The Legend of Zelda series sure has its fair share of inf characters/NPCs which can indeed very much vary over the different games; some are likeable, loveable even while some are just not. I therefore thought it'e be a bit of fun to do a list of both some of the best and worst ing characters/NPCs from the Zelda series, in my opinion at least anyway. However, since I have only actually played through of the Zelda games, so of course this list will no doubt be mostly limited to just characters from those 3 games, being Ocarina of Time, Majora's Mask and Twilight Princess. But still, there should certainly be enough characters to list and write about, so here goes:
1) BEST: Saria, Ocarina of Time:
As Link's childhood best friend (and possible sweetheart) Saria makes for a great ing character with her kindly, gentle nature and lovely friendship with Link. She starts off offering Link the fairy ocarina when bidding him a rather bittersweet goodbye as he leaves Kokiri forest behind, to help him on his adventure, and is always there for him whenever he needs through Saria's song. Although her and Link can never co-exist in the same world as each other, it is clear that their friendship is strong enough that it will always be there regardless, which can be seen from her farewell to Link, her giving him Saria's song in her secret spot in the Sacred meadow, Link arriving at the Sacred forest Meadow Kokiri forest and appearing disappointed that she isn't there, to her last touching message of friendship to him after he's awakened her as a sage. Its a really sweet touch, a bittersweet one at that, how although we don't see that much of her, Saria and her friendship with Link has a indeed quite the significant, meaningful impact, and that, as also indicated by Sheik, she can be seen as symbol, one of the bittersweet examples of Link leaving behind his childhood and life as a kokiri. It was a nice touch as well seeing her in addition to all this indeed being one of the sages who helps Link seal Ganondorf away at the end, making her role in the game, in the plot all the more significant.
2) BEST: Darunia, Ocarina of Time
Along with Saria, he is the one of the sages who you just can't help but be taken by the loveable charm of, along with his forged friendship with Link, bestowing him as his "sworn brother", along with the heartwarming quote that Sheik makes just before entering the Fire Temple, with each quote Sheik makes before each temple seeming to be connected to Link's connection with that sage or situation with that temple. It's really meaningful and touching, and his enthusiasm and happy disposition once Sara's Song is played, being an easily memorable, entertaining scene from the Zelda series, along his acknowledgement of Link's true heroism and courage is all what really makes for a most loveable, memorable character.
3) BEST: Tatl, Majora's Mask
Tatl was indeed a character with true development and depth, which is what makes for a really engaging, solid, well-written character. She starts off the game being somewhat antagonistic and rude towards Link, ing in with a posessed Skull Kid's taunting of Link, then blaming Link for her getting seperared from her brother Tael. However, even though she remains rather blunt in her manner, she starts to redeem herself throughout her journey with Link, as she expresses her repent for all that has happened to him, remains a ive companion to him and even ends up expressing her iration for him, and her gratitude as well at the end for their journey together. You get to see her as much more of an actual, solid character who actually participates in the game's story, rather than a simple game mechanic much like Navi was, which yes I have to it is true as much as I do still overall, slightly favour MM's predecessor OOT over it. She is very concerned and protective over her younger brother Tael as well, which starts off as her main motive when deciding to accompany Link, but also begins to realize the overall, main issue which is of course that of Skull Kid wreaking havoc on termina while being posessed by a maleovent mask. Despite having been friends with Skull Kid, she clearly acknowledges his wrong doings and just how dire the situation is at hand, to the point she must assist Link in saving the Termina from the impending apocalypse as well as being reunited with her brother. Out of all of Link's companions, she could arguably be the best of all of them.
4) BEST: Malon, Ocarina of Time
Although she may not be a particularly major character within the game's actual plot itself, Malon comes across as a kindly, cheerful, warm character with a loveable, flirty, friendly charm about her. She is the first character we officially meet when entering Hyrule castle town, referring to Link as "fairy boy" and ultimately enabling him to sneak into Hyrule Castle grounds/gardens (if not unwittingly). We later meet her again at her ranch as she teaches us Epona's song, which is vital for obtaining our trusty steed to help us traverse throughout our lengthy journey later on in the game. We meet her later on in the game as an adult, where we see how she has been ultimately affected by Ganondorf's destruction of Hyrule, with Ingo having taken over and evicted her dad from the ranch. Seeing Malon's loyalty and dedication to the ranch itself along with her care and comion for the horses, claiming she's only stayed under Ingo's threat towards harming the horses, and how she's had to endure this hardship for all this time really makes you realize just how strong this girl really is.
Malon is also often considered as the most canonical, realistic, potential love interest for Link in this game/the Hero of Time Link. There are a few hints at this throughout the game, and even in Twilight Princess when we see the Hero of Time's Link's descendant as a ranch boy and knowing Epona's song. It's also interesting to note that Link must've gained Malon's trust to take Epona with him on his mission to search for Navi in Majora's Mask. Although we didn't really get to see that much of a relationship between Link and Malon in Ocarina of Time, I still it to rather liking the idea of Link having ended up with Malon, seeing it as quite a nice, fitting pair indeed.
