Male Companions/Female Villains?

It seems that Zelda has a habit of constantly including female companions and male villains. From my experience, I can name:

Navi, Tatl, Ciela, Midna, Spirit Zelda & Fi; all female companions.

Ganondorf, Vaati, General Onox, Agahnim, Zant, Malladus, Byrne, Ghirahim & Demise; all male villains.

However, there have been exceptions to the rule, which make the game more interesting. But I can only name a few male companions, and just one female villain.

King of the Red Lions, Ezlo & Linebeck; all male companions.

Veran, (possibly Majora) & Twinrova; the only female villains.

So do you think it's time for a change? Should we bring back male companions and female villains? Or were they meant to be that particular gender? I personally think that both would bring a new perspective on Zelda, rather than the same old "Link loves his female companion and destroys the evil man" routine.

I don't really see how a change of just your companions gender would change my overall experience of the game at all really. Take for example King Of Red Lions the first time I saw him I thought "Cool! My companion is my boat!" not "Cool! My companion is a dude!" Also, the same with the villains I don't think that gender alone could make the game more interesting, Something like bringing back a companion from previous Zelda games and making him/her a villain would be really change the game in my opinion.

You forgot Twinrova are female villains too.

I would be happy whatever the next sidekick is as long as it isn't another fairy.

Though it would be cool if there were more female villains like Veran, she had a brilliant story to her and the battle was pretty immense.

Originally Posted by Dei~

You forgot Twinrova are female villains too.

Yes and Twinrova is arguably even more evil than Ganondorf since they were the ones who raised him and therefore partly to blame for him being the way he is (though Demise's curse is part of the reason too).

I honestly don't care as long as the characters are not annoying or unoriginal.

And really, the only times "Link loves his female companion" happened were maybe TP and ST, so I don't even think it would be a "new perspective".

Originally Posted by Cow

I honestly don't care as long as the characters are not annoying or unoriginal.

And really, the only times "Link loves his female companion" happened were maybe TP and ST, so I don't even think it would be a "new perspective".

I don't remember that happening in either game-- certainly not TP.

Originally Posted by Hanyou

I don't remember that happening in either game-- certainly not TP.

Well, Midna certainly liked Link at the end.

Anyway, this isn't something that I ever worry about. As long as the villains and companions are interesting enough, then gender is about the last thing that matters. I truly don't understand how something so unimportant can be a "change in perspective for a game". Just give me good characters.

Originally Posted by Hanyou

I don't remember that happening in either game

Oh come on, ST had the most romance there had been in a Zelda game yet.

Isn't Majora supposed to be female too? At least one well-known let's player thinks so.

Originally Posted by Traeh

Isn't Majora supposed to be female too? At least one well-known let's player thinks so.

Most likely not. And they only think so. Aside from it's girly screams, it acts boyish.

Originally Posted by Poe Princess Mara

Oh come on, ST had the most romance there had been in a Zelda game yet.

Nah, I think SS gets it.

Originally Posted by Dei~

Nah, I think SS gets it.

That's why I said "had" rather than "has". ST used to be the most romantic Zelda game but now SS is.

The Poe Sisters (OoT, Forest Temple) and Queen Gohma (OoT, Inside the Deku Tree) and Armogohma (TP, Temple of Time) are other female villians.

I'm not sure if Blizzetta (TP, Snowpeak Ruins) counts. She is a villian when she's possessed by the mirror but otherwise she's nice.

Are there other female villians I'm missing? I haven't played all the Zelda games yet.


I'm not really concerned what gender Link's companion or the villian is. I'm mainly interested in a companion that gives useful advice, has an interesting character and is not annoying. I like villians that have an epic, fun to defeat quality.

Maybe a more... seductive villain. But not an old fat hag, more like a gerudo pirate in MM, 'cept in HD. That could add plot twist of "Oh, I loved her, but now she's trying to kill me" which could be fun.

Yeah ae need more sword fights against females like in the gerudo fortress. Those were really fun as far as sword on sword, and its a nice change of pace from monsters.

Originally Posted by Hanyou

I don't remember that happening in either game-- certainly not TP.

That's why I used a "maybe", I think it's perfectly acceptable to interpret their relationship in those two games that way, even if it wasn't the case.

Originally Posted by Ningan the Lone Ninja

From my experience, I can name:

Navi, Tatl, Ciela, Midna, Spirit Zelda & Fi; all female companions.

Ganondorf, Vaati, General Onox, Agahnim, Zant, Malladus, Byrne, Ghirahim & Demise; all male villains.

However, there have been exceptions to the rule, which make the game more interesting. But I can only name a few male companions, and just one female villain.

King of the Red Lions, Ezlo & Linebeck; all male companions.

Veran, (possibly Majora) & Twinrova; the only female villains.

I have edited the list slightly. But I won't include Queen Gohma, Blizzeta, etc, because they weren't exactly major villains. (Gohma couldn't even talk.)

By the way, the aim of the discussion isn't to question "How will this affect my Zelda experience?", it is to question "Why are females not seen as evil/why can't Link befriend a male?"

Maybe Link's companions are usually female so that it's more balanced.
However, there's not really much of an excuse for the lack of female villains. I think it's time there were more female villains, ones who are proper characters rather than just bosses like the Poe Sisters or Queen Gohma were.

And who knows, maybe Majora was a female.