My favorite Zelda Dungeons (prototype)...

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I've been into Zelda from a young age and the series is turning 30 in just over a month, so I'm going to do a whole plethora of lists for the series, including key aspects like items, bosses, and today's subject the dungeons. So what makes a good Zelda dungeon? I'm going to be looking at the aesthetic, the puzzles, and if I enjoyed myself throughout the entire experience... So in Chronological order...




OCARINA OF TIME: SPIRIT TEMPLE:



The Spirit Temple feels like it belongs in ancient Egypt. It's the ultimate test to see where you are at the game, the challenge before Ganon's castle that separates the boys from the men. It takes advantage of both Young and Adult Link, Action with a variety of enemies, and hands down the best puzzles in Ocarina of Time. It's also one of the longest dungeon in the game, and you're time is well spent. The whole dungeon feels like your in adventure story from one of those pulp magazines trying to find a legendary artifact, and you are, the Mirror Shield and Silver Gauntlets in fact...



MAJORA'S MASK: STONE TOWER TEMPLE:




The trials Stone Tower Itself could be a dungeon onto itself, but the penultimate dungeon to this game takes everything you've learned throughout your journey, and uses it as a final exam for this game. It has hands down the best puzzles of Majora's Mask with light puzzles, Goron puzzles, Switch Puzzles, water puzzles, flying puzzles, upside down puzzles, and there's 4 minibosses, plus an epic fight in the heavens against Twinmold...

Yoshiette 2: Twinrova?

A. Yoshi: Uhhhhhh..... No, That was the last dungeon we talked about before this.



WIND WAKER: WIND TEMPLE:




With an ancient Japanese feel, with wind based technology, it's not only the dungeon you get the Hookshot, you also get a lot of nature and desert themed areas. Sure babysitting Makar gets annoying, but the aesthetics, wind/technology based puzzles, and a boss who reminds me of Volvagia (from Ocarina of Time) more than makes up for it. Not to mention Did  I mention you get the Hookshot here, Freaking awesome...



TWILIGHT PRINCESS: ARBITER'S GROUNDS:



A literal dungeon, this is a prison for Hyrule's worst, where they rot to die. This hast a dark feel with supernatural elements. It's a mix of the spirit temple, the shadow temple, and the spirit temple, all from Ocarina of Time. Sure the item you get (Spinner) won't see much use outside this temple, but when it does get used, you get great puzzles, with you skating for dear life in a fight against Twilit Fossil Stalford.



PHANTOM HOURGLASS: MUTOH'S TEMPLE:




With a boss as big as this thumbnail suggests, how could you go wrong. it's got Egyptian themes, booby traps, and treasure hunting. You get great puzzles involving the hammer, Water Puzzles, close escapes, and it's in a Freaking Pyramid. The Boss is also great, with pixel pushing graphics and size, jumping, and it's in full 3D...



SKYWARD SWORD: ANCIENT CISTERN:




What is it about water dungeons that the Zelda team just can't get right? Ancient Cistern is the best water dungeon in a 3D Zelda game, but that's mainly because the water is just another detail. There's a Buddhist aesthetic to the dungeon, the water puzzles don't completely suck, There's heaven and hell elements, and you get to play your best Indiana Jones with the new whip. Oh and Koloktos has to be the best boss in the game, just saying.



OK, That's my list, if you look very closely at the list, you'll notice a few things, 1) I'm a big fan of desert dungeons, I don't know why, but something about the desert setting that makes dungeons more interesting. 2) I'm a big fan of 3D Zelda Dungeons, with the more depth the 3rd dimension offers and all, and 3) I love dungeons that have a mythical aesthetic to them. Maybe I should talk more mythology on my blog, It'll give me an excuse not to talk Japan all the time. What are YOUR favorite Zelda Dungeons. Tell me in the comments below...