is a
fictional character
In fiction, a character (or speaker, in poetry) is a person or other being in a narrative (such as a novel, play, radio or television series, music, film, or video game). The character may be entirely fictional or based on a real-life person, ...
and the primary
antagonist
An antagonist is a character in a story who is presented as the chief foe of the protagonist.
Etymology
The English word antagonist comes from the Greek ἀνταγωνιστής – ''antagonistēs'', "opponent, competitor, villain, enemy, riv ...
of
Nintendo
is a Japanese Multinational corporation, multinational video game company headquartered in Kyoto, Japan. It develops video games and video game consoles.
Nintendo was founded in 1889 as by craftsman Fusajiro Yamauchi and originally produce ...
's ''
The Legend of Zelda
''The Legend of Zelda'' is an action-adventure game franchise created by the Japanese game designers Shigeru Miyamoto and Takashi Tezuka. It is primarily developed and published by Nintendo, although some portable installments and re-rele ...
'' video game series and franchise, as well as the final
boss
Boss may refer to:
Occupations
* Supervisor, often referred to as boss
* Air boss, more formally, air officer, the person in charge of aircraft operations on an aircraft carrier
* Crime boss, the head of a criminal organization
* Fire boss, a ...
in many ''Zelda'' titles. A massive and malevolent creature, he first appeared in the original game, ''
The Legend of Zelda
''The Legend of Zelda'' is an action-adventure game franchise created by the Japanese game designers Shigeru Miyamoto and Takashi Tezuka. It is primarily developed and published by Nintendo, although some portable installments and re-rele ...
'' (1986), and has since appeared in the majority of the games in the series. Ganon is the
archenemy
In literature, an archenemy (sometimes spelled as arch-enemy) is the main enemy of someone. In fiction, it is a character who is the protagonist's, commonly a hero's, most prominent and most-known enemy.
Etymology
The word ''archenemy'' sometim ...
of the protagonist
Link and originally the leader of the
Gerudo
''The Legend of Zelda'' is a video game franchise created by Japanese video game designers Shigeru Miyamoto and Takashi Tezuka. It is mainly developed and published by Nintendo. The universe of the ''Legend of Zelda'' series consists of a vari ...
, a race of humanoid desert nomads before becoming the ruler of his demons. In his original Gerudo form, from which he can change magically, he is known as
His specific motives vary from game to game, but most often involve capturing
Princess Zelda
is the titular character in Nintendo's ''The Legend of Zelda'' video game series. She was created by Shigeru Miyamoto and introduced in the original 1986 game ''The Legend of Zelda''. She is one of the central characters in the series, having ...
of
Hyrule
''The Legend of Zelda'' is a video game franchise created by Japanese video game designers Shigeru Miyamoto and Takashi Tezuka. It is mainly developed and published by Nintendo. The universe of the ''Legend of Zelda'' series consists of a variet ...
, the games' usual setting, and planning to conquer Hyrule and the world at large. To this end, he seeks the
Triforce
The is a fictional artifact and icon of Nintendo's ''The Legend of Zelda'' series of video games. It first appeared in the original 1986 action-adventure game ''The Legend of Zelda'' and is a focus of subsequent games in the series, including ...
, an
omnipotent
Omnipotence is the quality of having unlimited power. Monotheistic religions generally attribute omnipotence only to the deity of their faith. In the monotheistic religious philosophy of Abrahamic religions, omnipotence is often listed as one of ...
artifact that grants any wish its bearer desires, and usually manipulates several other villains to realize his ambitions. In most games, he possesses the Triforce of Power, which gives him godlike strength, boundless mystical power, and invulnerability to all but the most powerful sacred weapons, such as the
Master Sword
The is a Fiction, fictional divine magic sword in Nintendo's ''The Legend of Zelda'' series. It is also known as "The Blade of Evil's Bane", the "Sword of Resurrection", the "Sword that Seals the Darkness", and the "Sacred Sword". It was introdu ...
.
As the main villain of the series, Ganon has also appeared in a variety of media and merchandise, including an animated television series,
manga
Manga (Japanese: 漫画 ) are comics or graphic novels originating from Japan. Most manga conform to a style developed in Japan in the late 19th century, and the form has a long prehistory in earlier Japanese art. The term ''manga'' is u ...
and
Amiibo
(, ; officially stylized as amiibo; plural: ''Amiibo'') is a toys-to-life platform by Nintendo, which was launched in November 2014. It consists of a wireless communications and storage protocol for connecting figurines to the Wii U, Ninten ...
. He appears in various spin-off games, such as ''
Hyrule Warriors
''Hyrule Warriors'' is a hack and slash video game developed by Omega Force and Team Ninja for the Wii U video game console. The game is a collaboration between Koei Tecmo and Nintendo, mixing settings and characters from Nintendo's ''The Legend ...
'' and ''
Age of Calamity
''Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity'', known in Japan as is a hack and slash, hack-and-slash game developed by Omega Force and published by Koei Tecmo in Japan and by Nintendo internationally for the Nintendo Switch in 2020. In the story, set 1 ...
'', and also appears in the ''
Super Smash Bros.
''Super Smash Bros.'' is a Crossover (fiction), crossover fighting game series published by Nintendo. The series was created by Masahiro Sakurai, who has directed every game in the series. The series is known for its unique gameplay objectiv ...
'' series.
The character has been well received by critics, becoming one of the most popular and recognizable villains in gaming. He has been praised by critics for providing some of the most memorable boss battles in gaming and has been named as one of the greatest video game villains of all time.
Concept and creation
Names
Ganon was originally known as "Hakkai" during development of the original ''
The Legend of Zelda
''The Legend of Zelda'' is an action-adventure game franchise created by the Japanese game designers Shigeru Miyamoto and Takashi Tezuka. It is primarily developed and published by Nintendo, although some portable installments and re-rele ...
'', in reference to a humanoid pig character known as
Zhu Bajie
Zhu Bajie (), also named Zhu Wuneng, is one of the three helpers of Tang Sanzang and a major character of the 16th century novel ''Journey to the West''. Zhu means " swine" and Bajie means " eight precepts". Buddhist scholars consider that both e ...
(''Cho Hakkai'' in Japanese) from the 16th century Chinese novel ''
Journey to the West
''Journey to the West'' () is a Chinese novel published in the 16th century during the Ming dynasty and attributed to Wu Cheng'en. It is regarded as one of the greatest Classic Chinese Novels, and has been described as arguably the most popu ...
''. The character is given the name "Ganondorf Dragmire" in the English version of the ''
A Link to the Past
''The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past'' is an action-adventure game developed and published by Nintendo for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System. It is the third game in ''The Legend of Zelda'' series and was released in 1991 in Japan and ...
'' instruction manual while his monster form's name was "Mandrag Ganon".
The names "Dragmire" and "Mandrag Ganon" have not appeared in any of the games or other manuals, though the name "Ganondorf Dragmire" is used once on the official Zelda website.
