Hi-yo. Today, we continue the HOtC Project with Hyrule’s deadliest mountain, and Hyrule’s deadliest mountain’s coolest feature. Because Death Mountain and Kakariko Village are so interconnected, if you haven’t before, you should read this. They are interconnected.
Skyward Sword
In this game, one of the places that Link must travel is a place called Eldin Volcano.
It is very active during this period. This is how it appears on the Skyward Sword map.
Notice that it’s in the north. Also, it’s located in Eldin Province. Relevant.
Note that it is not behind any incarnation of Kakariko Village.
Link must scale this mountain, as well as go inside it at some point. It is active, spewing lava and flaming boulders that Link has to avoid. One of the places related to Eldin Volcano is the Volcano Summit, a place that is so very extremely hot that Link can’t safely enter it without the Fireshield Earrings. It is located at the very top of Eldin Volcano.
Relevant.
Minish Cap
In the hundreds of years between Skyward Sword and the Minish Cap, Eldin Volcano has become known as Mt. Crenel.
This is how it appears on the Minish Cap map.
It is still located in the north, although it seems to have moved to the west significantly. Also, there is still no Kakariko Village.
Once again, the Link of this game has to scale the mountain. And once again, there are constantly falling boulders to hinder his progress.
The mountain is inhabited by many Tektites.
In fact, this is one of two of the only places they can be found.
It is said within the game that Mt. Crenel was once home to the Gorons, but they left when their numbers started to dwindle. Also, there is a Great Mayfly Fairy who lives in a Fairy Fountain on Mt. Crenel.
She can give Link a Bomb Bag upgrade. Relevant.
Four Swords
There is a Death Mountain in the world of Four Swords, but it is not the one that developed from Eldin Volcano.
I call this Death Mountain B. It is probably not a real Death Mountain at all, but rather a plain ol’ mountain named thusly for cosmetic reasons. However, it does share some similarities with Death Mountain A, such as housing a Great Fairy–
and being at the north of the world.
Ocarina of Time
Okay. This game marks the first definitive appearance of Death Mountain. That is to say, by the name of Death Mountain. Well, Death Mountain A. This mountain has developed from Mt. Crenel.
This is how it appears on the Ocarina of Time map.
This matches its Skyward Sword position much better than it does its Minish Cap one.
Death Mountain A has a perpetual large ring of smoke around its top. Remember this.
Anyway, this Death Mountain is situated directly behind Kakariko Village. There is actually a gate and a posted soldier between the two, to be sure that people who don’t have the Royal Family’s permission don’t climb the mountain.
This is because the mountain is very dangerous; the mountain is very active throughout the game, having rolling and falling boulders and Tektites, as well as unattentive, speedily rolling Gorons.
At the foot of Death Mountain, there is a giant boulder, which you must blow up, that is blocking the Dodongo’s Cavern.
This cavern is home to many Dodongo, and it is a source of food and tools for the Gorons. The cavern is actually deep and high into Death Mountain. Link gets his Bombs there. And look at the inside.
Note the brown, craggy, rocky textures. The entire cavern is like that.
Now, plowing one’s way to the heart of Death Mountain will take Link to Goron City, the capital and home of the Gorons. However, if Link goes to the very top of the mountain (which is even more dangerous, because the boulders are faster, more painful, and on fire), he can do one of two things.
One, he can bomb a fake wall to reveal a Great Fairy’s Fountain–
The Great Fairy teaches him the Magic Spin Attack.
Two, he can enter the Death Mountain Crater.
Now, the area has very important missions and items tied to it, but Link can’t stay very long because it is far too hot. Even Navi, his fairy companion, is in discomfort because of this. If you stay there too long, Link will die, but to circumvent this, he must obtain a Goron Tunic. This is what the Volcano Summit has become.
Also, in these screenshots, there are two very large rocks standing up and out of the lava, right next to each other. They are billowing smoke from their tops. This is the first appearance of the famous Death Mountain landmark, Spectacle Rock. And note that between them lays a Medallion Pedestal.
Death Mountain Crater features a bunch of ladders and rope bridges, such as the one Sheik teaches Link the Bolero of Fire on.
