Yuga Ganon (A Link Between Worlds)

A Link to the Past is understandably one of the most beloved Zelda games. But its climactic fight with Ganon, while suitably dramatic, isn’t particularly challenging or mechanically memorable. The 3DS’ A Link Between Worlds, however—effectively a direct sequel to the storied SNES game—upped the ante tremendously with its intense final encounter. In his first phase, Yuga Ganon evokes LttP’s final battle, teleporting around and sending his trident spinning through the air, though even here, he’s much more aggressive than his SNES counterpart. It’s after this phase, though, that the pigman really pulls out all the stops, hurling multiple orbs that you must parry back at him with your sword, and leaping into the wall—the game’s big gimmick—where you must give chase and strike him with arrows of magical light. This breathless battle perfectly caps off this wonderful sequel. — Carolyn Petit