A Zelda game would not be complete without a proper castle. Even when the Hero of Legend ventures to foreign lands–or supernatural realms birthed by an eldritch god–Link’s Awakening provides us with a great mini-dungeon in Kanalet Castle.
A sojourn to Kanalet Castle is another one of many steps on Link’s journey across the dreamy realm of Koholint Island. The lord of the manor, Richard, has something we need: the Slime Key, which will provide us entrance to the next major dungeon. However, Richard is not in his castle; he has taken refuge at his villa in Ukuku Prairie. He and his amphibious retinue retreated from a mutiny committed by his knightly servants. If Link can rout the enemies and collect Richard’s five Golden Leaves, then he will give you the Slime Key.
After a ten minute walk north-east, Link arrives at the locked gates. Not all is lost, Kiki the Monkey is nearby; he and his monkey friends will toil away building you a bridge across the moat in exchange for some bananas. Once across, Link can enter a secret passageway hidden among the bushes to sneak behind the castle walls. Within the walls, Link proves to be a Hero of Legend as a one-man-army against the castle of Darknuts. Outside there are a few Darknuts and a Crow to slay for a Golden Leaf. On the opposite side are more knights and a Mad Bomber, a Darknut who hides in a set of whack-a-mole style holes and chucks bombs at you, but he holds your second Golden Leaf. Inside the castle is crawling with more evil knights and monsters. You’ll find the third Golden Leaf by some knights close to the entrance. The fourth Golden Leaf is being held by some Darknuts who hide quite literally within the walls, and a bomb is needed to break them out of their hiding. The final Golden Leaf is being held by a massive knight: wielding a spiked flail, and clad in golden armor that rivals even Hylia’s radiance. After several bouts with him, he is felled, and the five Golden Leaves are yours, and the castle is free.
With that, Lord Richard can have his castle back, and his Five Golden Leaves are traded for the Slime Key and onto the next dungeon, the Key Cavern. This mini-dungeon reminds players the even the small victories carry weight in Link’s grand adventure. The journey presses onward, but Kanelet Castle leaves it’s mark as a fantastic mini-dungeon full of classic Zelda charm.
