The Color Dungeon ranks as one of my favorite Zelda dungeons because it’s just simple and fun. During his swansong, you watch as he flies into the sky illuminated by searchlights. Although it’s pretty short, I loved climbing the levels of the tower using the Hammer and the Moles, and I enjoyed the use of the wall mechanic to ascend — it was pretty memorable. We asked each staff member to submit in secret their Top 20 dungeons in the series – which is easier than it sounds – and left it up to them to come up with their own definition of ‘great’. Or went for broke, and snuck in early through the back passageways to get the Hylian shield? Since then, Zelda remained one of the most popular, recognizable IPs in any medium. For those who love puzzles, Nintendo's The Legend of Zelda can satisfy. The reason this dungeon is special, and why it is on this list, is because of Link’s fifth and sixth journeys through the tower. He’s furiously penning a rant about the exclusion of the Fire Temple as we speak. The nonlinear nature of it was a nice addition. Eagle’s Tower from Link’s Awakening is the most challenging dungeon in the game. 5: Majora's Mask. This version of Hyrule Castle has fantastic fights, cool puzzles, epic music, and a great conclusion to a great Zelda game. The tinkle that sounded as he “tootled” around on his cute little legs was also endearing and added to the enjoyment of his company. Much. Dungeons are the butter to the bread that is The Legend Of Zelda.Ever since the original well-aged classic for the Nintendo Entertainment System, dungeons have remained a staple for progression in-game.As the series went on, the dungeons became more thematic, usually based on some element. Year after year, generation after generation, Nintendo's crack team of developers release consistently great entries that are almost always Game of the Year contenders. Tower of Hera 3. It’s atmospheric, epic, daunting, and easily one of the greatest dungeons in the Zelda series! 6. Many video games have labyrinthian catacombs filled with loot, enemies, and challenges to discover, but none of them do it quite as well as the Zelda series does. Lastly, the final showdown with Ganondorf is one of the greatest (if not the greatest) in the series. Introducing the ball and chain weapon, players get to use one of the most destructive items in the Zelda franchise. Out of all the games in the series, A Link to the Past is one of the most densely-packed entries when it comes to the number of dungeons. The all-new dungeons are a highlight, but they're also the worst part of the hack. Five Nights at Freddy's fans won't want to miss this pulse-pounding collection of three novella-length tales that will keep even the bravest FNAF player up at night... Further in, I remember that first room of the lower dark level of the dungeon, where fireballs are constantly being tossed at Link, was such a pain when I first played the game. 1: Ocarina of Time. Players need to turn on time stones to activate specific parts of the ship, which will open up new paths for players to explore. The boss fight is not the best, admittedly, but the mini boss is quite good! Twilight Princess is a sequel to Ocarina of Time, and Arbiter's Grounds is the dungeon that clearly spelled this out. It makes proper use of all of the items and mechanics of Twilight Princess. It's an engaging puzzle that requires thinking outside of the box, which helped make this dungeon so memorable. This is to say nothing of the aesthetic that Skull Woods exhibits. Ikana Castle is such a great dungeon because it’s got those classic 3D Zelda vibes. The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask. The questions of what will and won’t appear, what obstacles need to be accounted for when the shift occurs and how to navigate based on that added twist are questions I absolutely loved to ascertain. Located in the Ikana region of Termina, the Stone Tower Temple is one of the most interesting dungeons in The Legend of Zelda Majora's Mask. Ranking Every Game In The Legend Of Zelda Series. This temple doesn’t hold back, taking advantage of its location through puzzles, enemies, traps, and items, as well as blending inside and outside portions spectacularly. I found this quite intriguing because it perfectly shows how Link is still a bit wet behind the ears at this point in his adventure. For The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild 2 on the Nintendo Switch, a GameFAQs message board topic titled "Ranking the dungeons in every Zelda game". It received an HD remaster on Wii U in 2013. Rank the dungeons from the most to least enjoyable! The whole setup of the battle with Phantom Ganon is a winner. The real challenge comes within the dungeon. It needs to strike the right balance — accessible yet challenging, explanatory yet not heavy on exposition. While I wasn’t initially a fan of Twilight Princess‘ poison fog navigation and mischievous monkeys, I’m fully nostalgic for them now. While the top-down nature and great use of the Nintendo 3D's visual capabilities were some of the main reasons why players fell in love