When I hear the names Koume and Kotake, the opening from The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time immediately springs to my mind. More specifically, I think of the scene that gave us a cinematic glimpse of the two witches subduing Nabooru, while our heroic Hylian in green drew his Master Sword on them. I clearly remember thinking that these two would pose a serious impediment to my quest. Little did I know they were actually second and third in command after Ganondorf, not the main villains.
It’s funny though: we see them in the opening before we even see Ganondorf, so it’s no wonder they stuck in my mind. That, and my 10-year-old self thought they had pretty cool designs, with their Gerudo attire and iconic blue and red giant head gems. Sadly, they don’t feature in Ocarina of Time as much as the opening implied they would, and they were eventually relegated to friendly roles in Majora’s Mask. They were just another boss to beat before reaching Ganon.
But I think I had it right the first time: they may not be the wielders of the Triforce of Power, but they are the surrogate mothers of Ganondorf, and it’s not unreasonable to assume that they’re the ones responsible for leading him on the path of power. They are a much bigger threat than the game gives them credit for, and I think that’s why I found them so memorable, despite their short-lived appearance.
Plus, they are undoubtedly the most interesting and comical dungeon boss in the game, as they verbally sass and intimidate Link. The most we get from other bosses is a roar or two. It’s apparent that they are working alongside Ganondorf, not just mindlessly for him like the creatures in the other dungeons. In fact, you could even argue that Ganondorf is working for them, if we go with my head-canon that they raised him to pursue the path he did.
All theorizing aside, Koume and Kotake are a brilliant boss duo because of their memorable designs, compelling build-up, unique Twinrova battle, and genuinely great quips. Let’s look at each of these areas in a bit more depth, because I really do think they deserve a detailed analysis.
The Twin’s Designs
It seems like I’m a sucker for anything slightly resembling Gerudo, even when said Gerudos are evil and 400 years old. But come on, Ocarina of Time took the tired idea of an evil witch, doubled it, swapped out pointy hats and tattered black robes, and gave them intriguing head gems, interesting Gerudo attire (while reinventing the iconic bat sleeves that all witches wear), and their unforgettable ice-blue and fire-red hair, both of which would leave you with a nasty burn.
There’s something so satisfying in the simplicity of the two’s designs and how they reflect their elemental abilities: Koume’s red hair and gem represent her ability to control fire, while Kotake’s reflect her icy powers. Uncomplicated and memorable.
And then there’s Twinrova. I wonder if a bunch of teenagers collectively lost their minds when Koume and Kotake transformed into what is essentially a deadly Gerudo temptress. I remember absolutely loving Twinrova’s design, as it gives off that powerful woman vibe that I love to see in games, whether the character is bad or good.
All of a sudden these witches became a combined force in the form of an agile, badass sorceress who is not messing around anymore — well, aside from giving Link a cheeky wink.
The Build-Up
Unlike the game’s other dungeon bosses, Koume and Kotake have a real build-up throughout the Spirit Temple. Well, if you were me, it was actually a build-up that started in the first few minutes of putting the game cartridge in the Nintendo 64. It got me so pumped to beat the temple and put them in their place.
We first see them Gerudo-napping Nabooru outside of the Spirit Temple after Link finds the Silver Gauntlets, and we get a glimpse of the witches’ power as they teleport Nabooru away to who knows where. The next time you see the two — seven whole years later — they have Nabooru completely brainwashed as an Iron Knuckle. This is one of the most iconic moments and mini-bosses in the game. It made the opening after all! You really do get the sense that they aren’t an ordinary threat.
Link enters the boss room and is greeted by the two witches, who order Nabooru in her Iron Knuckle form to do their dirty work, all while insulting and mocking Link. The fact that they send her to attack you in their place shows how considered their actions are: they aren’t like the other bosses in the dungeons, who normally, instinctively, and brainlessly charge at you. They are calculating and powerful.
Even after you free Nabooru, the two quickly return, talk about how they will make her work for “the great Ganondorf a little while longer”, and steal her away once again. After that, I dunno about you, but I was pretty pissed and ready to avenge my girl Nabooru.
The Best Boss: Twinrova
Even when you set aside the incredible design, Twinrova is an excellent example of a perfect Zelda boss in my opinion. Zelda has always been based around light puzzle solving and item utilization, as well as an understanding of enemy patterns and openings. Twinrova has all of these.
Throughout the Spirit Temple, you learn how to use the Mirror Shield to manipulate beams of light, and this knowledge is now put to the test as you face Twinrova. But you’re not just bouncing off light; you’re controlling the elements of fire and ice. This challenges your existing knowledge of how the Mirror Shield works, but it doesn’t feel so unclear that it’s frustrating. You quickly learn that you can absorb and reflect the elements, and suddenly a whole new and satisfying way of using the shield becomes apparent.
I also like how it requires patience, positioning, and timing, as you have to track both Koume and Kotake as they move across the map and not attempt to spring into action. Likewise, when they transform into Twinrova, you have to bide your time and ensure you build up power in your shield sufficiently. This sometimes means challenging your instinct to defend all incoming attacks, as it’ll break your chain.
While some may see it as a bit too passive — and I agree it’s not the most difficult fight — I see it as a test of patience and alertness. This is truly fitting for a fight against two cunning witches. It’s not a battle of brawn, it’s a battle of wits.
They do have one type of unbeatable wit though, I’ll give them that.
The Witty Witches
While Koume and Kotake may be a dangerous duo to reckon with, I love the comic relief that they bring to the game. They share some brilliant back and forth quips, usually at Link’s expense, that help to round them out as characters. They talk about how ‘outrageous’ you are to boldly intrude their temple, and how they should teach you a lesson, all while laughing hideously.
Once you confront the two in the boss room, they continue to make snide remarks about you, saying how stupid you are for coming on your own to offer yourself as a sacrifice to Ganondorf. You really are an insignificant bother in their eyes and the battle is clearly in part for their own amusement.
It’s not until they realize Link’s actually a pretty real threat that they start to ‘get serious’ and transform into Twinrova. Even then, it still feels like they’re toying with Link, as they casually float around the room and give him a rather inoffensive wink in their Twinrova form.
I think their witty sense of humor is what really sealed their memorability in my mind, and this is fully realized in the final scene after you defeat them. The two (and we) are surprised to see halos appear above their heads and a heavenly light raising them into the sky. It’s so light-hearted and very close to being tonally jarring, but it just works.
The witty dialogue doesn’t overstay its welcome, and their old lady squawks and jabbering, as they quarrel about their age in the light of death, is really comical, especially because we see no reaction from Link. The ‘camera’ focuses solely on them as it’s purely for our enjoyment.
“Shoot, what a fresh kid! This time, we’ll get serious, right Kotake?”
“Hey, Koume, what is that above your head?”
“I don’t know, but you have one over your head too, Kotake!”
“But I’m only 400 years old!”
“And I’m just 380 years old!”
“We’re twins! Don’t try to lie about your age!”
“You must have gone senile!”
“Who are you calling senile?! Is that how you treat your older sister?”
“We are twins! How can you be older?”
“Keeeyaaah!! How heartless you are!”
And finally, as they ascend into the all-consuming light, they give one final zinger: “I’ll come back to haunt you!”
The only way this could have been more perfect is if it finished with: “I’ll Koume back to haunt you.”
