Shadow Temple

The Shadow Temple is the seventh dungeon in The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time. It is found in the back of the graveyard in Kakariko Village in a little alcove only accessible using the Nocturne of Shadow. It is filled with undead creatures and deadly twisted traps and mind-bending puzzles everywhere, all designed to trap anyone who enters the crypt. It is also filled to the brim with invisible walls and passageways only visible using the Lens of Truth. The boss of the temple is Bongo Bongo, an undead monster consisting of a giant torso, one protruding eye, and two huge disembodied hands beating on a giant drum. It is never sufficiently explained why there is a giant drum in the basement. The mini-boss of this dungeon is Dead Hand it is unknown whether or not this is the same one at the bottom of the well.

Many players think this is the scariest temple, probably due to the numerous traps and surprises, the darkening senses, as well as the overall atmosphere. Some of walls and floor are stained with blood, and torture equipment is located in several rooms. Therefore the counterpart to the Shadow Temple during young Link's journey is the Kakariko Well, sharing similar rooms and background music. This dungeon is also similar to Mutoh's Temple in Phantom Hourglass due to the many traps found.

Minor Enemies and Traps

 * Keese
 * ReDeads
 * Gibdos
 * Wallmasters
 * Skulltulas
 * Stalfos
 * Beamos
 * Blue Bubbles
 * Green Bubbles
 * Floormasters
 * Invisible floors, walls, and spiked floors, fake walls/floors, swirling scythes, guillotines, falling platforms with spikes, tiles shooting flames, walls with spikes moving towards each other.
 * Blade Traps

Weight and Illusion
These are the two keys to finishing the Shadow Temple, being able to see through illusion and the adjusting of one's weight, from lighter than air to being heavy enough to walk on the ocean floor. Without being able to do either, the Shadow Temple is unfinishable.

A little used strategy in the Shadow Temple is, when Link comes across the fans, the Iron Boots can be used to resist their push. The Hover Boots, on the other hand, are known by all to be used to cross large gaps otherwise uncrossable.

The Lens of Truth reduces the difficulty of the Shadow Temple drastically, particularly against Bongo Bongo.

Trivia

 * This, the Spirit Temple, and Dodongo's Cavern are the only dungeons that can be entered by both Adult Link and Young Link. However, Young Link can make no progress upon entering, due to his lack of the Hookshot