It feels as though LEGO has gone a little Nintendo crazy over the past few years, with a number of the publisher’s biggest brands getting the brick treatment. From Mario and Pokémon to Animal Crossing and The Legend of Zelda, there are dozens upon dozens of sets out there catering to audiences young and old, and as a Nintendo fan (and gamer in general), I couldn’t be happier. While my love for the Fast and Furious franchise is well known and so too my appreciation for their LEGO sets, my true passion has always been gaming, so seeing these franchises I’ve grown up with converted into LEGO form is always a joyous experience.

Whenever you ask that age-old question of what a gamer’s favourite video game of all time is, you’ll get a mix of responses but one name that always seems to come up time and time again is The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time. It’s not hard to see why, either; the game is currently sitting atop the list of best-reviewed games ever on Metacritic, not to mention what it did for the industry all those years ago.

Following LEGO’s first Zelda build with the Deku Tree, I was always hoping we’d see more. After all, there are so many iconic scenes from the now 40-year history that LEGO could pull from. What we got is not only one of the most iconic though but also delivered in a format at a more accessible price than the Deku Tree.

The great battle between Link and Ganon from the Ocarina of Time was an interesting choice, as I wondered how LEGO might replicate such a monumental moment in the series since it doesn’t really involve a giant structure like the Deku Tree. Before we get to the build, though, it’s worth noting that just like previous sets focused on a video game franchise, the manual includes a good number of artwork and details of the game and moment the set is based on. Fans will really dig it.

The set itself comes with three minifigures: Link, Princess Zelda and Ganondorf. While this version of Link already featured in the Deku Tree set, it’s never a bad thing to have an extra, especially given how well LEGO nailed the look of our green tunic-ed hero. In fact, all three look fantastic, Zelda with her detailed dress and Ganondorf nailing everything head to toe.

The first major component of the build you’ll get to work on is the base, displaying the crumbled ruins of Ganondorf’s castle. Given the source material, it’s a little hard to see what more LEGO could have done to convert an old Nintendo 64 environment (go back and take a look, and you’ll see just how barren it actually looks). The base features enough to keep things interesting, from the flames lined up at the back to the leaning tower to the various pieces of rubble littering the floor. One particularly cool feature is the piece of rubble positioned next to the tower, able to be flipped by pressing by pushing a sliding piece inward to reveal the Ganondorf minifigure. I really dig little interactable elements like this in a set, and the Final Battle does a great job of balancing subtlety and impact. Rounding things off is the iconic Triforce, built at the very front of the base and adding that extra bit of pizazz to the entire diorama.

The final segment of the set you’ll build is Ganon, and it almost feels like a case of saving the best for last. In his final form, this villain proved to be a monstrously tall beast towering over Link and LEGO has done an admirable job translating that. There’s so much minor detail to appreciate in Ganon, from his tattered cape to the long running hair to his pig-like face with striking horns. Then of course, you have his pair of weapons, two golden swords, dwarfing a standard LEGO sword (in fact, these are entirely new pieces).

The set is highly posable with plenty of places to position Link and Zelda, while Ganon’s body is especially bendable right down to the tip of his lengthy tail. Ganon also slots nicely into two spots on the base, giving him extra stability.

The Legend of Zelda’s latest LEGO set is an absolute must for any fan of the series (and Ocarina of Time in particular). As amazing as the Deku Tree looked, its rather steep price likely put it out of range for many fans. Thankfully, the Final Battle is over half the cost and proves just as effective at replicating an iconic scene from the series. You couldn’t really ask for much more for the series’ 40th anniversary celebration.

Review Copy Provided by The LEGO Group

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