Note that most of them are in severe disrepair, having several rungs out. Because of this, Link must often use his Hookshot to pull himself over the bridges.
Inside the Death Mountain Crater, there is a place that Link must go to, which is called the Fire Temple.
It is inhabited by its brainwashed guardian deity, the dragon Volvagia.
And that’s Ocarina of Time’s Death Mountain. Now for the timeline split. As usual-
Downfall Timeline
A Link To The Past
The Death Mountain of this era is very, very, very big…but it has a secret.
This is the same Death Mountain that is featured in Ocarina of Time, of course. Look at the tan-circled area.
Yes, and it’s been rotated, along with the rest of Hyrule.
Now, due to a severe combination of erosion, architects, and Ganon’s evil influence, Death Mountain has been…broken open. That is to say, there is no difference between Death Mountain Crater, Goron City, or Dodongo’s Cavern in the context of this game, even though they almost all appear to some extent. Also, due to the above things, all the deadly lava has disappeared, rendering special items to withstand the erstwhile Death Mountain Crater unnecessary.
The rope bridges are amazingly still standing. Indeed, they look better than in Ocarina of Time. The aforementioned architects had repaired the bridges, to make it easier to traverse the mountain. Despite this, Link must still often use his Hookshot to pull himself over the broken bridges.
Of course, Spectacle Rock appears once again.
The aforementioned circumstances led it to get whetted down to this puny height, and get fused together.
Of course, the Medallion Pedestal no longer exists, having a cave entrance in its place, but next to Spectacle Rock, there is a formation of rocks that forms the exact same pattern.
Goron City no longer exists, because all the Gorons fled and went into hiding for years after Ganon wreaked his havoc.
Although the Light World version of Death Mountain does not have a Great Fairy, for some reason the Dark World version does.
Death Mountain is crawling (and jumping) with Tektites, red and blue, and giant falling boulders. It only gets worse in the Dark World version, however.
Remember Dodongo’s Cavern? Well, it appears here, albeit in a strange way.
The red rectangled area depicts the remains of Dodongo’s Cavern. Remember when I said that it reached high into Death Mountain? Well, now we see exactly how high. Of course, much of the cavern collapsed. But, there is a series of intricate tunnels and holes in the red area. But quite a few of them contain Bombs.
Note the brown, craggy, and rocky textures.
Strangely, Death Mountain is relatively far from Kakariko Village. Also, while there is no gate and no guard for the cave that leads into Death Mountain, there is a giant, unmovable (unless Link has the Titan’s Mitt) stone in the way, and a sign saying this.
Permission from the Royal Family (in this case only the King) is still necessary. However, the King is dead until the ending of the game, so the sign is really pointless.
Oracle of Ages + Oracle of Seasons
Presumably the same as in A Link To The Past; these games take place a very short time afterwards. However, in Oracle of Ages, Eyeglass Island looks very similar to Spectacle Rock.
Link’s Awakening
Presumably the same as in A Link To the Past; this game takes place only a short time after it. However, the peaks on the Tal Tal Mountain Range bear a very striking resemblance to Spectacle Rock, both in appearance and in function.
A Link Between Worlds
The Death Mountain found here isn’t all that much different.
There are really only two important differences. One, Spectacle Rock has been moved west of the Tower of Hera, and it contains lava, causing it to be active and spew lava and boulders.
Two, there is an area of Death Mountain called Rosso’s Ore Mine. It is located (well, part of it) in the area where the remains of Dodongo’s Cavern were in A Link To The Past.
By the way, this is Rosso.
He is a Sage, and possibly a descendant of Darunia. Yes, he’s Hylian. Look, don’t think about it too hard, all right?!
Tri Force Heroes
Presumably the same as in A Link Between Worlds; this game takes place only a short time after it.
Legend of Zelda
Death Mountain is…ridiculously huge in this time.
To better put it in perspective, here’s the entire map, with Death Mountain in red.
Yes. Every. Single. Bit. That’s all Death Mountain. A part of why it’s so big is the Lost Hills, the mountainous version of the Lost Woods. Indeed, after A Link Between Worlds, the Lost Woods began to decay and corrode, and the entire land got dryer. Thus did they become the Lost Hills.
