Ganon
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Ganon | |
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| Game series | The Legend of Zelda series |
| First game | The Legend of Zelda (1987) |
| Creator(s) | Shigeru Miyamoto |
| Voice actor(s) | Len Carlson (TV show); Takashi Nagasako (games) |
Ganon (ガノン?), also known as Ganondorf (ガノンドロフ Ganondorofu?), the King of Evil, is a fictional character and primary antagonist of several games in Nintendo's The Legend of Zelda series. He is by far the most commonly used villain in the series and frequently serves as the final boss, sometimes unexpectedly, thereby giving him the status of arch-enemy to the main protagonist, Link. Although he made numerous appearances in the series, he was first given a backstory in The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time, which was released for the Nintendo 64 in 1998. He was also given a separate backstory in The Legend of Zelda: Four Swords Adventures in 2004.
[edit] Character depiction
Ganon's history is ambiguous and nothing can be said for certain about his past. Regardless, the various games depict him as a powerful villain with a thirst for power. Ganon's character has been gradually expanded upon throughout the games. Earlier games such as A Link to the Past characterized him as a fairly flat antagonist figure, whereas later on, The Wind Waker portrayed a somewhat more sympathetic character.
More recent depictions, such as in Twilight Princess characterize him as an extremely powerful war criminal, following on from Ocarina of Time's megalomaniacal warlord depiction. Others, such as in The Adventure of Link and Oracle of Ages/Seasons depict him as a villain from the past whose loyal followers seek to resurrect. Still, other games such as Four Swords Adventures present the idea that their incarnation of Ganondorf may be entirely separate from previous ones, until an in-game event reclassifies him as an "ancient demon reborn".
"Ganondorf" was given as the character's original name in A Link to the Past (while he was a human thief), and the humanoid Ganondorf of Ocarina of Time was known exclusively by that name, up until his transformation at the end of the game. In some cases, this name has been used to refer to the character's human form, while the name "Ganon" is used to describe his bestial pig-like form. Other times the names are used interchangeably, such as in The Wind Waker.
[edit] Game appearances and biography
[edit] The Legend of Zelda
Ganon first appeared in the NES game, The Legend of Zelda. In this game, Ganon attacks the land of Hyrule and steals the Triforce of Power which he uses to overrun the kingdom with monsters. He later kidnaps Zelda and locks her in his lair on Death Mountain, and is the final boss and primary antagonist of the game and is the final battle.
[edit] Zelda II: The Adventure of Link
Ganon only makes a brief cameo in The Adventure of Link, as a shadowy figure in the Game Over screen; the plot of the game partially involves an attempt by Ganon's followers to revive him using Link's blood.
[edit] The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past
In A Link to the Past, it is said that once Ganon and his army of thieves skilled in dark arts found the entrance to the Golden Land and upon entering the realm he kills his followers and touches the Triforce with "blood stained hands". He wishes to conquer the world and this transforms the Golden Land into the corrupt Dark World. Ganon summons other beings to this land and uses the Triforce to transform them into monsters for his army. His army attacks the land of Hyrule until the knights and the seven sages combine their power and seal Ganon and his army in his corrupt world.
Using the form of Agahnim, back in Hyrule, he overthrows the King and transports the maidens (descendants of the Sages) to resumes in the Pyramid of Power, where with Silver Arrows and the Master Sword Link is able to slay Ganon and use the Triforce to restore Hyrule and resurrect those Ganon killed.
[edit] The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time
In Ocarina of Time, Ganondorf is known as the King of the Gerudo, by virtue of being the only male in the tribe. Ganondorf learns of the legend of the Triforce and seeks to attain it with the aid of his surrogate mothers, Twinrova. He makes attempts to steal the sacred stones from the Gorons, Kokiri, and Zoras in order to enter the Sacred Realm, but is unable to. He eventually kills the King and chases Impa and Princess Zelda into hiding.
Noting that Link had attained the Sacred Stones for himself, Ganon uses this opportunity to seize the Triforce, but his unbalanced heart only allows him to recieve the Triforce of Power (with Wisdom and Courage going to Zelda and Link respectively). His Triforce piece allows him to cause numerous disasters for all of Hyrule, and in doing so, usurp the throne.
By the time seven years had passed, he had placed monsters in the Sages' temples to prevent them from hearing their "awakening call", but as Link awakens them one by one, Ganondorf captures the final sage - Princess Zelda, forcing Link into a direct confrontation. Link battles Ganondorf with Light Arrows and the Master Sword. When Ganondorf is defeated, he destroys his tower, and transforms into the pig-like form seen in earlier games. Zelda assists Link in holding Ganon still while he finishes him off. Finally, the Seven Sages imprison Ganondorf in the Sacred Realm.
[edit] The Legend of Zelda: Oracle of Ages and The Legend of Zelda: Oracle of Seasons
Ganon was the hidden final boss of Oracle of Ages and Oracle of Seasons in the linked game. He was revived by the Twinrova sisters by causing despair in Labrynna, destruction in Holodrum and sacrificing Princess Zelda. But when Link saved Zelda, the ritual was incomplete - Twinrova then used themselves as the sacrifice and Ganon became nothing more than a "mindless beast" bent on destruction, failing to retain his mind.
