The 10 HAPPIEST Moments in Zelda Games
Darunia’s Dance
“The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time” (1998) Simple, but effective. When Link first meets the Goron patriarch in “Ocarina of Time,” he’s a stern, no-nonsense leader who doesn’t give him the time of day. Turns out, Darunia just needed to let loose. Once Link learns Saria’s Song and plays it for him, Darunia will be helpless against it, breaking out into a gleeful dance. It’s impossible not to smile at the silly 180 as his arms and legs flail about. It’s such a great character moment that it was recreated in “Hyrule Warriors.” Moreover, from this moment on, Darunia is incredibly warm towards Link, accepting his aid and treating him like a brother. One of Link’s strongest connections to a Sage began with the wholesome joy of dancing.
The Korok Ceremony
10 Censored Moments In Zelda Games
“The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker” (2003) The woodland race Koroks are already pretty adorable, with their short stature, leaf faces, and the jingly noise they make when they move. Seeing them come together for a cute, musical ceremony was a wonderful way to cap off the Forbidden Forest dungeon. After Link rescues Makar from Kalle Demos, he’ll get the reward he came looking for: Farore’s Pearl. But as a bonus treat, he’s also rewarded with a short concert in which Makar plays the violin (a cello to him) while the Koroks sing along. The bright smiles of Link and the Deku Tree are infectious. And they grew even wider as the deity produced seeds and the Koroks flew off on a mission to spread the forest.
Restoring Ilia’s Memories
“The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess” (2006) The children of Ordon Village have a rough go of things, none more so than Link’s childhood friend, Ilia. While they’re all kidnapped, she’s kept captive the longest with the ordeal being so traumatic that she loses her memories. Even when they’re reunited, she has no idea who Link is. It isn’t until he shows her a charm she once made for him that her memory is restored. With her mind drifting back to home and thoughts of growing up with Link, an orchestral version of her theme plays and makes our eyes misty. “Twilight Princess” is one of the darker entries, so this incredibly touching scene is one of the brightest spots in an otherwise dreary game.
Tarrey Town Wedding
“The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild” (2017) Who doesn’t love a wedding? One of the best side quests in “Breath of the Wild” has Link help found a new village named Tarrey Town. With each step, he brings Hudson resources and villagers that can provide different services. The entire process is a joy, especially considering you’re helping to build something in a world that was ravaged by a massively evil entity a century ago. The quest is topped off with a wedding between Hudson and Rhondson, a Gerudo who moved to the town. It would be a happy moment regardless, but seeing people from all corners of Hyrule coming together in a place you helped create is genuinely heartwarming.
Fun With Marin
The 10 DARKEST Moments In Zelda Games
“The Legend of Zelda: Link’s Awakening” (1993) At a certain point in “Link’s Awakening,” you’ll need Marin’s help to move a sleeping walrus blocking your path. You’ll find her at the beach near her village and, after having a pleasant chat, she’ll follow you to the walrus’ location. However, you should really explore with her first. She’ll have funny reactions to Link, such as shaming him for hitting a Cucco, but then egging him on if he continues. She’ll also fall on Link’s head if he jumps down a hole, talk trash about his Ocarina skills, and pick up the Trendy Game Shop owner with his own claw. It isn’t often Link gets to goof off with a kid his own age, so it was great seeing it here.
Celebration at the Ranch
“The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time” (1998) Some of the happiest moments in “Zelda” games naturally come at the very end. With the big bad vanquished, players are often treated to NPCs getting their various happy endings. The ending of “Ocarina of Time” features one of the happiest moments in the whole series. During the credits, nearly every character you’ve come across can be seen dancing and partying in celebration at Lon Lon Ranch. Even Talon and Ingo are united in celebration, their faces blushing and their rivalry forgotten. The carpenters and Malon sing, the lady from Kakariko Village juggles her Cuccos, and everyone dances in merriment. Although Mido and King Zora are sad about Saria and Ruto, it’s an overall delightful scene.
Capturing a Moment
“The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild” (2017) As Link recovers his various memories from events a century prior, we get lovely moments with Zelda and each of the Champions. But there’s one moment from “The Champions’ Ballad” DLC that tops them all. As you work your way through the quest, you unlock memories of how Zelda convinced each Champion to join her cause. At the end, a final memory shows the ceremony of them becoming Champions. As the six heroes are gathered together, they decide to take a picture to commemorate the occasion. The moment is filled with wonderful character quirks, like Mipha scooching closer to her crush, Link, and Daruk smushing them all together for the final, comedic shot. It’s bittersweet knowing what happens, but we nevertheless love seeing them all together like this.
Midna’s True Form
“The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess” (2006) With her cool abilities, engaging backstory, and endless amount of sass, Midna became one of the most fleshed out companions Link has ever had. There are plenty of moments that made us want to help her in “Twilight Princess.” And when we finally accomplished that, it truly was a joyous occasion. Not only did we free the world from Ganondorf and Zant’s tyranny, but the curse on Midna was broken, revealing her true form. Seeing her be rid of the impish body as the score swelled was a great win for the character. Midna making fun of Link at being dumbfounded by her beauty was just the cherry on top. Of course, her mid-credits goodbye rips our hearts out, but that’s another moment for another list.
A Long-Awaited Wedding
10 Most Disappointing Moments In Zelda Games
“The Legend of Zelda: Majora’s Mask” (2000) “Majora’s Mask” has a lot of great side quests involving its surprisingly deep NPCs, though none had us as enamored as the tragic romance of Anju and Kafei. It requires a lot of work, but it’s hard not to be captivated by the lovers and their misfortunes. Although their quest ends with them bleakly waiting for the moon to fall, earning the Couple’s Mask will unlock the real ending to their story during the credits. Among the other happy endings, we see their wedding just outside of Clock Town. We felt sorry for Anju every step of the way, so seeing her in her wedding dress as her friends and family cheer is just the conclusion we hoped for.
Love Above the Clouds
Top 10 Hated Video Game Companies Fans Used To Love
“The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword” (2011) “Skyward Sword” features the closest relationship between Link and Zelda of the series. In just a short period, we grow to care about this incarnation on a deeper, more personal level. Her compassion and love for Link is obvious, and her romantic feelings are palpable atop the Goddess Statue. After the Wing Ceremony, the two celebrate Link’s victory with a date above the clouds. It’s such a pure, affectionate scene, showcasing an actual connection many fans may have wanted but never really seen. The moment is unfortunately interrupted by Ghriahim before Zelda can state her feelings. But after finally reuniting at the end, Zelda asks Link to live on the surface with her. As a big smile spreads across his face, we know they’re in for a long, happy life together.
