I really like villain. Heroes save the day, however antagonists are sometimes those who drive the plot ahead. Whereas Hyperlink and Zelda are reacting to Ganon’s plots, he will get to go wild unleashing issues just like the Calamity and the Upheaval. However having the identical large unhealthy will get somewhat stale, and Ganondorf is actually probably the most prolific boss in all the Zelda video games, solely sometimes yielding floor to a secondary antagonist, like Zant.
Which is a disgrace, as a result of I like somewhat little bit of selection in my villains. There’s a wonderful, untapped supply of boss fights in The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom, however they by no means actually fairly get to shine.
[Ed. note: This article contains spoilers for The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom.]
The Yiga Clan first present up in Breath of the Wild, posing as widespread vacationers on the highway, solely to disclose themselves in assassination makes an attempt. They present up within the background all through BotW, trying to assassinate Hyperlink and Zelda and leveraging an informant in Kakariko Village. Hyperlink later infiltrates their HQ and bests Grasp Kohga, their chief, sending him plummeting right into a pit in a cutscene laden with foreshadowing. Kohga isn’t precisely a dignified foe; you merely interrupt his Sheikah Slate casts and bonk him on his foolish li’l noggin.
![Link faces a Yiga Blademaster in Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom](https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/D8rOIahOY_hjYxYMF6AaThazK9E=/0x0:1280x720/1200x0/filters:focal(0x0:1280x720):no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/24669272/Zelda_Tears_of_the_Kingdom_Yiga_Armor_10.jpg)
Picture: Nintendo EPD/Nintendo by way of Polygon
After dispatching Kohga, Yiga brokers will present up randomly within the overworld to try to get some revenge, however we don’t be taught an excessive amount of about them in any other case. So when I discovered my first Yiga outpost in Tears of the Kingdom, I used to be past psyched. The thought of a Sheikah splinter ideology, against our heroes however utilizing the identical highly effective instruments, is fascinating. There’s lots to discover there.
At first, it regarded just like the Yiga Clan might need been in a position to reside as much as my sky-high expectations. I discovered their settlements down within the Depths, guarded by Ultrahand machines. I discovered notes suggesting Kohga had survived by some means, and I started looking him down. The Depths add a gravitas to the proceedings, and I used to be desirous to see the brand new Kohga, formed by his defeat and the darkness round him.
There’s actually extra Yiga Clan members on this sport, and it’s cool to see how they’ve constructed up their defenses. However upon chasing down Kohga, I finally discovered… he was working for Ganondorf the entire time, and on prime of that, he’s nonetheless a giant goofy goose. There’s extra of a lead-up to the boss struggle, however I as soon as once more use his Ultrahand instruments in opposition to him after which launch him out of the Depths with all the grace of a Staff Rocket goon.
For what it’s value, I do benefit from the Yiga content material we’ve. I like this clan, and their give attention to stealth over power. Similar to in Breath of the Wild, Yiga assassins regularly present as much as attempt to get some revenge, and I exploit their weapons and cosmetics usually.
![A damaged Link fighting Master Kohga on a vehicle in an arena](https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/-JC84WeWcv3U24JMkyBmzp8wFt0=/0x0:1920x1080/1200x0/filters:focal(0x0:1920x1080):no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/24649528/zelda_autobuild_8.jpg)
Picture: Nintendo EPD/Nintendo by way of Polygon
However I can also’t cease eager about a hypothetical Yiga Clan that would have been, one the place they’re not a sequence of miniboss encounters and slapstick comedy bits. What had been the circumstances of their authentic break up with the Sheikah? How do they really feel about Hyrule’s use of this know-how? What do they get out of a partnership with Ganondorf?
Weirdly sufficient, the aspect sport Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity addresses this with the character of Sooga, Kohga’s right-hand man. We see that Sooga was saved as a toddler, so he’s deeply loyal to Kohga. He’s a badass in his personal proper, and he finally even joins the roster of playable characters. However Age of Calamity is non-canon, and so Sooga is only a tantalizing risk of what might have been.
Don’t get me improper — Ganondorf is an effective villain, and I’m not saying he must get thrown out or something. However the Zelda franchise might use just a few new antagonists to shake issues up and add selection to the franchise. Hyrule has modified dramatically between Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom, and I want the Yiga Clan had modified extra in flip. Maybe within the subsequent sport, they’ll lastly strike a real sense of worry in me. I hope, on the very least, I received’t need to dunk on Grasp Kohga anytime quickly.