Hyrule Castle

Hyrule Castle is the seat of Hyrule's monarchical government and the home of the Royal Family of Hyrule, which usually includes Princess Zelda and the normally unseen King of Hyrule. The castle first debuted in A Link to the Past, the third game in the series. Each game that contains Hyrule Castle either features a different layout or denies Link access to parts that are available in other games. Near the castle is Hyrule Castle Town, which serves as the city's marketplace where Hyruleans come to engage in business and trade.

Hyrule Castle is usually directly in the center of Hyrule's layout in each game, serving as the crown jewel of the kingdom. It is often one of the most important places for Link during his numerous adventures in Hyrule and many times is the site of the final confrontations, usually serving as a level or dungeon of sorts. Being the head of Hyrule's government, the Castle is known to being prone to conflict multiple times and has been the subject of invasion more than once throughout its depiction in the Zelda series usually due to its rather weak and penetrable security.

There are grounds for speculation that the castle is actually a different castle in each game, or perhaps it is the same castle but was changed in each game for aesthetic or gameplay purposes.

A Link to the Past
Marking its first named appearance in A Link to the Past, Hyrule Castle is home to the Royal Family of Hyrule until shortly before the events of the game. Agahnim, after becoming the King's second-in-command and chief adviser for solving Hyrule's problems with his magic, killed the monarch and took control of the castle.

During the game's opening scenes, Link is telepathically spoken to in a dream by a voice belonging to Princess Zelda, who was taken hostage by Agahnim. Following her request in his dream, Link finds his way to the gates of Hyrule Castle, his body completely unarmed against Hyrule's corrupted soldiers. Unfortunately, the castle is well-guarded and inaccessible from a direct approach. In the courtyard, Link luckily uncovers a hidden passage that leads him into as secret passage. Link's Uncle is soon found, slumped against a wall and mortally wounded. Already exhausted and beaten, he grants Link their family's sword and shield, instructing him to save the Princess. Link then progresses through the castle, fighting off any monsters and soldiers who attempt to stop him.

The rest of Hyrule Castle plays out similarly to a standard dungeon, but it is much shorter than any others in the game and features no dungeon boss. Guarding Princess Zelda's cell is the Ball and Chain Soldier, who Link must defeat in order to free Zelda from her prison. After Link saves Zelda from the sorcerer's clutches and brings her to the Sanctuary, Agahnim makes the upper levels of the castle inaccessible by creating an electrical barrier that cannot be bypassed. It isn't until Link retrieves the Master Sword from the Lost Woods that the young hero can access the upper area of the castle by slashing the barrier with the Blade of Evil's Bane. After reaching the top of the castle, Link witnesses Aghanim as he sends Princess Zelda to the Dark World. The young hero battles against the evil wizard who, upon his defeat, sends Link to the Dark World. It is at this point that, in the Light World, a portal is created beneat the main gate of the Castle that sends anyone who passes through it into the Dark World.

In the Light World, Hyrule Castle is found in the center of the overworld map, and is surrounded by an impassible moat. In the Dark World, it is replaced with Ganon's Pyramid of Power, which is surrounded by pits similar to Hyrule Castle's moat.

Ocarina of Time
In Ocarina of Time, Hyrule Castle is the second northernmost location in Hyrule, second only to the Death Mountain located directly east of it. It can be accessed by passing through the adjacent Hyrule Castle Town, which is protected by another moat and a drawbridge. Since monsters roam the field outside of town at night, the bridge only lowers during the day and is promptly raised as soon as night falls.

The royal castle is home to Princess Zelda, the King of Hyrule, and other members of the Royal Family. Due to the actions of a certain foolish man who wanted to see Princess Zelda, the castle guards have increased their security and won't allow anyone into the castle. The castle's grounds are guarded day and night by Hyrulean Guards, each of which will throw out any intruders they can find. The entrance to the castle itself can only be reached with the aid of a drawbridge, although is never lowered throughout the entire game and thus impedes Link from accessing the entire castle.

After Link obtains the the Kokiri's Emerald from the dying Great Deku Tree and first leaves Kokiri Forest, Kaepora Gaebora advises him to visit Princess Zelda in Hyrule Castle. Once Link successfully sneaks past the castle guards, and has assisted Malon in waking up her father Talon, Link can enter the Castle Courtyards via a secret passageway. Here, Link must sneak past even more guards to reach his destination. Coincidentally, guards in the field outside always throw Link out past the castle's main gate, but guards inside the castle throw him right outside the secret entrance, where Link would still be trespassing anyway.

Princess Zelda's Courtyard
By sneaking past the guards Link eventually reaches the castle's inner courtyard, where Princess Zelda awaits him. It's a small, octagonal enclosure with the sky serving as its ceiling. There are three windows, all equidistant from each other, and the passageway from which Link arrives.

Contrary to events in A Link to the Past, this time Princess Zelda has a dream about Link, in which she foresees his arrival. Through her prophecy, Zelda believes Ganondorf is an evil man attempting to overthrow her father, the King of Hyrule. During their conversation, she shows Link what the man looks like through the center window; he is seen walking towards and bowing to, presumably, Hyrule's King.