4) WORST: Ilia, Twilight Princess
Ilia appeared to be the somewhat equivalent of Saria and Malon from Ocarina of Time; Saria in that she was introduced as Link's long-term childhood best friend (and sweetheart) and Malon in that she was extremely fond of horses, namely Epona, who she seemed to have that close bond with, and was of course a ranch girl. However, she easily paled in comparison to her predecessor counterparts, greatly at that, as she greatly lacked any charm or likeability, being a very bland and one-dimensional character. Likewise, she didn't contribute anything or have any connection to the main plot, yet was forced upon us throughout, being overly and unneccessarily focused on at random points, with much more screen time than Saria and Malon had even though they at least had a connection to the main plot.
She was a most grating character I found, being none more than a one-dimensional, bland, simpering, cutesy Mary Sue, who was always made out to be oh so kind and caring, in a very one-dimensional, on the surface, sugary kind of way of course, making it most grating indeed when various characters ired her the way they did. Her getting mad at Link and constantly snatching Epona away from him without his permission, acting all posessive over her as if she was her horse and not Link's was only a small part of why I didn't like her of course. It just annoyed me most the way she keeps popping up at random points throughout the game the way she does, simpering away so sweetly and sickeningly, with characters, namely Telma, Colin and Impaz iring how "adorable" and "amazing" she is, with her heavily implied romance thread with Link, especially the scene of her ing him and everyone leaving them in privacy to be incredibly grating as of course none of this had any connection to the main plot whatsoever. The end credits scene of her seemingly seeing him off outside his house only added to this; I'd like to interpret this as him moving on from her and bidding her farewell, though with how much their romance was emphasized despite having no connection to the main plot who knows. She doesn't encourage and accept Link's growth and development of his journey, of him going from a simple ranch boy to saving Hyrule from evil and defeating those evil villains face to face, but rather just seems to be like "Oh yeah when you're back from whatever you're up to now I'll be waiting". I mean if she is made as this significant of a role in Link's life then why wasn't she made to contribute to and his quest of the main plot itself?! She was my one major complaint regarding Twilight Princess, but she was enough to almost put me off the whole thing. Her and Colin's kidnapping is an obvious plothole of course, with it never being explained to what this has to do with Zant, and ultimately Ganondorf wreaking havoc over Hyrule. She, along with the Ordon kids, Renado and Telma is completely disted from the main plot itself involving Midna, Zant, Ganondorf and Zelda (and Link of course ultimately).
5) WORST: Colin and the rest of the Ordon Kids, Twilight Princess
Just like Ilia, Colin was another incredibly grating character who had nothing to do with the main plot involving Midna, Zant, Ganondorf and Zelda (and Link) yet kept most annoyingly appearing throughout being significantly focused on at certain points, also beimg one of Link's family friends from his hometown in Ordon Village of course. He is just so grating with how incredibly whiny and sappy he is, as he won't stop bothering us and hogging the screen to whine and plead away despite the fact none of this is contributing to our main quest itself of the main plot. He also ires Ilia most irritatingly, which is no surprise of course with them both being just as irritating as each other. He is basically the male, younger version of Ilia throughout the game; very grating and contributes nothing/has no connection to the main plot of the game, just constantly being there getting in the way all the time, being forced upon us. I actually thought they were brother and sister at first as they looked so alike, which they might as well have been to be honest. Their poor physical designs could be what partly contributes to them appearing as grating as they are.
I've noticed people say before that they consider him to be one of the few characters in Twilight Princess to have proper charactee development with his own character arc, but I kind of disagree, as I really feel that this whole "arc" of Colin we starting off whimpy then acting all brave and courageous all of a sudden was very forced. I mean, it's all just done in a very typical, cliched kind of fashion, being very much on the surface, as like I say the brave act of him standing in front of King Bulblin just sort of came out of nowhere, and most importantly, it was very much disted from the main plot of course, having no connection with that whastoever, just being a mere add-on feature/afterthought.
Likewise, the other ordon kids; Beth, Talo and Malo were also really annoying, being all "OMMGG!!" "AHHH!!" all the time, just overly excitable, rowdy, boisterous and ultimately annoying basically, being forced upon us throughout, while of course contributing nothing and having no connection to the main plot whatsoever, much like Colin and Ilia. Malo is the least worst out of all of them though, as he's the only one that doesn't act like this, but remains mostly calm and collected.
6) WORST: Renado and Telma, Twilight Princess
Okay, this is probably more about their roles than their actual characters theirselves when I criticize these two, and I have put them together only because their roles in the game are both so similiar, so it didn't really seem worth listing them seperately. Basically, while they're all right as characters in themselves, their roles in the game are what make them most grating and exasperating, since just like Ilia and the Ordon kids, they contribute nothing and have no connection to the main plot, as they just annoyingly keep popping up, being forced upon us. They just simply seem to be there to contribute to the plot thread(s) involving Ilia and the Ordon kids, which is of course very disted from the main plot itself, seeming to exist as a seperate narrative in itself. Telma of course introduces Link to the Resistance Group, but she doesn't even seem to participate in it herself. She is portrayed as having become "fast friends" with Link but again, this seems to be forced and superficial, being merely just forced into one moment or so with her introducing herself to him and drafting him into the Resistance group. What annoyed me most about Telma and Renado is that they never even mention or acknowledge Zant or Ganondorf as being the threats and culprits they are, who are responsible for invading Hyrule, despite the fact they are indeed the main antagonists of the game, as part of them having no connection to the main plot of course. Like the rest of the ing characters, they only ever seem to acknowledge King Bulblin and his army as the culprits, which is part of just how messy and disted the whole plot/narrative really was. They annoy me in their roles as they are worthless like Ilia and the kids, as well as further enabling these annoying kids and Ilia's roles which are very much disted from the main plot. They hold us back basically.