with the game, the dungeon design is very understated these days. Fun. Stone Tower Temple’s main mechanic of flipping itself upside down is one of the most brilliant mechanics in any Zelda dungeon. Cartridge Games. While it’s unfortunate that it takes that long to do so, this is definitely the point where you start getting a real handle on the motion controls, and start to feel the pull of the story and the adventure that awaits you. The Poe Sisters really add to the mystery of the Forest Temple, encouraging the player to think beyond the game itself and into the lore behind this dungeon’s history. While there's a lot to be excited about from the recent Nintendo Direct, it seems clear that the Big N truly snubbed Donkey Kong. From the relentless enemy variety that you’re presented with, to the labyrinthine layout, it’s an endurance trial and a true test of the skills you’ve been honing for the entirety of the journey. There are all kinds of fantastic Zelda temples to sift through, but they won't be included in this list. Presents a collection of traditional--and not so traditional--Southern U.S recipes from Alabama chef, Frank Stitt, including fish and shellfish, farm birds and game birds, meats, vegetables, basics, and a chapter on techniques and tools. It's an ancient prison that held the Mirror of Twilight, used for banishing criminals to the twilight realm. Blind's Hideout (Garbage) 9. I had to stay on my toes to avoid the sizeable damage that she could cause, making her defeat feel like an achievement. The dungeon feels iconic and has every hint of a good Zelda dungeon. I remember the Goron Mines mainly for the fun I had climbing up the walls in my iron boots, and swinging upside down on the magnets attached to the gigantic crane mechanisms. You go into a dungeon, you wander around until you find the new item that bolsters your skillset, you kill the boss, and then you get a piece of the Triforce or a crystal to put in a pedestal. Upon your return to the Forsaken Fortress, with the Master Sword in hand, you feel a lot more in control. I devised the final ranking based on two ephemeral and subjective criteria: how good it is and how much I liked it. It might sound like a small detail, but it's such a great feeling to progress through each of the pathways with an even more bombastic and epic version of the Lorule Castle theme playing each time. And this area resolves almost everything too — you’re helped by old friends to take down old enemies and restore the kingdom. Simply put, the Forest Temple is hauntingly beautiful from the get-go. WARNING: This list may contain minor plot spoilers for multiple games in the series. Below is my list of Ocarina of Time's dungeons from worst to best. Twilight Princess’ penultimate dungeon is a prime example of excelling through presentation alone. It blends the rustic/abandoned vibe with a sci-fi technology one, which is an exceptional accomplishment. The Best Zelda Games, Ranked From Least To Most Legendary . Although the rehash of bosses at the start may be tedious and frustrating, it’s relatively easy to conquer them and advance. Being the penultimate dungeon in the game, the Palace of Winds tests all your learned skills, throwing a pretty steep challenge at you. To some extent, it serves as a climax to the vengeful imp’s personal mission. Given where TLoZ falls in the timeline, it's entirely possible that this is the Ganon who ends up becoming Calamity Ganon. Visually stunning, the temple gives off a feeling of grandeur, and almost emits a heavenly feeling. They complement the lax exploration of the world above with more intense gameplay that tests skills gamers have learned over their adventures. But let’s be clear. An abandoned prison in the Gerudo Desert, Twilight Princess’ Arbiter’s Grounds is one of the relatively few dungeons that lives up to the name. And don’t get me started on the Spinner, which is easily one of the series’ most inventive creations. With this simple rule out of the way, here are the top ten Legend of Zelda dungeons, ranked from worst to best. One of the most famous hacks for ALTTP is Parallel Worlds, which features a new storyline and a remodeled overworld with some tricky dungeon design that will challenge even the best explorers. I love the use of colors within the puzzles, and it’s kind of a relaxing dungeon. The central dungeon of Spirit Tracks is one that Link returns to six times over the course of his adventure. How can you not love a dungeon where just getting inside requires you to have a boss fight at said dungeon’s entrance? It also puts you into different environments from throughout your journey to the surface, putting the skills you’ve acquired throughout the game to the test. But this simple application of the time stone mechanic opens the player up to a variety of clever challenges as they try to switch from present and past to clear barriers and unlock rooms. (Will only focus on my opinion, so do not criticize or comment negatively, the boss battles are out of consideration) And of course — which dungeons are the biggest snubs that didn’t make the list? Facing