Gleeok (The Legend of Zelda)

By today’s standards the combat in the original Legend of Zelda doesn’t feel great. It’s basic and stiff, without the fluidity and special techniques that make vanquishing enemies in later Zelda games more satisfying. But even then, Nintendo had a sense of drama. The bosses may not look like much on-screen, but the way you can hear their roars from rooms away is both informative and intimidating, building them up in your imagination as a fearsome presence, something to be reckoned with.

The most memorable of these dungeon guardians, for my money at least, is Gleeok, the fourth labyrinth’s multi-headed dragon whose severed heads fly around the room erratically, blasting fireballs in your direction. The first time you encounter the beast, it’s got a paltry (but still annoying) two heads, but before your quest is over, you’ll face three- and even four-headed versions, and good lord, is fighting it while three heads float around obnoxious. Gleeok is a great early entry in the pantheon of Zelda bosses who are just annoying guys, and I’m excited to see what it has in store for us when it makes its return in Tears of the Kingdom. — Carolyn Petit