It’s spooky season, and that means subjecting ourselves to disturbing media and scary-good sound effects! Despite not being a horror series, The Legend of Zelda franchise is chock full of horrifying monster sounds, shrieks, and other deeply unsettling noises that chill the bones and make us jump in fright. Here are the top five.
5. Guardians’ Laser Reticle in Breath of the Wild
While it may not be the spookiest sound out of context, this little chirp of doom raises the heart rates of players the world over. Hearing the fast-tempo beeps, accompanied by an equally-terrifying battle theme means you have mere seconds to get out of there before being exploded into oblivion. There may not be many kids dressing up as a Guardian for Halloween, but this simple sound effect still solidified the Guardians’ legacy as being some of the most scary foes in The Legend of Zelda franchise.
4. Miniblins in The Wind Waker
“Da-da, da-da, dee-da, da-da” is the overlapping call of the equal parts terrifying and annoying Miniblins. Always appearing out of nowhere, and able to climb walls and ladders, these underrated enemies from The Wind Waker can overwhelm the player as they sing their death chant. Being swarmed by little rat devils with pitchforks is already scary, but add in a creepy, happy chant, and you have a recipe for nightmares later that night.
3. Zant in Twilight Princess
The King of Shadows leaves quite an impression when introduced in Twilight Princess. In his first iconic cutscene, he slowly enters Princess Zelda’s throne room, abominable beasts to either side, and is accompanied by one of the scariest sounds in the series’ history. Whether it’s a sound he’s actually making, or a non-diegetic one meant to accentuate his grand appearance, remains to be seen. But there is no denying that Zant looks and sounds like someone you’d never want to meet in a dark alley. Or, anywhere really.
2. ReDeads in Ocarina of Time
Perhaps the scariest and most iconic spooky enemy from across the series, Ocarina of Time’s ReDeads are downright panic inducing. Their slow amble, petrifying gaze, and high-pitched scream will make any player shiver with fright. Whether they are zombified denizens of Hyrule or another race entirely has never officially been confirmed, but it has been confirmed that if you imagine one under your bed is a surefire way to keep you awake all night long.
1. Dead Hand in Ocarina of Time
The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time is rated E…for blood and gore! Nothing can compare to the sheer horror and dread of meeting the Dead Hand for the first time. Its mangled body and disturbing features contribute to those feelings, but so does the sounds it makes. A deep, echoing laugh and shrieks pair with its permanent smile to create a monstrosity we’ve never quite seen replicated elsewhere in the series. Parents who bought their kids Ocarina of Time in 1998, and frankly even today, are still blissfully unaware of the trauma waiting in store for anyone who gets far enough to reach the Bottom of the Well…
Jared Richardson
Jared Richardson is a professional sound designer, an avid game collector, and a brand new dad! He's also the host of the podcast Level With Us, where he and his co-host Marcus review indie games and challenge each other to nerdy trivia contests about them.
by Jared Richardson on October 16, 2024
