Niko is the youngest member of Tetra’s crew, and he’s had a full life of taking a lot of abuse from his fellow pirates. He’s at the bottom of the pirate totem pole, and the demeaning tasks he has to perform, including the likes of doing the other pirate’s dirty laundry, is his reward for it.

If only he didn’t make matters worse for himself by being a bit of a goofball. Niko is prone to making mistakes, and he’s even more prone to being tricked by other people. He certainly means well, or as well as a pirate can mean, but he often provides the other pirates with reminders of why he’s the one stuck below deck all of the time.

7. Zill

Most people know what it’s like to need to avoid a messy child that always tries to get a bit too close for comfort. This means most people can relate well with the residents of Outset Island, who have to deal with this adorable but gross situation on a daily basis, courtesy of their youngest resident, Zill.

The signature, constant snot drip of Zill’s would probably get him a lot more trouble than it does if he wasn’t always so friendly. He’ll constantly run up to the other villagers and push his face right into theirs, but he’s only doing it because he’s happy to see them and wants to play. There’s not much anyone can do other than smile politely and try to look past the grossness to see his innocent smile.

6. Zunari

Zunari’s not too much of an oddball, but he has that fervor for success that definitely makes him stand out. Immediately after landing on Windfall Island, this merchant in the making was determined to make Windfall be his new and welcoming home. He started his own business, and he even took on the responsibility of managing the town’s nightly auctions. He dove headfirst into his hope to strengthen his new community.

His entrepreneurial attitude is fine, but what makes him odd is a mix of three things. First is his somewhat forceful personality and eagerness to do business. Second is his insistence on wearing his winter coat and hood, even though Windfall Island has a more tropical climate. Last is his friendship with a certain tights-wearing oddball (Tingle) that the rest of the town opted to throw in prison as soon as they saw him.

5. Lenzo

Appropriate for a master photographer, Lenzo is a loner and a recluse, but he’s also an expert observer. He doesn’t always trust people, but he seems to have an interest in them, and he wants to solve the problems he sees them going through. The only issue is the somewhat creepy method used of spying on them.

This becomes most apparent when Link decides to check out Lenzo’s gallery. As Link is studying the photos, he is surprised by Lenzo, who had snuck up behind Link without the boy noticing. Link’s shock amuses Lenzo, and he casually mentions that sneaking up on people is a hobby of his, as if that is not out of the ordinary.

4. Tingle

If there’s one person that could give even any of the other oddball characters pause, it would be the incomparable man of mystery, Tingle. The fact that he was thrown in Windfall Island’s dungeon almost immediately after landing on its shores is good enough proof of this. He had done nothing wrong, but Tingle has a way about him that surprises everyone when introductions are first made.

Aside from a few quirks, which include the forced labor of his friends and siblings, Tingle is nothing more than a good-natured man who simply can’t figure out how to act his age. With any luck, Link’s mature attitude will rub off on the fairy-obsessed fellow.

3. Fishman

Fishman is actually Fishmen, to be more accurate about it. They are a group of talking fish people that live throughout the Great Sea and are known to be quite the conversationalists. They are also known to be a bit gruff when dealing with strangers, but they at least have good intentions.

Really, it’s their appearance that does the most work to land them in the oddball category. Nothing can prepare any of the residents of the Great Sea for that initial shock of meeting a talking fish with a humanoid face for the first time.

2. Beedle

Beedle is a merchant, and much like Zunari, he’s committed to making his mark on the world. His hope is to become the most successful traveling merchant who has ever sailed across the Great Sea, and he also apparently wants to be the friendliest merchant ever seen as well.

Beedle is all about keeping his energy and his appreciation for his customers at an all-time high 24/7. He keeps people informed of all the deals he has going on, and his membership program gives everyone a good reason to return to his ship again and again.

1. Salvatore

Beedle is the epitome of wanting the customers to be completely satisfied. Salvatore is the epitome of counting the hours till the shift is over. With a look in his eyes that tells his customers that every day is a long day, this reluctant entertainer does his best to delight anyone looking to play his various skill games.

At least Salvatore puts some effort into his performances, even if doing so kills him on the inside. His face may not inspire excitement, but the surprising level of detail he puts into his voice imitations prove that his talent is simply being wasted on Windfall.