My Favourite Boss Battles Part 3: Ganondorf (Wind Waker)

I played through this boss battle on the HD remake for the Wii U. Having already found the game charming and beautiful, I was astounded by this boss fight, which served to be one of the most nail biting climaxes that I have ever seen in a video game. This battle earns its place on my list because it gave me an adrenaline high and the best atmospheric feeling yet.

What I found so atmospheric about this boss battle was the spectacle of your surroundings; Hyrule’s flood waters are pouring in fast, and time is running out for you to defeat Ganondorf. The battle is built up by the dialogue, where Ganondorf’s desperation is palpable and terrifying to witness.

You get a sense of desperation and imminent defeat upon facing an overwhelming foe, as it is quickly revealed to you just how strong Ganondorf is as an opponent. While not terribly impossible, fighting him head on is difficult without the help of Zelda’s Light Arrows. His attacks are ferocious and quick and as the battle unfolds there are numerous moments of panic as he seems to overwhelm the player easily at any given moment.

As boss battles go, I found the one with Ganondorf difficult enough to bring a surge of adrenaline to my system and set my heart pounding, but not so difficult as to be frustrating. Perhaps it is truly artful how well the difficulty has been balanced here that a player can feel overwhelmed by the boss, but not in a way that is discouraging.

The way the battle ends is equally exciting. The coup-de-grace to the final boss of Wind Waker is delivered with epic pacing, the final blow having real weight behind it as Link drives his sword into the head of his opponent. It is amusing that Wind Waker is considered such a childish entry into the series and yet has such a gruesome end to the enemy.

I think what makes this boss battle so enjoyable for me was just how masterfully-made it was. While it doesn’t stand out for any particularly unique element, it served as simply one of the most well-made boss battles I’ve ever played. It has been executed to the best extents and is fittingly difficult and heart pounding as a finale should be.