The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time/Dodongo's Cavern

Kakariko Village
You enter the village and find it a busy place. A construction project is underway. Up the hill to your left is the gate to Death Mountain Trail, and to the right of the windmill is the path to the Kakriko Village Graveyard. There may be a few things to do here before continuing up Death Mountain Trail.

The House of Skulltula
The first house on the right is the House of Skulltula. You will find talking skulltula inside. The one who drops down in the center of the room explains the skulltula curse that has befallen his family. He promises to make you "very rich" if the curse is broken. The breaking of the curse requires that you kill all the Gold Skulltula and obtain their tokens. For every 10 Gold Skulltula you kill, you can return to this house for a reward.

The Royal Family Tomb
From Kakariko village proper, you can enter the graveyard through the opening to the right of the windmill. At the back of the graveyard you find the Royal Family Tomb. Playing Zelda's Lullaby on your ocarina causes a storm, and a lightning bolt destroys the royal family's tombstone, leaving a hole in the ground. You jump in the hole. In the first room is a locked door. The chamber holds several Keese, which you dispatch. The locked door opens. In the next room is a group of ReDead. Avoid fighting them. They're slow, but they freeze you with their screams. Beyond them is an inscription. Reading it and you learn a new tune, the Sun's Song. This song can be used to calm the dead. It can also be used to turn night to day or day to night.

The Heart-Pounding Gravedigger Tour
Going to the graveyard at night, between 18:00 and 21:00 finds Dampe the gravedigger outside his shack. Speak to him and he'll explain his tour. He'll dig anywhere you want him to along his rectangular path, but you have to pay him 10 rupees each time. You usually get a single rupee, but sometimes you can get a red rupee worth 20. You can find a Heart Piece here as well.

The Gate to Death Mountain Opens
You speak to the guard at the gate. He won't let you through the gate unless you have royal permission, but when you show him Zelda's letter, he opens the gate for you. However, he suggests that you have a "proper shield". According to him, you can buy this shield in the Bazaar in the Hyrule Castle Town market. Additionaly, the guard makes a request that you pick up a popular mask from the Happy Mask Shop for his son. You don't necessarily have to get the Hylian Shield at this time but it makes the dungeon much easier.

The Gorons' Problem
As you move up Death Mountain Trail, you meet a several Red Tektites. Beyond them is a large boulder with a smaller boulder to the right. Surprise! When you approach the smaller boulder, it turns out to be a Goron. He explains the problem the Gorons are having. They feed on rocks, and the best rocks come from Dodongo Cavern. But recently a Gerudo came and sealed up the cavern with this giant boulder. Additionally, the cavern has filled with monsters. After speaking with him, you continue up the mountain.

Goron City
As you continue up the trail, you will come to a place where the path open up. A wide, steep path leads to the left, and a small path leads to the right. The left path, which leads to Death Mountain summit, is blocked by boulders. It is impassable to you at the moment, so you head to the right. The path begins to descend, and you pass a circular group of stones. Beyond them is the entrance to Goron City.

You speak to the various Gorons found around the city. They tell you that Ganondorf has sealed up the entrance to Dodongo's Cavern. Thats where the Gorons get there food. Ganon has said that he won't remove the boiulder until the Gorons give them the Gorons' Ruby.

Darunia's Anger
Darunia, the head Goron, has locked himself in his room at the lowest level of Goron City. After arriving at the door, you notice a nice carpet in front of it. You announce yourself as a royal emissary by playing Zelda's Lullaby. When Darunia hears this music, he opens the door. However, when you speak to him, you find him in a bad mood. He refuses to explain the problem, calling it a Goron problem.

Livening Up Goron City
After speaking with Darunia, go outside. The Goron outside says that Goron City is exciting when the fires are lit. You use a Deku Stick with the fires in Darunia's room to light the other torches. This causes the central jar to rotate and music to play. It also provides you with sources of fire, which you can use to light Bomb Flowers. You decide to go ahead and light the bomb flowers on the lowest level. A doorway opens up. Inside is a Goron Shop, although there isn't much you're interested in right now.

To the Lost Woods
A Goron on the top level says that all Gorons enjoy the music he hears coming from the passage near him. You notice boulders blocking the passage, but also Bomb Flowers growing around the boulders. Using a Deku Stick, take fire to one of the flowers. The passage is now clear. Upon entering, you find yourself in the Lost Woods.

The Lost Woods
The owl instructs you to follow the sound of the music. As you stand at each possible exit, only one has music emanating from it. You follow it into the next area. Again you listen for the music at each passage. Then you follow the music. You continue this until you arrive at the Sacred Forest Temple.

