Daily Debate: What Has Been the Darkest Moment of the Zelda Series So Far?
Posted on January 08 2020 by Alexandria Weber
With a new decade upon us and the sequel to Breath of the Wild in development, fans can’t help but question how the future of the Zelda series will compare to the past. Many fans felt that the trailer for Breath of the Wild’s sequel was reminiscent to the darkness encompassed by Majora’s Mask, and a comment from Producer Eiji Aonuma has sparked further interest in a darker story-line for the upcoming title. Although Aonuma didn’t confirm that the game is inspired by Majora’s Mask, his comment does encourage a retrospective view of the Zelda series. It’s had some dark and gripping moments, each one affecting gamers individually.
I feel that Majora’s Mask is the darkest installment in the series, as it is centered around death, annihilation, and existentialism. But there are so many other dark moments throughout, so you may feel otherwise. Perhaps the ending of Link’s Awakening sticks out to you, when our hero accepts that everything he came to know was only a dream. Or maybe the calamitous fall of Hyrule in Breath of the Wild was the darkest moment for you? After all, the Champions gave their lives as the Sheikah technology was corrupted. Whether it’s the connotations of the Shadow Temple in Ocarina of Time or Arbiter’s Grounds in Twilight Princess, there are plenty of story elements that have a sinister and foreboding tone as well.
What do you think? What sticks out to you as the darkest thing in the series? 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!
