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Sarah here, teaching English around the world. Living life and seeing things.
The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom is mere hours away. There are some reviews in already, and the excitement around the game just keeps building! We’ve already looked at two of the characters we’re expecting to see, but that’s not all. The trailers tell us we can look forward to seeing a whole host of incredible creatures. So, let’s look at a couple more of the familiar faces, who they are, and where they come from.
Ganon/Ganondorf
Anyone who has played any video game will know about Ganon. He’s one of the most iconic game villains ever, regardless of the form he takes. In Breath of the Wild, his presence was always there in the background, but he wasn’t too much of a threat. Apart from the dungeon boss fights and the final boss fight, you don’t see too much of Ganon. And, if we’re being 100% honest, those boss fights could be a little underwhelming. But the third trailer for Tears of the Kingdom gives us hope that he might be more of a threat.
In The Legend of Zelda (1986), Ganon appears as a big blue pig. He takes the form of a giant boar in most versions of the game at some point. He is the King of Darkness, and no matter how many times Link and Zelda seal him away, he always comes back for the same reason; world domination. But his porcine state isn’t the only one. Recently, in Breath of the Wild, we’ve seen him take on different calamity forms. But one of his most famous forms is that of Ganondorf.
Ganondorf is the human form of Ganon. He was born as a Gerudo sorcerer, and in Ocarina of Time, he was the King of the Gerudos. In Skyward Sword, we learn that Ganon is the incarnation of the hatred King Demise held for those with the blood of the Goddess and the spirit of the Hero. His destiny is to continuously reincarnate and try to destroy Hyrule. He’s a formidable for to the various reincarnations of Zelda and Link. We did get a different side to Ganondorf in The Wind Waker. Here, he was more of a tragic villain, one who longs for the Hyrule of old. Despite this, it’s still clear that Ganon is only after the destruction of the world, and seeks to cover it in an endless darkness.
Ganon has always been considered an incredibly strong and powerful opponent. He is often shown to hold the Triforce of Power, which only serves to enhance his magical abilities. He can use dark magic with ease and has incredible strength. It’s exciting to know that we’ll get to see Ganondorf make a comeback for Tears of the Kingdom. This will only be the fourth mainline game that we see Ganondorf in his human form. And with such close ties to the Gerudo, it could be an interesting dynamic with the Gerudo we already know.
Lady Riju and the Gerudo
Speaking of Gerudo, the final familiar face we see in the third trailer is that of Lady Riju. Although she’s older than she was in Breath of the Wild, the quick look we get at her seems to suggest she has grown into her role as the Gerudo Chief. In Breath of the Wild, the young leader was well respected by most of her people. Despite the doubt that some of the Gerudo may have had, she did all she could to protect her people.
Lady Riju is one of the most well-rounded characters we meet in Breath of the Wild. Nintendo does an amazing job of showing her taking on the responsibility of leader and trying to grow into a role she knows she’s too young for. But they also make sure we know she’s still only a child. Whether it’s the booster cushions she needs for her throne or her talking to her stuffed toys to ask what game they should play. It’s a subtle but brilliant way that the game reminds us of what the Calamity has done to Hyrule.
Despite her young age, she is still incredibly smart and a strong leader. Plus, when Riju takes to the sands on her trusty sand seal Patricia, it’s one of the most fun and frustrating missions to get to the Divine Beast Vah Naboris.
But Lady Riju isn’t the first Gerudo we meet in Zelda games. We first met the Gerudo as a people in Ocarina of Time. They usually live in the deserts of Hyrule and are a fierce group of highly skilled fighters. They’re often seen travelling through Hyrule to sell their wares or find a husband. Though they don’t follow the same rules as the rest of Hyrule, they usually have good ties with the Kingdom. They may have a reputation as thieves in some of the games, but by the time we get to Breath of the Wild, they are more open and cooperative with the rest of Hyrule.
Gerudo are almost exclusively women. This is why Link can’t enter Gerudo town unless disguised as a vai (woman) in Breath of the Wild. However, every 100 years, a male Gerudo is born and he is destined to become the King of the Gerudo. Now that Ganondorf is back in the games, it will be interesting to see if he tries to take his place as the King of the Gerudo. What will this mean for Lady Riju? And how will this change the dynamic of Link and the Gerudo in Tears of the Kingdom?
Yunobo and the Gorons
While we see three of our favourites from Breath of the Wild in the trailer, there’s someone who is mysteriously missing. He doesn’t have any official artwork, and there hasn’t been any mention of him at all in the lead-up. This is, of course, Yunobo, the young Goron who helps you get to the Divine Beast Vah Rudania.
Yunobo is a timid Goron who is easily frightened. As the descendant of Goron Champion Daruk, he can use Daruk’s Protection. This forcefield/shield makes him the perfect candidate to act as a cannonball when trying to drive the Divine Beast Vah Rudania away. However, that pesky mechanical lizard keeps coming back, so Yunobo must face his fears time and time again.
Despite his timid demeanour, he is more than willing to join the fight time and time again. And while his escort mission can be both fun and frustrating, he’s a lovable character who has safely cemented his status as a fan favourite. We’re still not sure why he seems to be the only ‘new’ champion not featured in the press surrounding Tears of the Kingdom, but here’s hoping that nothing bad has happened to this young Goron, bro.
Gorons have been a part of the Zelda franchise since Ocarina of Time. They’re a race of mountain-dwelling rock creatures who feast on rocks. They can withstand the incredible temperatures of their volcanic home and never drown in water. They’re strong, sturdy creatures who can curl into a boulder for faster movement around the mountains. They’re incredibly strong and can break huge rocks with their bare hands. They also vary in size, with some Gorons being incredibly huge. The Gorons are known to be brilliant blacksmiths, and they would often create strong weapons that are maybe a bit too big for a Hylian like Link.
They’re a friendly race of creatures who can often be seen travelling around Hyrule for trade. Although they’re friendly, they still live in relative isolation and are a very close-knit and respectful group. They may be a little wary of strangers at first, but as soon as you’re able to prove yourself to them, you will instantly become another Goron brother, and be welcomed into the group. Throughout all games, the Gorons are a fun group that have now become an integral part of the series. Their levels can be difficult due to all the extra equipment and potions you might need, but they’re an entertaining and exciting group. Whenever you meet the Gorons, you know it’ll be fun!
We only get a quick look at an unknown Goron in the third trailer, so we can’t be sure just how they’ll be tied into the game. Going from what we can assume about the other ‘new’ champions, Yunobo should be there by Link’s side, helping him bring down Ganondorf once again. But his absence is both mysterious and concerning. What if something bad has happened to him? What if he’s been corrupted by Ganon’s evil? Maybe Pelison, the young Goron who moved to Tarrey Town, decided the mining life wasn’t for him and took up the call to arms instead. We won’t know until we can finally get our hands on Tears of the Kingdom.
The Legendary Hero Returns
The Legend of Zelda has become one of the most popular game franchises ever. Each new game brings a new yet familiar sense of wonder and adventure. It’s a series that holds strong memories for a lot of people, and will continue to make many more. One of the reasons we love Zelda so much is the amazing characters and the histories they have. They’re detailed, endearing and believable, and they immerse you in the game so much more. While the lore of the Zelda universe is ever-changing and evolving, having these familiar and lovable characters will always make us feel at home when we get back to Hyrule once more.
The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom will be released worldwide on Friday 12th May.
Sarah here, teaching English around the world. Living life and seeing things.
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