Ganon is named inconsistently throughout the series. In the Japanese versions of the first three games, his name is anglicized as "Gannon". This spelling appears in two Western releases: the original ''The Legend of Zelda'', and the non-canonical ''
Zelda's Adventure
''Zelda's Adventure'' is an action-adventure fantasy video game developed by Viridis Corporation and released for the Philips CD-i console system based on ''The Legend of Zelda'' franchise. Set in the land of Tolemac ("Camelot" spelled backwards ...
''.
Character design
Ganon has two basic forms that appear throughout the series: one is a gigantic
pig-like form, and the other is his humanoid Gerudo form. In the
original ''The Legend of Zelda'', ''
A Link to the Past
''The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past'' is an action-adventure game developed and published by Nintendo for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System. It is the third game in ''The Legend of Zelda'' series and was released in 1991 in Japan and ...
'',
''Oracle of Seasons'' and ''Oracle of Ages'', ''
Four Swords Adventures
''The Legend of Zelda: Four Swords Adventures'' is an action-adventure video game developed and published by Nintendo for the GameCube. It is the eleventh installment in ''The Legend of Zelda'' series. It was released in Japan on March 18, 2004, ...
'', and ''
A Link Between Worlds
''The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds'' is an action-adventure game developed and published by Nintendo for the Nintendo 3DS. The game is an installment in ''The Legend of Zelda'' series and a spiritual successor to the 1991 Super Ninten ...
'', he is depicted as a blue, porcine biped wielding either a large sword or a trident. ''
Ocarina of Time
''The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time'' is an action-adventure game developed and published by Nintendo for the Nintendo 64. It was released in Japan and North America in November 1998, and in PAL regions the following month. ''Ocarina of Tim ...
'' marks the first appearance of his humanoid form named Ganondorf, the physically imposing and armor-clad Lord of the Gerudo people. Like all Gerudo, he possesses olive dark skin, amber eyes, and red hair. Ganondorf is around 230 cm and was first drawn with a "sharp, birdlike nose" that is characteristic of the Gerudo and "strong, supple muscles".
For the development of ''Ocarina of Time'', Ganon was conceived by character designer Satoru Takizawa. Takizawa had imagined Ganon as a "crooked and complex thief, who was basically an all-around abominable human being". However, script director Toru Osawa claimed that this image was "not the case". He began to speak of how Ganondorf was meant to have "parts where he is rather good", comparing him to the character of
Raoh
is a fictional character in the ''Fist of the North Star'' manga franchise by Buronson and Tetsuo Hara. He is the eldest of four honorary brothers (including the protagonist Kenshiro) who trained in the ancient assassination art of Hokuto Shink ...
in ''
Fist of the North Star
is a Japanese manga series written by Buronson and illustrated by Tetsuo Hara. It was serialized in Shueisha's Shōnen manga, ''shōnen'' manga magazine ''Weekly Shōnen Jump'' for 245 issues published from 1983 to 1988 and initially colle ...
''.
With this idea in mind, Takizawa created a tentative model of Ganondorf based on actor
Christopher Lambert
Christophe Guy Denis "Christopher" Lambert (; ; born March 29, 1957) is a French-American actor, producer, and novelist. He started his career playing supporting parts in several French films, and became internationally famous for portraying Ta ...
. The result of Ganondorf was very different from this model, with three forms of the character being created: one of Ganondorf in the beginning; one of Ganondorf seven years later, with longer hair; and one of Ganon in the end.
Since Ganon appeared as a boar-like creature, Takizawa decided that Ganondorf should transform into such at the end of the game, despite the opinions of other staff members. He decided on making Ganon a beast "with the feeling of a pig" to reference ''A Link to the Past''.
In ''
The Wind Waker
''The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker'' is a 2002 action-adventure game developed and published by Nintendo for the GameCube. An installment in ''The Legend of Zelda'' series, it was released in Japan in December 2002, in North America in Marc ...
'', Ganondorf appears as an older character to his first appearance in ''Ocarina of Time''. The artists depicted him as middle-aged and created drawings of him "with an Eastern flavor". His robe was decorated with patterns that were designed to be a twist on the mark of the Gerudo seen previously. Ganondorf's reappearance in ''
Twilight Princess
''The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess'' is a 2006 action-adventure game developed and published by Nintendo for the GameCube and Wii home video game consoles. Originally planned for release exclusively on the GameCube in November 2005, ''Twi ...
'' returned him to a similar age to his original appearance in ''Ocarina of Time''. His design was created to look like a warrior, dressed in armour. He also transforms into Demonic Beast Ganon and this concept art was created with the caption "Pig Ganon".
In
''Breath of the Wild'', Ganon has three forms. For most of the game he is visible from a distance as a serpentine cloud of Malice—a signature viscous, burning energy that is used to denote his heavy influence—that circles Hyrule Castle. His physical form Calamity Ganon is a grotesque incomplete monster that resembles a spider equipped with various weapons. In the game's final battle he transforms into Dark Beast Ganon, a giant boar-like monster made of Malice. Artist Yuki Hamada commented: "Dark Beast Ganon takes the shape of a boar like the Ganons of prior games but ended up being very large compared to Link since we wanted the game to end in the vast open plain of Hyrule Field. This might be the biggest Ganon in the history of the series". The Phantom Ganons that Link encounters in the Divine Beasts were designed with similar attributes as the manifestations of Ganon, including his red hair, as the artist Takafumi Kiuchi wanted players to feel Ganon's presence at all times.
Portrayal
Ganon has been voiced by several voice actors. In the 1989 ''
The Legend of Zelda
''The Legend of Zelda'' is an action-adventure game franchise created by the Japanese game designers Shigeru Miyamoto and Takashi Tezuka. It is primarily developed and published by Nintendo, although some portable installments and re-rele ...
'' animated television series and ''
Captain N: The Game Master'', he was voiced by
Len Carlson
Len Carlson (September 2, 1937 – January 26, 2006) was a Canadian voice actor who has voiced various characters on many animated television series from the 1960s onward, an occasional live-action TV actor, and a Kraft Canada TV pitchman dur ...
. In
''Link: The Faces of Evil'' and ''Zelda: The Wand of Gamelon'', he was voiced by Mark Berry. For ''
BS Zelda no Densetsu
Between August 6, 1995 and May 30, 1999, Nintendo, in collaboration with St.GIGA, broadcast three different ''The Legend of Zelda'' titles to fans for download via the Super Nintendo Entertainment System, Super Famicom's Satellaview subsystem. ''BS ...
'' he was voiced by
Seizō Katō
was a Japanese actor, voice actor and narrator who worked for Haikyo (Tokyo Actor's Consumer's Cooperative Society).
Kato was born in Tokyo. He was noted for his role as Megatron and Galvatron from the 1st Transformers series until '' Transform ...
. In the ''Zelda'' series and other spin-off games, the character has been voiced by several Japanese voice actors, including
Takashi Nagasako
is a Japanese voice actor who is currently affiliated with Arts Vision. He has voiced in a number of video games with roles such as Ganondorf in ''The Legend of Zelda'', Big the Cat in the ''Sonic the Hedgehog'' series, Cervantes de Leon and R ...
in ''
Ocarina of Time
''The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time'' is an action-adventure game developed and published by Nintendo for the Nintendo 64. It was released in Japan and North America in November 1998, and in PAL regions the following month. ''Ocarina of Tim ...
