Ganon
| Ganon | |
|---|---|
| The Legend of Zelda series character | |
| First game | The Legend of Zelda (1987) |
| Created by | Shigeru Miyamoto |
Ganon (ガノン), also known as Ganondorf (ガノンドロフ, Ganondorofu) in his human forms, the King of Evil, is a video game character and primary antagonist of several games in Nintendo's The Legend of Zelda series. He is by far the most commonly used villain in the series and frequently serves as the final boss, sometimes unexpectedly, thereby giving him the status of arch-enemy to the main protagonist, Link. Although he made numerous appearances in the series, he was first given a backstory in The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time, which was released for the Nintendo 64 in 1998. He was also given a separate backstory in The Legend of Zelda: Four Swords Adventures in 2004.
Character depiction
Various games depict Ganon as a villain with a thirst for power. Whereas earlier games such as A Link to the Past characterized simply as a power-mad villain, he has been depicted with more complexity in some of the later games, such as The Wind Waker, which provides a more understandable reason for Ganon's villainy. Ganon's roles range from savage beast to warlord.
"Ganondorf" was given as the character's original name in A Link to the Past (while he was a human thief), and the humanoid Ganondorf of Ocarina of Time was known exclusively by that name, up until his transformation at the end of the game. In some cases, this name has been used to refer to the character's human form, while the name "Ganon" is used to describe his bestial pig-like form. Other times the names are used interchangeably, such as in The Wind Waker, Twilight Princess, and Four Swords Adventures. It should be noted that the only time he has referred to himself in human form was in The Wind Waker when he directly states "I am Ganondorf".
Ganon is a powerful magician, skilled in dark powers. He is also a swordsman, and possesses great intellect which he uses to manipulate people and creatures to his advantage; despite this, he usually uses his vast strength and magical powers to battle Link.
Game appearances and biography
The Legend of Zelda
Ganon first appeared in the NES game, The Legend of Zelda. In this game, Ganon attacks the land of Hyrule and steals the Triforce of Power which he uses to overrun the kingdom with monsters. He later kidnaps Zelda and locks her in his lair on Death Mountain, and is the final boss and primary antagonist of the game.
The Adventure of Link
Ganon only makes a brief cameo in The Adventure of Link, as a shadowy figure in the Game Over screen; the plot of the game partially involves an attempt by Ganon's followers to revive him using Link's blood.
A Link to the Past
In A Link to the Past, it is said that Ganondorf and his army of thieves, skilled in dark arts, found the entrance to the Golden Land, and upon entering the realm he kills his followers and touches the Triforce with "blood stained hands". He wishes to conquer the world and this transforms the Golden Land into the corrupt Dark World. Ganon summons other beings to his new land for his army. His army attacks the land of Hyrule until the knights and the seven wise men combine their power and seal Ganon and his army in his corrupt world.
Centuries later, using the form of Agahnim, Ganon returns to Hyrule Castle and overthrows the King. He then kidnaps and transports seven maidens, descendants of the sages, to reside in the Dark World in order to break the sages' seal. When Link ultimately defeats Agahnim in a battle at the top of Ganon's Tower, Ganon flees to the Pyramid of Power, where Link, armed with Silver Arrows and the Master Sword, is finally able to best him and use the Triforce to restore Hyrule and resurrect those Ganon killed.
