The Ultimate Guide: Conquering Tears of the Kingdom's Final Boss with Two Flawless Formulas

The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom surpasses its 2017 predecessor by allowing players more freedom to explore a complex map and tackle challenges in various ways. Despite the introduction of new side activities, the main quest maintains its grandeur and intensity until the very end.

By uncovering all the geoglyphs and delving into Zelda's past adventure, players are treated to an unexpectedly gripping storyline in The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom. The narrative reaches its climax with a thrilling showdown against the Demon King, which successfully fulfills expectations. This final encounter exemplifies the diverse approaches to creating a memorable boss battle, encapsulating every facet of an exhilarating final fight.

Final Bosses Can Be Drastically Different in Design

In the design of a game's final boss, there are generally two perspectives. Ideally, it should both challenge players' skills and serve as a climactic conclusion to the story. However, some games tend to emphasize one aspect more than the other. Titles like Dark Souls, Hades, Devil May Cry 5, and Ghost of Tsushima take the approach of providing a formidable enemy that requires players to utilize the skills and reflexes they've acquired throughout the game. This mechanic-focused design enhances the sense of accomplishment when the boss is finally defeated.

On the other hand, games such as Hogwarts Legacy, Spider-Man: Miles Morales, or Uncharted 4: A Thiefs End prioritize the dramatic spectacle of the final battle. They view it as the culmination of the narrative rather than a pure test of strength. Often, these games introduce new gameplay mechanics or ask the player to perform different actions, while emphasizing the grandeur of the moment more than the difficulty. Although this approach may feel jarring from a gameplay standpoint, it adds emotional and narrative weight to the overall game experience.

Tears of the Kingdom's Final Boss Strikes a Perfect Balance

The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom embraces two distinct phases, offering a challenging experience while delivering a satisfying conclusion. The battle against Ganondorf beneath Hyrule Castle is tough, requiring players to utilize game mechanics to emerge victorious. Ganondorf's devastating attacks and the impairing gloom damage severely limit the player's health. Additionally, his ability to narrowly evade Link's sword strikes demands skill, patience, and expertise to escape unscathed from this phase of the fight.

The second part of the confrontation resembles Dark Beast Ganon in Breath of the Wild, emphasizing the emotional impact rather than gameplay mechanics. Transitioning from the depths beneath Hyrule Castle to the skies above the land, Link joins forces with the Light Dragon to vanquish Ganondorf in his most unpredictable form. This segment depends less on the player's mastery of Tears of the Kingdom's combat system, as that aspect of the battle has concluded. Instead, it focuses on propelling the narrative towards an epic conclusion, maintaining the game's grandiose setup. By striking the perfect balance between these two ideas, Nintendo's latest masterpiece concludes in a manner that complements and enhances the overall gaming experience, proving that AAA developers are not limited to a binary choice.

The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom is available now for Nintendo Switch.