Anyone familiar with the Legend of Zelda should know Ganondorf – he has been the primary villain for most of the series, and is considered by many to be the quintessential power-hungry holder of the Triforce of Power.
However, Nathan of ZeldaInformer thinks that it is finally time for him to go.
He makes some interesting points, especially on the matter of Ganondorf’s role in Twilight Princess, though I still personally think that Nintendo can make him fearsome again if they try. We’ll just have to wait for more information on the new game to find out how Nintendo will handle his character from on.
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June 30th, 2009 at 8:47 pm
omg omg yay 1st comment…
NOOOO GANONDORF!!!!! NOOOOOOOOOOOOO
he was my 2nd favorite boss from all games (my 1st one is Vaati from minish cap)
NOOOOOOOOOO DONT GOOOOOOOOOO
June 30th, 2009 at 8:51 pm
…Time for him to go? Did Nathan from Zelda informer actually play a Zelda game? I have yet to read the article, but I will. Saying its time for Ganon to go, is saying its time for Link to go. I mean he is part of the whole thing he is the embodement of Power like Link to courage and Zelda to Wisdom without Ganon its lunacy, yes he hasn't been the antagonist in all the games but the ones he hasnt to my knowledge are all sequals (Majoras mask Links awakening) I just think its a ridiculous notion. The only way for it to be done is for a new person to rise and take the Triforce of power from him by force that is the only conceivable way for it to work (And besides wasn't the Triforce of Power taken at the end of TP? And wasn't it Zant who delivered the final blow?) So maybe its already happened, anyway im straying from my point.
Ganon is as essential to Zelda as the Triforce itself he is the physical form of power.
June 30th, 2009 at 10:18 pm
Ganondorf is a complete classic. Anyone who thinks classics have to go ar complete idiots. I will agree with LuX, Ganon completes the triforce, He is power. Also Ganondorf is the leader and the only male gerudo (Male born every 100 years for anyone who did not know). If nintendo did take him away it would have way after or way before the games ganon was in (Nintendo seriously needs a timeline). Point is you cant take the best baddie out of LOZ. It just isnt the legend of zelda without him. Nathan is an idiot (O-O)
June 30th, 2009 at 10:34 pm
I do encourage you to read the article, as it's pretty clear within the article itself that I did indeed play several Zelda titles and put some thought into the piece. Now, I understand any that disagree's – this is merely my opinion. I do encourage you to discuss your thoughts in the ongoing talk about the article at ZI in the comments section.
June 30th, 2009 at 10:38 pm
Cody, thanks for posting this. It's my first article of really any type other then community ranting in… years. Seems a lot of people really enjoyed the piece even if they disagree.
Tyler, just because some people wish to rid franchises of classic characters doesn't mean they are idiots. It simply means it's a way to force a change in the series that many think would be fresh. It doesn't have to be done, but this is Nintendo were dealing with. Sometimes eliminating a key element from previous titles will not constrict story lines and let you build a more immerse game. Look no further the Majora's Mask. A true masterpiece with no triforce, or Ganon, influence. You could make the same argument for Bowser in the Mario series. A fresh antagonist could really take Zelda to the next level and make things not feel like ALttP rehashed every time a game comes out.
June 30th, 2009 at 11:00 pm
I agree, ganondorf has been in a lot of games, but link has been in even more. ganon just needs a new tactic, that's all
June 30th, 2009 at 11:13 pm
A solid read, Nathan, and you make good points….However, the prospect of losing Ganondorf altogether is unrealistic, and might possibly be fatal to the series in the long run. In a sense, he is indispensable because he is exactly what link is not, which is as an arch-villain should be. I do think, however, that it would be both refreshing and a good move on Nintendo's part to give him a rest for at least three or four handheld and console Zelda installments; thus giving us time to miss him and giving his character a bit of runway to evolve – or change completely- so as to be new and awesome when next we see him.
….pardon the long winded-ness, but that's how I see it.
June 30th, 2009 at 11:30 pm
…That didn't make any sense!
