The Legend of Zelda: Creepiest Moments
To celebrate Halloween, we have delved into the depths of Hyrule and Termina to bring you the most spine-chilling moments in the Zelda series. From the surprising Tears of the Kingdom to the haunting Dead Hand and terrifying Redeads, this sprawling game series offers more than a few frightful encounters. From the moment Dead Hand emerges from the depths of Ocarina of Time's Castle Town toilet to the harrowing sightings of the disturbing Redeads in The Wind Waker, Zelda has always managed to surprise and unsettle players with its jump scares and eerie moments. Whether it was the polygonal graphics of the N64 originals or the more lighthearted visuals of the Zelda games on PC, there's no denying the power of these moments to give us a good scare or make us laugh, even if unintentionally. Here are the top 10 creepiest Zelda moments:1. Castle Town's Tragic Fate (Ocarina of Time)
Castle Town in Ocarina of Time stands as one of the more tragic moments in Hyrule's history. After Ganondorf's initial failure to obtain the Triforce, he returns and destroys Hyrule Castle Town and its surrounding areas, transforming the inhabitants into gruesome Redeads. Even your faithful Hyrule Symphony Master is turned into a terrifying statue.
2. Horrors of Hyrule's Sanctuary (The Wind Waker)
Deep within Hyrule's Sanctuary in The Wind Waker, the colourful, grinning, and sometimes blushing Redeads serve as the greatest horrors. Whether this is their natural state or a result of being returned to life, they certainly don't look ready to spare anyone.
3. The Sinister Shopkeeper (Link's Awakening)
The shopkeeper in the original Game Boy version of Link's Awakening is more than just strict; he takes morbid delight in punishing any nascent thieves. Link's wallet is already burdened with the weight of his treasures, but anything he steals adds a realistic heaviness. You can truly feel his pain as he struggles under the weight before receiving a comparatively lighter punishment.
4. Transformative Torment (Majora's Mask)
In Majora's Mask, the transformation masks all come with cute yet oddly detailed animations, accompanied by Link's anguished shout as he is morphed into different forms. The agonizing screams that accompany these transformations are far scarier than the masks themselves and perhaps mirror Majora's own terrifying visage. There is something deeply affecting about witnessing Link's transformation.
5. Unsettling Seas and Shadows (The Wind Waker and Twilight Princess)
Surprisingly, even ostensibly safe areas such as the ocean and its surroundings in games like The Wind Waker and Twilight Princess can become unnerving. The vast, dark caves naturally induce discomfort, but the unexpected attacks from wall-crawling Gerudos or thieves in Twilight Princess ensure that the return to Hyrule is far from reassuring.
6. Eerie Twilight Realm (Twilight Princess)
The Twilight Realm in Twilight Princess is filled with eerily unsettling moments. The Interloper cutscene, where a soulless Link turns against poor Wolfos Triforce Butler Colin, is particularly unnerving. Additionally, the violence at the base of Hyrule's tower, though not technically creepy, is suitably intense and accompanied by downright terrifying music.
7. Trepidation in the Silent Realm
The Silent Realm in all Zelda games provides moments of sudden and intense uncertainty. Here we encounter a dead-eyed Link, a hand emerging from a toilet, and a collection of very unpleasant sound effects, particularly the harpies. Nintendo intentionally creates an atmosphere of trepidation and difficulty rather than pure Horror, but even so, there are amusingly subtle elements of outright fear present.
8. Intense Encounters with the Yiga Clan (Breath of the Wild)
Although not traditionally terrifying, anything involving the Yiga Clan in Breath of the Wild's main storyline is incredibly intense. These encounters often involve a highly literal game of cat and mouse, with Link playing the role of the mouse.
