Daily Debate: Where Does Tears of the Kingdom’s Final Battle Rank?

With Ganondorf’s first appearance in almost twenty years, it’s safe to say that expectations for him and the final battle were high. And I think many would agree that expectations were exceeded. Sean Gadus provides an eloquent and detailed reflection of the full experience here, and I find it to be required reading for those of you trying to wrap your head fully around what you may have just experienced yourself.

So, as the dust settles three months since the release of Tear of the Kingdom, I wondered how this final battle may compare against the epic ends of other Zelda games. Recency bias is a dangerous temptation, so I went and rewatched some of my personal favorite final dances with evil reincarnated to further contemplate where this game truly falls on my own list. After an afternoon of this, I feel strongly enough to say that Tears of the Kingdom may just take the cake as the best final battle in Zelda. I’m sure this will welcome plenty of debate; so here stands my current list of favorites:

• Tears of the Kingdom: I will spare the details for those of you who are still sensitive to spoilers and encourage anyone wondering why I’ve ranked this number one to read the article my colleague wrote, linked above. What I really love about this ending sequence, though, is the variety of emotions experienced in a roller coaster of a battle, watching characters make decisions that show their loyalty, their hunger, their dedication, and their pain. Trying my best to avoid a spoiler–the battle really presents Ganondorf as an equal in combat and takes notes from Ganondorf battles of the past.

• The Minish Cap: This may also cause some controversy in the comment section, but the multi-round battle with Vaati in his various forms that requires use of more than a few in-game mechanics came as both a challenge and a delight to me. Fighting Vaati in his multiple forms, one constant that remains is the presence and importance of his eye and the eyes he surrounds himself with during battle. I’m sure there’s a metaphor here, but perhaps I’ll save that speculation for a future editorial…

• Ocarina of Time: Fighting Ganon for the first time in the third dimension–with a harrowing, crumbling castle escape between the two battles–makes for a memorable ending to a game that will stand the test of time itself. For me, the opening cutscene of the final part of the battle, when Ganondorf bursts from the rubble, heaving and struggling to breathe, only to lash out into his “true” incarnation, puts me in a place where I can almost say I feel what he’s experiencing. A truly epic ending to the most epic of all games. For more discussion on timed escapes in the games, see Michaela El-Ters’ Daily Debate: Should Another Zelda Game Feature a Timed Castle Escape like Ocarina of Time?

• Majora’s Mask: The initial sequence, I want to believe, was the subconscious inspiration for the Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster. The last sequence, where Majora’s Wrath pulls you in and throws you around, is a true representation of our relationship with the deadly sin, something that we try so desperately to avoid, only to be dragged into its warm and violent arms. But there’s something about fighting an anthropomorphic mask that throws temper tantrums mid-battle that really encapsulates what this game was trying to accomplish.  What that is… I’m still trying to figure out.  That’s why this game remains my favorite.

• Twilight Princess: This intimate battle with Ganondorf carries its fair share of emotions, trials, and action. The canonical and dramatic ending has also caused its fair share of discussion on the fate of the Gerudo King. What’s most intimate about this battle, though, is the ethically-compromising first sequence, where you must volley energy back and forth between a possessed Princess Zelda in a style very similar to the first sequence with Ganondorf in Ocarina of Time.

Honorable Mentions: A Link to the Past, and Link Between Worlds, and Link’s Awakening

What do you think? Do you feel that the most recent final battle deserves a spot in the top five? What is your top five? Are you eager to question my judgment for including a battle with Vaati in my list? Looking forward to discussing with you in the comments below!

Josh Wittmershaus

Josh Wittmershaus is a writer at Zelda Dungeon. Originally from Erie, Pennsylvania, he now resides in Northern California. Aside from Zelda, Josh enjoys playing music, seeing live music, music history, and all other things music. He also enjoys skating, hockey, and the occasional political or philosophical thought exercise.