{"id":136526,"date":"2026-03-20T16:00:00","date_gmt":"2026-03-20T16:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.nintendolife.com\/#article-198627"},"modified":"2026-03-20T16:00:00","modified_gmt":"2026-03-20T16:00:00","slug":"opinion-is-winds-waves-just-pokemon-tears-of-the-kingdom","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sickgaming.net\/blog\/2026\/03\/20\/opinion-is-winds-waves-just-pokemon-tears-of-the-kingdom\/","title":{"rendered":"Opinion: Is Winds & Waves Just ‘Pok\u00e9mon: Tears Of The Kingdom’?"},"content":{"rendered":"
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\"Pokemon<\/a>
<\/span> Image: Nintendo Life \/ The Pok\u00e9mon Company<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

If you\u2019re reading this, then you\u2019ve probably already seen the Pok\u00e9mon: Winds and Waves<\/a> trailer with its underwater exploration and probably-important cloud<\/a>. You\u2019ve marvelled at the tropical setting, sighed with relief at the 2027 release date, and admitted that Gecqua would be a cooler hang than Pombon. Pomeranians are delusional, yappy monsters who believe that they own your apartment. Gecqua is just a stoner with cool contacts and too much eye shadow who wants to order KFC.<\/p>\n

If you know more about Winds and Waves than that, then you\u2019ve probably looked up spoilers and will no doubt don a knowing smile as you read my predictions for these highly anticipated Pok\u00e9mon games.<\/p>\n

My theory, should you choose to accept it, is that Winds and Waves will take a page from The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom<\/a> and will thus boast three realms of travel. Harnessing the abilities of various Pok\u00e9mon, you will traverse not just sea and land, but the sky as well.<\/p>\n

The cerulean underwater wonderland revealed in the Winds and Waves trailer is nothing like the Depths of TOTK. It doesn\u2019t seem to mirror the land above it and it gives off a less murdery vibe. It does, however, suggest an aquatic vastness waiting to be discovered. Imagine the underwater routes of Ruby, Sapphire<\/a> and Emerald<\/a>, but with intricately rendered algae barricades to Whirlpool out of the way, and swarms of schooling Wishiwashi.<\/p>\n

\"Pokemon<\/a>
<\/span> Image: The Pok\u00e9mon Company<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

This supports the consensus that WaW will lean into open-world magic. We\u2019ll probably have to summon a Pok\u00e9mon\u2019s Dive ability to launch ourselves under the waves and enter a shimmering universe where TMs, boss-level Pok\u00e9mon, and (hopefully) environmental puzzles await.<\/p>\n

But why stop with Dive? If WaW truly hopes to become the best open-world adventure in the Pok\u00e9mon franchise (admittedly a low bar to cross), it might encourage other forms of travel. Pok\u00e9mon\u2019s abilities could become like Link\u2019s Rauru-blessed abilities in TOTK. Your character would be a human prepubescent instead of an elf with a six-pack, and you would use Abras instead of Ascend to Teleport through ceilings, but it could be fun! Is this a wacky idea? Maybe! But I am as delusional as a Pombon and I like to think big.<\/p>\n

HMs have been key to surpassing story obstacles and furthering the narrative in past games. In Winds and Waves, a similar arsenal of moves would not just further the narrative but expand the possibilities of exploration. Trick Room instead of Recall could slow down fast-moving objects in the overworld. Psychic instead of Ultrahand could create bridges and dismantle physical barriers. I\u2019m realising that I\u2019ve only listed Psychic-type moves so far, so to avoid a world full of resentful and bleary-eyed Psychic-type ability servants, let\u2019s argue that Magnet Rise or Strength would replace Ultrahand.<\/p>\n