Why Vaati Deserves a Major Comeback in the Zelda Series After Ganondorf’s Redesign!

by

In its creation, The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom absorbed some valuable insights from its forerunner, Breath of the Wild. By venturing off in a completely fresh direction while maintaining key aspects that define the Zelda series, Breath of the Wild paved the way. Following suit, The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom adopted this design approach and pushed it to its logical endpoint.

In my opinion, “Breath of the Wild” truly outshone many others in the gaming world, leaving quite a few innovations that left their competitors trailing behind. The design of its main quest was brilliantly engineered to provide players with unparalleled freedom to traverse the vast open-world environment. However, some critics felt that the storyline itself could have been more engaging. “Tears of the Kingdom” largely addressed this issue by placing a stronger emphasis on overall narrative content.

As a fan, I must admit that Zelda had some truly captivating moments for players to immerse themselves in, but for me, the return of Ganondorf was the real highlight. For many fellow fans, it added an extra layer of excitement and anticipation, and it seems to be setting the stage for future character transformations.

Ganondorf’s Tears of the Kingdom Redesign Should Be Just the Beginning for Zelda Villains

Ganondorf’s Return in Tears of the Kingdom was a Long Time Coming

It’s not an exaggeration to assert that Ganondorf is among the most renowned villains in gaming lore. Since the series began, he has played the role of the main adversary, initially appearing as Ganon in his pig form. However, it was in “Ocarina of Time” that the King of Evil adopted his humanoid Gerudo form. As with many other aspects introduced in “Ocarina of Time,” this redesign has left such an indelible mark on the character that it’s almost interchangeable.

In the gaming world, “The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild” is often hailed as a significant advancement for the series, much like how “Ocarina of Time” was in its time. However, Ganondorf, a recurring villain in the series, made only a minor appearance in “Breath of the Wild”, taking the form of “Calamity Ganon”, who primarily functioned as an imposing final boss at the end of Link’s adventure. In contrast, “The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom” reintroduced Ganondorf with a striking redesign, marking his first humanoid appearance since “Twilight Princess”.

It took until 2006 for Twilight Princess to debut, implying a span of over fifteen years before Ganondorf resurfaced in Tears of the Kingdom. Given Ganon’s significance, this lengthy absence may seem remarkable, and it undoubtedly played a role in the positive response his redesign garnered. Among the various antagonists in The Legend of Zelda, there is one in particular that merits prompt attention from fans.

Vaati Deserves to Return to The Legend of Zelda as a Major Villain

In the world of The Legend of Zelda, I find myself captivated by an enigmatic figure named Vaati, who holds the title of main antagonist in both Minish Cap and Four Swords. Interestingly enough, he ranks second only to Ganondorf in terms of recurring main villains across the series. At first, this fact might lead one to believe that Ganon’s influence is unparalleled throughout the franchise. However, upon closer inspection, I find myself questioning why Vaati isn’t more prominent, considering his significant appearances.

Just like how I, as a gamer, know Ganondorf transforms into various forms, even taking on the shape of a Demon, there’s a character named Vaati who shares this trait. Yet, it’s not just their shared ability to shapeshift that sets them apart; their motivations are worlds apart. Ganondorf embodies malevolence, always striving for total dominance. However, I’ve found that Vaati’s quest for power has a more intricate depth. Unlike the relentless pursuit of absolute control by Ganondorf, Vaati’s ambitions are portrayed with a touch of complexity.

Minish Cap depicts Vaati’s tale as a heart-wrenching story of corruption, since he was once a pupil of Link’s ally, Ezlo. Unlike many of Ganondorf’s reincarnations, Vaati wasn’t inherently evil; instead, his descent into wickedness remains a fascinating, untold aspect of his past that could offer intriguing insights into his background.

Following Ganon and Vaati, many villains from the “Legend of Zelda” series have appeared just once. Despite other characters having potential to star in their own game, Vaati stands out as the most worthy contender due to the intriguing backstory he possesses. The way “Breath of the Wild 2: Tears of the Kingdom” rejuvenated Ganondorf’s character leaves us eager for a similar treatment for characters who haven’t been in the limelight as much.

Read More

2025-02-08 02:09