Daily Debate: Which Non-Final Boss Fight in the Zelda Series Has the Most Interesting Backstory?
Posted on February 16 2020 by Michaela El-Ters
In many cases, the bosses in the Zelda series function as adversaries for both Link and the player to overcome. The bosses don’t usually have backstory or origin story, they’re usually just…there, and exist to as a threatening obstacle. But the results are fun and challenging boss fights, so it’s easy to let their lack of origin slide. But there are some rare exceptions where players catch a glimpse of what they’re up against before the fight through exposition from other characters.
In this case, I’m defining a boss’s interesting “backstory” based on how much the players come to know about it before facing it. Most of the bosses in the Zelda series don’t have a ton of backstory to speak of, with a few exceptions like Koume and Kotake. But I think if I had to pick one, I would go with Bongo Bongo. Bongo Bongo serves as the dungeon boss for the Shadow Temple in Ocarina of Time, and was a powerful enemy that was previously sealed away in Kakariko Village by Impa. But with the seal broken, Bongo Bongo gains strength and Kakariko Village is in real peril. Unlike most boss fights that take place in dungeons far away from civilization, the Shadow Temple’s location in Kakariko Village adds to the stakes. Link has to defeat Bongo Bongo, or else the people in Kakariko Village are in danger. I think it’s such a cool distinction for a boss to have, and as an added bonus, Shadow Temple’s terrifying atmosphere and the Bongo Bongo fight is really fun, making the experience that more enjoyable.
What do you think? Which non-final boss fight in the Zelda series do you think has the most interesting backstory? Let us know in the comments!
Feature art by Txikimorin
This Daily Debate was inspired by r2d93
Michaela El-Ters is a Senior Editor for Zelda Dungeon. She is also an Senior Writer for Boss Rush Network, and writes blogs and streams games on Objection Network. Her favorite Zelda game changes with the seasons, but the series as a whole is near and dear to her heart.
