Daily Debate: Should Dark Link Have Been A Mini-Boss In Twilight Princess?
Posted on December 02 2022 by Alexandria Weber
Replaying Twilight Princess always reminds me of how much the 2006 title is a love letter to Ocarina of Time. At times it can be right in your face, uncanny similarities existing such as pulling the Master Sword after the third dungeon or the inclusion of the Temple of Time. However, it is mostly subtle things that ensure Twilight Princess is, for the most part, a unique game that stands on its own. In my opinion, Twilight Princess took the strong suits of Ocarina of Time and combined them with new concepts and mechanics to create a better game. However, during a recent play through, I began to think that perhaps a fight against Dark Link should have been one of the assets that was carried over.
Right before the Lakebed Temple, Link is warned by one of the light spirits about the potential corruption he could be susceptible to by collecting the relics of the Twilight Realm. It is eventually proven by his heroism and lack of evil deeds that Link obviously resisted such a temptation, but a battle against Dark Link might have been a physical representation of this struggle. Especially since the light spirit warns against this only for nothing to come of the warning except seeing others corrupted, it may have been interesting for players to be confronted with perhaps a morally ambiguous decision. Then, the victory against Dark Link would give players a more earned sense of Link resisting the power of the helm and the mirror.
A darker turn for a darker game, I felt like this would be just as good if not a better opportunity for Dark Link in comparison to Ocarina of Time. Especially considering Dark Links already symbolize corruption in the vision Link has before the Lakebed Temple, it think the fight would have embodied the struggle between his good-natured self and the immense corruptive power of the Twilight Realm relics.
What do you think? Where in the game would the fight have taken place? Would it replace a mini boss that exists? Or would it be something outside of the dungeons? Let us know in the comments below!
Alexandria Weber is a Senior Editor and an aspiring creative writer. Her favorite food is apple pie and she loves her cat Galadriel. Ask her for pictures!
