Daily Debate: Which Final Boss Did You Find Most Disappointing in the Zelda Series?
Posted on October 24 2023 by Josh Wittmershaus
While it can be argued that The Legend of Zelda‘s formula for its final boss battles is, well, formulaic, there are many differences spread out through the 35 years of games that create an opportunity for comparisons. Earlier this year, I wrote a debate on where Tears of the Kingdom’s final battle ranked, and it sparked a good refresher on a debate we have with every new game. However, I think it’s also important to have some constructive criticism of our favorite franchise, and talk as a fanbase about what final bosses and battles left us disappointed and wanting more. Here’s my short list of final bosses that had me raising an eyebrow (in no particular order):
- Vaati (Four Swords): It shouldn’t shock anyone that a game that regularly falls into the bottom three of Best Zelda Ever lists has bottom-tier boss battle. Much like the game, Vaati’s showdown is simple, repetitive, and lacking creativity.
- General Onox (Oracle of Seasons): I think what makes this make the list is not just the battle itself, but how hyped I was for it from other people’s reviews. I found that the battle only used a few of the items you got through the game, and felt simultaneously repetitive and difficult.
- Demise (Skyward Sword): There is absolutely an epic-ness to this battle, given the precedence it sets for the rest of the timeline. I think what bugs me about this is how much more difficult it is compared to anything else in the game. Some may see this as a positive quality to a final battle, but for me, the steep change in difficulty had me wanting to give up.
- Calamity Ganon (Breath of the Wild): I don’t think this is a bad fight, necessarily. Maybe “disappointing” isn’t the best way to describe it. What I don’t care for is that it doesn’t have the same finality that other final bosses have. Many of us have watched speed runs where players make it to the battle in under an hour, forgoing the entire story and game in the process. The option in itself puts into question all the leading drama and tension that brings us to most final battles.
- Majora (Majora’s Mask): This should come with an asterisk, because it only makes this list when you go full completionist on the masks in the game and get rewarded with the Fierce Deity Mask, as it makes the final battle disappointingly simple.
After thinking about it, General Onox takes the trophy for my least favorite final battle. I think what this really boils down to is that I was so excited to play him after hearing great things from others, and my experience just kind of… fell flat. I don’t have any quarrel with people who loved the battle or told me that I should look forward to it, as I think this question in particular has a very subjective answer, as what makes a final boss good or bad depends just as much on the player and everything surrounding the encounter than the actual encounter itself.
What do you think of my list? What’s missing, and what shouldn’t be there? What’s your least favorite or most disappointing final boss battle in Zelda? Sound off below!
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.