Zant wasn't frightening! I distinctly remember him whining and crying, banging the ground like a two year old!
and the fused Shadow WAS usless aganst Ganon- don't you remember him crushing it in his hand? and whats all this bullshit about a fishing poll? you fight Ganon with a Fishing poll? WTF?
personally, I don't know why everybody here thinks Ganon 'died' in TP. he's 'died' before and cam back good as knew. Ganon will leave Zelda when Mario stops eating mushrooms.
June 30th, 2009 at 11:38 pm
And another thing, I don't think the ToP really even left Ganon. if it had, I think it would have shown an actual physical golden triangle literally floatout of his body. y'know, kinda like EXACTLY WHAT HAPPENED IN TWW!! I think that little scene of ganons hand meant that Ganon still HAD the ToP. it was just going dorment to preserve ganons energy so he could go into a sort of 'triforce coma'
hey, it could happen.
June 30th, 2009 at 11:52 pm
Loose Ganondorf? No Way! Who else would get the triforce of power? Tingle? Never!!! He was destined by the gods to wield it, and you don't mess with destiny.
July 1st, 2009 at 12:01 am
Yes… but there are a lot of people out there who want to play the classics. How many people out there do you think still have the original Zelda? I still play it and ganon is pretty much what completes the circle of Zelda. ALttP, MM and PH are all sequels in which ganon is already killed. Sorry for calling the others idiots but I was mad when they said ganon had to go. I am fighting so ganon stays. How many people agree?
July 1st, 2009 at 1:03 am
I agree man I mean ganondork just has to die… now
July 1st, 2009 at 1:38 am
thats absurd, i mean come on, you cant ruin what zelda has always been. Has BOWSER overstayed HIS welcome? No, no he hasnt. You cant kill off ganondorf, it would just downsize the series.
July 1st, 2009 at 1:47 am
Yes finally someone that has my point make a game different than ALttP.
July 1st, 2009 at 2:13 am
Well, I agree that it's a little boring to have Ganon in a lot of Zelda games; however, I think that if Ganon gets out, The Legend of Zelda wouldn't be the same.
But, I don't want Ganon to go. I think Nintendo should do something similar to Majora's Mask, where there's a completely different story. Majora's is a good game, and the triforce is not in it.
The best thing Nintendo could do is to make a different game, whit diferrent villains, and continue that diferrent storyline. Then, after a couple of games where Ganon doesn't appear, bring him back to feel like a refreshing evil man =).
Do you get what I'm Saying? LOL
July 1st, 2009 at 2:27 am
I encourage you to do a little research before claiming things like fighting Ganondorf with a fishing pole is absurd.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xAvrJ00XU8A
There you have it. My first time I still rolled around back because I wasn't sure how well stunned he was, but you don't have too. Yes, you remember Zant for whining and pouting – Think of what he did BEFORE that. Got Zelda to bow before him, almost killed midna, laughed at the thought of the fused shadow being able to stop him, turned link back into a wolf. He was awesome… till they brought Ganondorf in.
And, The fused shadow was uselss against Ganondorf? Thats why Midna used it to transform and kick his ass during one of the phases. Yeah, useless. It was useless against Zant, not Ganondorf.
July 1st, 2009 at 3:14 am
Hmmm. Ganondorf is a major part of the Zelda series. He is the Triforce of Power after all. On the other hand, games like Majora's Mask are quite good and challenging without him. Thus the argument of whether taking Ganondorf out will kill the series (or at least hurt it a lot) or make it fresh and let it reinvent itself to be another Ocaraina of Time so to speak. TP could have been great even with Ganon taken out – Zant held his own and the main story revolved around him – but yes Ganon gave him that power.
