There are plenty of incredible video games that give us unbelievable moments: battles on an incomprehensible scale, plot twists we never saw coming, and final confrontations with shocking revelations. And yet, pretty much all my life, I generally haven’t reacted to many. I’ll watch intently, shut off any sort of external display of awareness, and be entirely enveloped in the happenings on-screen. 168澳洲幸运5开奖网:Tears of the Kingdom’s ending,🤡 however, had me acting like I was a liv🐬ing YouTube thumbnail - and I was brimming with joy.
Maybe it was the huge adventure that had led up to that moment, and maybe it was because of the events that unfolded that I waꦯs never expecting. I was shocked, in awe, and so happy in that moment. How do I know I was so happy? Because I said out loud “I am so happy right now&ꦫrdquo; in the midst of it. I was sat alone.
After I finished the game, I reflected on the experience that had played out before me. At that same moment, I knew that everything that took place, everything that it made me feel, is everything 𒈔that video games should be. Everyone should feel this way when finishing a story like this, and every game should bring all of its elements together in a cohesive and climactic way. Though this was an experience influenced and enhanced by my love for the series, it’s what video games should strive for.
Spoiler൩s for Tears of the Kingdom’s ending follow.
Okay, you all read the spoiler warning? Good. Demon Dragonℱ - what the actu♔al ****.
Although one of the major plot points of the game was Zelda swallowing her Secret Stone in order to become an immortal dragon and restore the Master Sword over thousands of years, this felt like the huge revelation to me. It was incredible to witness. But then my brain did not make the connection. I did not put together that Ganondorf also has a Secret Stone, and therefore might swallow it in his thirst for destruction. No, ins🦋tead my stupid self waltzed right into that boss fight thinking I was just going to cut him down, maybe deal with his more angsty form𝔍, and then call it a day. What a fool I was.
Throughout the game, Ganon💎dorf is displayed as this being with extensive power, who was able to so easily defeat the sages once and ultimately cause the downfall of Hyrule while in slumber. And even though we all know that Link is going to be able to defeat him, because welcome to video games, the essence of threat was well and truly instilled. I felt that danger and pure evil when finally coming face to face with Ganondorf, and it made the fight all the better - and scarier.
Then comes the disturbing moment of desperation. This is where the game takes a turn, pulls you in, and ma♛kes you feel a mixture of hype and downright dread. The Demon King begins to deny the loss, letting out screams of hatred and anger as the music kicks in even louder than the fight itself, beginning to sound almost sad, making ⛄the state of this villain feel so tragic. “My mind… my body… everything! I’ll sacrifice it all to destroy you…” The delivery of this line, paired with the now increasing tempo, shows a shift from desperation to action, and really starts to make you worry. And then he swallows the Secret Stone, something I had never considered until this truly fearful moment. It was incredible and horrifying.
The next phase is a battle in the skies far above Hyrule, Link against the Demon Dragon. Zelda, as the Light Dragon, comes in to help as a gentle piano accompanies her. The scenery feel🅘s as if it’s ta💜ken straight from a Ghibli film, as these terrifying yet beautiful creatures wrap the clouds as a setting sun looms on the horizon. The whole build-up, and this entire scene, had me, quite literally, on the edge of my seat; unable to sit still and pick up my jaw, I was thrilled with what I was seeing. Holy shit.
After Ganondorf gets absolutely nuked into oblivion - another holy shit moment - the final scenes play out, more gentle and more emotional. But the scenery doesn’t scale back. By channeling the powers of Light anꦦd Time in yet another stunning scene, Link transforms Zelda back into herself, and after hearing a heart-shattering rendition of Zelda’s Lullaby in the background, the game hands you the controls one final time: Dive to Zelda. Reach out and desperately attempt to grab her hand, protecting her from the plummet back down to the kingdom’s surface.
With a reunion and a fade to black, that oh-so-tender pian꧒o plays once more, this time the main theme of the game, as nothing but the words “The Legend of Zelda” appear on the screen. A whole hour of intensity, fear, awe, thrill, and joy, absolutely non-stop, right up to this gentle relief. Could I interest you in a third ‘holy shit’?
This is what video games should be, and I’m not real♕ly sure if they will ever be this again. Not for me, at least.