One Year On, Has Everyone Beaten Ganondorf In Zelda: Tears Of The Kingdom?

Image: Nintendo Life

Recalling back to August last year when Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom had just been released for three months, the question asked was about the progress of completion percentage. With the vast expanse of the game, it was no surprise that 37% of respondents had not defeated the final boss, leaving them unaware of their completion status.

Ganondorf Tears of the Kingdom — *Image: Nintendo*

Fast forward nine months, it’s likely that many players have emerged victorious in an epic showdown with Ganondaddy and completed the most anticipated Nintendo game of 2023…

But has everyone? In conversations with the Nintendo Life team, it appears that some individuals have yet to engage in the final battle with TOTK’s formidable antagonist, even a year post-release. With the game’s expansive nature and numerous activities to engage in, the query arises on whether players have conquered Tears of the Kingdom or if it has taken a backseat in their gaming priorities. Or potentially, *whisper it*, abandoned altogether.

To commemorate the first anniversary, a check-in is being done to determine who on the team has achieved victory and who is still savoring the journey 366 days later. Spoiler alerts are inevitable in the discussion…

Alana Hagues, deputy editor

Admittedly, this may seem biased (as I reviewed the game), but yes, I have emerged victorious against Ganondorf. It happened over a year ago. Take that, Demon King. Was it a walk in the park? Absolutely not. I embarked on the battle woefully unprepared, unaware of the challenges that lay ahead. Unlike Breath of the Wild, where guides were available a few months post-launch, here I had to pave my own path on confronting Ganondorf. *gulp*

My initial attempt was… okay? I reached the second phase, shall we say. However, I had consumed all my Gloom-healing food en route to the boss, oblivious to the fact that Ganondorf’s attacks caused Gloom damage and permanent heart loss. I learned the hard way. Nevertheless, this setback did not deter me from trying again, and again. It had become a matter of pride by then. I was determined to defeat Ganondorf without relying on Gloom-healing items.

Ultimately, I relented, and had to gather Sundelions, purchase Gloom-resistant gear, and stock up on health-boosting provisions. Essentially, I needed to be patient and equipped with the right tools. Oh, and ensure my Master Sword was primed. On my final attempt, I successfully navigated through every phase.

In terms of completion percentage, I haven’t engaged with the game in about six months, hovering around the high 60% mark. It seems unlikely that I’ll reach 100% as there is an overwhelming amount of content to cover, risking the game losing its allure. I’ve made significant progress, with colleagues assisting in areas I hadn’t explored. I’m content with where I stand.

Ollie Reynolds, staff writer

Oh dear. I am fully aware that I may face criticism for this, but yes, I’ve veered off from Tears of the Kingdom once again. I did make an effort, I promise. There’s just something lacking in it that failed to captivate me like Breath of the Wild did, and now I doubt I’ll give it another shot.

So, no, dear reader, I have not bested Ganondorf. To provide context, I managed to conquer the Water Temple and the Wind Temple, and that’s as far as I got. I did take my time, accumulating about 60-70 hours (significantly more than most games I’ve played), but realizing how distant I am from completion has prompted me to keep it shelved indefinitely.

Apologies to Zelda, and apologies to Hyrule. I regret to say that I cannot come to your aid this time.

Gavin Lane, editor

Image: Nintendo

Spoiler concerns did not bother me much with TOTK, so I made a conscious decision to proceed at a leisurely pace. I explored, captured images for the compendium, and traversed the map, ticking off dungeons gradually.

Having completed all that, I teleported to the clouds, stocked up on batteries for my plane-glider, and ventured to the castle, entering the chamber where I anticipated the final battle. Since then, I saved my progress and have not returned.

It’s challenging to pinpoint why, but I feel no urgency to ‘complete’ TOTK. There are numerous hours of exploration and side quests awaiting me – my completion percentage must be embarrassingly low, even with “100 hours or more” clocked in – and I’m perfectly fine with that.

I achieved 100% completion in Breath of the Wild just weeks before Tears was launched, finally uncovering the elusive Korok I had been searching for since 2017. Whether I locate every Korok this time remains uncertain, but I’m content to confront Ganondorf as and when the mood strikes. Or perhaps not. After all, he’ll return again.

Jim Norman, staff writer

Image: Nintendo

I emerged victorious against The ‘Dorf a while back. Eager to conclude the main TOTK storyline swiftly to avoid major spoilers, I hurried through the dungeons, tackled a few side quests, and confronted the final challenge.

Similar to most players, I was grossly underprepared for the ultimate battle during my initial attempt. I reached Ganondorf’s challenging health bar section but succumbed to the Gloom attacks, leading to Link’s demise. Equipped with an assortment of Sundelion-infused meals, my second try was a breeze. I was awestruck by Ganondorf’s Flurry Rush. I was elated during the transformation. And yes, I shed a tear at the conclusion. It was a magnificent experience.

Regrettably, I haven’t dedicated much time to Hyrule since then. Every return trip has been filled with wonder, extending my playtime significantly beyond my expectations. However, I still feel like I’ve only scraped the surface – my completion rate of 41.41% only solidifies my suspicions. Perhaps it’s time for a return visit? If only other games could delay their release dates by, say, two years, that would be ideal.

Image: Nintendo Life

That’s our team’s perspective, but what about yours? How is your progress in Hyrule? Have you completed everything, or are you on your second, third, or even fourth playthrough? Do you think this game will keep you engaged until the next mainline release? Share your thoughts in the poll and comments below.