Onox’s Castle
As Link approaches Onox’s Castle for the final showdown, the hooded figure from before confronts him to laugh at the futility of his efforts. Then the figure transforms into two witches – Koume and Kotake – Twinrova. They say the Flame of Destruction will soon be lit, and then they’ll perform a ritual to bring “the Evil King” back to “spread darkness across the land.” With some evil laughter, they fly off, and Link’s contacted by the Maku Tree, who’s worried about what Twinrova’s threats mean, but there’s nothing to do about that just yet. Link decides to focus on the threat at hand, Onox, and deal with Twinrova afterward.
Onox’s Castle is a fairly short dungeon: there are three rooms in a row to the north where he has to defeat all the enemies for the northern exit to lead to the next room. The first is filled with wizzrobes, the second darknuts and floormasters, and the third features another appearance by Facade. If he ever goes left or right, he finds himself in a room with a spinning tiles floor trap. There’s a chance to get fairies in these rooms, but entering resets his forward progress, so it’s basically only worth it if he does really badly at one of the fights and desperately needs a little extra health. After one final room, he comes to the final confrontation with Onox.
Onox is a giant soldier in golden armor, who attacks with the second biggest flail I’ve ever seen. He also sometimes jumps causing rocks to fall from the ceiling. After a few hits, he brings out Din in crystal to protect him; if Link hits the crystal with his sword, he’s electrocuted. Now, one of Link’s rings makes him immune to electricity damage, so he can hack away with impunity… but I didn’t bring it [1], so I have to do it the hard way. And this adds a pretty fun twist to the fight: Link has to bat the Din crystal away from Onox with the Rod of Seasons (not an obvious trick!) and then quickly hit Onox before she floats back over. After enough hits, Onox is seemingly defeated, but then the floor starts collapsing and Link eventually falls through.
Onox returns to confront Link, before assuming his true form of a dark dragon, whose weak spot is a crystal on his forehead. The crystal is immune to ranged attacks, so Link needs to dodge his attacks, jump on the hands (feet? paws?) when he has a chance, and hit the crystal with his sword. (Yes, just like the Wolf Sigma fight from Mega Man X. Capcom’s influence, I see you.) Once defeated again, Onox says that he accomplished enough for Twinrova’s aims, even if he lost in the end, and he dies. Din is freed from her crystal prison, and the seasons return to normal across Holodrum. The two set out to return to Horon Village, but Twinrova’s watching and says basically the same thing Onox did.
One World Saved, One to Go
As the credits roll, scenes from Horon Village play: Link and Din’s return, Maple crashing into the Maku Tree, Link and Din going to tell Impa the good news, and the Triforce mark appearing on Link’s hand. After they finish, a code appears… more on that in a minute. Returning to the game after the credits and talking to Din again, she says that Impa received a letter from Labrynna saying things weren’t well there, and left, setting the sequel hook for Oracle of Ages. The code that appeared after the credits can be used to start a “linked game” which starts with Twinrova already known as the mastermind and will resolve the story of their plot to revive Ganon. There’s one more code available right now from the red snake in Vasu’s (the ring merchant) shop, which lets all the unlocked rings transfer over by talking to same NPC in Ages. Farore, the Oracle of Secrets whose own game got cancelled because the logistics of linking three games was too complicated, has set up a little area in the Maku Tree where both codes are stored in a book, along with some blank spots. Hrm.
So, Oracle of Seasons was pretty fun. Hard, in a way thing’s haven’t been for a while, but fun. The reworkings of all the original game’s dungeon bosses were fun to see, and Twinrova as the mastermind was a cool and unexpected twist. Looking forward to seeing how this all plays out in part 2.
[1] I will when I come back on a linked game from Ages.
