Daily Debate: Which Zelda Game Has The Best Light Arrows?

From the inception of the Zelda franchise, the concept of a magic arrow that banishes evil has been present. In The Legend of Zelda and A Link to the Past, this role was fulfilled by the Silver Arrows, which would deliver the final blow to Ganon after he was exposed with sword strikes. Starting with Ocarina of Time, that dichotomy would be reversed and the Silver Arrows would become the Light Arrows. Plenty of fantasy worlds have mystical projectiles crafted from silver, but the Light Arrows are distinctly Zelda. They would go on to appear frequently throughout the series, but which incarnation of these luminous munitions is your favorite?

As stated, Ocarina of Time introduced the Light Arrows, but they had little utility beyond their critical item status. They are received from Princess Zelda just before the game’s final area, Ganon’s Castle. Despite consuming more magic, they deal no more damage than a standard arrow and are not required for any puzzles. Besides conferring a guaranteed 50 rupee drop from defeated enemies, their only function is to make Ganondorf vulnerable in the penultimate encounter. Majora’s Mask represents a slight improvement, granting the Light Arrows during Stone Tower Temple and forcing their usage to interact with the final dungeon’s primary mechanic. They also deal damage commensurate with the steep magic cost, but their just aren’t many practical instances to use them in combat.

In terms of pure fun and satisfaction, the Light Arrows from The Wind Waker are unmatched. While they are given at the very end of the game upon defeating Phantom Ganon, their brief screen time puts their immense power on full display. One of the series’ most memorable moments is the staircase leading to Ganondorf’s keep. The climb is littered with the game’s toughest foes; spear-wielding Moblins and heavily-armored Mighty Darknuts. Previous battles with these enemies could be very challenging, or at least time consuming, but the Light Arrows trivialize their very existence. Even the Mighty Darknuts stand no chance against their brilliant power, being instantly vaporized by a single arrow. This sequence is little more than an endgame power trip, but I can’t imagine anybody suggesting it wasn’t effective.

Light Arrows also appear in Twilight Princess and Breath of the Wild, both as fairly shallow, scripted moments. The former’s horseback segment can be very frustrating thanks to Zelda’s dubious accuracy, and the latter borders on an interactive cutscene. The Minish Cap and Spirit Tracks also technically have Light Arrows, but it is actually the bow which is upgraded to catalyze them, not the arrows themselves. Perhaps we’ll be reacquainted with these powerful projectiles in the near future.

Which appearance of the Light Arrows is your favorite? Should they make a return in a future Zelda game? Let us know in the comments below!

Comments
Sorted Under: Breath of the Wild, Daily Debate, Games, Majora's Mask, Ocarina of Time, Original Content, Spirit Tracks, The Legend of Zelda, The Minish Cap, The Wind Waker
Tagged With: No tags were found for this entry.