The Unraveling of Ganon's Past in Zelda's Tears of the Kingdom

The inclusion of Ganondorf in The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom brings up new complexities to the established lore from Breath of the Wild. Surprisingly, it appears that the new era has separated Ganondorf from the previously known Calamity Ganon, which diverges from the traditional handling of both Ganon and Ganondorf in past games leading up to Tears of the Kingdom. This contradicts the assumption that many fans had regarding the coexistence of Calamity Ganon and the Demon King, Ganondorf before the game's release.

Ganon and Ganondorf's Historic Connections

The link between the Gerudo villain Ganondorf and his beast form of Ganon was a significant change in the Zelda series with the release of Ocarina of Time, although it is no longer as groundbreaking as it was in 1998. Ganondorf, a villain who was resurrected, sealed, released, defeated, and resurrected again, was suddenly revealed to be the second half of a character with both political power and brute force. According to the Zelda games timeline, which was better consolidated after Skyward Sword and the release of the Hyrule Historia, the original villain Ganon is considered to be the power-obsessed form of Ganondorf after stealing the Triforce.

This connection between Ganon's beast form and Ganondorf led to many fan theories about what the introduction of Ganondorf would mean for Tears of the Kingdom. Fans expected Calamity Ganon to be a form of Ganondorf's malice that had spread from beneath Hyrule Castle and acted as the first wave of the villain's continued attacks on the kingdom. However, the storytelling and lore in Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom's Hyrule Compendium and Character Profiles seem to contradict this popular assumption.

The Demon King Freed by Calamity in Tears of the Kingdom

The narrative of Tears of the Kingdom focuses heavily on Zelda and her ancestors Rauru and Sonia, who battle against Ganondorf, the eventual Demon King. However, the threat of the Calamity is never addressed as a danger to Hyrule, and Calamity Ganon is not portrayed as part of Ganondorf's plans or powers. The only reference to the former antagonist comes from Zelda's instinctual fear of Ganondorf's name and the presence of Phantom Ganon enemies that haunt Link in the form of a mummified specter and hands that emerge from the ground. The distinction between Ganon and Ganondorf is further emphasized in the character profile awarded to players after completing the game, which states that Ganondorf was sealed away by King Rauru, with his seal breaking during the events of Breath of the Wild's Calamity. This sharp divide between the two villains disregards the possibility of Calamity Ganon as an extension or variation of Ganondorf and his Demon King abilities.

In Tears of the Kingdom, the series takes a unique turn by portraying Ganondorf and his Demon King form as distinct entities, unlike in Calamity where they were connected. Both characters derive their powers from malice, which manifests as either Breath of the Wild's destructive Calamity or Tears of the Kingdom's energy-draining Gloom. This fresh perspective on the lore of The Legend of Zelda's latest era challenges the traditional formula of the franchise and redefines its iconic characters. The game is currently available on Switch.