Ganon

Ganon, also known as Ganondorf, is the main antagonist of The Legend of Zelda series. He has been present or at least referred to in the first five games of the series, and has subsequently been in three more after. Throughout the series, Ganon has had several deaths, both confirmed, like in The Legend of Zelda, and unconfirmed, as in Twilight Princess. Ganon possess the Triforce of Power, which contains the essence of the Goddess Din. This divine power makes Ganon unimaginably strong and grants him boundless power, making him the largest threat to Hyrule in all its history. As stated in the prophecy of Hyrule, the only one capable of defeating Ganon is the Hero chosen by the Goddesses.

Backstory

Throughout the games, Ganon's intentions haven't changed. Taking the triforce of power or earning it and spreading darkness over Hyrule, And he often kidnaps Zelda in the process. Only his appearance has changed, He is blue and a pig-monster in LoZ while in OoT he is a gerudo and eventually turns into a giant, green monster. Ganon and Ganondorf aren't the same person, Ganondorf is the human/gerudo version while Ganon is the abomination, beast or demon version of Ganondorf. He is one of the few gerudo men born every 100 years and is king of the gerudos.

Name Issue

The prince of darkness has two "n"s in his name in the original Legend of Zelda. However, in most other games he is known as Ganon (one "n"). Ganondorf is his humanoid form.

Characteristics

Ganondorf has gone from a cold, heartless individual to a sad individual and back again. In older games he seems to be bent only on controlling Hyrule, but in Wind Waker players saw a different side of Ganondorf Dragmire, where he was yearning for Hyrule back. Mostly, though, he seems only bent on evil things.

In-Game Appearances

The Legend of Zelda

In The Legend of Zelda, Ganondorf was only in his pig form, Ganon. He obtained the Triforce of Power and attempted to obtain the Triforce of Wisdom, but before he could, Link defeated him with the Silver Arrows. Ganon says nothing in this game

A Link to the Past

Left

Link's Awakening

Ganon's shadow appears as one of the final nightmare's forms in Link's awakening. He can summon bats like in LttP and must be dashed into numerous times to defeat him.

Ocarina of Time

Ocarina of Time is the first game in which Ganon's human form appears. Named Ganondorf, his picture is shown below. He came from the Gerudo supposedly swearing allegiance to the King of Hyrule. Of course he had other intentions. Ganondorf stormed Hyrule Castle forcing Zelda to flee. He then tried to take the Triforce for himself, but it split into three pieces leaving him with only the Triforce of Power, with which he could take over Hyrule but not completely fulfill his evil intentions. At the end of the game Link confronts Ganondorf defeating him, then defeating Ganon (Ganondorf's pig form). He was then banished to the Evil Realm. Left [Ganondorf (left) Ganon (right)] Right

Oracle of Ages and Oracle of Seasons

Through a linked game, the player can go to a secret altar where they will fight Twinrova and Ganon.

The Wind Waker

As mentioned above in his characteristics, Ganon had a slightly different personality in Wind Waker. He first appears near the beginning of the game where ordered Link thrown into The Great Sea. He doesn't appear in person again until the end of the game when Link and him have a sword duel in drowning Hyrule at the end of the game, ending with him being turned to stone.

Right

Twilight Princess

Considered by many to be a cameo appearance, Ganondorf didn't show up till the end of Twilight Princess. According to the Six Sages (although one of them was killed by him) he was imprisoned in the Twilight Realm. Ganondorf controlled Zant to do his bidding and then when Zant failed at his task, took matters into his own hands. He waited in Hyrule Castle for Link, then a long four-part battle ensued. With Ganondorf being killed in the end (unconfirmed).

Left

Other Appearances

Ganondorf also appears in Super Smash Bros Melee and Super Smash Bros Brawl. He is a secret character in both games.To unlock him in Super Smash Bros Melee, you have to clear Match Event #29.There are three ways to unlock Ganondorf in Super Smash Bros Brawl: Play 200 matches in Brawl, and then beat Ganondorf in a fight or get Ganondorf to join your party in The Subspace Emissary or beat Classic mode on Normal difficulty with Zelda or on Hard difficulty with Link, and then beat Ganondorf in a fight.

CDI

Ganon appears in two anti-climatic boss battles where he states that you may not bring light to his lair and that you must join him and make your face the greatest in Koradai; or else you will die.

Trivia

Although sometimes called by his full name Ganondorf Dragmire in related Zelda Forums, Ganon's full name is never mentioned in game and it is not known if Dragmire is his second name or if even he has one.