July 1st, 2009 at 3:15 am
PART 2
Has Ganondorf worn out his presence? Bowser in the Mario games certainly has in my opinion – Bowser feels like a bad joke that keeps coming back – they need a Mario 2 with Wart again so that we have another cool villian which gives us a break from Bowser to appreciate him more when he does return – perhaps the same could be done with Zelda? The Skull Kid is a cool villian in Majora's Mask, and in Wind Waker we don't see Ganondorf that much. So perhaps, we need a break from the routine and let another baddie step up to prove that he too (or she) can be decisively evil and heartless and make Link take on one of the hardest foes in his career. Perhaps, if we don't discard Ganon but merely let him sit on the bench for a few games we can rejoice when he does return, and he has been reimagined and become more evil and seems more of a threat than a rerun where we say, "same old same old" or "here we go again", but rather where we can stand up and cheer and say, "Yes, he's back and he seems worse than ever and I'm ready to challenge him again!"
see continuation…
July 1st, 2009 at 3:15 am
PART 3
Series have been rebooting in film and doing quite well for the most part. Why can't Zelda skip the reboot and just have some other villains for a while so that it will feel new and fresh when Ganondorf makes a triumphal and sinister return.
So, what I am trying to say is that maybe Ganon shouldn't be dropped forever but for a time. There needs to be room for originality, a chance to take Link to new places, and growth. Perhaps then the Zelda series can expand and grow and when the time is right Ganon can return into that type of setting which enables him to be evil in whole new ways and become even more of a threat and challenge. Change can be a good thing, but there should always be a way back should it not work.
July 1st, 2009 at 7:31 am
ganon has had a long history in the games but i think that a new even more powerful enemy has to rise up and even take out ganon now listen to this little plot that i came up with.
minda returns to tell link that a evil ancient power has returned, now this evil power is fierce deity the power sealed in the fierce deity mask from mm, ganon hear of this and goes of to battle it. now ganon fights the deity and loses the battle and even loses his triforce of power. later minda and link are partnered up together but then the great owl finds them and tells them about ganons fall. later vatii from minish cap get word and goes out to form a army to defeat the deity. link and minda goes out gathering information about the great history of the fierce deity even learning that the only way to defeat the deity is by resurrecting majora and giving it to the twli. the goddess of time tells them the history and legend
July 1st, 2009 at 7:33 am
(cause the fierce deity was the creator of the fused shadow and the cause of the banishment of the twlii. for majora was once part of the fused shadow until it was separated and sealed in a form of a mask. after that the feirce deity was defeated and sealed)
so to get back on the plot link and minda search for the way to defeat the deity
the even gather up there own little army so they go get Zelda and the great fairy for help even gorons zoras and basically one from each tribe and they go to war.
July 1st, 2009 at 7:33 am
vaati and his army are about to attack the deity when the fierce deity suddenly destroys the army and attack vaati but vaati transforms to his strongest form but is easly defeated . deity is about to kill vaati but out of nowhere bellum from ph save him and disappears..
back to link and the others. they are about to bring back majora when the fused shadow starts to glow and a figure appears with majora mask on and say i'm the king of the twlii who sealed the dark deity away in the ancient times. but to bring back the one, find who where the skull. that's where my true form is sealed. so link and them go out to find the skull kid and awaken the king of twlii. so they find skull kid awaken the king. the king is minda father.
kings story is told. vaati find link and ask for a team up. they team up and go to the final battle. at the final battle the deity summons some of links worst enemy's but the other tribes fight them win but faint at the end. minda and zelda start fighting Veran and Onox and zant. bellum and vaati combine to form the bellti and fights nightmare and Agahnim. link is fighting dark link while twlii king is battling the feirce deity.
July 1st, 2009 at 7:34 am
minda and zelda win against Veran and Onox and zant but are heavily wounded then out of nowhere the deity charges at minda and zelda with powerful beam from his sword . minda father jumps in the way and block the beam and sacrificing himself as he disappears his last words were "minda I'm proud to your father and I'm sorry for never being there…"
as link and vaati kills off the nightmare and Agahnim and dark link they see minda father disappear. vaati charges the deity but is easily defeated as the deity is about to minda zelda and vaati link jump in the way but a flash of light burst out of nowhere and a "CALNG" is herd when link looked up the hero spirit from tp stood there blocking the fierce deity sword. link looked back and saw all the deity of hyrule and Termina and from all over the realms. the hero threw the deity back and said link take this sword of the deities and vanquish this demon once and for all.
