I may have written small passages about my adoration of Wind Waker, but I don't think I've really delved into as to why that is the case; as this year's My IGN tourney champion, I feel it is the ripe opportunity to do so! This will become about the second time ever that I would've talked about the Legend of Zelda on this site, so here I go! 
As for our destination... The wind will guide us!
I've said previously that this game wasn't my first entry into the series and was ready to quit as a result of not being able to enjoy the games, believing that it probably wasn't for me; Wind Waker was the first to introduce the magic, the kind that evokes feelings of fantastical wonder and excitement of yore. Where I'd want to explore every inch of the world, which, in this case, is the deep blue that is known as the Great Sea.
You could say that Wind Waker's strongest attribute would be its presentation, and I concur! The vibrant, beautiful art style makes the title stand out as a timeless classic, and every ounce of the world has a stroke of lovely colors that lends to its ageless appearance. Each setting and environment pours with clear colors, and they all look beautiful thanks to the cell-shading prevalent in Wind Waker's visual style. Amusingly, I loved seeing the smoke effect from an explosion!
This unique art style also allows for each and every character to poise themselves with numerous, unique expressions, and what other character does this better than Link? He perfectly articulates his thoughts visibly without muttering a single word, with his visage giving us dialog in our minds. Link's incarnation in Wind Waker is easily one of the most expressive characters in the series, only rivaled by his ancestor in Skyward Sword!
WEEEEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!
I can't leave off the presentation without talking about the game's soundtrack! Even at the start of the game, I was introduced to the wonderful Celtic overtones that makes up Wind Waker's music. When I finally set sail to traverse the Great Sea, an adventurous tune slowly rose in volume, which soon became the defining theme of this majestic expedition; I truly felt like I was on my own odyssey while this song was playing. Conversely, the seas became terrifying to travel when Ganondorf unleashed his curse upon all, and the track ominously reflected the state of affairs. These songs do an incredible part of highlighting these emotional, tense moments, and my favorite still happens to be with Link's departure from Outset. Additionally, the soundtracks made fighting the bosses something I always look forward to for every replay
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No matter what island I've landed on, there was always something to do or unlock in later parts of the game. Even with Link's humble beginnings at Outset, I did everything I could quickly before I went to meet his grandma. Once my trek in the seas was finally underway, I always made sure that I filled out my map whenever I could, even if it seemed pretty pointless at first. Sometimes in my random visits of these islands, I'd come across things I shouldn't have, like the ominous Ghost Ship or Cyclos in his tormenting fury; they serve as a ever-present reminder of the dangers I'd encounter throughout Link's journey. Of course, I also recognize that, despite the haunting threats, there's always the inhabitants of the sea that share our thirst for adventure, like the treasure hunters. The seagulls pass nearby as constant companions in Link's trek to save the seas, and they're some of the best allies of the series! 
Some of my fondest moments of the game actually involved the Tingle Tuner; in the GameCube version, one could connect a GBA with an adapter and treated with dual-screen action, which in my situation was co-op with my brother. While this add-on had its own side quest, what really did was a ridiculous amounts of shenanigans, abusing all of the power-ups to succeed in certain mini-games and messing with the residents of Windfall and Dragon Roost Island. Indeed, these led to a bunch of comical accidents or woes, especially once I realized I had lost so much money for the map translations. This was my first co-op experience with my brother, and it's moments like these that I still nostalgically recall to this day.
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Link's journey to save his sister and all of the Great Sea is one I consider the best in the series with all that it does, and it's one of my all-time favorite games; for me, Wind Waker stands along the likes of my other cherished games, such as Fire Emblem Awakening, Metal Gear Solid 3, and Banjo Kazooie. This game allowed me to give the series another chance and made me a fan of the Zelda games. Best of all, what I've experienced in the vast oceans is truly unlike any other game I've played, and one I hope to play again with its latest remaster! I feel it is wholly deserving of being the first Zelda to win the 2014 My IGN tournament! 