'', ''
The Wind Waker
''The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker'' is a 2002 action-adventure game developed and published by Nintendo for the GameCube. An installment in ''The Legend of Zelda'' series, it was released in Japan in December 2002, in North America in Marc ...
'', ''
Super Smash Bros. Melee
''Super Smash Bros. Melee'' is a 2001 Fictional crossover, crossover fighting game, fighting video game developed by HAL Laboratory and published by Nintendo for the GameCube. It is the second installment in the ''Super Smash Bros.'' series. I ...
'' and ''
Super Smash Bros. Ultimate
''Super Smash Bros. Ultimate'' is a 2018 crossover fighting video game developed by Bandai Namco Studios and Sora Ltd. and published by Nintendo for the Nintendo Switch. It is the fifth installment in the ''Super Smash Bros.'' series, succeeding ...
'';
Hironori Miyata
is a Japanese voice actor from Kōchi Prefecture, who is currently affiliated with Arts Vision. He is best known for his roles in ''Chiisai Kojin Microman'' (as Gunbody) and '' The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess'' (as Ganondorf).
Filmography ...
in ''
Twilight Princess
''The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess'' is a 2006 action-adventure game developed and published by Nintendo for the GameCube and Wii home video game consoles. Originally planned for release exclusively on the GameCube in November 2005, ''Twi ...
'', ''
Super Smash Bros. Brawl
''Super Smash Bros. Brawl'' is a 2008 List of crossovers in video games, crossover fighting game, fighting video game developed by Sora Ltd. and published by Nintendo for the Wii. The third installment in the Super Smash Bros., ''Super Smash ...
'' and ''
Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS and Wii U
and (colloquially and collectively referred to as ''Super Smash Bros. 4'' or ''Smash 4'') is a group of two 2014 crossover fighting video games developed by Bandai Namco Studios and Sora Ltd. and published by Nintendo for the Nintendo 3DS a ...
''; and
Taiten Kusunoki
, better known by his stage name , is a Japanese actor and voice actor from Tokyo. He is affiliated with Amuleto. He is best known dubbing roles for Vin Diesel, Dwayne Johnson and many more.
Biography
Filmography
Television animation
;1995
* ...
in ''
Hyrule Warriors
''Hyrule Warriors'' is a hack and slash video game developed by Omega Force and Team Ninja for the Wii U video game console. The game is a collaboration between Koei Tecmo and Nintendo, mixing settings and characters from Nintendo's ''The Legend ...
''.
Characteristics
Ganon is the main antagonist in ''The Legend of Zelda'' series and is presented as the embodiment of evil. He usually appears as the final boss at the end of each game. A recurring storyline in the series centres around the protagonist Link fighting to save Princess Zelda after she is captured by Ganon.
Over the course of the series, Ganon has been depicted in various physical forms. His original human form known as Ganondorf is the king and the only male member of the Gerudo in ''Ocarina of Time'' and ''Four Swords Adventures''. He bears the physical traits of the Gerudo race, having red hair, dark skin and pointy ears. He also often transforms into a monstrous beast resembling a giant boar with glowing eyes.
Ganon has been given various titles over the series, including "King of Evil", "King of Thieves", "the Dark Lord", "King of Darkness" and "Prince of Darkness".
As the embodiment of evil, the character's presence spreads darkness and wards off good magic, a characteristic which is affirmed by the fairy
Navi in ''Ocarina of Time''.
Ganon is consumed and powered by his malice and hatred. In ''
Skyward Sword
is a 2011 action-adventure game developed and published by Nintendo for the Wii. A high-definition remaster of the game, ''The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword HD'', was co-developed by Tantalus Media and released for the Nintendo Switch in July ...
'', he is revealed as the manifestation of the antagonist Demon King Demise's hatred following the character's defeat. The game was presented as the start of the fictional ''Zelda'' timeline in which Ganon is destined to forever return in an endless battle with Link and Zelda. In ''Twilight Princess'', he is shown to absorb the resentment and anger of other characters and uses it to become more powerful.
In the final boss battle in ''Breath of the Wild'', he transforms into Dark Beast Ganon and is described as "Hatred and Malice Incarnate".
The character's motivations typically centre around destroying Hyrule or placing himself in a position of power as ruler. His destructive influence is particularly illustrated in ''Ocarina of Time'', when Link awakens from a seven-year sleep to discover Hyrule transformed following Ganondorf's rise to power. In place of the former peaceful kingdom, Hyrule becomes a place of fear shrouded in darkness and populated by monsters and ReDead zombies.
In the lore of the series, Ganon is the bearer of the Triforce of Power, a divine symbol and one of three components that form the
Triforce
The is a fictional artifact and icon of Nintendo's ''The Legend of Zelda'' series of video games. It first appeared in the original 1986 action-adventure game ''The Legend of Zelda'' and is a focus of subsequent games in the series, including ...
. It bestows "true power" onto its wielder, making him physically strong and powerful in the use of magic. The position of the Triforce of Power at the top of the Triforce places him in direct opposition to Link and Zelda as bearers of the Triforce of Courage and Wisdom respectively. A recurring plot element in the series is Ganon's desire to obtain the completed Triforce, which offers limitless power to its bearer. This struggle for control of the Triforce has been a central aspect of several games, such as ''Ocarina of Time'', and binds the three main characters in an eternal battle across the fictional ''Zelda'' timeline.
Powers and abilities
As the final boss in the games, Ganon/Ganondorf is presented as a dangerous foe who is difficult to defeat. He is a formidable warrior and
sorcerer, and he is skilled enough a swordsman to combat Link. He is capable of
dual-wielding
Dual wielding is the technique of using two weapons, one in each hand for training or combat. It is not a common combat practice. Although historical records of dual wielding in war are limited, there are numerous Martial arts#Variation and scope, ...
large blades, such as
great sword
The English language terminology used in the classification of swords is imprecise and has varied widely over time. There is no historical dictionary for the universal names, classification or terminology of swords; a sword was simply a double e ...
s. He also possesses great physical strength, which can be seen in ''Ocarina of Time'', where he destroys Hyrule Castle with one punch.
In ''Twilight Princess'', the character displays invincibility when he is sentenced to execution for attempting to conquer Hyrule but the Sages are unable to take his life.
He is typically only defeated by Link with the use of a legendary weapon like the
Master Sword
The is a Fiction, fictional divine magic sword in Nintendo's ''The Legend of Zelda'' series. It is also known as "The Blade of Evil's Bane", the "Sword of Resurrection", the "Sword that Seals the Darkness", and the "Sacred Sword". It was introdu ...
or Light Arrows. Due to his near-immortality and indestructible power, he often needs to be sealed away in another realm by magic to prevent him from causing more destruction. However, the character is always
reincarnated in a subsequent game, which emphasises his
immortality
Immortality is the concept of eternal life. Some modern species may possess biological immortality.
Some scientists, futurists, and philosophers have theorized about the immortality of the human body, with some suggesting that human immorta ...
.
