The Legend Of Zelda: 10 Best Intro Dungeons
7. A Link To The Past: Hyrule Castle
Unlike Twilight Princess, fans are launched straight into the action in the series' third instalment, players barely having to glimpse the overworld before being rushed into A Link To The Past's first dungeon.
A sprawling dungeon consisting of multiple storeys, dark passageways and numerous branching paths, Hyrule Castle is a noticeable step up from the relatively straightforward dungeons of the series' original title and a welcome return to the top-down perspective that had been abandoned by Link's Adventure.
Players must have their wits about them to navigate the Castle's contrived corridors, but, like the best dungeons in this list, the challenge begins before Link steps into the Castle itself. Seeing the castle courtyard overun by guards, Link must sneak his way in, finding a secret entrance to the basement hidden beneath a bush outside the Castle walls.
The dungeon itself serves as a perfect playground for the player to discover all the new abilities Link has at his disposal, from his new improved sword swing to the magic meter which forces players to be conservative about their item usage.
Add to this the sense of urgency generated and atmosphere evoked by the game's opening scenes, and you have one of the most memorable opening set pieces of any game, let alone Zelda title, ever.