By following this and other proficiencies Zelda speaks of, Link will eventually set out on a journey to obtain two Spiritual Stones in addition to the one he already holds, the Kokiri Emerald. Once the two finish conversing, Zelda's personal guardian, Impa, guides Link out of the castle.

Ganon's Castle

 * Main Article: Ganon's Tower

Over the remaining events of the game, after Link obtains all three Spiritual Stones, is given the Ocarina of Time by Princess Zelda, and lies dormant for seven years after first drawing the Master Sword, the castle plays minuscule roles. Once Link enters his slumber however, he accidentally grants Ganondorf access to the Sacred Realm. With the power he finds inside this realm, the Royal Family's betrayer tears down Hyrule Castle, building a castle of his own in its place.

The Wind Waker
Before the events of The Wind Waker, the remains of Hyrule were drowned beneath the rain waters of the Great Sea. Hyrule Castle however, was magically ensnared in a large barrier of energy, cast by Ganon. Through the power of the Master Sword what remained of Hyrule was frozen in time. When Link takes the sword, the entire Castle comes to life once more but is filled with powerful monsters such as Darknuts and Moblins.

Hyrule Castle is the home of King Daphnes Nohansen Hyrule, the last King. Hidden within the castle is a portrait of Tetra's ancestor, together with her servants (who are remarkably similar in appearance to Tetra's crew of Pirates). The castle also has the six Sages from Ocarina of Time depicted on stained glass windows in the lower windows.

Four Swords Adventures
In Four Swords Adventures on the Gamecube, Hyrule Castle is the last part of Level One, Whereabouts of the Wind. It houses the boss, Phantom Ganon. Link meets what seems to be a Zora looking for it's counterpart. After finding and merging the two, the Great Fairy will have her true form back. Immediately she assists him on the level, by smiting all on screen soldiers and a magical barrier. Also she allows Link to have help from other Great Fairies. After defeating Phantom Ganon, the Blue Shrine Maiden is rescued and aids Link.

Hyrule Castle makes an appearance again as the final part of Near the Fields, this time called Infiltration of Hyrule Castle where Link fights Jalhalla, after which, the castle makes no other appearances.

Enemies encountered in this Level include:
 * Castle Guards
 * Armos
 * Traps
 * Shadow Link

Items found in this Level include:
 * Bow
 * Fire Rod
 * Power Bracelet
 * Bombs
 * Boomerang

The Minish Cap
In The Minish Cap, Link will not be allowed into the castle for most of the game. He is allowed early on, but after Vaati takes control of the King of Hyrule, Link is not permitted entry. Later in the game Vaati's power consumes the castle, making it the Dark Hyrule Castle. Link must navigate the castle to free Princess Zelda from Vaati's curse and seal Vaati away.

It seems to be much smaller this time.

When it isn't under Vaati's control, Link will only be allowed access into a few rooms, such as the throne room, a bedroom and a hallway.

Twilight Princess
Hyrule Castle is seen in its largest incarnation to date and remains at least partially visible from almost anywhere in Hyrule. Link finds himself imprisoned in Hyrule Castle early on in Twilight Princess, after transforming into a wolf. It is here he meets Midna for the first time. She guides him to the top of the castle where he also meets Princess Zelda for the first time. He returns there again after collecting all of the Fused Shadows (and losing them due to Zant), again in wolf form. This time, he brings a dying Midna to Zelda, who saves Midna's life by giving Midna her life force.

After this second meeting, Hyrule Castle is encased in an enormous gold colored barrier, much like in The Wind Waker. Link and Midna cannot enter the Castle again until they have defeated Zant and regained the Fused Shadows. When these are obtained, Midna will destroy the barrier with their power.

The Castle now serves as the game's final dungeon. As Link progresses through the castle, the music slowly changes from Hyrule Castle music to Ganondorf's Theme. After defeating Ganondorf's beast form (Dark Beast Ganon), Midna will attempt to finish him off, warping Link and Zelda to Hyrule Field. The two witness a giant explosion which seemingly destroys the castle, but Hyrule Castle later appears intact during the credits sequence.

It is speculated that Hyrule Castle was rebuilt north of where it originally stood, and Faron Woods grew up around the old Castle Town. This is logical, as Ganon's Tower, which took the place of Hyrule Castle during Adult Link's quest, was destroyed at the end of Ocarina of Time. Another reason to support this is in Twilight Princess when Wolf Link is traversing on top of Hyrule Castle there appears to be scaffolding as if Hyrule Castle was nearing completion of being built or possibly re-built.

Super Smash Bros.
Hyrule Castle is also a stage in the Nintendo fighting series Super Smash Bros.on the Nintendo 64, and has a similar appearance to its model seen in Ocarina of Time. Small tornadoes frequently pass through the stage, sending anyone who comes in contact with one flying up in the air. This is the largest stage in the game, a tradition that would continue with the Hyrule Temple stage in Super Smash Bros. Melee on Gamecube. Hyrule Castle can be seen in the Bridge of Eldin stage in Super Smash Bros. Brawl on the Wii.