Level 9: Death Mountain: Difference between revisions

'''Level 9: Death Mountain''' is the ninth and final [[dungeon]] found in ''[[The Legend of Zelda]]''. It is here where [[Ganon]] has inprisoned [[Zelda|Princess Zelda]]. [[Link]] can only enter this dungeon if he has already collected all eight [[Triforce Shard]]s, making the [[Triforce of Wisdom]]. This dungeon is one of the hardest dungeons in the entire [[The Legend of Zelda (Series)|''The Legend of Zelda'' series]], and easily the hardest dungeon in the game. This dungeon's entrance is found in [[Spectacle Rock]] by [[Bomb|bombing]] the left ''eye'' on this screen. Spectacle Rock is found by going right one screen, up five screens, left one screen, up two screens, and left two screens from the [[Starting Screen]]. The [[Boss]] of this dungeon is Ganon, who is also the main antagonist of the game. Defeating Ganon allows Link to free Princess Zelda and save [[Hyrule]].

The boss of Death Mountain is also the main antagonist of the game, Ganon. Ganon is a pig-like monster that attacks Link by warping around the room, while invisible, shooting fireballs at Link. Before the battle, Link walks into the room and shows off his Triforce of Wisdom. With this in hand, Ganon becomes visible and snarls at Link. This begins the battle. After Link has hit Ganon with the [[Magical Sword]] four times, Ganon becomes brownish in color, and this is Link's chance to shoot it with the Silver Arrow. Doing so turn Ganons into ashes, leaving behind the [[Triforce of Power]]. After collecting the Triforce of Power, Link can continue into the next room, where Princess Zelda awaits to be freed.

In total, there are four [[Old Man]] locations in this dungeon. The first is in the second room of the dungeon. However, the Old Man only appears in this room if Link hasn't collected all eight Triforce Shard. If that is the case, the Old Man says to Link, ''"ONES WHO DOES NOT HAVE TRIFORCE CAN'T GO IN."''{{Ref|LoZ|76|[[Old Man]]}} If Link has collected all the shards, this room is empty, and Link can advance into the meat of the dungeon. The second location is located further along in the dungeon. The Old Man at this location says, ''"GO TO THE NEXT ROOM."''{{Ref|LoZ|78|[[Old Man]]}} This is a reference to the fact that although this room looks like a dead end, it is possible to bomb the left wall, revealing a hole that leads to another room. The third location involves a simple hint given to Link. The hint is, ''"PATRA HAS THE MAP."''{{Ref|LoZ|77|[[Old Man]]}} This is a reference to how the Dungeon Map is guarded by a Patra, and that that Patra has to be killed to obtain the map. The fourth and final Old Man Location is also a hint given by the Old Man. This hint is, ''"EYES OF SKULL HAS A SECRET."''{{Ref|LoZ|79|[[Old Man]]}} This is a reference to how each eye of the skull does contain a secret; the right eye hides the Compass and the left eye hides Princess Zelda.

The [[Compass]] appears in this dungeon, but has a different use then that of previous dungeons. It shows Link the location of Princess Zelda via a blinking spot on the map. This item leads Link right to his goal; Princess Zelda. It is found in an unmarked room; the left eye of the skull. This room can only be entered by travelling up from the room below it. The Compass is not required to complete the game.

There is a very odd mix of [[Small Key]]s and Locked Doors in Level 9: Death Mountain. There are only four total Small Keys that can be found throughout the dungeon. However, there is a total of ''sixteen'' Locked Doors that block Link's path through the dungeon. If Link did not collect the [[Magical Key]] from the previos [[Level 8: The Lion|dungeon]], it makes Death Mountain much more difficult. With the Magical Key, getting past those Locked Doors is a breeze.