Enemies in the Zelda series are not always mindless pawns of Ganondorf or whichever evildoer is currently vying for control of Hyrule. Sometimes Link encounters foes who have a lot of complexity and heart, offering intriguing contributions to the lore, amusing animations, or even dialogue that lets the player delve deeper into their characters. Regardless of how they are presented, these engaging enemies always leave lasting impressions on the player.
As far as introductions go, King Bulblin makes quite the impression. A heartwarming moment between Link, Ilia, and Colin comes to an abrupt end when an enormous boar and its hulking rider literally burst into the scene.
Appearance-wise, King Bulblin is unlike any of the monsters Link has encountered up to this point. He is a towering Bulblin with massive horns and glowing red eyes. His companion, Lord Bulbo, is a gigantic, armored boar with tusks that rivals its master’s horns. If nothing else, they definitely make for an intimidating pair.
King Bulblin’s entrance is shocking all on its own, but since it turns out to be the catalyst for Link’s heroic journey, it takes on even greater significance. One of his Bulblin minions attacks Link, knocking the boy out cold as he and his gang kidnap the children of Ordon Village, as well as Epona, Link’s beloved horse. When Link comes to, he chases after the fearsome King of Bulblins, only to be whisked away into the Twilight Realm.
Luckily, Link doesn’t need to wait very long before an opportunity to exact revenge presents itself. Soon after he encounters the Ordon children who managed to escape from King Bulblin, the terrifying monster rears his ugly head again in Kakariko Village, kidnapping Colin once more after the child bravely defends Beth.
In order to free Colin, Link and Epona must pursue King Bulblin into Hyrule Field and try to force the monster into submission, all while dodging smaller Bulblins attempting to impede them. This fight is quite exciting, as it is Link’s first real battle on horseback, and getting to fight the man who caused Link so much pain in the beginning is incredibly satisfying. It ends with a jousting showdown on the Bridge of Eldin where Link eventually manages to save Colin and knock King Bulblin off the side of the bridge.
But not even a fall like that is enough to subdue the mighty King of the Bulblins. Link must contend with him a surprising number of times throughout his journey. When he escorts Ilia and Telma to Kakariko, King Bulblin shows up again on the Great Hylian Bridge to challenge Link to a rematch, this time with advanced armor and shields. When he is bested once again, he decides to try fighting on foot with a massive axe in the next battle at the Bulblin Base in the Gerudo Desert.
How King Bulblin and Lord Bulbo manage to survive multiple falls and fights with Link is beyond me, but as time goes on, the two warriors become almost like rivals. As Link becomes stronger, so too does King Bulblin. Link can overwhelm him in combat, even going so far as to break his horns, but he never ends King Bulblin’s life, usually due to the beast’s escape methods or his uncanny ability to fall from incredible heights and live. He is tough, and with every failure, he learns and adapts to Link’s style of combat.
The rivalry between the two comes to a head at Hyrule Castle. The finale of the game would not be complete without one final battle against the monster — or rather, the man — who started it all. And this moment between the two combatants genuinely surprised me.
As it turns out, King Bulblin actually speaks Hylian, taunting Link that he has “come to play.” It is a typical line of provocation for any villain, but I cannot help but wonder if this particular antagonist means it. Even if Link is not so fond of him, King Bulblin seems to get some amount of joy from dueling a worthy opponent.
When Link defeats him this final time, King Bulblin remarks, “Enough. I follow the strongest side! …That is all I have ever known.” I loved this moment in the game, and it almost felt more satisfying than the final boss fight. King Bulblin admits that he was a pawn for Zant and Ganondorf because he considered them strong. But in the end, he stands down and concedes that Link is far more powerful before riding away on his trusty steed for the last time.
King Bulblin is so much more compelling than any other enemy in Twilight Princess. He is more of a rival than anything else, showing up excited to duel with Link and antagonize him. But he also grows to respect Link’s strength, accepting defeat when he realizes that he can never best the hero. In the end, he even seems to be on the road to redemption, as the credits show King Bulblin riding joyfully around Hyrule Field, horns having regrown and his evil ways seemingly behind him.
It is antagonists like the King of the Bulblins that show us there is much more to Zelda games than meets the eye.
