Ganondorf
Ganondorf is the main antagonist and most consistent enemy in the Zelda video game series. His first appearance was as the beast known as Ganon in the original Zelda game. The name Ganondorf was first mentioned in The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past with the villain making his first appearance as Ganondorf in The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time. Since then, the name Ganondorf has been used to refer to his human form while Ganon is used for his monster form. (Though, at times the names have been used interchangably) In either case, he has been Link's arch-enemy since day one. He has appeared as a playable character in the second Smash Bros. game and has been confirmed to appear in the third, but in what status is not yet revealed.
See Ganondorf (SSBM) for fighter details.
Character Description
Ganondorf was originally introduced in the original The Legend of Zelda game as Ganon. Here, he was established as a power hungry monster who had kidnapped Zelda for her piece of the Triforce, but was destroyed by Link at the end of the game. Since then, collecting the Triforce and conquering Hyrule has usually been Ganon's main goal in the series. He has appeared or been mentioned in every Zelda game. (With some exceptions like Majora's Mask.)
Ganon's appearance has changed over the course of the series. In his first appearance, he appears as a monster who's facial features are like that of a pig's and with green skin. (Though it will change to orange at one point, which is the cue to hit him with the Silver Arrow) While in A Link to the Past, he has blue skin. While in Ocarina of Time, Ganon's skin is black and he has yellow eyes (and so far, this is the only game to depict Ganon with a tail). While in Twilight Princess, in a departure from previous games, Ganon stands on all four legs, (every other Ganon form has stood on two legs) and appears as more of a boar than a pig. (This may be due to make Ganon similar to Link's "wolf" form.)
In his first appearance as Ganondorf in Ocarina of Time, it is revealed that he is the only male in the Gerudo Tribe, born every 100 years. All Gerudos are identified by their noticably darker skin, (which may be due to living in the desert) and red hair. He is seen wearing armor in both Ocarina of Time and Twilight Princess, while in The Wind Waker he appears to be wearing sorcerer's robes.
Ganon is the primary villain in most of the Zelda games, with his schemes usually involving kidnappping Princess Zelda, conquering the land of Hyrule, or obtaining the Triforce. (Sometimes all three) Therefore, he has never been a playble character in any Zelda game.
Unlike Nintendo's other famous villain, Bowser, Ganondorf is a cunning, intelligent, and extremely powerful character. And in Ocarina of Time, Ganondorf accomplishes something that Bowser (and many other villains) struggle with... (or come close, but are ultimately defeated at the end) he conquered the world. Thus, Link had to build up his strength so he could take Hyrule back from Ganondorf, who had ruled for 7 years by that point.
Though he is usually depicted as being pure evil, (hence his title as the "King of Evil" or the "Prince of Darkness") The Wind Waker reveals somewhat sympathetic reasons for Ganondorf's desire for conquest, but nonetheless, he was still shown to be an extremely evil villain with a lust for power.
Whether he appears as Ganondorf or as Ganon, Hyrule knows that it will be facing an incredible evil that only Link and Zelda can stop.
In Super Smash Bros. Melee
- Main article: Ganondorf (SSBM)
In Super Smash Bros. Brawl
- Main article: Ganondorf (SSBB)
