Summary
The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdomhad a fantastic version of Ganondorf, and it can be an inspiration for the villain’s next appearance. As the series' biggest villain, it’s almost a certainty that he’ll be back in Link’s next adventure. Ganondorf’s appearance inTears of the Kingdomwas something of a renaissance for the character, giving him a presence that he hasn’t had in some time. His next appearance will have to live up to the high bar that was just set. However,The Legend of Zeldacan take what worked to make him even better.
Throughout the series, themany reincarnations ofThe Legend of Zelda’s Ganondorfhave consistently been the most iconic and recurring foe of Link and Zelda. The one male Gerudo encountered in the series, Ganondorf is a wicked king who wields the Triforce of Power. His plots take many forms, but in general, he aims to use whatever power he has at his disposal to take over the kingdom of Hyrule. He has used sorcery, swordsmanship, and even the schemes of other villains in an attempt to get what he wants. Although he has come close to victory, he has always fallen in the end.
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Tears of the Kingdom Can Inspire Ganondorf’s Next Appearance
Despite the two being the same entity, there are manydifferences betweenZelda’s Ganon and Ganondorf. Ganon is the evil being in general, while Ganondorf is his humanlike Gerudo form. While Ganon has taken many shapes and been many beasts, Ganondorf is easily his most iconic form. After all, Ganondorf has appeared in everySuper Smash Bros.game sinceMelee, raising his profile. Ganondorf also feels like a more personal foe to Link. In addition to being able to converse with him, he can also stand and fight blade-to-blade with him. Links duels against Ganondorf feel more intense than any of his other incarnations.
One source that can be used as clear inspiration for the next game isGanondorf’s design inTears of the Kingdom. While Ganondorf has always been bigger than Link,Tears of the Kingdomreally emphasized their differences. While Link is rather thin,TotK’s Ganondorf towers over him, with a muscular frame to boot. His design shows off how powerful he is just from a glance, and makes him look like a dangerous warrior that Link needs to be wary of. This Ganondorf design has proven remarkably popular among fans, providing yet another reason for the nextLegend of Zeldato seek inspiration from it.
Ganondorf’s next appearance can also learn from what he didn’t do in the last game. During thestory ofTears of the Kingdom, Link and Ganondorf didn’t get many opportunities to interact, and that’s something that the next game should consider fixing. The rivalry between Link and Ganondorf is written into the series' lore, with the two of them fated to do battle in their many incarnations. The next game’s Ganondorf could be a game-long presence, rather than just the big boss at the end. Giving Link and Ganondorf’s rivalry a chance to simmer before the finale could make their next battle truly epic.
The Legend of Zeldais never going to leave Ganondorf behind, and that’s why he must keep looking impressive. ThenextLegend of Zeldagameprobably won’t come out for a few years, but it will almost certainly bring back the Demon King as a major threat. As befitting his status, he needs to be more than just the final boss. He needs to be the threatening presence that players know him as, and further establish himself as Link’s eternal rival.Tears of the Kingdom’s Ganondorf was one of the series' best versions so far, and the nextLegend of Zeldacan learn much from him.
The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdomis available now for Nintendo Switch.
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