10. Flare Dancer (Ocarina of Time)
The Fire Temple mini-boss isn't the most recognizable one for most fans, but having replayed Ocarina of Time recently, I was surprised how much fun I had during the fight. It's incredibly easy, but still involves a few steps and a fun chase sequence. You start by hitting the Flare Dancer with a bomb, as it spins around trying to hurl flames at you. After the explosion, it'll be reduced to a small little ball with legs that will run away from Link, forcing you to run around the pillar in the opposite direction in order to cut him off. You repeat this process a few times, but at the end, I had a good time with the fight, despite how easy it was.
9. Dangoro (Twilight Princess)
It's an interesting spin to make a typically friendly member of the Goron race a mini boss. Mistaking you for an intruder, he guards the Hero's Bow and is adamant on stopping you. You fight Dangoro on a large magnetized platform, which bobs and shifts in the pool of lava. Using your Iron Boots, you need to stick yourself to the surface and swing him around into the lava. It's an incredibly fun fight, though doesn't quite offer enough challenge.
8. Darknut (Twilight Princess)
The Darknut and Iron Knuckle have been in many Zelda games and have always provided a fun fight. I'm especially fond of the Darknuts from Wind Waker, since the parrying makes the fights entertaining. However, I'd say the strongest challenge and coolest model comes from the Darknut in Twilight Princess. Using Link's sword moves such as the back spin and the shield bash make for a much more engaging fight. It gets even more interesting when they lose the bulky armor revealing a slimmed down figure in chain male. They throw their weapon at you at incredible speed and draw a broad sword. In this form they are more vulnerable to your attacks but gain a lot of dexterity, shifting the battle from a fight with a slow moving tank, to an agile duel.
7. Darkhammer (Twilight Princess)
This is an intense fight because it's difficult to immediately know what to do. And the beauty of it, is that you have options. The Darkhammer is an armored Lizalfos that swings a giant ball and chain over its head, slowly moving towards you, which pins you in the claustrophobic room. Luckily, you can use the Claw Shot to zip onto the ceiling and over the swinging ball of iron, however cutting it too close can lead to getting intercepted mid air. Or, you can time a perfect roll and duck under the ball and chain, getting behind him to his exposed tail. The fight itself isn't long and is a bit repetitive, but the tight arena, method of dodging his attacks, and the design make it entertaining. And the most memorable part is being able to keep the Ball and Chain as an item!
6. Gerudo Warrior (Ocarina of Time, Majora's Mask)
Whether you're in the Pirate or Gerudo Fortress, you'll eventually be encountered by these dual sword wielding women. Their two swords allow them to be efficient with both blocking and attacking, and they also have a nasty wind up spin move that can knock Link out instantly, sending him immediately back to a jail cell. It's frustrating when it happens, but it's also quite easy to read and has a decent signal for you to keep your distance.
5. Scervo (Skyward Sword)
Fighting a robot pirate captain on a plank while sailing across the desert on a giant sandship should be enough of an argument as to why this boss fight is ridiculously cool.
4. Death Sword (Twilight Princess)
I wish this boss were as difficult as he is intimidating. The design is so extravagant and downright dreadful. Entering the room, you spot a giant black sword carved into the middle of the ground, chained to the ground with Spirit Wards hanging off of each chain. If that doesn't paint the picture for what is to come, you should turn back now. As the sword begins to float, you use Wolf Link's vision to can see the boss in his entirety. It truly has the most demonic appearance of any Zelda enemy to date; long horns, flowing black cloak, skeletal hands. Again, it's a shame the fight is so straight forward, it'll be over before you really get to let it sink in.
3. King Igos du Ikana (Majora's Mask)
This mini-boss is a fan favorite and I'm completely on board. Not only does it contain cool mechanics, but it feels like a mini-boss that actually fleshes out the atmosphere of Ikana Castle. Using your Fire Arrows to burn the curtains and reveal the sunlight, then reflecting that light off of your mirror shield to dissolve the bones of Igos and his servants makes for an interesting fight, despite its relative ease. As a kid, I had more trouble with this fight because I was never quick enough to burn their bodies in the sunlight after they were on the ground. The King actually being a character and teaching you the Elegy of Emptiness gives him character and makes this more than just a typical fight.
2. King Bulblin (Twilight Princess)
If you noted that Twilight Princess is represented a lot on this list, that should speak volumes to that game's quality of mini-bosses. King Bulblin is at the top of that respective tier. First off, he's recurring. He starts out by kidnapping Ilia right in front of your eyes and knocking you unconscious. You finally get a semblance of revenge when you get to chase him on horseback to free Colin. Then you need to face-off on the bridge in a jousting battle, finally knocking him into the river. Soon, he makes his return on the Bridge of Eldin, but comes prepared with side shields to prevent your sword swipes (unfortunately for him, he wasn't prepared for your newly acquired bow). Once you reach the Forbidden Desert, you get to the Bulblin fortress and get to take him on on-foot, sword vs giant axe. After defeating him, he tried to burn you alive inside of the locked barn. And during the final showdown, you fight him on the grounds of Hyrule Castle. This time, once he is defeated, he simply tells you to stop. He reaches behind him and gives you the key you need to get into the castle. He simply says, "I followed the strongest side. It is all I have ever known." At that moment, he not only acknowledges that you have bested him, but also seems to be convinced that you can defeat Ganondorf and that you are the wisest choice of ally. It's a satisfying conclusion to a recurring villain, and one that was definitely not suspected.
1. Dark Link (Ocarina of Time)
The Water Temple is memorable for many things; mostly bad thing. But the fight with Dark Link is still one of the most iconic fights in Zelda history. The scenery of the battlefield is a clear lake with a small island in the middle. Walking along the water, you pass the island and come to a locked door. With no where else to go, you turn around and head back towards the island in the middle (perhaps noticing that Link's reflection is no longer cast on the water). There, leaning up against a tree, is Dark Link. The fight is intense and quite tough if you're not sure what to do. You can abuse the spin-attack or Din's Fire to get some easy damage. The Megaton Hammer can also be used to great effect, but this was removed in the 3DS version, as Dark Link will easily hop away if you try to use the hammer. He also jumps on your sword if you do a stab attack, which I tend to do on accident all the time (since it's natural to hold forward to press towards your enemy while you attack). After he's finally defeated the room clears, revealing the scene as a mirage the entire time. What exactly transpired in that room is still up for debate and is exactly what makes the fight so incredible.
No comments:
Post a Comment