Over the course of the ''Zelda'' series, Ganon/Ganondorf has demonstrated various magical powers and abilities. These powers originate in his use of
dark magic
Black magic, also known as dark magic, has traditionally referred to the use of supernatural powers or magic for evil and selfish purposes, specifically the seven magical arts prohibited by canon law, as expounded by Johannes Hartlieb in 1456 ...
and have varied across the game series.
He can use various defensive measures in combat, such as using dark magic to create magical barriers.
In the original ''The Legend of Zelda'' game he is able to turn himself invisible and uses his magic to propel fireballs at Link. In several games, such as ''Ocarina of Time'', he is able to create shadow clones of himself that possess his skills and abilities but are immune to damage. Ganondorf also has the ability of teleportation, giving him the advantage of sneaking behind his opponent in combat in ''Twilight Princess''. In ''Ocarina of Time'' he has the ability to
levitate
Levitation (from Latin ''levitas'' "lightness") is the process by which an object is held aloft in a stable position, without mechanical support via any physical contact.
Levitation is accomplished by providing an upward force that counteracts ...
. He has also demonstrated that he can pass between dimensions, such as the Dark World and the Twilight Realm.
Ganon has the power to possess and control other characters. This is particularly evident in ''Twilight Princess'', where he possesses Princess Zelda and uses her body like a puppet to fight against Link. He can also manipulate other characters for his own benefit, including Zant in ''Twilight Princess''.
In ''Breath of the Wild'', Calamity Ganon is able to corrupt creatures with the spread of a substance called Malice. This gives him the ability to take control of monsters and the ancient technology that was originally under the control of Hyrule, such as the Guardians.
Appearances
''The Legend of Zelda'' series
Ganon made his first appearance in the original 1986
NES
The Nintendo Entertainment System (NES) is an 8-bit third-generation home video game console produced by Nintendo. It was first released in Japan in 1983 as the commonly known as the The NES, a redesigned version, was released in American ...
video game ''
The Legend of Zelda
''The Legend of Zelda'' is an action-adventure game franchise created by the Japanese game designers Shigeru Miyamoto and Takashi Tezuka. It is primarily developed and published by Nintendo, although some portable installments and re-rele ...
,'' in the form of a blue monstrous pig named "Gannon". The first game in the series established the character's desire for power, which was reiterated in subsequent games. The storyline involves the character invading Hyrule with his army and stealing the Triforce of Power. To prevent him from obtaining the Triforce of Wisdom, Princess Zelda scatters the eight pieces across the kingdom. Link is then sent on a quest to retrieve the eight fragments and finally defeats Gannon using a silver arrow.
In 1987, the second entry in the ''Zelda'' series was released, titled ''
Zelda II: The Adventure of Link'', but the game did not feature the physical presence of Ganon. However, his image appears in the final game over screen, signifying the return of Ganon.
The character's next appearance was in the 1991
Super Nintendo Entertainment System
The Super Nintendo Entertainment System (SNES), commonly shortened to Super NES or Super Nintendo, is a 16-bit home video game console developed by Nintendo that was released in 1990 in Japan and South Korea, 1991 in North America, 1992 in Eur ...
game ''
A Link to the Past
''The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past'' is an action-adventure game developed and published by Nintendo for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System. It is the third game in ''The Legend of Zelda'' series and was released in 1991 in Japan and ...
''. The game expands on Ganon's backstory by revealing that he used to be a man named Ganondorf, the leader of a group of thieves who manage to enter the Sacred Realm and steal the Triforce, which plunges the Sacred Realm into darkness.
Ganon is already sealed in this Dark World when Link and Zelda are sent there by the wizard Agahnim. In truth, Agahnim is an avatar used to contain Ganon's spirit outside the Sacred Realm. After Link defeats Agahnim in the Dark World, Ganon rises from his body and turns into a bat. At the Pyramid of Power, Link finally defeats Ganon in his beast form in order to restore Hyrule and the Sacred Realm.
In the 1993 game ''
Link's Awakening
''The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening'' is a 1993 action-adventure game developed and published by Nintendo for the Game Boy. It is the first installment in ''The Legend of Zelda'' series for a handheld game console. ''Link's Awakening'' is o ...
'', the fourth Shadow Nightmare that Link must face in the final boss battle is based on Ganon from ''A Link to the Past''. During the battle, the Shadow of Ganon shoots bats made from fire and throws a spinning trident at Link.
The 1998 game ''
Ocarina of Time
''The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time'' is an action-adventure game developed and published by Nintendo for the Nintendo 64. It was released in Japan and North America in November 1998, and in PAL regions the following month. ''Ocarina of Tim ...
'', which was released for the
Nintendo 64
The (N64) is a home video game console developed by Nintendo. The successor to the Super Nintendo Entertainment System, it was released on June 23, 1996, in Japan, on September 29, 1996, in North America, and on March 1, 1997, in Europe and Au ...
, introduced the character in his humanoid form as Ganondorf, the king of the Gerudo thieves. In the chronology of the series, it is his earliest appearance, expanding upon the backstory first introduced in ''A Link to the Past''. In the story, Ganondorf schemes to take the Triforce in order to conquer Hyrule. After pulling the Master Sword from its pedestal and being put into a seven-year sleep, Link wakes as an adult to discover that Ganondorf is now ruling over Hyrule. Ganondorf successfully stole the Triforce from the Sacred Realm but his evil heart broke it into three pieces, with Ganondorf keeping the Triforce of Power. In the final boss fight, Link and Ganondorf battle at Ganon's Castle, but after Ganondorf's defeat, he transforms into his beast form Ganon. He is finally defeated by Link before being sealed away in the Dark Realm by the Sages.
In 2001,
''Oracle of Seasons'' and ''Oracle of Ages'' were released for the
Game Boy Color
The (commonly abbreviated as GBC) is a handheld game console, manufactured by Nintendo, which was released in Japan on October 21, 1998 and to international markets that November. It is the successor to the Game Boy and is part of the Game ...
handheld console. The two games feature their own antagonists, but upon completing either game, the player receives a password that provides access to a linked game in the opposite title. The linked game reveals Ganon as the secret final boss, who was resurrected by two witches named Twinrova.
Ganon appears in the 2002
GameCube
The is a home video game console developed and released by Nintendo in Japan on September 14, 2001, in North America on November 18, 2001, and in PAL territories in 2002. It is the successor to the Nintendo 64 (1996), and predecessor of the Wii ...
game ''
The Wind Waker
''The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker'' is a 2002 action-adventure game developed and published by Nintendo for the GameCube. An installment in ''The Legend of Zelda'' series, it was released in Japan in December 2002, in North America in Marc ...
'', resuming his plans to obtain the complete Triforce and conquer Hyrule. In the backstory of the game, the goddesses flood Hyrule to prevent Ganon from gaining power. Although he does not at first appear as the main villain, he is revealed to be the master of the Helmaroc King. He kidnaps Zelda, in her guise of Tetra, to complete the Triforce and gain ultimate power over Hyrule. His plans ultimately fail and in the final boss battle, Link defeats Ganondorf by thrusting the Master Sword into his forehead, turning him to stone.