Ocarina of Time
In Ocarina of Time, Ganondorf is known as the King of the Gerudo, by virtue of being the only male in the tribe. Ganondorf learns of the legend of the Triforce and seeks to attain it with the aid of his surrogate servants, Twinrova. He makes attempts to steal the sacred stones to enter the Sacred Realm. It seems that When Link travels to all three places to get the three spiritual stones, they all talk of a man who already traveled to get the stones before Link even started his quest. The Great Deku tree describes a man from the desert who puts a curse on him that eventually kills him after Link goes inside of him. In Goron city, they describe a powerful man who bribes them to open Dogono's cavern for them, but big brother knows better. In Zora's Domain, Princess Ruto says thet their Lord Jabu-Jabu hasn't been the same since "that man" came. He eventually chases Impa and Princess Zelda into hiding, seeking the Ocarina of Time. Noting that Link had attained the Sacred Stones for himself, Ganondorf uses this opportunity to seize the Triforce when Link removes the Master Sword, the final key to the Sacred Realm. His unbalanced heart only allows him to receive the Triforce of Power (with Wisdom and Courage going to Zelda and Link respectively). His Triforce piece allows him to cause numerous disasters for all of Hyrule, and in doing so, become the king.
By the time seven years had passed, he had placed monsters in the Sages' temples to prevent them from hearing their "awakening call". When Link awakened from the Sacred Realm as a young adult, Ganondorf watched him, waiting for when Zelda would reveal herself. Ganondorf is eventually able to capture the final sage - Princess Zelda - forcing Link into a direct confrontation. Although bested by Link in the ensuing battle atop his tower, he uses the remains of his power to destroy his tower, in hope of finishing Link and Zelda. Though they escape, thinking him defeated, Ganondorf comes out of the rubble, and using the Triforce of Power, he transforms into a bipedal sword-wielding pig-like form called Ganon, similar to the Ganon shown in earlier games. After a large battle, the Seven Sages imprison Ganondorf in the Sacred Realm and he vows to return and exterminate Link and Zelda's descendants, as long as the Triforce of Power was still in his hand.
Oracle of Ages and Oracle of Seasons
Ganon was the hidden final boss of Oracle of Ages and Oracle of Seasons in the linked game. He was revived by the Twinrova sisters through their agents Veran and Onox. Their plan required lighting three mystical flames to work. Veran caused great misery in Labrynna to light the Flame of Sorrow and Onox created incredible havoc in Holodrum to light the Flame of Destruction. The witches themselves attempted to sacrifice Princess Zelda with hopes the tragedy would light the final Flame of Despair. But when Link saved Zelda, the ritual was incomplete - Twinrova were forced to use themselves as the sacrifice and Ganon became nothing more than a "mindless beast" bent on destruction and without his usual intelligence.
The Wind Waker
Ganondorf manipulates the course of events across the game to lead Link to take the Master Sword from its undersea resting place, releasing his full power and later to take control of the completed Triforce. Before Ganondorf can touch it however, The King comes in and touches the Triforce instead, wishing for "hope" and Hyrule to be drowned by the sea up above. Ganondorf refrains from using magic in the fight with Link and Zelda which follows, and is eventually petrified when Link stabs him in the head. In this characterization, Ganondorf seems to have more complex motives, and displayed some human emotional characteristics that he seemed devoid of in earlier installments.
Four Swords Adventures
Ganondorf is given an entirely new backstory in this game. Ganon, in his pig form, is the final boss in The Legend of Zelda: Four Swords Adventures. A young Gerudo named Ganondorf is found to have stolen a trident that gives him incredible powers. With this weapon, he began to seize control of parts of Hyrule, spreading evil and creating an army of Dark Links. As in The Wind Waker, Link and Zelda team up to defeat Ganon, eventually sealing him within the Four Sword.
Twilight Princess
Ganondorf appears as sort of a twist ending in Twilight Princess. It is revealed by the Sages that some time prior to the game, they had attempted to execute Ganondorf in the Arbiter Grounds. However, the Triforce of Power prevented him from dying from the powerful blow inflicted by the Sages' sword; it gave him enough strength to break his bonds and injure (if not, slay) the Sage of Water, after which, he pulled out the blade used in the failed execution . In a desperate attempt, the Sages used the Mirror of Twilight to send Ganondorf into the Twilight Realm. During this time, Ganondorf, in a more spiritual form, encountered the anguished Zant, who believed Ganon was a god. Zant swore loyalty to him and made a pact, Ganon housed his power in Zant, in return Zant would help Ganon return to the light world and conquer Hyrule.
