Quote Originally Posted by roto13-ness
Now, I don't think it's fair to compare it to Majoras Mask in terms of side quests, since Majoras Mask was basically made of them.
That's true. Majora's Mask just isn't fair, but what about Ocarina of Time and Link's Awakening's trading side-quest? I perfer them greatly to The Wind Waker's trading quest, plus thew rewards are greater in the other games (OoT= Biggoron Sword). Or even the Happy Mask side-quest in Ocarina of Time? Hunting Gold Skulltilas? The Wind Waker just did not have side-quests that could compete with those. This is probably because of the fact that The Wind Waker was rushed.

I'd like to say that I did like The Wind Waker, but I was greatly dissapointed in it. I had low expectations getting the game, but with my first playthrough, I became a believer. I loved the game, but with my second time through, Wind Waker's flaws jumped out much more. The first one that jumped out at me was the lack of replay value compaired to pretty much all the other Zelda games. Then the Triforce Quest. You should never be FORCED to explore like that plus it felt so imcomplete. Aonuma even apologized for the Triforce hunt in one interview saying that it was rushed and boring. The sailing was not so bad the first time through, but after you beat the game, the sailing just get's irritating; having to change the wind constantly, boring setting (just endless, undetailed blue sea), islands were too far apart, lack of enemies, and the list goes on.

The Wind Waker is one of those games that you feel you have to love, but there are just so many flaws you wonder how this game ever got so popular.