[edit] The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker
Ganon manipulates the course of events across the game to lead Link to take the Master Sword from its undersea resting place, releasing his full power. Ganon then kidnaps Aryll and eventually Princess Zelda to lure Link to him in order to steal their respective Triforce pieces and resurrect Hyrule. The King comes in and takes hold of the Triforce instead, wishing for "hope". This prompts Ganondorf to attack Link, starting a battle on top of Ganon's Tower. Link and Princess Zelda are able to defeat Ganondorf by impaling his head, despite his impressive sword skills, turning him to stone while what is left of Hyrule floods over.
[edit] The Legend of Zelda: Four Swords Adventures
Ganondorf is given an entirely new backstory in this game. Ganon, in his pig form, is the final boss in The Legend of Zelda: Four Swords Adventures. A young Gerudo named Ganondorf is found to have stolen a trident that gives him incredible powers. With this weapon, he began to seize control of parts of Hyrule, spreading evil and creating an army of Dark Links. As in The Wind Waker, Link and Zelda team up to defeat Ganon, eventually sealing him within the Four Sword.
[edit] The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess
Ganondorf is the instigator of all of the events occurring in Twilight Princess. He uses his power to manipulate Zant. After an attempted execution, his Triforce of Power ensures his survival.
In a hasty attempt to be rid of his power, he is banished to the Twilight Realm by the sages who attempted to kill him. The hatred of the Twili reawakens him there, and he, while posing as a god, gives Zant - a Twili being who had been denied kingship - his power in exchange for freedom. Zant and Ganondorf become as one, in a sense keeping Ganondorf alive so that he can exist in the mortal world. After Zant is defeated, Ganon uses his power to resurrect himself. He possesses Princess Zelda by turning into Twilight matter and entering her body, but Midna excercises him from her body. As his Twilight is reassembling his body, he morphs into Dark Beast Ganon.
After the battle, he faces Midna in combat as a spirit and bests her, changing back into Gerudo form, and faces Link in a horseback battle and sword duel in Hyrule Field, but inevitably loses the battle to Link and loses his Triforce piece. Zant snaps his own neck, cutting off the life link between the two, and Ganon perishes.
[edit] CD-i Zeldas
Ganon appears in his "pig" form in all three of the CD-i Zelda titles, Zelda: The Wand of Gamelon, Link: The Faces of Evil, excluding Zelda's Adventure in which he was a large muscular devil creature. In these versions he only requires one hit to defeat, and appears to be a sorcerer of some sort with features based in his cartoon incarnation. His name is misspelled as Gannon.
[edit] Games without appearances of Ganon
In other Zelda games, Ganon is hardly touched upon, if at all. He does not appear in Majora's Mask or The Minish Cap where Majora and Vaati fill the roles of primary antagonist, respectively. The Wind Fish's Nightmares assume a form called "Ganon's Shadow" in Link's Awakening, constructed from Link's memories of battling Ganon.
[edit] Super Smash Bros. Melee
Ganondorf is also an unlockable character in Super Smash Bros. Melee, and is based on his appearance in the SpaceWorld demo, even wielding the large, cleaverlike sword in one of his victory poses (though he cannot actually use it in combat). In Melee, he is referred to by his full name, "Ganondorf," and is a slower, heavier, and more powerful clone of Captain Falcon, performing mostly the same attacks and moves (although his regular A attack and others are different). In this appearance, Ganondorf was voiced by Takashi Nagasako.
It is currently unknown whether or not Ganondorf will return in Super Smash Bros. Brawl.
[edit] Animated series appearances
[edit] The Legend of Zelda animated series
Ganon was also the main villain of 1989's Legend of Zelda cartoon, which was shown as part of The Super Mario Bros. Super Show in syndication that year. In the cartoon, Ganon was peach-skinned anthropomorphic pig and a wizard. He was in possession of the Triforce of Power, and, despite seemingly endless abilities and magical powers that emanated from finger tips he bungled away each and every chance he had to nab the Triforce of Wisdom. He spent most of his time living in his subterranean lair, referred to as his "castle", which was located in the Underworld. He was voiced by the late Len Carlson, who would later go on to voice Klump in Donkey Kong Country.
[edit] Captain N: The Game Master
Ganon (just like Link and Zelda) also appeared in Captain N: The Game Master, as a secondary villain in the episode "Quest For the Potion of Power". This was something of a continuum of Ganon's appearance in the Zelda Cartoon. The episode seems to take place after the happenings of the original Zelda game (and maybe even Zelda II), during which Ganon is weakened. Through the course of the episode he becomes revived, double-crosses Mother Brain, and is then killed again by the Reflect magic on Link's shield.
[edit] References
- Ganon
- The Legend of Zelda, Zelda II: The Adventure of Link, The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past, The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening, The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time, The Legend of Zelda: Oracle of Ages and Seasons, The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker, The Legend of Zelda: Four Swords Adventures, The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess.
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