10 Best Dungeons In The Legend Of Zelda Franchise

A divisive level, the penultimate dungeon of Link’s Awakening is, to some, nothing but an exercise in frustration. You’re tasked with a lot of backtracking, and the player needs to get a good grip of the map early on if they’re to avoid getting hopelessly lost in jumping through the holes in the floor to reach different areas of the tower.

The central mechanic, though, is so neat that it can’t help merit inclusion. At the top of the tower lurks the unimaginatively named Evil Eagle. In order to access the avian fiend, Link must smash down some pillars holding the tower up. Once done, the top floor of the structure collapses in on itself, allowing Link passage to the final confrontation.

The battle itself is a highlight of the game, a side scrolling clash with a vicious bird attempting to send you falling to your death from the top of the tower. It looks even better in the Switch’s remastered version.

Eagle’s Tower is a tricky level, but it’s all about navigation. If you can get your head around the map and the nature of the destructive task, it’s hugely rewarding.