Daily Debate: Which Version of Ganon is the Best in the Zelda Series?
Posted on December 27 2020 by David Lasby
Spoiler Warning: The following article contains spoilers related to plot and characters from Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity. If you’re avoiding such content, please bookmark this page and enjoy it at a future date.
Towering above Hyrule’s greatest warriors, searing malice swirling around his hulking frame like fire, the Calamity Ganon from Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity stands as a bold new manifestation of the ancient foe. For most players, taking down this final boss requires the power and health of all four playable characters; facing him on the hardest difficulty setting is a mighty feat indeed. While the plot of the game remains controversial, most Zelda fans admit this version of Calamity Ganon felt like what we should have faced at the end of The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild.
For today’s Daily Debate, it’s worth considering, which version of Ganon is the best in the Zelda series? Now before getting your reactions, let’s put some limitations in place. For today’s discussion, we’ll rule out the human form of Ganondorf. (Besides, I think we can all agree the best Ganondorf form is from Twilight Princess, right? Oops…maybe we’ll save that one for another debate). While only the non-human forms of Ganon will be considered, we’ll allow certain other forms such as Yuga Ganon, the Blights, Puppet Ganon, and Phantom Ganon.
When considering which Ganon is best, there’s no limitation on how he can be evaluated; however, three main considerations that I’m weighing are aesthetics (the Big Bad needs to look good!), difficulty challenge, and role in the story.
I’ll nominate a few manifestations of the King of Evil that I believe deserve top consideration; but of course, you get the last word.
Beast Ganon, The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time—While somewhat limited by the graphics of the era, this version of Ganon truly looks terrifying in the dark remains of Hyrule Castle, flames casting long shadows over the beast’s horns and glowing eyes. While lower on the difficulty challenge, this Ganon rises to the top in terms of his role in the story. As fans of the classic game know, the short lived elation at besting Ganondorf and escaping the crumbling castle quickly gives way to shock as the great beast rises from the ashes. Talk about epic.
Ganon, The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past—Hurling a powerful trident, casting spells of fire, and wielding darkness itself, this manifestation of Ganon is also arguably the most powerful in terms of Zelda lore; given A Link to the Past is in the Downfall Timeline, this Ganon has already defeated one Legendary Hero and seeks to kill his second. However, he’s not all that intimidating from an appearance perspective; and he only offers a moderate challenge in terms of difficulty.
Calamity Ganon, Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity— For the reasons mentioned above, this version of Ganon has one of the best aesthetics in the Zelda franchise; while still in Ganon form, this incarnation of the Calamity force also has a slight resemblance of Ganondorf the man. His combat abilities are second to none, and his appearance comes at the height of an intense storyline. As the music soars and Link drives the Sword that Seals the Darkness down through Calamity Ganon’s massive form, it’s hard not to let the emotion carry you away. Yes, the storyline is controversial, but there may be no better final battle in the Zelda series.
There are plenty of other forms of Ganon throughout the series, so please don’t hold back. If you’re having trouble deciding or simply want to take a deeper dive, the crew at The Champions’ Cast did a recent episode on a similar topic here.
Tell us what you think. Which version of Ganon is the best in the Zelda series? Share your reactions in the comments below!
Featured Image: mattleese87
I’m a life-long fan of video games and have been playing since I got my NES in the 1980s. The Legend of Zelda, Super Smash Bros., Aliens, and Halo are some of my favorite game franchises. I write for several sites, including Zelda Dungeon, Boss Rush Network, and The Mighty. Find me on Twitter to check out my other content!
