Darkness

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Darkness,[1][name references needed] often referred to as Shadow,[2] is a pivotal element that has played a vital role in The Legend of Zelda series. It has served various purposes, both in terms of story and gameplay, sometimes (but not always) as a manifestation of evil.

Role in the series

Darkness as a symbolic element

Of all the elemental staples in the series, such as Fire, Ice or Light, Darkness has carried over the worst reputation. This is because of its association with evil in the World of The Legend of Zelda and its frequent use by many of the greatest villains who have menaced the Light World. Though the line between good and evil is not always clear cut, the conflict between good and evil is often represented as a battle between Light and Darkness, with Link often striving in favor of the former. In addition, Darkness is frequently portrayed through a setting that is more difficult to conquer than the Light World, and often represents the last dungeon Link must face before the final battle. In some games, Link himself is occasionally forced to fight his dark counterpart as well.

Despite this, Darkness does not always symbolize evil. In Ocarina of Time, aside from the association with Ganon and his servants, Shadow is portrayed as just another element alongside Light, Forest, Fire, Water, and Spirit. It is embodied by the Shadow Temple, which is guarded by the Sage of Shadow, who grants Link the Shadow Medallion after she is awakened. The Nocturne of Shadow also pays homage to the element, and allows instant transportation to the area of Kakariko Village Graveyard that leads to the Shadow Temple.

Darkness is also embodied by several benign races over the course of the series. The most famous are the Sheikah, a near-extinct race who served the Hyrule royal family; they are dubbed the "Shadows of the Hylians" due to their existence as a subculture and tribe within the Hylian race who operate in secret. Their magic often involves the use of illusions and misdirection, which can be found throughout the Shadow Temple and the Bottom of the Well; one particular Sheikah developed the Lens of Truth to aid in the navigation of such areas. Impa, one of the last surviving members of the Sheikah during the Era of Time, awakens as the Sage of Shadow.

The Twili are the descendants of Hylians who practiced dark magic in a bid to conquer the Sacred Realm, before they were banished to the Twilight Realm for their crimes; by the time of Twilight Princess, they have adapted in the Twilight to become the peaceful race they are now. The exception to this is Zant, who succumbed to his own jealousy and greed leading to his alignment with Ganondorf.

The hero from Four Swords Adventures is sometimes known as the Hero of Darkness, and occasionally took on a form resembling Dark Link.

Darkness as a setting

In addition to the Shadow dungeons located throughout Hyrule and other lands, there are also entire overworld locations that act as a darker version of the Light World. The Dark World from A Link to the Past mirrors many of the locations from the Light World but with a twist, often showing a more negative atmosphere (for example, Village of Outcasts when compared to Kakariko Village). This applies, to a lesser extent, to the landmarks of Hyrule in Twilight Princess when covered by the influence of Twilight by Zant after the defeat of the Light Spirits who guarded the different provinces.

Darkness as death

The Shadow Temple is referred to as a "House of the Dead" by Sheik; it appropriately resembles a large tomb hidden behind the Kakariko Village Graveyard. Strewn throughout the dungeon are torture and execution devices, and several disembodied voices within the temple speak of Hyrule's "bloody history of greed and hatred" in regards to the dungeon's past.

The Ikana Kingdom of Termina, once a land of light, is overrun by spirits and the undead after Skull Kid thrusts open the doors of the Stone Tower Temple in Majora's Mask; King Igos du Ikana tasks the Hero of Time to close these doors in order to extinguish the "dark wind" and put them to rest.

The Cursed Spume is a Dark elemental variety of Spume that lives within dangerous and lethal environments, such as lava fools and poisonous lakes. Pools of poison are often found within Dark-themed areas, such as the Ancient Cistern, Royal Family's Tomb, and Bottom of the Well, and are often accompanied by the undead.

Darkness as a puzzle device

Puzzles and dungeon mechanics pertaining to the element of Darkness often involve stealth, optical illusions, and even literal shadows.

In some Stealth missions, such as the Infiltration of Hyrule Castle or the Forsaken Fortress, Link is required to remain in the shadows away from roaming Searchlights, and some hunt-based sidequests are best taken place at night. In Spirit Tracks, some dark rooms house bombable walls that remain unnoticeable if there are lit candles, and Dark Ore must be transported under as little sunlight as possible.

Link using the Lens of Truth to see through an illusory wall and a fake lantern

Optical illusions are the main dungeon mechanic of the Shadow Temple, Bottom of the Well, and Ganon's Castle. They may take the form of invisible enemies, traps, walls, and platforms, or alternatively as illusionary structures that are not actually there. The Lens of Truth greatly aids in the navigation of such obstacles, though it is not strictly necessary. Illusionary or invisible walls and platforms also appear in other Dark-themed dungeons such as Ganon's Tower and the Palace of the Four Sword from A Link to the Past, the Dark Palace and Lorule Castle from A Link Between Worlds, and the Fire Sanctuary from Skyward Sword. Ganon in particular has a habit of using illusionary magic to become invisible during combat; in A Link to the Past, he calls this a "special technique of darkness" and Link must illuminate the torches of the arena to render him visible again.

"Dark" variations of enemies often fire curses at Link, such as the Cursed Spume, Dark Keese, and Dark Lizalfos, who are found in great abundance within the Fire Sanctuary. When cursed, Link oftentimes cannot use his sword or other weapons; a similar mechanic is present in the Earth Temple in the form of Paralyzing Fog and the curses dispensed by Bubbles. The fog temporarily recedes when bathed in light from Medli's harp or the Mirror Shield. A similar Dark Fog appears in the Palace of Twilight which forces Link to transform into his wolf form. Bosses such as Stalblind and Ghirahim also make use of Dark magic with their attacks, though these don't curse Link in any way.

In a more literal sense, Dark dungeons often make use of low light levels, dark bottomless pits, and enemies that drop from the ceiling such as Wallmasters and Skulltulas, whose presence is often indicated by their shadow.

The Fierce Deity's Mask is by far the most renowned dark weapon usable by Link. It allows him to transform into Fierce Deity Link and unleash devastating attacks unmatched by virtually every other weapon in the series, enough to defeat bosses near instantaneously. It is hinted that the dark powers of the mask are comparable or even worse than Majora's Mask itself, but it can only be used during boss battles without glitches.

Midna using the Fused Shadow

In Twilight Princess, Midna allows Link to make use of her dark powers when transformed as wolf form. One of these abilities is creating a field of dark energy that traps foes and allows Link to perform a sweeping bite attack on them simultaneously. Link can also take advantage of the heightened senses of his wolf form to perceive otherwise invisible objects, spirits, and scents in a manner similar to the Lens of Truth. Midna can also teleport both Link and any big and heavy object from one landmark to another using Twilight magic. Finally, when Midna is in possession of the entirety of the Fused Shadow, she is able to transform into a gigantic spider-like entity with a large spear. She is notably able to resist the corrupting effects of the Fused Shadow and Mirror of Twilight shards, making her a useful ally in the quest to stop Zant.

Darkness-based enemies and bosses

Darkness-based items

Dark World settings

Darkness-based areas

References

  1. ↑ The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom—The Complete Official Guide, Piggyback Interactive Limited, pg. 17
  2. ↑ "Discovery Log: Day... I've lost count.

    I can feel that I'm a hair's breadth away from unlocking the secrets hidden within the pedestal.

    I'm certain that "casting" and "cold" refer to using a specific type of shadow.

    But I've run out of food entirely, and I doubt now that I ever had the tools to do the job...whatever they might be.    " — Mountain Peak Log (Breath of the Wild)
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