In the 2004 GameCube game ''
Four Sword's Adventures'', the antagonists are initially shown to be Shadow Link and Vaati. However, Ganon is revealed to be the true villain who stole a powerful magical trident and Dark Mirror to create the evil version of Link. Ganon uses Shadow Link to kidnap the shrine maidens of Hyrule and murders the Knights of Hyrule, trapping them in the World of Darkness. Link with his clones frees the shrine maidens and seals Ganon inside the Four Sword to return peace to Hyrule.
In ''
Twilight Princess
''The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess'' is a 2006 action-adventure game developed and published by Nintendo for the GameCube and Wii home video game consoles. Originally planned for release exclusively on the GameCube in November 2005, ''Twi ...
'', which was released in 2006 for the
Wii
The Wii ( ) is a home video game console developed and marketed by Nintendo. It was released on November 19, 2006, in North America and in December 2006 for most other Regional lockout, regions of the world. It is Nintendo's fifth major ho ...
and GameCube, Ganondorf is the catalyst to the game's events, allying himself with Zant to take over Hyrule. In the game's backstory, the Sages banish Ganon with the Mirror of Twilight after he tried to steal the Triforce. After Link and his companion Midna defeat Zant, they face Ganondorf for the final battle at Hyrule Castle. Ganondorf battles Link by possessing Zelda and using her like a puppet and afterwards transforms into his beast form. After Link slays Ganon, Midna safely transports Link and Zelda to Hyrule field, but Link is forced to again face Ganondorf in his human form. Ganondorf is defeated by Link with the help of Zelda's Light Arrows when Link finally plunges the Master Sword into Ganondorf's chest.
In the 2007
Nintendo DS
The is a handheld game console produced by Nintendo, released globally across 2004 and 2005. The DS, an initialism for "Developers' System" or "Dual Screen", introduced distinctive new features to handheld games: two LCD screens working in tan ...
game ''
Phantom Hourglass
''The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass'' is a 2007 action-adventure game developed and published by Nintendo for the Nintendo DS handheld game console. It is the fourteenth installment in ''The Legend of Zelda'' series and the direct sequel ...
'', which is a direct sequel to ''The Wind Waker'', Ganondorf only appears in a cameo in the opening sequence that summarizes the plot of the latter game.
Ganon does not appear in the 2011
Wii
The Wii ( ) is a home video game console developed and marketed by Nintendo. It was released on November 19, 2006, in North America and in December 2006 for most other Regional lockout, regions of the world. It is Nintendo's fifth major ho ...
game ''
Skyward Sword
is a 2011 action-adventure game developed and published by Nintendo for the Wii. A high-definition remaster of the game, ''The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword HD'', was co-developed by Tantalus Media and released for the Nintendo Switch in July ...
'' as he was replaced by a new antagonist named Lord Ghirahim. Talking to ''
Nintendo Power
''Nintendo Power'' was a video game news and strategy magazine from Nintendo of America, first published in July/August 1988 as Nintendo's official print magazine for North America. The magazine's publication was initially done monthly by Ninten ...
'',
Eiji Aonuma
is a Japanese video game designer, director, and producer. He works for Nintendo as the project manager of their ''The Legend of Zelda'' series. Aonuma is also one of the deputy general managers of Nintendo's Entertainment Planning & Development ...
explained that he wanted a different kind of antagonist and that Ghirahim was created to contrast with Ganon's "very masculine, powerful, evil" image. Despite his absence, the game suggests that Ganon is the manifestation of the game's demonic god named Demise when Link's companion
Fi says that Demise is "the source of all monsters". Demise's final curse also establishes that Ganon, Link and Zelda are placed in an eternal cycle of conflict.
In the 2013
Nintendo 3DS
The is a handheld game console produced by Nintendo. It was announced in March 2010 and unveiled at E3 2010 as the successor to the Nintendo DS. The system features backward compatibility with Nintendo DS video games. As an eighth-generatio ...
game ''
A Link Between Worlds
''The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds'' is an action-adventure game developed and published by Nintendo for the Nintendo 3DS. The game is an installment in ''The Legend of Zelda'' series and a spiritual successor to the 1991 Super Ninten ...
'', Ganon, in his original form, makes a minor appearance, though his past actions and influence greatly affect the course of events throughout the story and serves as the inspiration for Yuga. Yuga summons him back from his seal with the power of the seven sages, previously trapped within paintings by Yuga, and fuses with Ganon to become Yuga Ganon, but is defeated by Link.
The character appears in ''
Breath of the Wild
is a 2017 action-adventure game developed and published by Nintendo for the Nintendo Switch and Wii U consoles. The game is an installment of ''The Legend of Zelda'' series and is set at the end of its timeline. The player controls an am ...
'', released in 2017 for
Nintendo Switch
The is a hybrid video game console developed by Nintendo and released worldwide in most regions on March 3, 2017. The console itself is a Tablet computer#Gaming tablet, tablet that can either be docking station, docked for use as a home video ...
and
Wii U
The Wii U ( ) is a home video game console developed by Nintendo as the successor to the Wii. Released in late 2012, it is the first eighth-generation video game console and competed with Microsoft's Xbox One and Sony's PlayStation 4.
The W ...
, as a malevolent force called Calamity Ganon. In the backstory, he returns from an earlier defeat to take control of an army of Guardian robots, which he uses against the Hyruleans with the aim of destroying Hyrule. Using his Blight Ganon
doppelgänger
A doppelgänger (), a compound noun formed by combining the two nouns (double) and (walker or goer) (), doppelgaenger or doppelganger is a biologically unrelated look-alike, or a double, of a living person.
In fiction and mythology, a doppelg ...
s he murders the four Champions to take control of the powerful ancient technology that they piloted known as the four Divine Beasts. Hyrule is consequently reduced to a wasteland inhabited by roaming monsters. Link is severely injured during a subsequent battle with the Guardian robots in an effort to protect Princess Zelda and is placed into a hundred-year-long slumber to heal, before Zelda awakens him to destroy Ganon.
Other video games
Ganon makes an appearance in the 1992 ''Zelda no Densetsu: Kamigami no Triforce'' (
Barcode Battler II
The is a handheld gaming console, handheld game console released by Epoch Co. in March 1991 in video gaming, 1991.
The console at retail was supplied with a number of cards, each of which had a barcode. Upon starting the game, the player must ...
). The game was released by
Epoch Co.
is a Japanese toy and computer games company founded in 1958 which is best known for manufacturing Barcode Battler and ''Doraemon'' video games, and the Sylvanian Families series of toys. Its current Representative President is Michihiro Maeda.
...
and involves scanning barcodes to battle enemies on cards with a story based on ''A Link to the Past''.
Ganon appears in his "demon boar" form in two of the three
CD-i ''Zelda'' titles:
''Zelda: The Wand of Gamelon'' and ''Link: The Faces of Evil''. The games centre on Ganon attacking Gamelon and the island of Koridai. In ''
Zelda's Adventure
''Zelda's Adventure'' is an action-adventure fantasy video game developed by Viridis Corporation and released for the Philips CD-i console system based on ''The Legend of Zelda'' franchise. Set in the land of Tolemac ("Camelot" spelled backwards ...
'', Ganon takes over the kingdom of Tolemac and captures Link.
