Boss Rush Banter: What is the Best Dungeon in Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time?

After sinking an embarrassing amount of hours into Breath of the Wild and waiting for Tears of the Kingdom, I craved the traditional Zelda formula. Some days I feel like exploring, but other days I crave structure.

During “cozy” season, I retreat back to my old-school Zelda games, such as Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time. While many will argue whether it is (or isn’t) one of the greatest titles in the franchise, all should at least agree it had charming dungeons and bosses. Whether you played it today or twenty years ago, which dungeon was your favorite in Ocarina of Time?

Spirit Temple

I would say the majority of Ocarina of Time’s dungeons were fun, but the duality and theme of the Spirit Temple won me over. The music gives me goosebumps, and the design transports you into a whole other world.

You must complete it in both child and adult forms, and each section incorporates various things you’ve obtained or learned over the course of the game. You tackle several obstacles as a child–from Stalfos, Lizalfos, sun puzzles, then finally the mini-boss, an Iron Knuckle. The Spirit Temple also has a plot point in between child and adult ventures, giving you all the more reason to forge ahead!

The adult Link run has you tackling big-boy problems, but the Mirror Shield is a nice prize. You encounter Silver Rupee puzzles and more light-based puzzles. The entrance to the boss room through the statue’s face is epic, and let’s applaud Twinrova as one of the enjoyable boss battles in the entire Zelda universe.

The fire/ice mechanic is an oldie but a goodie, and the back and forth battle is sublime. Say what you will about the witches’ banter once the fight is done, but receiving that Spirit Medallion felt very much worth it.

Honorable Mention: Forest Temple

I can’t in good conscience ignore the Forest Temple. This one is a favorite for many fans. At first, the music and old-castle aesthetic didn’t really do it for me, but I’ve grown to appreciate the dungeon and its layout as I grew older.

Which Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time dungeon is your favorite? Please share your thoughts with us on our Boss Rush Facebook Group or our Boss Rush Discord.

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