I think out of all the Temples in the game, the Shadow Temple is probably the one that can be singled out and called the least impressive of the bunch. But with me, I had an amazing time playing through the Shadow Temple so it makes my top three. Every Temple in the game is outstanding. The boss of the Shadow Temple blew me away the first time I saw it. Definitely a shocking enemy to lay eyes, especially if you were a kid when you happened to play OOT. The entrance and presentation leading up to the fight was perfect. It was a frightening enough place to navigate in the first place, the Shadow Temple, but then Link plummets down to the depths of the Temple to see the enemy toying with his prey on whatever drum habitat he had going on down there. Navi states in the game that the Bongo Bongo was revived from the well (in Kakariko Village) ...The Bottom of the Well was a fairly traumatic place to visit in its own right especially considering that abomination (Mini-Boss of Bottom of the Well, "Dead Hands") living down there but I think the last boss in the game I would want to fight face to face is the one in the Shadow Temple, especially considering where and how Link had to fight it. Link fought in a Temple nobody would ever know existed, at the very bottom of it, in pitch darkness versus the largest beast in the game outside of Ganon. But Link had to fight against pretty much every disadvantage in the book versus Bongo Bongo if you think about it. Enters the battlefield in shock having fallen what seemed like 100ft, the enemies hands alone are each like 10X his size, and if the pitch blackness he must fight in is not daunting enough, he also has to rely on the Lens of Truth while attacking because the enemy is a phantom beast invisible to the ordinary eye
Dodongo's Cavern was excellent, especially loved the music. But you're right, they really stepped it up with the dungeons after the third one
Agree 100%
Lol I have a funny story to tell about how I got stuck on the Water Temple but it's pretty long. Will just say that I too was stuck on the Water Temple for weeks. Roughly three weeks. I wish there was a way to know the true percentage of players that found themselves stuck trying to figure out how to advance in the Water Temple for multiple weeks. It seems like most were stumped for a very long time, maybe not weeks like you and I were for example, but way longer than is typical in comparison to any other dungeon in the series
I was stuck way more time with Zelda SNES because I was a kid without know to read English.
Beer Baelly
Idk man, the music and atmosphere alone are God-Tier. They could have reduced the content by maybe 30% and I'd still likely consider them better than every other 3D Zelda game's dungeons. Which two dungeons in the game would you say were the ones you disliked the most? Majora's Mask has some really good dungeons, I loved all of them
StateofMajora
I'm surprised that Nintendo managed to hit bullseye with so many of the dungeons. They were really on point with every single one of them given the game's release date. Personally I don't see how you could call OOT's dungeons quaint in comparison to MM's (especially MM's first dungeon) but it doesn't really matter much since nearly every single dungeon in both those games is superb if not greater IMOInside the Great Deku Tree truly is a perfect introduction to the game. Really did set the tone in OOT perfectly. Link’s support is fairly strong throughout the game, but the closest to him was probably The Great Deku Tree. It could also be said that Navi or Saria or Zelda are his closest allies just the same, given the circumstances...But The Great Deku Tree seemed like family, like a wise old elder Link could count on for advice and visit at any time he (or any other Kokiri inhabitant) wanted or needed. Trying to imagine how Link must have felt during that dungeon and after the fact puts everything into perspective and for me personally, and there is no wonder as to why the Hero of Time is so valiant all throughout the adventure in OOT. It always seemed more to me like a mission given the Hero of Time’s mannerisms. He’s the consummate warrior IMO. Once Link understands how dire matters have become after listening The Great Deku Tree’s words in his final moments; through his wisdom and his guidance, Link understands clearly what he must do and immediately leaves the Kokiri Forest for Hyrule. The Great Deku Tree suffered death at the hands of Ganondorf’s curse after he refused to relinquish the first Spiritual Stone which was to remain in his possession. It’s the ultimate beginning, so much happens so quickly and despite Link’s efforts to save his guardian, there was nothing he could do. The Great Deku Tree says to Link that even though he has accomplished all the wishes he had for him and broken the death curse that Ganondorf cast upon him, that he was doomed from the start essentially. Link saved The Great Deku Tree, but it would prove that it was only in time to relay those very important last messages he had for Link so that Hyrule would have hope. Also, The Great Deku Tree’s story of the creation of Hyrule’s beginning, the Three Golden Goddesses, and the creation of the Triforce is one of the most beautiful moments in gaming history for me. It was a breathtaking moment in storytelling
Well, I should clarify that Wind waker isn't less quaint in its dungeons than OOT, but anyways.
