Summary
The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdomreset the bar for Nintendo open-world offerings. It’s a game that builds upon its genre-defining predecessor by bringing more player agency, exploration, and challenge to make each small achievement feel like a monumental feat.It advanced onBreath of the Wildin virtually every way, and in doing so cemented itself among the best games of 2023, a year packed with memorable titles.
One of the areas in whichThe Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdomimproved the formula was in storytelling. WhileBreath of the Wild’s story was fleeting and largely optional, the new game brought cinematic moments to the forefront and gave fans a story that fit the series' lofty reputation. It wasn’t perfect, however, and despite Ganondorf gallantly returning as the big bad, there were some elements in his character, backstory, and motivations that felt half-baked, which is something that the next game could improve.
Ganondorf is the Best Version of One of Gaming’s Greatest Villains
Ganon is one of the most instantly recognizable villains in gaming history. Be it in his ‘Ganondorf’ humanoid form or his true beast form, he’s often the central antagonist in eachZeldagame, no matter how different they are in art style or game design. InTears of the Kingdomhe arguably receives his best visual style yet, with his signature scowl and red hair being pared with a samurai aesthetic.
In a recent interview,Eiji Aonuma insistedTotK’s developers were keen to show the extent of his evil, and did so by showing him killing people on-screen for the first time.
Ganondorf is often seen as a more compelling adversary than Ganon, as his humanoid nature allows the story to develop him as such, instead of just framing him as a big monster that is intent on control and destruction. InThe Wind Wakerhis stoic, almost regal aura can almost belittle and downplay Link’s quest, which makes it so sweet when he is finally bested. The same could be said forTwilight Princess. Ganondorf is the villain inTears of the Kingdom, but there’s little insight into who he is, and why he’s so set on carrying out his evil deeds.
Ganondorf Fails to Leave a Lasting Legacy in Tears of the Kingdom
The final boss fight with Ganondorf inTears of the Kingdomis truly epic and unforgettable, but the road leading up to this feels somewhat cookie-cutter. The fight is easily his most profound moment, as the story does little to give him any backstory or context for his actions. Little is shared about his experience as a Gerudo, how he fit into their customs, and why he wants to take over Hyrule. He seems to want power for the sake of having power, which is disappointing because it doesn’t take advantage of his place in the franchise’s wider lore.
The Gerudo are developed so well inBreath of the WildandTears of the Kingdom, being one of the four races that Link spends a substantial amount of time with. However, while a few off-the-cuff comments link Ganondorf tothe people of Gerudo Town, there is a lot of room for more development and insight into how he fit into their culture.
Aside fromTears of the Kingdom, Ganondorf’s last appearance in a new mainlineZeldagame was in 2006’sTwilight Princess.
Tears of the Kingdom Needed a Villain, But Not Necessarily Ganondorf
In reality, it wouldn’t matter if Ganondorf was replaced by Yuga fromA Link Between Worldsor Ghirahim fromSkyward Sword, as his place in the story doesn’t rely on his personality, but rather his presence. He’s an intimidating warlord who has world-dominating ambitions, and while this has been a core part of his character for decades,Tears of the Kingdomwas a perfect opportunity to be the biggest glimpse into who Ganondorf is and could be, which would have matched his incredible character design inTotK.
