Summary
Ganon is undoubtedly one of the most recognizable names and faces in gaming, as he has been a prominent antagonist inThe Legend of Zeldafor decades. The iconic villain has evolved significantly over the course of the series, from his initial depiction as a demon-like creature to his human role inZelda: Ocarina of Timeas thepower-hungry king of the Gerudo. Now, he has once again appeared inZelda: Echoes of Wisdomto antagonize the titular princess and prevent her from saving Hyrule from the rifts threatening to swallow it whole.
Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom’s portrayal of Ganon is fairly unorthodox for the series, as his antagonistic role is actually undermined by a brand-new villain. However, this might be a blessing in disguise for Link and Zelda’s arch nemesis, as it may make his next appearance all the more worth the wait.
Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom’s Story Largely Sidelines Ganon
In true Nintendo fashion,Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom’s pre-release footage teased Ganon as its main antagonist, even though that turned out to be far from the truth in the end. In the originalannouncement trailer forZelda: Echoes of Wisdom, Ganon was shown battling Link in what was believed and eventually proven to be the game’s prologue. As such, it was expected that Ganon would play a significant role inZelda: Echoes of Wisdom’s story. The only question was what that role might be.
However, around halfway throughZelda: Echoes of Wisdom’s story, the titular princess herself faces Ganon in an epic battle within the Still World, complete with a traditional game of Dead Man’s Volley. This is only Ganon’s second appearance in the game, and it actually turns out to be his last. After Ganon meets his demise, an otherworldly being named Null appears, who is later revealed to be one ofThe Legend of Zelda’s overarching antagonists, likeZelda: Skyward Sword’s Demise. This makes Null, not Ganon,Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom’s primary antagonist.
In true Nintendo fashion,Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom’s pre-release footage teased Ganon as its main antagonist, even though that turned out to be far from the truth in the end.
This is a significant departure from the series' last two installments,Breath of the WildandTears of the Kingdom, both of which featured Ganon in some form and made him quite a terrifying foe for players to overcome. In fact, thanks to the darker themes of these two games and their visual prowess, Ganon was portrayed in a much more foreboding light than he has been in quite some time, especially inTears of the Kingdom. This ultimately makes Ganon’s simple and sidelined appearance inEchoes of Wisdoma refreshing step in the right direction for the series, as it gives fans a break, however brief or lengthy it may be, from the antagonist many have come to know so well.
Ganon’s Minor Role in Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom Will Make His Next Appearance Even Better
Since Ganon was such a huge focus inZelda: Breath of the Wildand its sequel, his undermined appearance inEchoes of Wisdomhas given players a chance to experience a brand-new conflict, at least for a moment. It’s assumed that Ganon will eventually return as the antagonist, but whether that happens in the nextLegend of Zeldainstallment or one to come later is currently unknown. Once he does return, however, it will be much more special than it might have been if he had once again taken the role oflead villain inEchoes of Wisdom. This way, Nintendo has an opportunity to further innovate the antagonist and potentially make him bigger and badder than ever before.
The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom
WHERE TO PLAY
Save Hyrule—this time with the wisdom of Princess Zelda!The people of Hyrule are being stolen away by strange rifts—and with a certain swordsman among the missing, it’s up to Princess Zelda to save her kingdom in the latest adventure in The Legend of Zelda™ series!Team up with the ethereal creature Tri and use the Tri Rod to create “echoes,” which are imitations of things you find in the environment—then recreate those echoes whenever you like to solve puzzles and defeat enemies. Use echoes like water blocks to reach new heights, make bridges out of old beds, throw rocks at foes, or find your own combination of echoes to do things your way. You can even make echoes of monsters to fight at your side in combat!