Ganondorf made his first appearance in the ''
Super Smash Bros.
''Super Smash Bros.'' is a Crossover (fiction), crossover fighting game series published by Nintendo. The series was created by Masahiro Sakurai, who has directed every game in the series. The series is known for its unique gameplay objectiv ...
'' series in his ''Ocarina of Time'' design as an unlockable character in ''
Super Smash Bros. Melee
''Super Smash Bros. Melee'' is a 2001 Fictional crossover, crossover fighting game, fighting video game developed by HAL Laboratory and published by Nintendo for the GameCube. It is the second installment in the ''Super Smash Bros.'' series. I ...
''. He reappears in all subsequent installments, including ''
Super Smash Bros. Brawl
''Super Smash Bros. Brawl'' is a 2008 List of crossovers in video games, crossover fighting game, fighting video game developed by Sora Ltd. and published by Nintendo for the Wii. The third installment in the Super Smash Bros., ''Super Smash ...
'',
''Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS'' and ''Wii U'' and ''
Super Smash Bros. Ultimate
''Super Smash Bros. Ultimate'' is a 2018 crossover fighting video game developed by Bandai Namco Studios and Sora Ltd. and published by Nintendo for the Nintendo Switch. It is the fifth installment in the ''Super Smash Bros.'' series, succeeding ...
''. In ''Super Smash Bros. Melee'', Ganondorf's moveset was a slower, stronger version of
Captain Falcon
is a fictional character and the protagonist in the racing video game series ''F-Zero'' by Nintendo. Within the series, he is a mysterious racer who is among the best on the circuit, as well as a renowned bounty hunter. A different version of th ...
's and his Warlock Punch was based on the Falcon Punch. For ''Super Smash Bros. Brawl'',
Eiji Aonuma
is a Japanese video game designer, director, and producer. He works for Nintendo as the project manager of their ''The Legend of Zelda'' series. Aonuma is also one of the deputy general managers of Nintendo's Entertainment Planning & Development ...
said that his design team submitted designs to the developers for Ganondorf based on ''Twilight Princess''. Ganondorf appears in the single-player ''The Subspace Emissary'' mode, allied with
Bowser
, or King Koopa, is a fictional character, the primary antagonist in Nintendo's Mario (franchise), ''Mario'' franchise, and the arch-nemesis of Mario. In Japan, the character bears the title of . Bowser is the leader of the turtle-like Koopa ...
and
Wario
is a fictional character in Nintendo's Mario (franchise), ''Mario'' series, designed as an Arch rival, arch-rival to Mario. He first appeared in the 1992 Game Boy game ''Super Mario Land 2: 6 Golden Coins'' as the main antagonist and final Bos ...
. His final smash is his "Dark Beast Ganon" form from ''Twilight Princess'', in which he transforms, charges across the screen and then warps himself back onto the stage. Ganondorf was also included as an unlockable character in ''Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS'' and ''Wii U'', which features a similar moveset but introduces the use of a sword in place of his Warlock Punch as a custom move. In ''Super Smash Bros. Ultimate'', Ganondorf's design matches his ''Ocarina of Time'' appearance again and he uses his sword for Smash Attacks. He has several special moves, including transforming into Demon King Ganon for his final smash.
Ganondorf appears as a playable character in the ''Zelda'' spin-off title ''
Hyrule Warriors
''Hyrule Warriors'' is a hack and slash video game developed by Omega Force and Team Ninja for the Wii U video game console. The game is a collaboration between Koei Tecmo and Nintendo, mixing settings and characters from Nintendo's ''The Legend ...
''. He features alongside various other characters from the ''Zelda'' series, including villains Ghirahim from ''Skyward Sword'' and Zant from ''Twilight Princess''. He can also be customised with several outfits, including his Demon King costume set.
Ganon can be summoned into a player's village in ''
Animal Crossing: New Leaf'' by scanning a compatible
amiibo
(, ; officially stylized as amiibo; plural: ''Amiibo'') is a toys-to-life platform by Nintendo, which was launched in November 2014. It consists of a wireless communications and storage protocol for connecting figurines to the Wii U, Ninten ...
that was released for the 30th anniversary of ''The Legend of Zelda'' series. Ganondorf is available as an unlockable "Mystery Mushroom" costume in ''
Super Mario Maker
is a 2015 side-scrolling platform game and game creation system developed and published by Nintendo for the Wii U, released worldwide in September 2015. Players can create, play, and share courses online, free of charge, based on the styles o ...
''. He is also playable in the
Nintendo Switch
The is a hybrid video game console developed by Nintendo and released worldwide in most regions on March 3, 2017. The console itself is a Tablet computer#Gaming tablet, tablet that can either be docking station, docked for use as a home video ...
version of ''
Diablo III: Eternal Collection'', with the Switch version of the game exclusively offering
amiibo
(, ; officially stylized as amiibo; plural: ''Amiibo'') is a toys-to-life platform by Nintendo, which was launched in November 2014. It consists of a wireless communications and storage protocol for connecting figurines to the Wii U, Ninten ...
support and additional content based on ''
The Legend of Zelda
''The Legend of Zelda'' is an action-adventure game franchise created by the Japanese game designers Shigeru Miyamoto and Takashi Tezuka. It is primarily developed and published by Nintendo, although some portable installments and re-rele ...
'' series. Ganon also makes a cameo appearance alongside Link in ''
Scribblenauts Unlimited
''Scribblenauts Unlimited'' is a puzzle sandbox video game developed by 5th Cell and published by Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment for the Nintendo 3DS, Wii U, Microsoft Windows, iOS and Android. The game was announced during Nintendo's E3 ...
.''
Ganon is the final boss in the 2019
Nintendo Switch
The is a hybrid video game console developed by Nintendo and released worldwide in most regions on March 3, 2017. The console itself is a Tablet computer#Gaming tablet, tablet that can either be docking station, docked for use as a home video ...
rhythm game
Rhythm game or rhythm action is a genre of music-themed action video game that challenges a player's sense of rhythm. Games in the genre typically focus on dance or the simulated performance of musical instruments, and require players to pres ...
''
Cadence of Hyrule
is a rhythm game developed by Brace Yourself Games and published by Nintendo. The game is a crossover of ''Crypt of the NecroDancer'' with ''The Legend of Zelda'', combining the rhythm-based movement and fighting mechanics with elements reminis ...
''. The storyline involves Link, Zelda and Cadence searching for four magic instruments to defeat Ganon.
Calamity Ganon appears in the 2020
hack and slash
Hack and slash, also known as hack and slay (H&S or HnS) or slash 'em up, refers to a type of gameplay that emphasizes combat with melee-based weapons (such as swords or blades). They may also feature projectile-based weapons as well (such as ...
video game ''
Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity''. In addition to being the main antagonist of the game, he can also be unlocked as a playable character at the end of the game after the player completes all of the challenges.
In 2021, Nintendo released ''Game & Watch: The Legend of Zelda'', a handheld unit that incorporates three games, ''
The Legend of Zelda
''The Legend of Zelda'' is an action-adventure game franchise created by the Japanese game designers Shigeru Miyamoto and Takashi Tezuka. It is primarily developed and published by Nintendo, although some portable installments and re-rele ...
