Spectacle Rock

Spectacle Rock is a specific rock formation which has repeatedly appeared in many Zelda games, with it first debuting in the original The Legend of Zelda.

The Legend of Zelda
In The Legend of Zelda on Nintendo Entertainment System, Spectacle Rock is the location of Ganon's lair in the first quest. However, in order to enter, Link must bomb the left "eye" to reveal the entrance.

The Adventure of Link
In The Adventure of Link, Spectacle Rock is found in the southwestern region of Hyrule. Using the Hammer on the eastern rock reveals a secret cave, in which a Magic Container lies.



A Link To The Past
In A Link to the Past, this rock is situated at the top of Death Mountain in the Light World, as an obstacle in the path to the Tower of Hera. It is conspicuously absent in the Dark World reflection of Death Mountain, though its footprint is clearly visible. To get beyond Spectacle Rock to the higher ground above, Link must first travel to the Dark World and stand where its footprint remains. When Link looks into the Magic Mirror, he finds himself back in the Light World, standing atop Spectacle Rock. A cave entrance located in the bridge of the glasses leads down the mountain.



Link's Awakening
Although the setting of Link's Awakening is the imaginary Koholint Island, it is possible that a certain mountain formation in the Tal Tal Mountain Range acts a tribute to Spectacle Rock, which is not far-fetched considering the game's referential nature. Between Mt. Tamaranch and Turtle Rock, this structure mimics Spectacle Rock in both appearance and function — as in A Link to the Past, a cavern in the middle of the rock grants access to higher elevations of the mount from the blocked entrance at its foot.

Ocarina of Time
In Ocarina of Time, Spectacle Rock is located inside Death Mountain Crater in front of the entrance to the Fire Temple. Its appearance is more conic or heaped, and a Piece of Heart rests on top of one of the rocks. Volcanic smoke billows out of the tips of each rock, though there are no natural chimney stacks visible at the peaks. It is evident from its structure and that of the Fire Temple that the upper floors of the Fire Temple extend into the interior of these two mounds.

Majora's Mask
In Majora's Mask, Spectacle Rock is most notably present as the path between the Mountain Village and Goron Village in the northern Snowhead region of Termina, where the entrance to the Goron Racetrack is also located. Referred to by the Goron Elder as the Twin Islands, there are actually three islands in this area, though the third is smaller and makes up part of the connection between the two "eyeglasses." While the double igloo structure of the Goron Shrine in Goron Village arguably also resembles Spectacle Rock, the Twin Islands are a more plausible candidate in that they are arranged horizontally on the overworld map and that they have a distinct bridge structure connecting the two main islands. Like Link's Awakening, the game takes place outside of Hyrule, and thus, it is not the same rock structure.

The Wind Waker
In The Wind Waker, Spectacle Island is the Great Sea's equivalent to Spectacle Rock after Hyrule has been flooded. Its appearance is understandable in that Hyrule's mountaintops were said to have formed the islands of the Great Sea, and Spectacle Rock was itself one of the higher points of elevation in Hyrule. It topographically appears as two circular stone structures with paths spiraling up their sides and a wooden bridge spanning the gap between them. Atop the eastern structure, Link can play a cannon minigame managed by Salvatore. A blue ChuChu also can be found on the beach under the wooden bridge. Spectacle Isle is strangely distant from Dragon Roost Island, which is often believed by fans to be the equivalent to Death Mountain.

Four Swords Adventures
Although not specifically named, the battle with the Helmaroc King on the top of Death Mountain takes place around two large rocky hills, very similar in appearance to that of Spectacle Rock. Each rock has a small entrance, and contain Keese. Defeating the Helmaroc King requires that the Links cause him to crash into the rocks by using Bombs, at which point they can go inside to destroy his mask with a Hammer.

Twilight Princess
In Twilight Princess, Spectacle Rock is found below Death Mountain, and is home to the mighty Gorons. The Goron Mines can be found within the interior of Spectacle Rock and the trail leading to the top spirals around the structure.

Skyward Sword
While not an accessible location in the game, Spectacle Rock makes something of a cameo appearance in Skyward Sword. It can be seen in the Eldin Province part of the map screen, where it sits between Eldin Volcano and the Volcano Summit.