Molgera was pretty exciting. While this style has been adopted for other titles in the series, at the time of its release in 2002, the game was visually different than anything we've ever seen in the series. Jul 25, 2018 #2 . Tower of Hera 3. After clearing each path in the final dungeon of The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds, the music starts to swell until it becomes an empowering orchestral piece that pushes the player towards Yuga with confidence. There’s a beautiful simplicity in the design of the original Legend of Zelda. In the crawl, we’re not told much about him, save for the fact that he’s a jerk that kidnapped the titular princess and it’s up to you to reunite the shattered Triforce of Wisdom before confronting him. Ranking the Top 50 Dungeons in the Zelda Series. You can’t use your sword to cut down the enemy; you have to use stealth. By Aaron Greenbaum / July 9, . The dungeon ends with a boss fight that subverts expectations, as a monk expected to simply give Hylia’s blessing instead stands to fight Link as one final test of his competence. A dungeon in the Zelda series means different things to different players, and every dungeon is someone’s favorite. Skeleton Woods 10. This dungeon has so much style. And oh, that Ook fight! The sense of risk and uncertainty diminishes with each terminal, the music building from mystery and danger to something triumphant and bombastic, additionally accompanied by the champion Revali gradually losing his doubt in and disdain for Link as the dungeon progresses. Additionally, Link’s sol-infused Master Sword just feels so empowering, while the zany boss fight against Zant himself is one for the ages. Capping off the temple is a fantastic boss battle against Phantom Gannon, who rides his horse in and out of paintings just to show off what the Nintendo 64 could do visually. There's something about the blend of puzzles, combat, and conceptually-original environments found in Zelda dungeons that's simply one of a kind. An American bioengineering research firm erects a theme park on a Caribbean island, complete with living dinosaurs, and invites a group of scientists to be its first terrified guests. Related: Zelda: Every Time Ganon Tried To Take Over Hyrule, Explained. With a macabre aesthetic, players learn this location was once used by the Sheikah to torture those who crossed the Royal Family. Skyward Sword's time stones bring a small area surrounding the stone back hundreds of years, and this dungeon takes place on an abandoned pirate ship swarming with them. Majora's Mask only has four dungeons - the least amount in any Zelda game - and while the first three are fairly average, the final dungeon more than redeems them. However, one thing that stands out in particular is the twisting hallway that literally turns part of the dungeon on its head. But for me, the Shadow Temple takes the cake because it’s the first dungeon in Zelda to have deeper symbolism attached to it. The advent of time travel — completing one chunk of the dungeon as Young Link and the other as Adult Link — is so ingenious that I wish more temples had incorporated it. Adding to that feeling of change, the game was presented in a vastly different manner as well. Found inside – Page 1In the tradition of the #1 NEW YORK TIMES best-selling SUPERMAN: EARTH ONE, writer Geoff Johns and artist Gary Frank re-imagine a new mythology for the Dark Knight, where the familiar is no longer the expected in this long-awaited original ... This is the hardest dungeon of any Zelda game. NEXT: Zelda: 10 Plot Holes In Ocarina Of Time That Were Never Explained. Deleted member 8112 User requested account closure. This might be one of the most creative concepts for a video game level Nintendo has ever come up with. Below is my list of Link's Awakening's dungeons from worst to best. The dungeon (and for the sake of this article, temple) designs in each title are iconic and give players a sense of awe, frustration, and accomplishment. But for me, one stand-out feature is its mechanics. Banned. Additionally, because the player can’t always see the effect the Time Stone has on different rooms due to the multi-floor design, they have to experiment to complete the rewarding puzzles. The lore potential around the tower too, as a trial for the Hero of the Winds (or whoever challenged it), who built it, and so forth is filled with enough of its own aura to make it one of the most memorable dungeons in the series. That being said, Jalhalla is a tricky yet fun boss and a good way to finish things out! First, the designers of Majora’s Mask found a way to double the length of the dungeon without making twice as many rooms, always a win for designers working on a tight schedule. Presents a dual biography of John Carmack and John Romero, the creators of the video games Doom and Quake, assessing the impact of their creation on American pop culture and revealing how their success eventually destroyed their ... Member. There is always the risk that you might be completely pulverized, but for me, that’s half the fun! Lakebed Temple from Twilight