Palace of Darkness

The Palace of Darkness (ヤミの神殿, Darkness Temple) is the first dungeon of the Dark World in A Link to the Past, and the fifth dungeon overall. When Link enters the dungeon in the Game Boy Advance remake of the game, its name is just "Dark Palace".

It is located in the east, in the area were first stood the Eastern Palace. Access to the dungeon is granted by walking through the maze. Eventually, a monkey named Kiki follows Link and asks for ten rupees. Link gives him the requested amount and continues towards the dungeon. There, the monkey will offer to reveal the dungeon's entrance for one hundred more rupees. Link gives him these as well and the monkey opens the dungeon for Link by hopping onto an otherwise inaccessible switch.

Concept
This dungeon introduces a greater level of danger than those found in the Light World. Link will encounter special ledges that allow him to perform an auto-jump when he runs off of them. In addition, some objects can push Link if he touches them, as will some enemies. Certain creatures mimic Link's moves (much like the statues controlled by the Dominion Rod in Twilight Princess,) and should one of these enemies face Link directly, it will fire a beam at him. This dungeon's treasure is the Magic Hammer, which is used to remove hardened obstacles. The boss is the Helmasaur King, an enlarged Helmasaur After defeating him Link receives a Heart Container and the first crystal.