The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdomis a major departure from more typicalZeldaentries, and it highlights one way in which the series needs to change.From finally placing Zelda herself in the protagonist role to implementing the new Echo mechanic that changes players' approach to combat and puzzle-solving,Echoes of Wisdomis all about carving a new path forward for the franchise’s future. One other way thatEchoes of Wisdomaccomplishes this is byforegoing the main antagonist of theZeldaseries in favor of an original villain.
Ganon, whether appearing as a pig-like creature orthe more human Ganondorf, has always been a huge part of theZeldafranchise. There’s no doubting his significance to the series as a whole. Despite this,Ganon’s repeated inclusion inZeldagames has caused the iconic villain to feel overused, and his intimidating presence has become diluted as he’s continuously thwarted by Link and Zelda.Echoes of Wisdom’s introduction of a new villainous entity called Null proves the need for theZeldafranchise to incorporate a wider range of original villains.
Null Was A Breath Of Fresh Air In Echoes Of Wisdom
They Were An Appropriate Threat For Zelda To Face
Null proves itself to be a fantastic villain inEchoes of Wisdom. Its ability to create rifts immediately poses Null as a fierce threat to the kingdom of Hyrule due to the sheer power it possesses. More fascinating is howNull uses the impostors it creates to manipulate Hyrule. Its success in crafting a path forward to reach the Triforce by influencing the events in the world above sets up a truly chilling antagonist that’s a fierce match for Zelda’s wisdom.
The Legend Of Zelda: Echoes Of Wisdom - How To Beat Null
Null is the final boss of The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom. This fight is broken up into three phases and you should properly prepare.
Null makes for a compelling villainprecisely due to its connection to Zelda.The princess’s journey to repair the kingdom she cares for directly contrasts Null’s attempt to destroy the worldout of resentment for its own exile. It makes for an intriguing rivalry, as both Zelda and Null are interlocked in a way that could not have been achieved with a more traditional approach. Ganon’s world domination plan has always put him into direct conflict with Link, and Zelda deserves her own nemesis.
The Best Zelda Villains Often Aren’t Ganon Or Ganondorf
Original Villains Tend To Elevate Their Respective Titles
Echoes of Wisdom isn’t the onlytitle with a fantastic original villain.PastZeldaentries have also proven that original villains often serve a more interesting rolein a game’s overall story. Take Ghirahim, for example, one ofSkyward Sword’s main antagonists. His constant displays of flamboyance and arrogance present a more sadistic devotion to his wielder that contrasts Fi’s more composed approach with Link. This parallel, similar to Null and Zelda, connects the hero and villain in a unique way that makes for a more compelling rivalry.
Skyward Sword HD: Who Ghirahim Really Is
Ghirahim is Skyward Sword HD’s recurring villain who manages to cross paths with Link at the worst times. But just who is this eccentric villain?
A Link Between Worldstakes a different approach by constructing a villain with deeply personal motivations. Hilda’s dedication to protecting her own beloved kingdom, Lorule, reflects the same attitude as Zelda and makes for a villain players can sympathize with. Despite her actions and manipulation of Link,Hilda is seen as more of a fierce protector than a being of pure evil like Ganon. The player develops a more conflicted relationship with the antagonist that has far more depth than the more straightforward disdain players might feel for the Demon King.
Ganon, or Ganondorf, remains an integral part of theZeldaseries, and entries likeThe Wind Wakerprove he can have plenty of depth. However, Nintendo should start to consider whether an original villain with unique powers and motivations would serve a better purpose in a futureZeldatitle. The array of villains is one of the series' strongest aspects, andThe Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdomis a reminder that it should be utilized more often to elevate each newZeldaexperience.
