The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time/Ganon's Castle

Ganon's Castle
(use light arrows to destory barriers) The final dungeon of the game is imposing at first, but rather simple. A series of Temple-Themed challenges awaits you, along with a few new items. March straight through the ascending stairs and the two Beamos and enter the main hall. You'll see that there are six seperate mini-dungeons that require disabling, to disable the large barrier in front of you. There is no specific order as to how to complete, however, you must obtain the Gold Gauntlets from the Shadow region before you can complete the Fire region.

If you are low on health, faeries, or magic, simply backflip to the bottom of the tower, and directly below the entrance is a hidden alcove. Use the Lens of Truth if you can't find it, it's on the ground floor. If you enter, several faeries and deku shrubs await. You can stock up here if need be. The recommended travel companions are three faeries, and a green or blue potion. You'll find that you'll want to be able to readily replenish magic later on.

From the entrance, to the right lay the first temple. (incomplete)

If you are having trouble with the ice maze simply get an empty bottle and fill it with blue fire to destroy the walls, then with the little block challenge. Push the closest to the hole in the hole, then pust the other block up to the ice block. After that push it too the other ice block and then push it towards the wall. Then climb up on the block and use your blue fire. The jsut simply walk into the room and shoot the barrier with your light arrows. Then go along and finish the other mazes.

The boss: Ganondorf
Navi is held back by Ganon's evilness so you cannot use Z-targeting during this battle. Make sure you have the hover boots on. Simply stand on any of the outer blocks and let Ganon shoot at you. If you remember the fight with Phantom Ganon, you'll know what to do. Use your sword and deflect Ganondorf's magic back at him. After a few volleys, he'll get hit by his own magic and will be stunned. At this point hit him with a light arrow, then jump (err... hover) onto the platform and slash him to pieces. Jump back to the squares and repeat. Sometimes (when he's low on health) he'll shoot a large blast of magic at you. You can't deflect this one, so just avoid it. It'll make peices of the floor crumble away, making the battle trickier. Again, make sure you have the hover boots on to help you out.

If you need health or magic drop down to the bottom area where the pots are.

Alternately, you may not have to equip the hoverboots. If you have the Biggoron's sword, equip it, and have the hookshot ready as well. After stunning Ganon, and firing the light arrow, line up a direct path with him. You can jump/hookshot yourself into Ganon, either way as soon as you land, you can jump slash him. Since one jump slash with the Biggoron's sword is the equivalent of four Master Sword strikes, this intial blow will speed up the process. Stabbing gives you quicker attack rates, and less lag time after the swing. Once you see him recover, hookshot the windows and fly away. When Ganon begins charging up his large sphere that can't be reflected, fire a light arrow into his body. This will prevent the charge from ever happening.

Eventually you'll kill Ganon. Unfortunately with his dying breath he tries to bring the castle down around him, intending to bury you alive!

Escaping the Castle
Follow Zelda down through the different levels of the castle. Be sure to stand right in front of each grille in order to trigger her to open it. Most of the time you can second-guess her and run on ahead. However if you get hit by falling debris Zelda will gasp and remain where she is, so you'll need to go back for her.

At one point Zelda will be encircled with flames and two Stalfos appear. Destroy them quickly or a third will appear! The flames will then vanish and Zelda will moult hearts. Go up to her and get them if you need them, then continue on your way.

Eventually you'll come down the stairs and reach a doorway with bright white light outside. Go through and you're back outside. You'll now see the castle slowly crumble down into a pile of rubble.

Zelda now goes on about how everything will get back to normal when suddenly there comes a noise from the rubble. She sends you to investigate.

Walk over and Ganondorf will emerge from the rubble and somehow transform into his super-form, Ganon. Ganon knocks the Master Sword out of Link's hands, leaving him without his most effective boss-killing weapon.

The boss: Ganon
This time you've got your trusty Z-targeting back. Strike Ganon between the eyes with the light arrows leaving him stunned. This makes his vulnerable tail drop down within reach. Quickly target it and rush in behind him to slash it to pieces. If you don't have the Biggoron Sword the Megaton Hammer will also work. If you need a magic refill just head to one of the crumbled walls and let Ganon strike at it, revealing the bottles.

Once he's down rush over and get the Master Sword, and equip it, then go and hit him quickly before he gets up (the more blows the better). Then repeat the same process until he's down yet again.

This time however Zelda will hold him still with her powers and tell you to deliver the final blow. Simply walk up to him and slash, and it's all over.

Note: If you want an easy win, just roll between his legs to get to his tail, real fast.