Oh, and I couldn’t resist this artwork-
As usual, there are falling boulders and Tektites. The only difference is, now, the boulders roll down even when Link is not on Death Mountain.
The stubborn Spectacle Rock appears, in its penultimate appearance.
There is something special about it this time around, however; Ganon has made his lair inside Spectacle Rock. The dungeon is called Death Mountain, and it is where Link challenges Ganon at the end of the game.
Adventure of Link
Now this is just weird.
It is possible to visit the Hyrule of the past game here…or so they tell you. The “Death Mountain Area” includes only Death Mountain, the Graveyard, some grass that’s supposed to be the Lost Woods, and some water.
That’s the rubbish they want you to believe. Anyway, there’s not much difference.
Death Mountain is now an insane maze, with over a dozen winding, intricate tunnels, only a few of which lead to Spectacle Rock, and its item. The Hammer, specifically. Strangely, some areas of Death Mountain feature pools of lava with rope bridges over them. Hmm…
Speaking of Spectacle Rock, it’s no longer possible to visit Ganon’s lair, because it caved in after the events of the former game. Seems legit.
Child Timeline
Majora’s Mask
Presumably the same as in Ocarina of Time; this game takes place only a few months after it. However, Link does visit Termina’s Death Mountain counterpart, Woodfall.
Just like the Great Fairy of Power teaches Link the Magic Spin Attack in Death Mountain, so does the Great Fairy of Power teaches Link the Magic Spin Attack in Woodfall.
Twilight Princess
Death Mountain has thrived very well in this game.
As usual, it is behind Kakariko Village, although the distance is longer and the alignment is different. Also, it is in the Eldin Province.
In the centuries since Ocarina of Time, Death Mountain has still been inhabited by the Gorons. Indeed, they are thriving, having built various contraptions and mines and whatnot. The complete Goronness of the area is evidenced by its theme, which is actually a remix of the Goron City theme.
Remember how I said the rolling Gorons, not paying attention, would bowl over Link while he was scaling Death Mountain in Ocarina of Time? Well, they do the exact same thing here, only it starts the minute Link gets onto the mountain, and what’s more, it’s on purpose now. A fiercely rolling Goron will knock Link off, telling him not to come back until he gains some strength, calling him a “puny human”. The temporary Goron Elder, Gor Coron, has ordered this as a security measure. This is unavoidable until Link procures the Iron Boots and wrestles the Gorons away.
Even though it is the same Death Mountain in Ocarina of Time (Death Mountain A), within a few hundred years, there have been some terrain changes. First of all, there are several steam geysers all over the mountain, that will knock Link away if he attempts to approach. Second, there are now Hot Springs on the mountain. Gorons are shown to enjoy bathing and soaking in them, disproving the myth that water is fatal to all Gorons.
Death Mountain is still active, spewing its boulders, but it is far, far less active than it was in the Era of the Hero of Time. What’s more, the boulders only come when at the higher parts of the mountain.
Because the mountain is so tall, the Gorons have constructed several metal structures to help them reach the unreachable places. Link can climb onto the backs of certain Gorons and have them launch him up high onto the mountain.
The main attraction of Death Mountain in this game is Goron Mines. Link must get to the redesigned Goron City (even though it doesn’t go by that name) and wrestle the Goron Elder to gain admission.
Link takes an elevator and a secret passage to get to the Goron Mines.
This is the Dodongo’s Cavern, only expanded and redesigned. Remember how I said Dodongo’s Cavern was a source of food and tools for the Gorons? Well, here even more so. Just like Dodongo’s Cavern, it is infested with Fire Keese and Dodongos, and it also has loads of Beamos. The area now has wire walkways, cranes, magnetic walls, and ventilation, among other things.
Four Swords Adventures
There is a Death Mountain in this game, but it is not THE Death Mountain. No, this is Death Mountain C.
As usual, it is in the north.
No Kakariko Village, of course.
This Death Mountain is comprised of three parts: Death Mountain Foothills, The Mountain Path, and Tower of Flames.
This Death Mountain is much more lush and green than any other incarnation, for some reason.
