Daily Debate: What is the Most Stressful Moment in the Zelda Series?
Posted on August 05 2021 by Alexis S. Anderson
With the recent release of Skyward Sword on the Switch, I could not help but remember the abject terror that hit me every time a Watcher spotted me in a Silent Realm. The sustained panic I felt while collecting the Sacred Tears made those sequences some of the most memorable in the game, which got me thinking about other stressful moments in Zelda that might rival it. Though, it is a tough one to beat.
Encountering a Lynel / Guardian / Wizzrobe in Breath of the Wild
While I got rather used to Guardians targeting me, I never got used to a Lynel spotting me or dealing with an errant Wizzrobe. Each time, I essentially knew I would have to make a mad dash for safety or face practically-certain death. It always made me sweat. Death wasn’t even the worst of it, I think I was more worried about all the weapons I would break and arrows I would waste trying to survive. This gut-drop is definitely up there for me among the series’ most stressful moments.
Wagon Escort Mission in Twilight Princess
This. This task is a thorn in my side. Not only is it stressful because you don’t control its pace and fighting on-the-move can be tricky, but it takes an emotional toll. I was deeply attached to Ilia by this point in the game and you just slowly experience her burning to death all thanks to you. The lot of them in that carriage scream as the fire spreads– ah! It’s nice to feel like a hero playing Zelda games, but it’s equally as painful to feel responsible for a few good people’s deaths. Stress is what happens when lives hang in the balance.
Sakon’s Hideout on the Final Day in Majora’s Mask
Many may find this an odd choice for my most-stressful list. But I distinctly remember feeling dread the second time I had to do this– emphasis on second time. The reason that this particular exercise freaks me out so much is that I messed it up the first time around and had to go through another full 3-day cycle to get back there. So it was do-or-die this second time, because I had no patience at the time to go through all that again. My adrenaline was at an all time high taking my second crack at the hideout, but the risk was certainly worth the reward of reuniting our favorite star-crossed lovers.
A Thunderstorm in Breath of the Wild
I guess Breath of the Wild is a stressful game for me. I always groan when it rains because it turns all the mountains into a slip-and-slide, but what really makes me panic is the telltale spark of my metal weaponry warning me of an incoming zap! I suppose this stress dissipates rather quickly when I remove the offending metals, but I think it’s a reminiscent fear from the first time I was shocked. I was powerless that initial time, because I didn’t realize what was going to happen or why. But now, thankfully, I am older and wiser.
Honorable Mentions
- Escaping Crumbling Hyrule Castle in Ocarina of Time
- Dodging Wallmasters in Ocarina of Time / Zant’s Hands in Twilight Princess
- Sneaking Through the Forsaken Fortress in The Wind Waker
In my opinion, the Silent Realms still can’t be beat (except maybe by the shock of discovering Skyward Sword‘s Remlits are evil at night!). But what do you think? What was the most stressful moment in Zelda for you, and why? Let us know in the comments below!
Alexis S. Anderson is a Senior Editor at Zelda Dungeon who joined the writing team in November, 2014. She has a JD from the UCLA School of Law and is pursuing a career in Entertainment and Intellectual Property Law. She grew up in the New Jersey suburbs with her parents, twin brother, and family shih-tzu.
