Daily Debate: Do You Like the Spooky Parts in Zelda Games?

I am all about the wholesome stories in the Legend of Zelda series; the light-hearted, whimsical charm of Hyrule has always been part of why this franchise is my favorite. But for most fans, we all know that no matter how bright and colorful a Zelda game is (I’m looking at you, The Wind Waker) there is always a certain area, quest, or dungeon in Link’s adventure that gives off spooky and even sinister vibes.

There’s fighting Dead Hand as child Link at the Bottom of the Well, or taking on a terrifying mission to rescue a little farm girl and her cows from chilling aliens (I still can’t face that part of Majora’s Mask alone). There’s also trying not to have a literal heart attack at the horrifying music that plays when you are spotted by Guardians in the Silent Realms, and let’s not forget how freaky all of Arbiter’s Grounds was in Twilight Princess. There is just something about these creepy parts of every Zelda game that adds to the overall sense of growth for Link (and for us as players). And my favorite spooktacular moments are the ones that take me off guard!

For example, I remember entering the Earth Temple in The Wind Waker for the first time and immediately feeling a change in the tone of the game. You could feel the chill in the air of entering an abandoned, haunted dungeon in Hyrule under the waves. After following a cute little cat-eyed, cartoony Link in such a bright and colorful adventure, I was now in a place that was dark, creepy, and nightmarish. It was also infested with horrifying Floor Masters and bone-chilling Redeads (the latter of which is the scariest version of the monster in the series in my personal opinion). But when I conquered that dungeon, I felt a sense of pride in myself because I was brave enough to keep going, even when I was unsettled.

I think that’s the charm of the spooky parts in Zelda — they really force you to be brave. They add to the fact that Link doesn’t qualify for the Triforce of Courage just because he is naturally gifted with a sword; he’s just a naïve, sweet-natured kid who has to brave terrifying monsters and locations that still give me the creeps as an adult.

But I love those scary moments. I love when a story can bring out such genuine emotions in me and allow me to feel a touch of what the characters must be feeling. And although Link and I have faced our fair share of spooky times together, they always add so much more depth to our adventures in my opinion. And I can’t wait to take on more with Breath of the Wild 2 (low-key hoping for the return of Redeads so I can scream right back at them in absolute terror again)!

What about you? Do you like the spookier locations and parts of Zelda? Let me know in the comments!

Featured Image: Tom Garden

Chakell Herbert

Chakell (pronounced shuh-kell) is an associate editor for Zelda Dungeon! She has loved The Legend of Zelda series since she was a little girl because of its equal mix of princesses, besting bad guys, and heartfelt stories. Chakell lives in the overall tame state of Utah, but holds onto her childhood hopes to find an adventure in her backyard one day. She has a degree in English and is a full-time editor for a magazine. You can usually find her gaming (obviously), laughing with her husband, taking a long time to tell stories because she keeps getting distracted; getting sucked into books and podcasts; or snuggling her cute Cavalier King Charles Spaniel.