The Water Temple is widely considered to be a place of mystique by many people who have played Ocarina of Time. It’s also considered to be a literal headache and one of the toughest trials many gamers have ever faced when trying to retain their sanity. I feel like I fall somewhere in between the two. My younger self leans more toward the notion of hating the temple, whereas in my older age I am able to find a uniqueness in it that hasn’t been matched. While the temple as a whole is considered a great dungeon, it’s the wonderful narrative that takes place while fighting against Dark Link that made me change my perspective on the entire journey.
After learning the “Serenade of Water” from Sheik in the Ice Cavern, Link is able to enter the temple with the help of the Iron Boots. What’s interesting is what Sheik tells Link before teaching him the song: “Time passes, people move…. Like a rivers flow, it never ends… A childish mind will turn to noble ambition… Young love will become deep affection… The clear water’s surface reflects growth… Now listen to the Serenade of Water to reflect upon yourself….“
The most pertinent information in the quote revolves around Link growing and reflecting upon himself. Not only is this thematic with the current setting of the game, with Link being an adult now, but it also clearly fits into the water motif and how water literally reflects an image of whomever is looking at it. In the case of Ocarina of Time, Link would be looking at himself, an older and still somewhat unfamiliar face, but the same noble ambition and courage he had shown even as a youth.
As the player and Link make their way through the Water Temple and meet with Princess Ruto again, it’s hard to not get a slight feeling of nostalgia. When meeting Saria and Darunia in their respective temples, they appeared very similar to how Link remembered them from his childhood. Saria had physically not aged and Darunia appeared to be the same, even if he had aged seven years. Princess Ruto, however, had grown into an adult like Link. Her childish figure had been replaced with the frame of a Zora woman and she recants how she made vows to Link seven years ago, even calling herself his fiancée. The notions of love are quickly swept under the rug as Ruto makes sure to bring duty before personal business. She informs Link of the task at hand and begs for his help. As a child, this interaction made me feel just as foreign in Hyrule as Link must have felt, as he had merely went to sleep and woke up after a seven year slumber. The rest of world fought for survival, grew through their struggles, and awaited a hero. I hoped that I could be the hero that Hyrule and Ruto needed.
When Link is halfway through the temple, he enters into a strange room that is unlike anything else he has seen in it so far. The door slams down behind him — indicating a threat that he will have to overcome — before the Hero of Time is met with an eerie quietness. The room is tranquil, with a reflective pool of water just deep enough for Link’s feet to get wet and a dark, leafless tree in the middle. Aside from those and an exit on the other side, the room is empty and peaceful. There are no enemies or signs of danger, so Link and the player are encouraged to go further into the room before them and figure out what obstacle must be overcome.
As Link strides through the water, splashes meeting his footsteps, he walks up to the seemingly lifeless tree and…nothing happens. He can see the exit and makes his way toward it, only to notice that the bars over the door have not moved an inch. Something isn’t right. The only thing Link can do now is turn around and see if the tree has something on the back side of it. As he turns, Navi rockets toward what appears to be a darker version of Link. Detail-oriented players would also notice that Link no longer has a shadow or reflection after he passed by the tree. Walking toward the dark figure, it doesn’t become clear what his intent is until the mini-boss music suddenly blasts and the figure backflips, similar to how Link fights. His voice is a low and distorted perversion of Link’s own battle cry, as though this figure is somehow demonic. Navi’s usually detailed clues about defeating an enemy are a little high and dry here, with a simple explanation that this figure is Dark Link, and you must conquer yourself.
Mechanically speaking, this boss is very different from anything you have faced in the previous dungeons. Z-targeting with the Master sword in hand results in the doppelgänger mimicking Link’s every move. When the Hero of Time stabs his sword forward, Dark Link tauntingly hops on top of the blade, and flips backwards to reengage. The mini-boss will also clash blades with Link, clanging their swords in the empty and echoing chamber. How exactly is Link supposed to best this foe? How can he conquer himself? The narrative is perfect and is meant for players to take a moment and really examine just what the game has been telling them.
Throughout the adventure, the game painstakingly makes sure you understand the Z-targeting mechanic and how it is supposed to help Link conquer foes in the 3D space, as it makes them the center target that Link rotates around. Here, in this scenario, conquering yourself is a complex statement. Link has to conquer Dark Link, and the player has to conquer the muscle memory and reflexes they have been developing while playing the title. You shouldn’t Z-target Dark Link, and you shouldn’t use the Master Sword, but you should change your tactics. The player can change directions without targeting to get a hit in, swap weapons, or attempt to break through Dark Link’s guard. What is even more interesting is that Dark Link’s health mirrors your own, so his vitality is a direct result of how well you’ve done up to this point in the game to increase your heart meter.
Most of the enemies that Link had faced up to this point would actively go on the attack the second that our hero gets in their proximity, but Dark Link is not like that at all. Dark Link is reactive and doesn’t go out of its way to attack you. This behavior made me hesitate to attack, as I wasn’t sure what exactly to do. Before I knew the mechanics behind his tactical approach, Dark Link had me sweating bullets. Not only was this fighter an exact copy of Link, but he even fought like him too. All of the time I had spent learning how to be nimble, do backflips, roll, and avoid damage as best as possible was now being used against me. It was terrifying. Normally, enemies took their time and had a gimmick, making the pace feel much better and easier to tackle one-on-one. Dark Link is indeed one-on-one but the pacing is more hectic. He has strategies against your attacks, taunts you, and fights just like the player has.
Taking all of this information in, mid-boss fight, left me pausing the game to collect myself and figure out what I needed to do. My nemesis wasn’t invincible and I needed to land a hit, so I began trying all sorts of methods. I pulled out my megaton hammer and swung with all the frantic fury a young boy could. I finally managed to land some damage to this evil version of Link.
Once hit, Dark Link will mimic the animation Link has when taking damage and fall to the floor, only to reappear behind the Hero of Time once more. Initially, Dark Link merely reacts to your attacks; keep banging him with the Master Sword and he will parry your blows. Attempt to clip him with the Hookshot and he will roll under the advancing chain. After enough failed attempts to stab him, Dark Link will punish the player by swiping at them while he performs his taunt on Link’s sword. Eventually, Dark Link will go after Link and attack him with similar tactics that the player has used throughout the adventure. The mini-boss will dodge, parry, roll, and jump attack at the hero.
After swapping blows and changing your own mindset, Dark Link eventually lets out one last guttural scream, distorted and bellowing, and falls into the watery abyss. He leaves behind a single red rupee and as you walk toward the exit. The fog that shrouded the battlefield begins to fade away, revealing a square room with no tree in the middle and tiles under the once reflective waterscape.
This fight left me with such an impression as a child and still makes such a difference to this day. In the best cinematic fashion, the developer attempts to teach the player to not get comfortable with the mechanics it has spent the entire first half of the game teaching. The encounter also thematically goes with what the Water Temple stands for: a reflection of things. An older Link is able to conquer himself and in doing so, he is one step closer to undoing all of the wrongdoing that Ganondorf, the King of Evil, has unleashed upon Hyrule.
