- Pronouns
- he/him
Straight forward question, but here me out. There are eight dungeons in the game basically everyone will agree are dungeons. Inside the Great Deku Tree, Dodongo's Cavern, Jabu Jabu's Belly, and the five elemental temples. So eight, right?
What about Ganon's Castle? It contains puzzles, a dungeon item, and a final boss, right? Should it be counted as a dungeon? Or is it a mini dungeon akin to Ice Cavern and Bottom the Well? The game also divides the segments for some reason, so you have Inside Ganon's Castle, and Ganon's Tower. Is this maybe two mini-dungeons, 1 mini and one proper, or neither?
For that matter, the game treats the "Mini Dungeons" as dungeons in most ways, giving them dungeon maps, compasses, keys, and a major item. Farore's Wind also works in these areas. They just lack a titled final boss and heart container reward.
And then there's the Thieves Hideout. It has no map or compass, no major item (unless you count the Gerudo Membership Card), but it does have four minibosses and is definitely a labyrinth. Does this qualify as a mini dungeon?
And then there's also the Gerudo Training Grounds, which also lacks a map, but contains a major item (albeit optional). But it also lacks a map, compass, or real boss, and it's also entirely optional.
So here's how it could break down:
Ocarina of Time has eight dungeons. Dungeons are areas that have a map, compass, major item, a boss, and reward you with a heart container upon completion. Mini Dungeons are only intended to house an important item, but do not qualify otherwise as a dungeon. Likewise Ganon's Castle is a different entity altogether to house the end game.
Ocarina of Time has nine dungeons. Ganon's Castle should be considered a proper dungeon due to its complexity and importance. The original Legend of Zelda explicitly classifies Ganon's Lair as "Level 9" despite not rewarding a heart container, so that requirement is arbitrary.
Ocarina of Time has eleven dungeons. Ice Cavern and the Bottom of the Well are treated as dungeons by the game, so their distinction as "mini-dungeons" is arbitrary.
Ocarina of Time has twelve dungeons. The Thieves Hideout is an important part of the game and a proper labyrinth, and is functionally a dungeon. Alternatively, it is not, but the Gerudo Training Grounds is a dungeon due to its complexity, use of keys, and major item reward.
Ocarina of Time has thirteen dungeons. All above examples count as dungeons.
What about Ganon's Castle? It contains puzzles, a dungeon item, and a final boss, right? Should it be counted as a dungeon? Or is it a mini dungeon akin to Ice Cavern and Bottom the Well? The game also divides the segments for some reason, so you have Inside Ganon's Castle, and Ganon's Tower. Is this maybe two mini-dungeons, 1 mini and one proper, or neither?
For that matter, the game treats the "Mini Dungeons" as dungeons in most ways, giving them dungeon maps, compasses, keys, and a major item. Farore's Wind also works in these areas. They just lack a titled final boss and heart container reward.
And then there's the Thieves Hideout. It has no map or compass, no major item (unless you count the Gerudo Membership Card), but it does have four minibosses and is definitely a labyrinth. Does this qualify as a mini dungeon?
And then there's also the Gerudo Training Grounds, which also lacks a map, but contains a major item (albeit optional). But it also lacks a map, compass, or real boss, and it's also entirely optional.
So here's how it could break down:
Ocarina of Time has eight dungeons. Dungeons are areas that have a map, compass, major item, a boss, and reward you with a heart container upon completion. Mini Dungeons are only intended to house an important item, but do not qualify otherwise as a dungeon. Likewise Ganon's Castle is a different entity altogether to house the end game.
Ocarina of Time has nine dungeons. Ganon's Castle should be considered a proper dungeon due to its complexity and importance. The original Legend of Zelda explicitly classifies Ganon's Lair as "Level 9" despite not rewarding a heart container, so that requirement is arbitrary.
Ocarina of Time has eleven dungeons. Ice Cavern and the Bottom of the Well are treated as dungeons by the game, so their distinction as "mini-dungeons" is arbitrary.
Ocarina of Time has twelve dungeons. The Thieves Hideout is an important part of the game and a proper labyrinth, and is functionally a dungeon. Alternatively, it is not, but the Gerudo Training Grounds is a dungeon due to its complexity, use of keys, and major item reward.
Ocarina of Time has thirteen dungeons. All above examples count as dungeons.
Last edited: