Level 9


 * Not to be confused with Death Mountain, the mountain location in later games, or Death Mountain, a stage in Four Swords.

Death Mountain, also simply known as Level 9 is the ninth and final labyrinth in The Legend of Zelda.

The Dungeon Entrance
In the First Quest, the dungeon is found by bombing one of the giant peaks of Spectacle Rock. In the Second Quest, it's no longer located in there, but in the northern wall of the very narrow passageway found at the northwesternmost area of the game. After Link bombs it, the final dungeon of the second Quest (and the game) is finally open for access.

First Quest
Death Mountain in the First Quest is shaped like a skull. Being the final labyrinth, it is the largest (over 50 rooms) and most difficult dungeon in the first quest of the game. Link must fight his way through swarms of enemies, including hordes of dangerous Wizzrobes and groups of deadly Lanmolas, and mini-bosses in the form of Patras. Death Mountain Labyrinth contains the Red Ring, useful to dampen the enemy damage even more than the Blue Ring, and the legendary Silver Arrows that Link needs to vanquish Ganon. An old man waits at the entrance of the dungeon, preventing any who do not possess a complete Triforce from entering; therefore Link must have obtained all eight pieces in order to challenge Ganon. This extensive dungeon contains many rooms, bombable walls, passages, minibosses, and Wise Men.

Second Quest
Unlike most dungeons in the game, which depart significantly from their original versions in the Second Quest, Level 9 is actually relatively similar in both quests. The map now portrays Ganon's head; the two dungeon items are once again the Red Ring and the Silver Arrows. The layout, however, is very different, and one of the most complex and maze-like in the whole game, including numerous one-way passages and a seemingly inpassable block wall that prevents Link from reaching Ganon.

Trivia

 * Death Mountain has its own unique music, unlike other dungeons in the game. A remix of this music was used in the game Art Style: Picopict, during a stage based on this dungeon.
 * It is unclear whether the term "Death Mountain" was intended to describe simply Ganon's dungeon beneath Spectacle Rock, or if the term was originally intended to also encompass the mountain range it appears in. In later games, Death Mountain is used to describe the mountain region as a whole; but it's worth noting that Death Mountain in The Adventure of Link is actually north of Spectacle Rock. The region where the original game takes place is referred to as the Death Mountain Area.