July 1st, 2009 at 7:35 am
the hero sprit turned into the sword and link fought the deity link allmost won untill the deity used the triforce of power that was stolen from ganon. link was defeated and pined down by the deity. as the deity attack vaati used his magic to try to protect link but failed as link and vaati laid there the deity was struck but fire and ice throwing him back link and vaati dissappered and was saved by Twinrova then a minimising laugh was herd then ganon appered struck the deity with his sword and they were at it.
ganon won by using his dark magic and stelling back the triforce of power and link stood up ganon look at him said 'if you are to die it will be by my hand and no one else untill we meet again ' and walk off dissappering into the night while Twinrova took off with vaati into the sky
July 1st, 2009 at 7:35 am
tell me what you think
July 1st, 2009 at 8:34 am
even if ganondorf leaves, the makers are gonna have a hard time making someone as awesome as ganondorf.
July 1st, 2009 at 9:36 am
yeah your right man
July 1st, 2009 at 2:30 pm
this sucks i don't want weird cretures like bellum to be the star villian. i liked the ganondorf plot
July 1st, 2009 at 4:56 pm
ganondorf was killed in TP, he was stapped trough the stomach and he got his power drained. end of ganondorf, beat it
July 1st, 2009 at 4:56 pm
stabbed"
July 1st, 2009 at 5:32 pm
Lmao. Getting rid of Ganondorf? Those letters could not have been typed by a guy who beat all the games all the way from the beginning.
Shame on you all. Now let's not bring this upp ever again.
July 1st, 2009 at 5:38 pm
I agree Ganondrof (GanonDORK haha ) has been in a lot of games with his pointy nose ( haha ) but to kill him off is DUM. I mean with the Triforce and everything you can't relly get rit of him.
P.S. dose anyone know why it's called the legend of ZELDA cause I don't! Besiededs ( did I spell that right?) she's not even in some of the games.
July 1st, 2009 at 5:49 pm
I agree Ganondorf (GanonDORK haha) has been in a lot of games with his pointy nose (haha) but to kill him off is DUM. I mean with the Triforce and everything you relly can't get rit of him.
P.S. dose anyone know why it's called the legend of ZELDA because I don't! Besideds (did I spell that right?) she's not even in some of the games.
July 1st, 2009 at 7:04 pm
who are you talking about
July 1st, 2009 at 7:24 pm
No Ganondorf? Well, so we can put away link, and Zelda too. In fact, the "Simbol" of the Triforce (Power-Ganon, Winsdom-Zelda Courage-Link )it's not important! C'mon! Ganondorf it's a Classic, like Bowser, no, Ganon is more important, 'cause the Triforce of power.__And, ganon is EVIL. A real Brute. He kills a Sage, a SAGE! It's a good old man, a feaking good old man. C'mon, Zant was Mad, but was "slim"… and weak…__Ganon is simply awesome. :3
July 1st, 2009 at 10:50 pm
Ganondorf plays a very important role in the Zelda series. He hold the triforce of power and is one the key people to get Link started on his journey. I mean he doesn't have to be the main villian like in some Zelda games but he can't be scrapped all together.
July 1st, 2009 at 11:15 pm
Are you kidding me?! A Zelda game without Ganondorf? The main villain of the story, the Gerudo King beaten and brusied and burning with lust for power and hatred for the Hylians, GONE?! When I saw the cutscene of Zant finding him in his "god" form, my jaw dropped.
There's no such thing as Zelda without Ganny.
July 2nd, 2009 at 2:07 am
Tyler, have you ever heard of the phrase "don't ruin the classics?" That's basically what Nintendo has done with Ganondorf. Back in the day, he was the shit, but they've used him to the point where he's completely lost every ounce of what made him a great villain.
Nintendo needs to retire Ganondorf for good because the last thing that needs to happen is for such an iconic antagonist to become so watered down that he's not even a good villain anymore. You know, the preserve his good name instead of tainting it.
July 2nd, 2009 at 2:19 am
Ganondorf is the perfect villian! It's so cool how he seems to escape death every time. He MUST stay for the rest of the series.