A New Song
You see that the gate is closed. As you begin to approach it, a Wolfos appears. Defeating him removes the gate. You enter the narrow passages before you and use your shield to defend yourself against the Mad Scrubs. Finally you make it to the opposite side. Down a final, narrow passage is a pair of Mad Scrubs. After dealing with them, you enter into a meadow where Saria sits on a stump playing her ocarina. Speak to her and she teaches you a new song, Saria's Song. With it you can speak to her whenever and wherever you are. Back down the narrow passage you go, but this time you go up the ladder above the maze. In the middle is a hole. Dropping down, you find a fairy fountain. An empty bottle would be good to capture one of those fairies.

More Deku Sticks
While in the forest, you decide to explore a little. Taking the wrong path always leads you out to Kokiri Village. You do this and head back into the Lost Woods. Then head left. A boy is playing and dancing on a stump. You head left again. There is the bridge from which you left Kokiri Village earlier. Dropping down below it, you move to the other side of the area and find a Business Scrub. After you defeat him, he offers to increase your Deku Stick capacity in exchange for 40 rupees.

Skull Kid's Heart Piece
When you return to Skull Kid, you decide to approach him, but he runs away. Next time you enter the area, you stand on the lower stump. Since he's playing a musical instrument, you pull out your ocarina. He's delighted. You play Zelda's Lullaby for him. He likes it, but "it isn't Saria's Song." So you play Saria's Song. He loves that, and shows his appreciation by giving you a Heart Piece.

Target Practice
From Skull Kid, you go right, back toward the Kokiri entrance, but then straight ahead. Here you find what appears to be a cymbal hanging from a tree. Aiming well with your Fairy Slingshot, you hit it dead-center three times in a row. A Deku Scrub emerges from the top of the tree and give you a larger bag with which to hold Deku Seeds.

Jam Session
Below the target practice area is another stump. Stand on it and two more Skull Kid-types appear. Repeat whatever they play. After you successfully play six notes equal to theirs, they give you a Heart Piece.

Calming Darunia's Anger
From the target practice area, you turn left and head back to Goron City. There you go directly to Darunia, take out your ocarina and play Saria's Song. The song lifts his mood, and he begins to dance. After he finishes dancing, he tells you more of Ganondorf. Then he gives you the Goron's Bracelet. You can now pick up Bomb Flowers that are growing on the ground. You then leave Goron City, returning to Death Mountain Trail.

Opening Dodongo's Cavern
Outside Goron City, you bear right at the circle of rocks. There you see a lone Goron sitting by a lone Bomb Flower. Looking carefully around, you notice that Dodongo's Cavern is directly below. You pick up the Bomb Flower. Then you throw it over the ledge. With proper timing, the bomb destroys the boulder in front of the cavern. Dodongo's Cavern awaits.

Dodongo's Cavern
Right when you get in look to your left and go poick up the bomb flower. Use it on the odd looking wall that willl reaveal the main room. Go forward and you will a platform that moves up and down and then a platform with a beamos on it. Wait for the platform to go up and jump on it and on to the next platform. Then avoid the beamo and go to your left and do the same with this platform. Use a bomb flower to destroy the beamos. Then use the bomb flowers to destory all the odd shaped walls until you find the dungeon map. Then go back to the middle platform and go right instead of left to the other side. Kill the Beamos you see on this side. Then use a bomb flower to bomb the odd shaped wall. Go in that room and you will find yourself in a hallway. Just avoid the dodongo larva. You will see a switch at the end of the hall. You can step on it and the door will unlock but when you get off ot shuts again. Move one of the statues onto the switch so it stays open. The next room has a pair of Lizalfos. Use your sword to beat them. This could be hard at times. Afterwords the doors unlock, so go through. Kill the dodongo's first. Then take out a deku stick and light it with the already lit torch. Light up the other three torches to open the door. You are in the center room again but you are in an area where you couldn't reach before. Step on the switch and a door will unlock. Hop over the middle again and go through the door. This next room is filled with bomb flowers. Don't worry about them for now. Take one of the bomb flowers and blast the odd shaped wall, and enter the next room. There will be four statues surrounding the middle. Hit each with your sword until one comes alive. Kill him then climb up and get the compass. Then go back to the room with all the bomb flowers. There is a gap between the bomb flowers where there is a missing one. Pick up the one thats seperate from the others or just pick up anyone and place it where there is a gap, and they all should explode revealing staris to the next level. Climb up and go around to the top and enter the next room.

