This post has content warnings for: totk memory #09.

more sinister than intimidating
Honestly, probably. This is just backstory from previous entries in the series so it's not a spoiler, but he definitely had a thing for magic before all he went evil on everyone.
hmmm ok, i’ve only played oot and mm (ok and botw) before this so i am not overly familiar with ganondorf’s ways
Oot is kind of what I was thinking of here. He zapped Link before he had the Triforce of power afterall.
That's the only explanation I can think of though.