Yeah, "we" became "I" by sunrise. Rhonda passed out somewhere around 2:00am, but I would kick her awake for important cutscenes and boss fights. It rarely worked.

The great thing is that, unlike most adventure games, Wind Waker can become a 2P experience. Early on, you find the Tingle Tuner... a Game Boy Advance-shaped item that lets you talk directly to Tingle, a cloying fairy man thing who finds self-worth in helping your quest. Although I find Tingle one of the more obnoxious additions to the Zelda vista (he first appeared in Link's last N64 game, Majora's Mask), the connectivity with a GBA is wildly cool.

Here's how it works. You hook up a GBA to your GameCube and activate the Tingle Tuner. The game downloads the entire Tingle program to the GBA, and as long as the GBA is turned on, it will continually exchange info with the GameCube. The Tingle player can then buy items on the GBA screen (using Link's money) to help out: bombs, health, etc. The GBA also acts as a secondary location display, showing the current wind direction, area map and hidden items. Tingle himself will spout hints and chatter as he follows along with Link's adventure, in the form of text on the GBA screen. For example, he will suddenly mention that he sees some writings on the wall of the cave Link is standing in, or he will try to direct you towards a hidden treasure.

One of the best uses of the GBA-Cube connection is the Learn to Use Tingle quest available soon after finding the Tuner. Tingle, communicating solely through the GBA, leads you on a scavenger hunt through the town... directing you to stand by a postbox, find three benches, uncover hidden rupees, and bomb the door of Tingle's former prison. As you complete each task, Tingle chirrups and laughs and gives you your next order. IE, the game isn't faking it. The GBA knows when you stand on that bench.

You might recall a lot of bullshit around the GameCube's launch that the GBA could not be used in any meaningful interaction with Cube games. EB clerks were spreading misinformation like soynut butter, telling gamers that the GBA/Cube Link Cable couldn't handle fast transmission speeds, that the GBA could not be used as a Cube game controller, and that the only "interaction" would be through out-of-game data transfers (like the Chao Garden feature of Sonic Advance.) Wind Waker makes them eat their words. One of Tingle's most utilized functions is the bomb, where the GBA player manipulates a live, real time, onscreen Tingle reticle across the map simultaneous to whatever Link happens to be doing. Since Link couldn't use bombs himself early on, I would ask Rhon to "bomb that rock" and off the little Tingle icon would go, bombing rocks and enemies alike for the low cost of 10 rupees apiece.

Two downsides. You don't get Tingle access in every single area. He disappears in some conversation-oriented areas - like the Rito cave, or the Deku Tree's grotto - and he turns tail and runs away before each boss fight. ("Oh, I have a cramp!") Plus, he won't always do as you ask if it's a puzzle the game would prefer you complete personally. ("I'm sorry, but if I do all the work, you'll never grow strong!")

And, it's hell on your GBA batteries.