July 2nd, 2009 at 2:49 am
also in super smash brawl he was also a bad ass
July 2nd, 2009 at 4:43 am
Ganondorf is indeed awesome. However, there are other points I didn't bring up in my article. Such as one of the single best games in the entire franchise is the often overlooked Majora's Mask. Had one of the best endings of any game ever. Didn't revolve around Ganondorf. In fact, the triforce had NOTHING to do with the game.
DId that make Majora's Mask any less? Of course not. It still wildly felt like an amazing Zelda adventure. It proved that the concepts of the triforce and Ganondorf are not what entirely makes a Zelda game be a Zelda game. It's generally used as a storyline plot. 3 Parts of the triforce – said evil guy wants all three to dominate the world – and he never gets them. Maybe it's the triforce that has to go.
After all – ganondorf has also failed for over 20 years to get ahold of it anyways. You can still have it be the source of power for all 3 – but not have it be some central plot anymore. Of course if I would of wrote an article with some facts behind getting rid of the triforce… you all would be up in arms much more then you are about Ganondorf. Ganondorf is BARELY the antagonist of half the titles. He hasn't been a staple of every game. Some of the game he wasn't a staple of were better then the games he was.
Meaning? He's easier to replace.
July 2nd, 2009 at 5:51 am
and stabbed through the skull in windwaker
July 2nd, 2009 at 5:54 am
the only thing that is really necesary to consider is wether zant posses a new role, but that does not mean ganondorf's end, the ending of twilight princess clearly hints that there is more to zant then what was originally suggested, just another villain to worry about, ganondorf isn't going anywhere
July 2nd, 2009 at 6:00 am
furthermore the only series I can think of that has gone as far as zelda with new villains constantly is final fantasy and that is because each one seems to take place on entirely different planets, or even universes, zelda is always the same world and the same planet so it would require a formula with a returning threat unlike how the threats in final fantasy could not be farther apart
July 2nd, 2009 at 10:02 am
I think that there should just be some villian more stronger than Ganondorf that comes out and its too strong for Link to handle on his own so Ganon somehow comes forth and helps Link.
How bout it?
July 2nd, 2009 at 12:08 pm
well if ganon goes then who will hold tne triforce of power?
July 2nd, 2009 at 1:37 pm
I really think ganon is the most classic and the best villian. He fits the story of the tryforce the best. I have tried playing all of the zelda games except for spirit tracks and my favorite ones and the only ones i really play are TP, OOT, and TWW. They all have ganon as the main villian. I dont think that Ganon should go because a lot of people are attached to him and zelda wouldnt be the same for me without him.
July 2nd, 2009 at 1:41 pm
I wasnt a huge fan of majora's mask but i get ur point and i agree.
July 2nd, 2009 at 5:13 pm
but i love Ganondork Q^Q…>.>' i mean Ganondorf 0:D <—–(face with a halo xD)
July 3rd, 2009 at 4:22 am
ganon helping link is sincerely doubtful, sorry, but in spite of a stronger foe he would likely fight said foe
July 3rd, 2009 at 11:28 am
this is a question ive been asking myself ever since i cut down ganondorf in TP. i think nintendo needs to have a new baddie heading the zelda series for years to come. but doing this for the new wii game coming out soon will be a bad idea because it wouldnt work out well, taking such a big part of the story (ganondorf) away all of a sudden would destroy the story and plot, i think this new game should be a farewell to the evil man himself and nintendo should make sure he goes out with a bang. now for his replacement i have the idea of a much younger villian around the same age as link who would be able to get involved with the storyline more in a way zant did in TP, plot for the future this young man gets involved with zelda? i dont know but i wouldnt be complaining if we picked up the new game and found that the orange haired master wasnt in it, and another note is that i wish nintendo would drop the cute kid style zelda's bring on a dark majora's mask type zelda for the DS!!! lol
July 3rd, 2009 at 3:38 pm
if we get rid of him whos going to be the new villian. i mean ganondorf is the king of darkness. it only fits he as the triforce of power and i think a new bad guy is wrong just wrong
July 4th, 2009 at 12:11 am
Why won't we get rid of Link too, then. This is bullshit, Ganondorf is just as big part of the Zelda series as Link is.