7) BEST: Happy Mask Salesman, Majora's Mask
He was actually in Ocarina of Time too, but of course had a much more promninent role in Majora's Mask. He is very creepy and eerie, which is what makes him such an engaging, gripping and ultimately entertaining character. His role in Majora's Mask is an interesting one, as he seems to acknowledge Link's previous accomplishments from the previous game upon his first appearance, he is the owner of many masks including the infamous Majora's Mask which he knows the origins of, teaches Link the song of healing and, despite having a seemingly permanent smile on his face, gets very angry if Link doesn't return the evil mask to him. Furthermore, the moon children are mini-mes of him, and he seems to vanish into thin air in the last scene of the game (though some claim this may be a glitch). This makes for a very enigmatic, and in turn intriguing character, as well as entertaining with his endlessly smiling, laughing face, only to suddenly loose his temper, shaking Link, but only his eyes are angry, while his smile of course remains. He shows even more to him at the end though, telling Link how he has made a lot of people happy through the power of the mask, followed by his interesting, and rather deep, wise quote about partings and how they need not last forever, which really does leave quite an impact on you, leaving you wondering very much indeed.
Consequently, he really does make for a very memorable character of the series indeed.
8) BEST: Romani & Cremia, Majora's Mask
These two sisters were of course the terminan ounterparts of Malon from Ocarina of Time, Romani being her child counterpart and Cremia being her adult counterpart. They also appear to end up not only being a reflection on Malon's own character from Link's own thoughts and memories, but further expanding on that charactee as well, through both her child and adult self. In Romani, we see a similiar loveable, cheerful, cute, friendly girl, who is also cutely quirky referring to herself in third person at times, and again seemingly having some sort of affection for Link, referring to him as grasshopper, paralleling with child Malon's "fairy boy" nickname for him, and this time even calling him cute. This time she also has a hobby of archery, and like Malon remains concerned of protecting the animals of the ranch.
Cremia meanwhile shares Malon's kind, friendly nature, along with her determination to keep her ranch going strongly, appearing distraught if her milk deliveries fail. She's a character you become quite invested in at that, as you see her burden of keeping the ranch going since her parents ed away, along with having to parent her little sister. Likewise, you see how she is affected by her sister being abducted and struggling to function if the defending Romani Ranch side quest is failed. Overall, we get quite a deep look into this sisterly bond and the difficult situations they are stuck in, how they have motivations they strive for and how this affects them, as well as how they are affected by the impending apocalypse. It is a rather deep concept that really engages you with these characters. Not to mention they have a great side quest, although the protecting ranch part is definitely frustrating enough to make you rage quit (or me at least) the rewards they give you are most worthwhile.
9) BEST: Anju & Kafei, Majora's Mask
Without a doubt the best of the many fun sidequests in the game, Anju and Kafei make for fascinating, solid characters with their strong story arc that has been woven into this sidequest. When hearing their sides of the story on what is indeed a heartbreaking one, you begin to feel for them, but it is their reunion at the end of this sidequest that really tugs at ones heartstrings, accepting their deaths together, exchanging their masks and giving you the couples mask, the final of the 20 normal masks (if you do it in that order) which is most worthwhile indeed, enabling you to ultimately obtain the fierce deity mask. Their reunion a bittersweet, emotional one, with their wedding scene in the end credits also being emotional and bittersweet, but this time in a more happy way, as you really became invested in their story, although it was a shame they didn't show Kafei as an adult, yet you see Anju reach out her hand to him!
10) BEST: Mido, Ocarina of Time
What often makes for great characters are ones with some sort of redemption arc, or who reform in some way. Although Mido was only quite a minor character in OOT, he still had some interesting qualities about him; he started off being mean and bitter towards Link because he had no fairy and because he was jealous of Saria's and the Deku tree's apparent favouritism towards him. This does not change after Link has defeated the curse in the Deku tree and the Deku tree dies, as Mido blames the Deku tree's death on Link, spreads this rumour round the Kokiri forest with only Saria sticking up for Link. However, just before entering the Forest Temple as an adult, Mido is there blocking his way again, although he doesn't quite recognize Link, though does state he reminds him of the Kokiri Link he re, and seems to express remorse for his attitude towards Link. It's a sweet touch really, and is made even more touching in the end credits when we see Mido (who is mourning over his daughter Ruto) along with King Zora, mourning over the loss of Saria, as they then both watch with fascination the sages shooting in the sky in their magic beam forms. It has quite the impact, and that is what makes for quite an engaging character who you just can't help but ultimately feel for.
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