On the Mountain Path part, the boss is the Helmaroc King. A rock formation similar to Spectacle Rock appears.
Adult Timeline
Wind Waker
In the centuries after the Great Flood, Death Mountain has become Dragon Roost Island.
Just like its ancestor, Dragon Roost Island has a perpetual large ring of smoke around its peak.
This is how they line up on the maps.
Dragon Roost, like its predecessor, is in the northeast quadrant. It also seems to not be as big or as wide. However, this can be attributed to the Great Flood. It has pulverised and eroded part of the mountain, leaving it either at the bottom of the ocean or as a part of a surrounding island.
Also, Dragon Roost Island seems a bit farther than it should be in comparison to Windfall Island, this game’s Kakariko Village. But then again. the Great Flood would have completely destroyed Death Mountain Trail and any lower areas.
The reason for the island’s name is relevant, too. Remember the guardian deity of the Gorons, the dragon Volvagia? Well, he has a descendant named Valoo.
He makes his nest (or roosts) on the top of the mountain, hence the island’s name. This can be seen in this picture.
The only thing is that Valoo is the patron deity of the Rito, the race that evolved from the Zora. This makes no sense, as Valoo’s ancestor was the patron deity for the Gorons, who are nowhere to be seen on their erstwhile home. Somehow, the Rito replaced the Gorons as the inhabitants of Death Mountain. The only Gorons in the game are merchants, roaming around the world on rafts, and attempting to hide their identity for some reason.
Even so, artwork and sculptures on the island depict the Gorons.
Also, where Dodongo’s Cavern and Death Mountain were the only places where Bomb Flowers could be found, Dragon Roost Island is one of the very few islands on which Bomb Flowers can be found.
There is a connected part of the island (actually inside it) that is called Dragon Roost Cavern.
This is quite a unique place. In the centuries between Ocarina of Time and the Great Flood (and due in part to the Great Flood), Death Mountain Crater has collapsed. This is why there is no Spectacle Rock here (we’ll talk more about that soon). The deepest effect that this had was that is collapsed the Fire Temple partially. It fused the Dodongo’s Cavern and the Fire Temple together. This is the reason why you can see depictions of Volvagia…
But you can also see the skull of the Giant Dead Dodongo-this can be seen in the top three screenshots of Dragon Roost Cavern. For comparison, this is how it appeared in the entrance room in Ocarina of Time.
The skull no longer has any significance-you can thank the Hero of Time for this. The only enemies that are the same are Keese and Fire Keese. Also, Fire Geysers are still present. Amazingly, despite everything that happened to Death Mountain, the lava went unscathed.
Now…Spectacle Rock. Some messed up stuff happened with that. In this game, there is a place called Spectacle Island.
Clearly, this is the Spectacle Rock of this game. Now, the odd thing is, it is directly to the west of Windfall Island, this game’s Kakariko Village. This doesn’t make a whole bunch of sense, because Spectacle Rock was located deep inside Death Mountain Crater.
I find it very hard to believe that Spectacle Rock (ONLY Spectacle Rock, mind you) just up and floated right next to Kakariko Village after the Great Flood. No, this is Spectacle Rock B. The only thing I can say is that sometime between the Hero of Time’s departure and the Great Flood, Hyrule gained another Spectacle Rock.
Phantom Hourglass
Not seen; Hyrule is now COMPLETELY flooded.
Spirit Tracks
Not seen.
Bonus
Super Smash Bros. (N64)
In the background of the Hyrule Castle Stage, Death Mountain can be seen in the background, with its classic revolving ring of smoke.
Technically, it’s even possible to “go” there, by getting Star KO’d in the right position. The background is the same in the classic DLC stage both Super Smash Bros. For Wii U and Super Smash Bros. For 3DS.
Legend of Zelda (Wii U)
This game appears to have two, or even possibly three Death Mountains.
It is worth mentioning that in the Zelda series, there is almost never a notable mountain in a game where there’s a Death Mountain. Also, no volcano has ever been seen in a game where there’s a Death Mountain.
Well, that’s the fate of Death Mountain and Spectacle Rock? What d’you think? Letteth me knoweth down beloweth.
thelinguistgamer 