The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom has taken the fan favorite franchise in a different direction in more ways than players expected. With Zelda taking the reins as the player character in Echoes of Wisdom, fans expected something different, but the treatment of the series’ longest running antagonist took some by surprise.
Every great hero needs a good villain, and for Link, that role is most often filled by Ganon. Often taking the form of a big-like beast, Ganon is the embodiment of evil, and is sometimes resurrected into Ganondorf in order to take on a more fearsome form. Reveal trailers for Echoes of Wisdom showed Link defeating Ganon in the opening moments of the game, leading many players to believe that he would be back at the end in an even more formidable variation. Surprisingly, Ganon wouldn’t return to become the game’s overarching antagonist. Instead, this role was filled by a new villain in the Zelda series known as Null. Null is the name given to the void trapped within the kingdom of Hyrule, who tries to dissolve the land into nothingness. This is, perhaps, an even worse fate for the kingdom than Ganon’s rule, and suggests that his role as the villain of the Zelda series may not be as solid as players had believed.
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Ganon Always Returns, but May Need a Break
Ganon is a character that players love to hate, and his presence in the Zelda series is cemented, so it won’t be long before some version of the character awaits players in the boss chamber again. With 11 different incarnations of Ganon in the series’ history, he continues to act as a compelling character and a fearsome foe. This has never been more true than in his latest appearance as the antagonist of Tears of the Kingdom, where he received a fleshed out story as well as two powerful new forms. But, this representation of the character is so great, it might be difficult for him to outdo himself any time soon.
Few would argue against Ganondorf being the best villain in the series, but constantly having to one-up the previous version is difficult, both in-universe for the character, and in the real-world for developers. This is what leads to the series having other villains who appear for a game or two in between appearances of Hyrule’s greatest threat. That time allows developers to think about what makes the antagonist such a compelling character and how Ganon can improve after Tears of the Kingdom. His absence is felt, but usually pays off in his next fight.
It’s Time for New Villains to Steal the Spotlight
However great a villain Ganondorf is, he isn’t the only evil force that Hyrule must protect itself against. Even some of the best Zelda games don’t include Ganon as the primary antagonist. Skull Kid from Majora’s Mask is an iconic antagonist in his own right, and earned players’ respect after only one appearance as a main villain. Other characters, like Vaati, even have multiple games where they take on the role of final boss, making them more memorable and challenging each time. In a way, characters like Null, Vaati, and Skull Kid are even better for the story than Ganon because they allow for new areas of the Zelda mythos to be explored.
Some games that don’t include a boss fight against Ganon are:
- Majora’s Mask
- Link’s Awakening
- Skyward Sword
- Minish Cap
- Oracle of Seasons / Ages
Null may have the makings of another powerful recurring villain for Link, or Zelda, to face off with again in the future. No new Zelda games appear to be on the horizon yet, but it’s only a matter of time before players find themselves in Hyrule once again, and who they will be fighting remains a mystery as well. While some were saddened by it, Ganon’s brief role in Echoes of Wisdom might be a good thing for him. Too much of a great villain will only leave fans weary of the same story and the same fight time and time again. What Echoes of Wisdom does is give Ganon a break after his latest masterful outing, allowing the series to withhold its largest foe until the time is right.
- Released
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September 26, 2024
- ESRB
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E10+ For Everyone 10+
- Publisher(s)
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Nintendo