July 4th, 2009 at 6:20 am
well in every mario game boswer is in it but ganon isn't in every game with link but the triforce also dosen't make much of talk in the games eather but when ganon in the game the triforce is part of the story to so no ganon no triforce and if that don't work then how about we give vaati the tri of power
July 5th, 2009 at 7:48 pm
Zelda cant really survive without ganon. Hes one of the main characters. Well, anyways, I will love to see Vaati again. Hes my favorite villain! You rock Vaati!!! WOOT!
July 6th, 2009 at 4:23 pm
And turned to stone!
July 7th, 2009 at 2:25 am
Actually, Ganon got his hands on the Triforce in A Link to the Past and made the Dark World. And almost touched it in (the greatest Zelda game of all time) the Wind Waker.
July 8th, 2009 at 11:18 pm
ganondorf died in TP and died in WW, so i mean, its ridiculous to bring him back. maybe they could pull out some crazy story of a "ganondorf's apprentice" character or somethin haha, so it somewhat preserves the ganondorf essence, but doesn't directly bring him back to life for the umpteenth time. new bosses are hard to bring in when old ones are so legendary, so who am i to say?
July 9th, 2009 at 12:49 am
the way i look at is, they already killed ganon in the first game, and tried to revive him in the second, but failed. They can continue with the series in the future, or can make more games before he got killed.
July 10th, 2009 at 10:32 pm
ganandorf is like 25% of zelda and is as important as princess zelda. taking out ganondorf would be like taking out a piece of my heart.as long as he has the triforce of power he should rise agian to continue the cycle of being beat by link.anyone who thinks ganondorf should leave for good should be banished in the gap between the worlds.[ocarana of time forest temple phantom ganon]
July 10th, 2009 at 10:40 pm
they just need a new power,form or tactic like obsorbing somoenes power
July 10th, 2009 at 10:50 pm
PLESE READ!!!!!!!!!! every game that has master sword should have ganondorf and the other way around. the masters swords purpose was to destroy ganondorf and taking him away might as well take the master sword away then i might even stop playing zelda games if nintendos to stupid to relize that ganondorfs a huge part of zelda and zelda fans
July 14th, 2009 at 3:48 pm
Not only is that a suckish manner of insulting,
Who gets the ToP if Ganondorf died?
Will Tingle become the Evil King of Darkness?
Link has been around more than Ganon! Should we get rid of link?
Octoroks have been in more games than ganon. Should Octoroks go too?
If your logic is correct…
Mario- GONE! Bowser- GONE! Peach- GONE! Toad- GONE!
Kirby- GONE! Waddle-dees- GONE!
DK- GONE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Should Star Trek comepletely forsake the Enterprise?
NO!
July 14th, 2009 at 3:51 pm
Ganon has died so many times, He probably lost count.
Ganondorf gets revived so many times, its ridiculous!
But he's still the main antagonist and CANNOT be removed without killing LoZ and all sequels/prequels!
July 14th, 2009 at 3:55 pm
And in Original LoZ,
He is killed by a grainy white twig,
And he doesn't get revived if you beat Zelda 2!
July 14th, 2009 at 4:02 pm
That line the king made makes no sense. How could he 'be there' in the light world? He's stuck in another world!
And its pretty Cheesy/corny/suckish
and bellti?!?! That's the name for link's magic little belt that allows him to somehow carry a bow/arrow, a ball and chain, a slingshot, 4 bottles, magic beans, a megaton hammer, 3 swords, 3 tunics, 3 sheilds, and all that other crap without making him heavy/slow!
July 14th, 2009 at 4:06 pm
Ganondorf is to LoZ…
Like Bowser is to mario
Like that fat guy is to sonic
Like that fat penguin king thing from kirby games is to kirby
Like King Boo is to Luigi
Like Villans are to Heroes!
July 14th, 2009 at 4:06 pm
Ganondorf is to LoZ…
Like Bowser is to mario
Like that fat guy is to sonic
Like that fat penguin king thing from kirby games is to kirby
Like King Boo is to Luigi
Like Villans are to Heroes!
You can't get rid of Main Antagonists.