In this room there are some fire kees flying around. Be very careful that they dont burn your kokiri shield. IO would equip the hyrule right now. Kill them but don't touch any of the statues except the one that is in front of the ladder. Pull that statue out and climb up and press the switch. You are in the main room again but on the second floor. Run across the bridge but try not to get hit by the fire kees. Enter into the next room. Jump down but watch it because there are spikes moving around on the floor. You will probably get hit a few times her. Look for the ladder and climb up it. Then jump to the platform with the treasure chest. Open the chest to get rupees. Then pick up the bomb flower and through it at the odd shaped wall that is by the top of the ladder. You have to time it perfectly. Honestly, this is the hardest part of the dungeon for me. In the next room there are three platforms, but one is on fire. Use your slingshot to shoot the eye and jump accross into the next room. In the next room you have to fight the Lizalfo's again. They are a little tougher now. In the next room there are four platforms but the middle twon are on fire. Once again shoot up at the eye to make the first fire go away. Then turn left and shoot the other eye to make the second one go away. Then enter into the next room. In the next room you finally get the bomb bag. Now you can hold bombs with you. Enter the next room and press the switch, and you will see that one of the platforms in the main room now goes to the second floor also. If you have lost your deku shield go accross the other bridge and bomb the odd shaped wall to get a new one. Otherwise it is only 20 rupees. Then go back to where there are two gaps in the one long bridge. Drop a bomb through each gap. They will land in the giant dead dodongo's eyes and blow up to make an entrance to the room. Jump down and enter this room.

Kill the fire kees in the next room. There is a little square in the middle of the room where you can fall in to press a switch, but when you leave the switch will close. So go left into the next room. There are a few fire kees in this room also. Go through the room until you get to the exit of the room, but before that hit the pots in this room to get a fiary. I would request that you catch it in a bottle because you might need it for the boss. Go through the tunnel and push the block until it falls to the lower platform. Then push and pull it untill falls on to the switch. Then enter into the next room. Open the chest for bombs, then bomb the odd shaped floor and jump down.

Right away you should be able to see the boss, KING DODONGO. What you have to do is throw a bomb in his mouth before he shoots fire at you. After you throw a bomb in his mouth it will blow up and he will be stunned. Run up and hit him with your sword. Then he will roll around the room. Stand as close as you can to the lava pit without falling in. If you fall in quickly get out. He shouldn't hit you. When he stops rolling he will try shooting file at you threw his mouth. Throw another bomb in his mouth. Do this about four to five times and you will defeat him. Get the piece of heart and leave.

Jubilation
When you exit Dodongo's Cavern, Darunia meets you with great joy. He happily gives you the Spiritual Stone of Fire, but also reminds you that a Great Fairy lives at the summit of Death Mountain. The other Dodongos then attempt to give you a hug, at which point you run for your life.

To the Summit
As you head up the mountain, you come to fork. Bearing right would lead you to Goron City. You bear left and move farther up the mountain. A few boulders block your way, but they are easily taken care of by a few bombs. Once you get past these boulders, you hear a cow mooing! You can use another bomb to destroy the boulder atop the ridge. Drop down in the hole to find a cow and a treasure chest with rupees. Continuing farther up the mountain, your Hylian Shield comes in handy as fiery rocks rain straight down on you from above. Finally you reach a shear rock wall. Climb it, but watch out for the skullwalltula. At each platform, clear out the skullwalltula from above you. Finally you reach the top where you find the owl. After he speaks to you, you bomb the wall to the left of him. Entering reveals a fountain, but no fairy. When you play Zelda's Lullaby, however, the Great Fairy appears and gives you the Spin Attack ability.

Back to Kakariko
After exiting the cave, you speak to the owl, who is nice enough to carry you to Kakariko Village. He deposits you on the Impa's rooftop. Don't be too quick to drop down. Turn toward the windmill and drop down carefully at the back corner of the house. You should land on a wooden awning of sorts. There is a hole in the wall behind you. Go in and collect the Heart Piece next to the cow in the cage.

Gathering Cuccos
If it's night, play the Sun Song. Under the awning is a pen without any cuccos in it. Next to this pen is a woman. Her posture shows that she is in distress. She tells you that her Cuccos are missing and asks that you gather them and put them in the pen. There are seven cuccos scattered around the village.

You notice that there are two or three cuccos seemingly out of reach. One is next to the House of Skulltula. You can use your Fairy Slingshot to send the bird flying down to the ground where you can get to him. Another bird is up on the high ground by the windmill, and another is on the ground behind a large fence. Using an available cucco, glide from the raised land in front of the windmill over to the fence by the red building. You should land on the fence. Drop down, turn around and throw your cucco back to where you can get it. Then grab the cucco below and throw him over. Next, climb the ladder up to the high ground around the windmill and grab the cucco there. Gather all the cuccos now. There's one by the Hyrule Field entrance, one by the graveyard entrance and one by the Death mountain entrance. Finally, there's one in a box by the carpenters' house. You need a bomb.

Once you've gathered them all, she happily gives you an empty bottle for your use.

&lt;&lt; Hyrule Castle | Jabu-Jabu's Belly &gt;&gt;