'', ''
The Adventure of Link
''Zelda II: The Adventure of Link'' is an action role-playing video game with platforming elements developed and published by Nintendo. It is the second installment in the ''Legend of Zelda'' series, and was released in Japan for the Famicom Dis ...
'' and ''
Link's Awakening
''The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening'' is a 1993 action-adventure game developed and published by Nintendo for the Game Boy. It is the first installment in ''The Legend of Zelda'' series for a handheld game console. ''Link's Awakening'' is o ...
''. The unit celebrates 35 years of ''The Legend of Zelda'' series and revisits Link's first battle with Ganon in the original game.
Television series
Ganon appears as the main villain of the 1989
''The Legend of Zelda'' cartoon, which was shown as part of ''
The Super Mario Bros. Super Show!
''The Super Mario Bros. Super Show!'' is an American live-action/animated television series airing from September 4 to November 30, 1989, on syndication. The series is based on the video games ''Super Mario Bros.'' and '' Super Mario Bros. 2'' by ...
'' in syndication that year. In the cartoon, Ganon is a brown-skinned
anthropomorphic
Anthropomorphism is the attribution of human traits, emotions, or intentions to non-human entities. It is considered to be an innate tendency of human psychology.
Personification is the related attribution of human form and characteristics t ...
boar and wizard with a squeally voice. He is in possession of the Triforce of Power and spends each episode plotting to steal the Triforce of Wisdom and take over Hyrule. However, his plan is usually thwarted by Link and Zelda by the end of the episode. With powerful magical abilities and a quick temper, Ganon is depicted as a menacing character who will do whatever is necessary, including sacrificing his minions, in order to win his victory. He was voiced by
Len Carlson
Len Carlson (September 2, 1937 – January 26, 2006) was a Canadian voice actor who has voiced various characters on many animated television series from the 1960s onward, an occasional live-action TV actor, and a Kraft Canada TV pitchman dur ...
.
In addition to the ''Zelda'' cartoon, Ganon (along with Link and Zelda) also appeared in ''
Captain N: The Game Master'', as a secondary villain in the episode "Quest for the Potion of Power". During the episode, Ganon is revived, double-crosses
Mother Brain, and is killed by the reflected magic on Link's shield.
In the ''
South Park
''South Park'' is an American animated sitcom created by Trey Parker and Matt Stone and developed by Brian Graden for Comedy Central. The series revolves around four boys Stan Marsh, Kyle Broflovski, Eric Cartman, and Kenny McCormickand th ...
'' episode "
Imaginationland Episode III
"Imaginationland Episode III" is the twelfth episode in the eleventh season of Comedy Central's animated television series ''South Park''. It originally aired on October 31, 2007. The episode was rated TV-MA LV in the United States. It is the thi ...
", Ganondorf makes an appearance in his ''Ocarina of Time'' incarnation as one of many evil characters battling the good characters.
Comics and manga
''The Legend of Zelda'' comic series published in the 1990s by
Valiant Comics
Valiant Comics is an American comic book publisher. The company was founded in 1989 by former Marvel Comics editor-in-chief Jim Shooter along with lawyer and businessman Steven Massarsky. In 1994, the company was sold to Acclaim Entertainment ...
was based on ''The Legend of Zelda'' games and featured Ganon as an antagonist in the stories and bonus stories.
Ganon has appeared in
''The Legend of Zelda'' manga. In ''The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time'' manga, which was originally published in two volumes and written by
Akira Himekawa
is the pen name of a duo of female Japanese comic book artists.Neild, Barry." CNN. September 10, 2010. Retrieved on September 10, 2010. When writing original works, the pen name is spelled as
The artists have worked together since 1991 and have ...
, the storyline provides additional details to the game's plot in which Link defeats Ganondorf and restores peace to Hyrule.
Reception
Critics have responded positively to the character. In 2008,
GameDaily
GameDaily (GD) was a video game journalism website based in the United States.
It was launched in 1995 by entrepreneur Mark Friedler under the name Gigex and focused on free game demo downloads. The site changed its business model from a flat fee ...
ranked him the second on their lists of "Top Ten Nintendo Characters That Deserve Their Own Games" list and in 2009 as the "Most Persistent Video Game Villains of All Time". ''
GamesRadar
''GamesRadar+'' (formerly ''GamesRadar'') is an entertainment website for video game-related news, previews, and reviews. It is owned by Future plc. In late 2014, Future Publishing-owned sites ''Total Film'', '' SFX'', ''Edge'' and '' Computer ...
'' listed him second on their 2009 list of "The Top Video Game Villains who will Never Stay Dead". ''
IGN
''IGN'' (formerly ''Imagine Games Network'') is an American video game and entertainment media website operated by IGN Entertainment Inc., a subsidiary of Ziff Davis, Inc. The company's headquarters is located in San Francisco's SoMa distri ...
'' listed Ganon as one of the "Top 10 Characters In Need of a Spin-Off"
and ranked him third on its "Top 100 Videogames Villains" list. ''
GameSpot
''GameSpot'' is an American video gaming website that provides news, reviews, previews, downloads, and other information on video games. The site was launched on May 1, 1996, created by Pete Deemer, Vince Broady and Jon Epstein. In addition ...
'' also included him in its "Top Ten Video Game Villains". Jeff Mills for ''
The Escapist'' included Ganon on a 2017 list of "8 of the Strongest Video Game Villains of All Time": "The possessor of the Triforce of Power, he has astonishing magical and physical powers, including what seems to be near-immortality. Ganon tends to be portrayed as the personification of evil, as opposed to Link, who personifies benevolence". In 2021, Melody Macready of ''
Screen Rant
''Screen Rant'' is an entertainment website that offers news in the fields of television, films, video games, and film theories. ''Screen Rant'' was launched by Vic Holtreman in 2003, and originally had its primary office in Ogden, Utah. ''Scr ...
'' opined that Dark Lord Ganondorf in ''Twilight Princess'' is the best incarnation of the character and commented that "he was darker, more menacing than ever, had no problem slaughtering innocents, and Nintendo didn't shy away from his brutality". Matt Kamen for ''
Wired
''Wired'' (stylized as ''WIRED'') is a monthly American magazine, published in print and online editions, that focuses on how emerging technologies affect culture, the economy, and politics. Owned by Condé Nast, it is headquartered in San Fra ...
'' responded positively to the presence of Calamity Ganon in ''Breath of the Wild'': "Ganon is the de facto supervillain of the ''Zelda'' series, but he's never been so threatening as he is here. He's seen in the distance from almost any high point, a towering dragon of roiling dark energy, coiled ominously around Hyrule Castle".
The boss fights between Link and Ganon have been the subject of critical commentary. In 2004, ''
GameSpot
''GameSpot'' is an American video gaming website that provides news, reviews, previews, downloads, and other information on video games. The site was launched on May 1, 1996, created by Pete Deemer, Vince Broady and Jon Epstein. In addition ...
