- For fighter info, see Ganondorf (SSBM) and Ganondorf (SSBB).
Ganondorf (ガノンドロフ, Ganondorofu) is the main antagonist in the The Legend of Zelda video game series. His first appearance was as the beast known as Ganon (ガノン) in the original The Legend of 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, the only exception being in The Wind Waker. (Though, at times the names have been used interchangeably) In either case, he has been Link's arch-enemy since day one.
Ganondorf has appeared as a playable character in Super Smash Bros. Melee and appears once again in Super Smash Bros. Brawl.
Character Description
Ganondorf as he appears in Ocarina of Time
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 Princess 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 nearly every Zelda game, with three exceptions: The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask, The Legend of Zelda: The Minish Cap and The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass.
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 turquoise skin (though it will change to red at one point, which is the cue to hit him with the Silver Arrow), while in The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past, he has blue skin and turns silver when weak to the aforementioned Silver Arrows. In Ocarina of Time, Ganon's skin is dark green and he has yellow eyes (and so far, this and Twilight Princess are the only games to depict Ganon with a tail). The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess, in a departure from previous games, features a quadrupedal Ganon for the first time, and appears as more of a boar than a pig. This may be to make Ganon similar to Link's "wolf" form.)
In his first appearance as Ganondorf in The Legend of Zelda: 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 Legend of Zelda: 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 kidnapping Princess Zelda, conquering the land of Hyrule, or obtaining the Triforce (Sometimes all three). Therefore, he has never been a playable character in any Zelda game.
Unlike most of Nintendo's other famous villains, such as 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--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.
Whether he appears as Ganondorf or as Ganon (A Link to the Past's game manual gives him the name Ganondorf Dragmire which is a name which hasn't appeared before or since), Hyrule knows that it will be facing an incredible evil that only Link and Zelda can stop.
In Super Smash Bros. Melee
As a playable character
- Main article: Ganondorf (SSBM)
Ganondorf, as he appears in Super Smash Bros. Melee.
Ganondorf makes his first appearance in the Smash Bros. series as a secret playable fighter in Super Smash Bros. Melee. He can be unlocked after completing Triforce Gathering or by playing 600 VS. matches.
Ganondorf is the most powerful character in the game, with slow moves but decent speed for his size. He has superior range and a melee style of fighting. Though comparatively slow to most characters, particularly those in lower tiers of power, he is not so slow as to render his great strength unusable. Every move in his arsenal has high K.O. potential, ensuring that if a hit does connect, it will likely knock an opponent near or past the blast line. His Neutral B move is the Warlock Punch which is similar to the Falcon Punch, except that it is takes more time to execute, but is considerably more powerful, undergoing a further increase in power when connected on the back. His Side B move is the Gerudo Dragon, which launches enemies up into the air. His Up B move is the Dark Dive while his Down B move is Wizard's Foot. His High Dragon Kick is extremely powerful and, uniquely, sends foes a long horizontal distance rather than a lateral distance. His side smash is also unique, sending foes upwards more than sideways. His upward smash is the most powerful smash of all in the game, taking away 53% when fully charged.
Ganondorf is considered a clone of Captain Falcon due to their similar moves, though he does have a few differences. Ganondorf is slower, but more powerful than Captain Falcon. The only exception his Forward aerial, which is weaker than Captain Falcon's knee. Ganondorf is also heavier, making him more difficult to KO than Captain Falcon.
Trophies
By tradition, Ganondorf as a playable character is featured on his personal 3 trophies. His normal trophy is acquired by beating the Classic mode with Ganondorf on any difficulty, and his Smash Red and Smash Blue trophies are acquired the same way by beating the Adventure and All-Star modes, respectively.
His normal Classic-mode trophy reads as follows:
Ganondorf
Said to be the sole man born to the Gerudo tribe in a hundred years, Ganondorf aspired to conquer the world. He plundered a piece of the sacred Triforce from the Temple of Time when Link pulled the Master Sword from its pedestal. With the Triforce of Power in Ganondorf's possession, Hyrule was plunged into darkness until Link and Zelda defeated the fiend.
In Super Smash Bros. Brawl
Ganondorf in Super Smash Bros. Brawl.
Ganondorf reappears in SSBB as a secret playable character, once again unavailable from the start, and uses his Twilight Princess appearance. Some of his moves have changed somewhat from his Melee set and have undergone large aesthetic changes, while other of his moves are similar from Melee. In Brawl, his moves are more sluggish. His jumping ability has decreased as well, and his priority is lower (though not of bottom priority such Captain Falcon or Sonic). His roll dodges, once on par with Captain Falcon's (from whom they were inherited), are now slower. His midair doges no longer allow him to move with the direction tilted with the control stick during the maneuver. He undergoes a small increase in speed, minus his running, which is quite a bit slower. Also, his side special move in Brawl slightly differs from its Melee incarnation, choking the opponent, then throwing them downward. Also his horizontal recovery is a lot shorter. Though he also has some good improvements. His attacks are stronger (his dash attack can now KO), Warlock Punch improved (higher damage, knockback, can be reversed and performed a bit faster) and now can KO at damages as low as 20%, his lethal dair is impossible to recover at most times even at 0% and can now perform Ganoncide with his new Flame Choke.
Ganon also appears as Ganondorf's Final Smash. Once the Smash Ball is retrieved and activated by the player, Ganondorf immediately transforms into the Twilight Princess rendition of Beast Ganon. He then stomps his front legs on the ground and immobilizes most opponents and charges straightforward in the direction Ganondorf was facing before the Final Smash was activated.
Trophies
Ganondorf has a trophy that is awarded each time the Classic mode is completed with Ganondorf on any difficulty. See Beast Ganon for the trophy description of Ganondorf's Final Smash:
Ganondorf
A man who wants to use the power of the Triforce to conquer the world. In Twilight Princess, he gives strength to the Twilight King, Zant, and tries to change the land into a world of darkness. He possesses Zelda, transforms into a magical beast, and attacks Link. In the end, however, Link deals him a finishing blow and defeats him.
- Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time (1998)
- Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess (2006)
Ganondorf (Wind Waker)
The king of evil. Ganondorf aims to collect the Triforce pieces and rule the world. Already in possession of the Triforce of Power, he secures Zelda and her Triforce of Wisdom, thus luring Link to his castle. However, he is ultimately defeated by Zelda's Light Arrows and Link's Master Sword.
- Legend of Zelda: Wind Waker (2003)
Trivia
- Many fans notice that Ganondorf has his sword in SSB games, but never uses it to fight.
- Ganondorf and Sheik are the only playable characters in the Super Smash Bros. series that do not have a playable appearance in any other video game.
- As shown by his down taunt, Ganondorf has changed swords. A similar sword can be found being wielded by the "Darknut" Trophy in Brawl.
- Although Ganondorf's cape is a deep red in the Zelda games, it is navy blue in Brawl.
- In Soul Calibur IV One of Nightmare's Fighting style and Weapons resembles Gannondorfs fighting style and sword. Likewise, he is a Astaroth's Spirit while Captain Falcon is a Rock's Spirit, mainly for the fact that Ganon/Astaroth and Captain Falcon/Rock has the same move set.