Because of Zant's efforts, Ganondorf was able to revive and returned in a physical form and conquered Hyrule Castle. After Link and Midna defeat Zant, he tells them that even if he dies, his master, Ganon, will revive him. At the end of the game he meets Link and Midna and fights them in a series of boss fights where he assumes several different forms, including possessing Zelda and using her as a puppet. Midna purges Ganondorf from Zelda and Link fights him as a feral quadrupedal "dark beast" form. After he is defeated, Ganon appears in spirit and attempts to attack Link, Zelda and Midna again, but Midna teleports her allies away and utitilizes the Fused Shadows to fight him. When Link and Zelda arrive in Hyrule Field, they see the Castle explode and Ganondorf appears on horseback, holding Midna's crumbling helm.
In the final battle Link and Zelda battle Ganondorf on horseback (with Zelda using light arrows) and Link with his Master Sword. At last Link fights Ganondorf on foot and impales Ganondorf through the chest with the Master Sword. Ganondorf shakily gets to his feet and tells Link and Zelda that "The tale of light and shadow shall be written in blood." After saying this, the Triforce of Power fades from his hand and loses his power. A vision of Zant appears, showing his neck breaking, therefore severing his bond with Ganon. When this happens, Ganondorf grunts in pain and his eyes close. Since this is the last time he is seen in the game, his fate is never fully explained.
CD-i Zeldas
Ganon appears in his "pig" form in all three of the CD-i Zelda titles, Zelda: The Wand of Gamelon, Link: The Faces of Evil, excluding Zelda's Adventure in which he was a large muscular devil creature. In these versions he only requires one hit to defeat, and appears to be a sorcerer of some sort with features based in his cartoon incarnation. His name is misspelled as Gannon. These games are (in many cases) not considered to be actual Zelda games.
Games without appearances of Ganon
In other Zelda games, Ganon is hardly touched upon, if at all. He does not appear in Majora's Mask, Four Swords, or The Minish Cap where Majora and Vaati fill the roles of primary antagonist, respectively. The Wind Fish's Nightmares assume a form called "Ganon's Shadow" in Link's Awakening, constructed from Link's memories of battling Ganon.
Super Smash Bros. Melee
Ganondorf is also an unlockable character in Super Smash Bros. Melee, and is based on his appearance in the SpaceWorld demo, even wielding the large, cleaverlike sword in one of his victory poses (though he cannot actually use it in combat). In Melee, he is referred to by his full name, "Ganondorf," and is a slower, heavier, and more powerful "clone" of Captain Falcon, performing mostly the same attacks and moves (although his regular A attack and others are different).
Animated series appearances
The Legend of Zelda animated series
Ganon was also the main villain of 1989's Legend of Zelda cartoon, which was shown as part of The Super Mario Bros. Super Show in syndication that year. In the cartoon, Ganon was peach-skinned anthropomorphic pig and a wizard. He was in possession of the Triforce of Power, and, despite seemingly endless abilities and magical powers that emanated from finger tips he bungled away each and every chance he had to nab the Triforce of Wisdom. He spent most of his time living in his subterranean lair, referred to as his "castle", which was located in the Underworld. He was voiced by the late Len Carlson, who would later go on to voice Klump in Donkey Kong Country.
Captain N: The Game Master
Ganon (just like Link and Zelda) also appeared in Captain N: The Game Master, as a secondary villain in the episode "Quest For the Potion of Power". This was something of a continuum of Ganon's appearance in the Zelda Cartoon. The episode seems to take place after the happenings of the original Zelda game (and maybe even Zelda II), during which Ganon is weakened. Through the course of the episode he becomes revived, double-crosses Mother Brain, and is then killed again by the Reflect magic on Link's shield. Template:Endspoilers
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- Fictional demons
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- Fictional emperors and empresses
- Fictional wizards
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