Swamp Palace (A Link to the Past)

The Swamp Palace, also known as the Water Gate Dungeon in the SNES version, is the second dungeon in the Dark World in A Link to the Past.

Entrance to the Palace
The palace is located in the area south of Link's House, which has become a Bomb Shop in the Dark World. Access to the dungeon is granted by returning to the Light World, going into a building where the Water Gate Dungeon is in the Dark World, pulling a switch to change the water level, and returning to the Dark World.

Themes and Navigation
Most rooms feature water to some extent, and others even have underground waterfalls. This is possibly the first water-themed dungeon in the Zelda series, thus initiating a well-known type of complex dungeons appearing in later games, with succesors like the Water Temple in Ocarina of Time or the Great Bay Temple in Majora's Mask; however, the Swamp Palace itself is not considered to be that difficult, as it merely requires Link to fill dried pools with water. The main treasure is the Hookshot, an item whose chain allows Link to reach previously inaccesible places. The end boss is Arrghus, a giant eyeball protected by other smaller eyeballs. After defeating him, Link receives a Heart Container and the second crystal.