A Zelda: Wind Waker Remaster Has a Lot of Explaining to Do

Summary

Rumors suggest Zelda remasters like Wind Waker and Twilight Princess could finally make an appearance on the Switch.
A Wind Waker remaster could delve deeper into Tetra and her crew's backstory.
Wind Waker provides some light context for how Tetra came to be with this crew, but there's room for a lot more lore development.

With rumors of a Nintendo Switch 2 ramping up, Nintendo has entered a slower period of game releases. Based on that and the current slate of Switch titles, fans can probably expect the company to lean on remasters as it musters a strong launch lineup for its next console, with Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door and Luigi's Mansion 2: Dark Moon currently leading the charge. Zelda remasters, particularly The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker and The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess, have been in the rumor mill for years, and even if they're just The Wind Waker and Twilight Princess’ Wii U ports again, now may be their time.

As with any rumors, these should be taken with a grain of salt, but these rumors’ longevity makes the desire for more ports of these Zelda titles clear. Whether it's a remake or a thorough remaster in the vein of Metroid Prime Remastered, it would at least be nice to see The Wind Waker's unique art style at the highest resolution possible. Any more changes the game gets are just a bonus, though Nintendo should consider adding something to answer questions about Tetra and her pirate crew that have lingered for a bit too long.

Wind Waker’s Pirate Crew Are Highlights In A Game Full Of Good NPCs

Tetra and her pirates are major recurring characters from The Wind Waker. Despite seeming dubious at first, they become some of Link's staunchest allies, and he even ends the game by sailing away with them. At the head of the crew is the charismatic pirate captain Tetra, a girl around Link's age who nonetheless has the respect and adoration of her crew. Tetra displays headstrong and ruthless tendencies, but hides not only a charitable side, but also a lineage with the Hyrule royal family, turning out to be The Wind Waker's incarnation of Princess Zelda.

The Pirate Crew's Backstories Should Be More Important Than They Are

All of that helped make Tetra one of the fan favorite characters of the game. However, the circumstances of Tetra assuming her seafaring lifestyle are a little suspect. As evidenced by a few lines of dialogue and a portrait in Tetra's cabin, Tetra’s mother was the previous captain and entrusted her daughter with a piece of the Triforce of Wisdom before passing away. Nothing else is known about her, or how she found a piece of The Legend of Zelda's most iconic artifact. A remaster could do more to contextualize Tetra's pirate crew in its world.

How Tetra’s Crew Could Gain Larger Roles In A Wind Waker Remaster

Ideally, new information would come in the form of a pirate-themed bonus scenario where players sail through part of the Great Sea as Tetra on a prior treasure hunt. The main gameplay loop would involve exploring a remixed form of one of Nintendo's best open worlds, with some dungeons and new mechanics to break up the action. However, Tetra could also listen in on her crew reminiscing about both their own backstories and how they met Tetra’s mother, forming a better picture of the crew.

Justifying More Story For The Wind Waker’s Pirates Is Easy

Fans are already fond of Tetra, and have been waiting for a Zelda title to feature Princess Zelda, so this mode would undoubtedly be well-received, even if it was brief. The story could even end with a boss fight against the Helmaroc King, followed by Tetra being captured and taken to Outset Island for The Wind Waker’s opening. Even if there aren't any major revelations, like confirmation of the pirate crew being descendants of the Hylian royal family's servants, it would still be a fun addition to a Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker remaster, and an incentive for players to jump back in.

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