Top 5 Dramatic Moments in Zelda

In both of my last editorals, I mentioned how one of my favorite things about Zelda was how dramatic it can be when it wants to be. So, I decided to make a top five list of my favorite dramatic moments in Zelda’s history. These moments were chosen by me alone, and are among my favorite moments in Zelda all together. But there are also some major spoilers, so keep that in mind. Hit the jump to see my picks!

5. First Seeing the Moon in Majora’s Mask

There are a lot of moments I could have picked from Majora’s Mask, but I decided that the best one for this list would be, simply, when you first see the Moon. In my case, I didn’t even notice the Moon was so close until after I left Mayor Dotour’s office, where the soldiers and the festival leaders are arguing. The soldiers say that the Moon is going to fall, and the townsfolk needed to evacuate. The festival leaders, on the other hand, scoff at the notion of the Moon falling. Naturally, the first thing I did once I walked out of there was look at the sky. When I did, I actually jumped. This is the moment that cemented Majora’s Mask as my favorite Zelda, since I realised that the stakes were higher than they’ve ever been. Plus, the Moon itself is just eerie and unsettling to look at, and it definitely adds to the urgency of the game. Especially since you can even keep watching it, noticing as it slowly engulfs the sky.

4. Midna’s Desperate Hour

Love or hate Midna, I doubt anyone can dispute the sense of urgency centered around this area of the game, at least the first time you experience it. Link has been turned into a wolf by Zant, and Midna has been exposed to the Light World, and is near death. When she begs Link to take her to Princess Zelda, I didn’t hesitate for a moment. I ran to Castle Town as if my life depended on it. You have to go through Telma’s Bar, but Telma herself kicks you out when you try to enter the door, since you look like a beast that eats children for breakfast, and instead, you have to go through the sewers where you originally met Midna, which I think is brilliant. All the while, you’ve got one of the best tracks in Twilight Princess playing in the background, which just adds to the urgency of the situation. Then, to top it all off, once you do get to Princess Zelda, she seems to sacrifice her life, giving it to Midna. All in all, this entire segment of the game was very dramatic, and is one of my favorite moments in Twilight Princess.

3. Entering the Dark World

This moment is so great, because it follows a classic false ending, where the player thinks the game is over, but it really isn’t. Link has obtained the Master Sword, and it seems like the final battle is near. But then, once you arrive at Hyrule Castle, Agahnim transports both you and Zelda to the Dark World, where you, Link, are turned into a bunny, and Zelda is nowhere to be found. So many things happen at once here, the primary being that the game isn’t over yet, and that there are still more places to explore. Then there’s the fact that you’re a bunny, and are completely defenseless until obtaining the Moon Pearl. That’s pretty dramatic.

2. Final Battle with Ganon 

When I say final, I mean the the last phase within Ocarina of Time. Ganon’s Castle is collapsing around you as you and Zelda rush out of there. Now, what do you suppose confronts you? Ganon. Not Ganondorf, Ganon. As in, his form from A Link to the Past, sometimes called Pig Ganon. Having not played A Link to the Past yet when I first played Ocarina of Time, I had no idea why Ganondorf had just turned into a pig monster. A massive pig monster, which I could barely see, that just knocked the Master Sword out of my hand, and created a fire ring around the battle arena. All I knew was that I had to fight and stop him. There’s lighting, there’s dramatic music, and even small touches, such as Zelda’s screams. This battle almost defines an epic battle, and it feels so satisfying to finally, once and for all, slay Ganon.

1. The Entire Finale of Wind Waker

Just… all of it. From the moment you get to the top of Ganon’s Tower, to the credits. When Ganondorf finally summons the united Triforce, I was terrified. Then, Daphnes Hyrule, King of Hyrule, touches the Triforce before Ganondorf can, and wishes for Hyrule to be eternally flooded and sealed away, himself and Ganondorf going with it. Then, Ganondorf finally completely loses it, and begins to attack Link and Zelda while Hyrule is flooding around them. Zelda helps you in this fight with her light arrows, and it feels great to fight alongside her. Ganondorf also goes on a rant explaining why he even wanted the Triforce in the first place. He states that he was jealous of Hyrule’s lush fields and breezes, and wanted to conquer it for the purpose of his race, which lived in the harsh deserts of Gerudo Valley. Along the way, though, he became corrupted, and wanted to to rule Hyrule for selfish reasons. It turns Ganondorf from a cold-hearted monster who kidnaps little girls and lusts for power, to a more tragic and melancholy villain. Which makes the fight way more dramatic. And how does our adorable hero, Link, finally smite Ganondorf? By stabbing him vertically through his forehead, and turning him into stone. All seems well and good, until you realise that Daphnes plans to die along with Hyrule. Against his will, Link is pulled to the surface, and tries desperately to get Daphnes to come with him, but Daphnes is set in his ways. It’s tragic, it’s sad, and above all… it’s dramatic!

So those are the most dramatic moments from the Zelda series in my personal opinion, but what about yours? Do you think that there are moments I should have put in? Tell me in the comments below!