The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past/Desert Palace

'A narrow entrance leads from the Great Swamp west to the Desert of Mystery. Historians believe that the Desert was the home of the earliest Hylian people, who spoke a language long forgotten. Because you have the Book of Mudora, you will be able to read the script on the Hylian Monoliths that you find there.'

Points of interest
The desert is a barren region with inhabitants that were made harsh by the extreme heat. Geldmen slither out of the hot sand, and vultures feast on the remains of unfortunate travelers. One never knows what dangers the shifting sands hide, so it's wise to be on the alert at all times. Only the foolish enter the desert without proper provision.

The Hylian monolith
On a high bluff east of the desert stands a stone monolith. It is the source of much speculation because the people of the Light World can find no way to scale the bluff to inspect it more closely. Later on, when you are capable of traveling between the Light and Dark Worlds, you will be able to translate the ancient inscription with the Book of Mudora, and discover its message.

A curious cave dweller
A solitary old man lives in a cave in the northeastern section of the desert, waiting for the day when Ganon's challenger will come to collect what is rightfully his. The old man guarded this treasure, and vowed to give it up only to one brave and wise enough to seek him out. He sealed the treasure behind a stone wall for safekeeping.

Fantastic fountain
The Hylians discovered an oasis of sorts at the entrance to the desert. Inside a cave, there is a cool, soothing spring where a Faerie restores travelers' strength. After hot arduous journey, they were thankful to find the refreshing fountain and returned to it often.

A palace in the sands
Early Hylians erected a palace in the desert that was unlike any other in the land. It has several exits but only one main entrance, which they blocked with huge turtle-like boulders. The upper floors are caves carved out of the mountain, perfect for avoiding the intense midday heat. The cattle skeletons that line the path to the main doors attest to the harshness of the desert, but other, more hardy beasts still roam the sands, menacing travelers who dare to wander into their territory.

Desert Palace
Welcome to the desert. You are in a big room, and are greeted by Leevers, those enemies that dig into the ground. Go north. You will see a statue in the middle with a rotating eye. If this eye sees you it will fire a laser at you, and no shield can block that. Move the pots to the west and exit north. As you go north, you find another enemy that burrows into the ground, this one doesn't move around but instead throws fireballs. Exit east, go through the door north and while avoiding the laser, use the Pegasus boots to make theSmall Key more accessible. Take it, talk to Sahasrahla if you feel the need and exit the room south. Go west and now north. Say hi to our old one eyed friends and lift the pot in the middle to uncover a switch. Step on this switch to make a chest magically appear. Take the Map, go west and exit south.

Go east again, then south and use your key to open the door to the east. Defeat the blue/red things that wobble around, take the Compass from the chest and go north. There are cannons in the walls shooting towards the center of the room, keep to the center and take your time avoiding them. Open the chest to get the Big Key and exit south, then exit west. Go north, then west all the way. You will be locked in a room with an eye statue and lots of pots. Lift the north-west pot to uncover a switch, step on it to open both doors. Go north, take the Power Glove from the chest, then go back south, then east. Exit south, then go south and exit west. To the north there are fairies, if you need to refill health, just move the third block from the left. Exit south to go back outside.

To the south you'll find the eighth Piece of Heart. Once you have it head back north, and use the Power Glove to lift the stones and enter the other part of the dungeon. This room looks like the one you just exited. Move the second block from the right to open the door. Proceed north. In this room the floor tiles rise and follow you, a very annoying trap. Either avoid the tiles, of use your sword to destroy them as they fly towards you. Open the south-west chest to get theSmall Key, use it on the door to the north, go upstairs and once there just exit south. Again, defeat the wobbly things to open the way, exit east. Go north and lift the third chest from the left to get the key. Continue north. Floor tiles again. This time theSmall Key is hidden in the northeast pot. Use the key to exit the room.

Use the bow to get rid of the red thing, then use the lantern to light the four torches to open the way (very dramatically). Open the door and behold the boss room! This boss consists of 3 green worms that pop out of the sand in a random place and re-enter it at another random place, and you have to hit each one in the head as it flies through the room before burrowing again. Also, as they come out they shoot 4 pieces of sand you should avoid, and when only one is left, it shoots 8 pieces of sand as it comes out of the ground. Each one takes 8 regular hits from your sword, or 4 charged hits. The fastest way is using the Ice Rod you got earlier; each one takes 2 hits from the Ice Rod to go down. After the fight collect the heart container, then the pendant. Your goal of finding all three Pendants is in sight! Go for the last one!