'' counted his appearance in ''Ocarina of Time'' among the "Top Ten Boss Fights": "Ganon is one of the most classic and memorable bosses ever to rule a video game, and the ''Ocarina of Time'' fight with him is his most amazing appearance yet". In 2012, Mark Langshaw of
Digital Spy
Digital Spy (DS) is a British-based entertainment, television and film website and brand and is the largest digital property at Hearst UK. Since its launch in 1999, Digital Spy has focused on entertainment news related to television programmes, ...
also considered the final battle against Ganon/Ganondorf in ''Ocarina of Time'' to be one of the most memorable boss battles, commenting that "the dual contest against Ganondorf and his monstrous alter ego was a fitting end to an epic adventure". Chris Freiburg for ''
Den of Geek
''Den of Geek'' is a US and UK-based website covering entertainment with a focus on pop culture
Pop or POP may refer to:
Arts, entertainment, and media Music
* Pop music, a musical genre Artists
* POP, a Japanese idol group now known as Gan ...
'' also chose Ganon in ''Ocarina of Time'' as the best boss fight, describing him as "a towering pig beast wielding two massive swords in an arena surrounded by a ring of fire" and opined, "it's hard not to consider it the best boss fight in franchise history". In 2017, Brian Shea writing for ''
Game Informer
''Game Informer'' (''GI'', most often stylized ''gameinformer'' from the 2010s onward) is an American monthly video game magazine featuring articles, news, strategy, and reviews of video games and associated consoles. It debuted in August 1991 w ...
'' ranked all the appearances of Ganon and chose his battle with Link in ''The Wind Waker'' as the greatest moment, commenting that the final blow in the scene "is in stark contrast to the cute
cel-shaded
Cel shading or toon shading is a type of non-photorealistic rendering designed to make 3-D computer graphics appear to be flat by using less shading color instead of a shade gradient or tints and shades. A cel shader is often used to mimic th ...
visual style in the best way possible" and "delivers players one of the most memorable final sequences in gaming".
In 2021, Marco Vito Oddo writing for
Collider
A collider is a type of particle accelerator which brings two opposing particle beams together such that the particles collide. Colliders may either be ring accelerators or linear accelerators.
Colliders are used as a research tool in particle ...
ranked every appearance of Ganon and considered the final boss battle in ''The Wind Waker'' as the best Ganondorf duel in ''The Legend of Zelda'' franchise. By contrast, he considered the final boss battle in ''Breath of the Wild'' to be "utterly disappointing", describing Calamity Ganon as "another giant blob of dark energy that fights just like every other Ganon Blight the player already fought and defeated" and "an unsatisfactory ending to a fantastic game".
''Gaming Bolt'' named Dark Beast Ganon as one of "13 Badass Looking Bosses That Were Ultimately Pushovers": "The fight against Calamity Ganon is disappointingly easy as it is, but then you take on his second form, Dark Beast Ganon, which turns out to be even more of a cakewalk. Given how menacing the devilish creature looks, you wouldn't expect him to go down this easily".
Critics have also commented on Ganon's appearance in the ''
Super Smash Bros.
''Super Smash Bros.'' is a Crossover (fiction), crossover fighting game series published by Nintendo. The series was created by Masahiro Sakurai, who has directed every game in the series. The series is known for its unique gameplay objectiv ...
'' series. Jeremy Parish of ''
Polygon
In geometry, a polygon () is a plane figure that is described by a finite number of straight line segments connected to form a closed ''polygonal chain'' (or ''polygonal circuit''). The bounded plane region, the bounding circuit, or the two toge ...
'' ranked 73 fighters from ''
Super Smash Bros. Ultimate
''Super Smash Bros. Ultimate'' is a 2018 crossover fighting video game developed by Bandai Namco Studios and Sora Ltd. and published by Nintendo for the Nintendo Switch. It is the fifth installment in the ''Super Smash Bros.'' series, succeeding ...
'' "from garbage to glorious", placing Ganon at 33rd, and stated that "Ganon looked cool and scary in ''Ocarina of Time'', but he's more or less become a swarthier version of
Mega Man
''Mega Man'', known as in Japan, is a Japanese science fiction video game franchise created by Capcom, starring a series of robot characters each known by the moniker "Mega Man (character), Mega Man". Mega Man (video game), The original game w ...
's
Dr. Wily
() is a video game character and the main antagonist of the original ''Mega Man'' series, as well as Mega Man's archenemy and is also the creator of Bass and Zero. He appeared in the first ''Mega Man'' video game and later in promotions and oth ...
: A villain so overplayed he's become practically comical". Gavin Jasper of ''
Den of Geek
''Den of Geek'' is a US and UK-based website covering entertainment with a focus on pop culture
Pop or POP may refer to:
Arts, entertainment, and media Music
* Pop music, a musical genre Artists
* POP, a Japanese idol group now known as Gan ...
'' ranked Ganon as 54th on his list of ''Super Smash Bros. Ultimate'' characters, stating that "Ganondorf is a great villain and all, but his Gerudo form mainly exists for the build-up until it's time for him to hit his Ganon form so that the true battle can begin. He remains his lesser form, only becoming Ganon for his Final Smash or for a specific boss fight".
Legacy
Ganon is one of the most recognizable and popular villains in gaming and has been met with positive reception over the years. As the main villain of the series, his image has been recreated in various forms of
fan art
Fan art or fanart is artwork created by fans of a work of fiction and derived from a series character or other aspect of that work. They are usually done by amateur artists, semi-professionals or professionals. As fan labor, fan art refers to ...
. He is also a popular character with fans for
cosplay
Cosplay, a portmanteau of "costume play", is an activity and performance art in which participants called cosplayers wear costumes and fashion accessories to represent a specific character. Cosplayers often interact to create a subculture, ...
. The character has also appeared in various ''Zelda'' merchandise, including collectible figurines and
Amiibo
(, ; officially stylized as amiibo; plural: ''Amiibo'') is a toys-to-life platform by Nintendo, which was launched in November 2014. It consists of a wireless communications and storage protocol for connecting figurines to the Wii U, Ninten ...
.
In 2010, ''
Nintendo Power
''Nintendo Power'' was a video game news and strategy magazine from Nintendo of America, first published in July/August 1988 as Nintendo's official print magazine for North America. The magazine's publication was initially done monthly by Ninten ...
'' named him the best villain in Nintendo history. In 2013, Ganon was chosen as the fourth greatest videogame villain of all time in a poll for ''
Guinness World Records 2013 Gamer’s Edition''. ''
GamesRadar
''GamesRadar+'' (formerly ''GamesRadar'') is an entertainment website for video game-related news, previews, and reviews. It is owned by Future plc. In late 2014, Future Publishing-owned sites ''Total Film'', '' SFX'', ''Edge'' and '' Computer ...
'' ranked him in 2013 as the best villain in the history of video games. In 2018, ''GamesRadar'' staff described Ganon as the fourth best villain in video games: "Ganon isn't meant to be a single, defined character. Ganon ''is'' evil. Like evil in our own world, Ganon can never be completely contained or eliminated. He'll always appear again in a new form suited to subverting the peaceful ways that arise in his temporary absence".
See also
*
Characters of ''The Legend of Zelda''
Notes
References
External links
Ganonat Zelda.com
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