The Official Rito Tribe Bird-Man Contest is a minigame in The Wind Waker.[1] It is hosted by Willi and Obli, two human brothers who dress up as Rito.
Location[]
The Bird-Man Contest is located on the Flight Control Platform east of Dragon Roost Island. To participate, Link must speak to Willi and pay a fee of 10 Rupees, which will grant him passage onto the upper deck of the Flight Control Platform where he may start the trial. Also, he will fully replenish Link's Magic Meter.
Rules[]
In order to win a prize, Link must traverse a specific sea distance and cross a pre-determined finish line set 255 yards from the Flight Control Platform.[2] The stretch of sea incorporates several Updrafts into its design; the Deku Leaf is designed for catching the spinning air and pushing Link upward, aiding in his descent toward the finish line. The challenge lies in catching these vortexes, as they all have paths of their own, and lay at different intervals from each other. One missed vortex may cause Link to hit the water, subsequently losing the challenge. The most effective direction for the wind to travel towards the banner is northwest.
The contest can only be completed with a doubled Magic Meter, obtainable from the Great Fairy at the Two-Eye Reef, as Link will not be able to make it to the finish line with his regular meter. However, it is possible to use the Tingle Tuner to gain a distance boost at the beginning with a Tingle Balloon as well as replenish Magic Power as Link flies. This is in accordance with the Bird-Man Contest's rules, as the brothers state that Link is free to use any means he wishes to get to the goal.[3][4]
If Link is able to reach the goal, he will be rewarded with a Piece of Heart and the title of the "new and great and talented champion,"[5] the title previously held by Obli.[6] After Link has bested Obli's score, he will no longer be required to pay a 10 Rupee fee to participate. Subsequent victories will result in a Purple Rupee, worth 50 Rupees.
If Link fails to cross beyond the banner, he will be disqualified.[7] If Link exits the established boundary, his Magic Meter will decrease rapidly, causing him to fall and disqualifying him from the contest.[8][9] Should Link fly out of bounds southward, Obli and Willi will reprimand Link for not participating in the contest properly.[10][11]
Trivia[]
- The banner at the end is reminiscent of the one on the Boating Course, however, it bears the symbol of a feather.
References
- ↑ "Greetings, O person who has surely come to take the challenge of the big sky! This is where you can register for the Official Rito Tribe Bird-Man Contest!" — Willi (The Wind Waker)
- ↑ "A banner stands now at the site where the Great and Talented Champion, who has flown the farthest to date, crashed into the frothy waves in a massive splash of glory! If you are able to pass that flag...then YOU will be the new champion! And you will be drenched in praise, much as you will be drenched in seawater!" — Willi (The Wind Waker)
- ↑ "And now, listen. You are free to use any means, methods, or tools you have at your disposal to help you soar through the sky. The rules are simple: See how far you can fly before you crash into the roiling seas like so much dead-weight driftwood!" — Willi (The Wind Waker)
- ↑ "You can use whatever means, methods, and tools you have at your disposal! All you must do is take to the skies and aim for that flag, plain and simple! Just imagine you are flying down from the very summit of Dragon Roost Mountain!" — Obli (The Wind Waker)
- ↑ "Oh! You are the New and Great and Talented Champion who surpassed even me! Please show us humble brothers yet another great flight! I tremble with anticipation!" — Obli (The Wind Waker)
- ↑ "Amazing... You blew past my brother's best record in impressive fashion! You would make a fine and distinguished member of the Rito tribe! I guarantee it! The former champion upstairs says so, too! You are both great and talented! So, as the new champion of the Bird-Man Contest, please accept this great and talented prize!" — Willi (The Wind Waker)
- ↑ "Sploooooooooooosh! Flight distance was: X yards! Yes! A whopping X yards!" — Obli (The Wind Waker)
- ↑ "Oh! Too bad! You flew out of bounds! That disqualifies you! It looks like the skies decided you were going to fly in a different direction! They do that sometimes." — Obli (The Wind Waker)
- ↑ "...Ohhh, that's just atrocious flying! Soaring out of bounds disqualifies you! You must concentrate! Can't you at least aim for your goal?" — Willi (The Wind Waker)
- ↑ "Heyyyyyy! What do you think you're doing? I can't measure that, you strange person! ...Why, you don't even know which direction you're supposed to fly, do you?" — Obli (The Wind Waker)
- ↑ "...You can't do that! Can't you see the banner over there by your goal? Why are you flying in the OPPOSITE direction?!? That makes very little sense!" — Willi (The Wind Waker)