GameCube
| Control | Action |
|---|---|
|
Move |
|
Access pause menu |
|
Rotate and zoom camera |
|
First person camera |
|
Perform contextual action, sidle when facing a wall |
|
Attack |
|
Assign item to X button |
|
Assign item to Y button |
|
Assign item to Z button |
|
Crouch, defend, grab, contextual |
|
Strafe, lock on, toggle target, centre camera behind Link |
|
View map/chart |
|
Dismiss map/chart |
|
Grow minimap, summon compass/clock |
|
Dismiss minimap/compass/clock |
The control scheme is designed for Nintendo Gamecube. This should be familiar to people who played Legend of Zelda Ocarina of Time and Majora's Mask. If you are moving from N64 to GC, 
is now and 
for map is now 
. Play Ocarina of Time bonus discs (Collector's Edition and Master Quest) to learn the gamecube controls.
Hold vs Switch: If you're a beginner of this game, switch is a good choice so you can tap the button saving your finger from aching. But if you're a veteran, holding is a challenging choice. You're going to have to hold the button until you either defeat the object or when you encounter many objects, you have to let go and hold the same button again.
Wii U
| Control | Action |
|---|---|
|
Move |
|
Access pause menu |
|
Rotate and zoom camera |
|
First person camera |
|
Perform contextual action, sidle when facing a wall |
|
Attack |
|
Assign item to Y button |
|
Assign item to X button |
|
Assign item to R button |
|
Crouch, defend, grab, contextual |
|
Strafe, lock on, toggle target, centre camera behind Link |
|
Use Wind Waker |
|
Deploy Bomb cannon when at sea |
|
Deploy Grappling Hook crane when at sea |
|
Use the pause menu, even when not paused. |
|
Play in off-screen mode on the GamePad (GamePad only) |
The HD version of The Wind Waker features several minor control changes that take advantage of the Wii U's features. The Wind Waker and Sail now have their own dedicated buttons, allowing their use no matter what items the player has set. While at sea, the Grappling Hook and Bombs can also be used independently without being equipped. As a result, while the minimap is no longer included on the screen, it can be viewed at anytime from the GamePad's menu.