For veterans ofThe Legend of Zelda, harder difficulty modes are the perfect way to add an extra challenge on a new playthrough. In Zelda, hard modes often involve raising the damage output of monsters and lowering the amount of Hearts available to heal Link.
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On some occasions, dungeons, or even the entirety of Hyrule, are changed to add a new layer of difficulty. You’re unable to rely on your familiarity with the game and are thrust into a tougher experience that won’t be the same as the first time you played through it. If you’re looking for a new Zelda challenge, why not try one of these?
7Ocarina Of Time
Ocarina of Time’s Master Quest was originally available as a separate disc on the GameCube; however, when Ocarina of Time was remastered for the 3DS, it was included in the cartridge and unlocked after you finished the game for the first time.
In the original Master Quest,the difficulty of every dungeonwas enhanced, with the maps being altered to test veteran fans. You would also face more challenging monsters earlier than in regular mode.
The 3DS version of Master Quest flipped the entirety of Hyrule, and enemies hit twice as hard too.
6Skyward Sword
Unlike a lot of other entries,Skyward Sword’s Hero Mode is available in the original version as well as the HD remaster. In both instances, Hero Mode is unlocked after you have finished the main story.
It changes several aspects of the game: Hearts don’t appear (unless you equip the Heart Medal); the stamina and oxygen gauges drain more quickly; and you can remove the time needed to charge up the Master Sword’s Skyward Strike.
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Additionally, the Thunder Dragon’s boss rush is updated to include a few more battles, including another fight with Ghirahim and the final confrontation with Demise. The HD version kept it mostly the same, except for some features that were cut from the remaster anyway.
5A Link Between Worlds
A Link Between Worlds’ Hero Mode launched with the base game, though you need to have beaten the main story first to unlock it. In this Hero Mode, enemies do a staggering amount of damage - four times the usual amount - but this is balanced by the fact that Hearts still appear.
To reward you for taking on the challenge, certain story aspects that aren’t available in the main game also appear. Ravio’s diary can be found in the Vacant House, which gives insight into his feelings about Princess Hilda being deceived by Yuga, and his tough decision to depart without her.
There’s also a new scene after Link returnsthe Master Swordto its pedestal, showing the Sages together.
4The Wind Waker HD
The Wind Waker had an HD remaster on the Wii U, which, alongside enhanced graphics, included a harder difficulty known as Hero Mode. In Hero Mode, Link will take double damage from monster attacks, and Hearts don’t appear when you smash pots or cut grass, making it much more difficult to heal.
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You can switch between the Hero and Normal modes as you please, meaning that you aren’t locked into a specific difficulty. So, if you’re finding The Wind Waker too easy or too difficult, you don’t have to start your save file all over again.
3Twilight Princess HD
Similar to other HD rereleases,Twilight PrincessHD launched with a Hero Mode that can be accessed as soon as you start the game. Hero Mode heightens the overall difficulty by having stronger monsters that can take out twice as many Hearts in one hit.
Hero Mode also flips the game’s map, similar to how the Wii version was flipped to accommodate predominantly right-handed players because of itsuse of motion controls. However, for the HD version, the map was adjusted to challenge people already familiar with its layout.
2Link’s Awakening Remake
TheLink’s Awakeningremake for the Nintendo Switch overhauled the original sprite work for a vibrant, 3D appearance. Along with the visual upgrade, Hero Mode was also available from the beginning, allowing long-time fans of Link’s Awakening and those seeking a challenge to take it on from the get-go.
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If monsters hit Link in Hero Mode, it will cause him to lose twice as many hearts than usual, which can be difficult to deal with considering the fact that Hearts aren’t readily available to heal you. When you’re deep in a dungeon, you can’t rely on fairies to drop from the mini-boss either, as these helpful creatures also don’t appear, meaning you’ll have to be vigilant throughout.
1Breath Of The Wild
As part of The Master Trials DLC, Master Mode was introduced toBreath of the Wild. While Breath of the Wild already had tough monsters and challenges like Lynels and Eventide Island, Master Mode increased the difficulty even further.
In Master Mode, monsters are made more powerful and can regenerate their health if you don’t keep attacking. Bosses can also restore their health, meaning you need to deal with them quickly and efficiently.
A gold-level monster variant is also present throughout Hyrule, so you’ll have tokeep a watchful eye out for these fearsome enemieswhile adventuring.