Princess is an example of a water dungeon done right. Of course, the Lanayru Mining Facility accomplished the same thing, but this dungeon took the concept even further with its pirate theme and clever level design. Majora1 5 months ago #1. A dungeon that takes Sheikah technology to the skies, I would describe Divine Beast Vah Medoh as a thrill. This Forest Temple is a solid introductory dungeon that I’ve certainly grown to love more overtime. The dungeon and the area around it was stuck in an ever-changing dichotomy of ruin and prosperity, and I absolutely loved that Skyward Sword saw it to its full potential, the music even changing along with the time. Did you find the list agreeable, or were some dungeons ranked wildly off? It’s a memorable gimmick that was well utilized in this temple. This dungeon is also notable for introducing Chain Chomps to the series. Ganon’s Tower is one of the many shining moments in The Wind Waker. Second, the dungeon innately rewards the player’s careful observation of the environment and the player’s spatial understanding of the dungeon’s layout. It really contributes quite well to the story of the game. This high-stakes, fast-paced battle puts even Breath of the Wild‘s Lynels to shame. Or higher? 3 - Great Palace. Hidden floor spikes and quicksand abound, not to mention the Poes scattered throughout the prison. However, our trip to Hyrule wouldn't be complete without revisiting the places that made us fall in love with the franchise: the dungeons. Found insideThis new edition collects the complete, critically-acclaimed trilogy (Tales from the Farm, Ghost Stories, and The Country Nurse) in one deluxe volume! Waterblight Ganon is a fun challenge at the end of a fairly easy dungeon, and let’s not forget what a valuable reward Mipha’s Grace is; especially in Master Mode. It's absolutely massive and entirely non-linear. Although it might even be considered a piece of cake in comparison to the sixth journey through the temple. Found inside – Page 17Using your own criteria, put together a ranked list of what you consider to be the ... Dungeons & Dragons 5. ... The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time* 17. I also think it’s safe to say that, no matter what version of the game you’re playing, the boss battle is epic and unique to what we’ve seen throughout the series. Found insideThe city of Yharnam: an ancient, gothic metropolis and home to the Healing Church. I appreciated the strategy needed to defeat these enemies, and I loved the comedic and dramatic effect of their dialogue. Maybe the biggest factor – how do you separate players personal bias from objectively good or bad dungeons based on certain criteria? #10 Skull Woods - A Link to the Past. In addition to this, the level design is tight, utilizing multiple items and the wind itself to create a brilliant experience. While it isn't offensively bad, it's quite long and tedious to actually traverse. A simple question on the surface, but one with so many layers that it makes finding an answer almost impossible. This trend largely started in Ocarina of Time and it transitioned to many games in the series. The Tower of Hera in A Link Between Worlds is where the dungeons of the game really start to get good. Divorced from the whimsical overworld packed with quirky characters and gorgeous sights are labyrinthian catacombs oozing with personality and engaging obstacles. And then striking the monster's eye. Just figuring out how to get to the tower is a challenge in itself. Each boss fight has a twist that makes it harder than the first time you fought it, and several enemy gauntlets stand between you and these battles. A good intro dungeon can really set the tone for an entire game. Eagle's Tower forces players to lug around a ball that's required to break central pillars which will lower the way forward after their destruction. Ganon's Tower 4. Turtle Rock 5. Bigger than any dungeon experienced prior, Link must hunt down spirits who have dispersed throughout the entire area. Twilight Princess. What more could I ask for? The colorful presentation belied ingenious dungeon design and some neat power-ups, including a glider-like leaf that was the precursor to one of Breath of the Wild's most significant traversal tools. Random Gaming Quiz. This dungeon is everything a Zelda dungeon should be and more. Offering what I would call the best intro dungeon in the entire series, this temple eases you in with its welcoming presence of the Great Deku Tree, calming music, and advice from Navi, but it then let’s players explore and do what Link does best in dungeons: find items and solve puzzles. We've already ranked the best boss of The Legend of Zelda, paid homage to the Gerudo King by ranking all Ganon battles in the franchise, and shared our traumas with The Legend of Zelda's worst minigames. There's a barrier that needs to be broken in order to reach Ganon's Tower, and players need to complete six paths based on the Medallions in any order to open the way forward. We want to know what your thoughts are! 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