The first thing Link encounters in the Fire Sanctuary is one of the central puzzle types: a river of lava with a big bulbous plant hanging over it. Hitting the plant with any of Link’s weapons causes it to drop a giant water bubble into the lava, creating a platform Link can cross. If it stays in one place, it quickly breaks apart, but when it floats on a river of lava, it holds together while moving. Later, Link can grab the plants with his sword to throw them at things, creating lava platforms where there’s no convenient plant, feeding frog statues to open doors, or petrifying Magmanos (lava hands) so they can be whacked apart with the sword.
Early in the dungeon, Link meets the Mogma leader, Guld. He gives Link a hint to a later puzzle (jump into the mouth of the sleeping statue) and tells him to look out for other Mogmas in the dungeon. The first one Link comes across is chained up over a lava pit, so Link needs to defeat a pair of Magmanos, the dungeon miniboss, to drain the lava, then lower the chain so he’s free. As a reward, the Mogma gives Link an pair of Mogma Mitts, an upgrade to his Digging Mitts that will let him burrow into tunnels. That’s the treasure item, although there’s also a bottle (that would have been nice to have before the dungeon…) if Link doubles back, and another Mogma gives Link a heart piece later in the dungeon.
Tunneling is the dungeon’s other gimmick [1]; tunnels serve as passageways between rooms and have hidden switches Link needs to use to change things aboveground. Tunnel combat is needlessly done by swinging the Wiimote rather than pressing buttons, but I’m used to that by now and there isn’t that much. There are some rocks that need pulverizing, and some tunnels have Moldorms crawling around where Link needs to sneak up on them and whack their tails three times. (The hardest part of this is Link often ends up facing the wrong way and can only turn around at intersections.)
Near the end of the dungeon, Link comes to the Bridge of Decision, which is the puzzle Guld hinted at earlier. There are statues to either side of the end of the bridge; one has its eyes open, one has its eyes closed. If Link jumps toward the one with its eyes closed, a hidden platform appears to lead Link to the final gauntlet. First he has to fight a pair of Dark Lizalfos; in addition to being tougher than the normal kind, their breath weapon is a curse that prevents Link from using his sword or items for a little bit. (The Keese and Spumes in the dungeon and surround areas have similar attacks.) Then comes a climb up a broken staircase with a bunch of the Dark Keese fluttering about, and finally a “light the statues in order” puzzle and Moldorm fight to claim the boss key.
It should be no surprise by now that Ghirahim’s hanging around in the boss room, looking at the wall carvings. He’s in a more chatty mood this time, talking about the thread of fate that connects him and Link. It doesn’t take him long to explain why he’s so cheerful: the carvings suggest there’s a second Gate of Time somewhere out there. (“This news has just filled my heart with rainbows!”) That doesn’t mean he’s forgiven Link for his interference, although he offers to do so if Link will just tell him where the second Gate is. Yeah, that’s not happening, so it’s boss fight time. Since the dungeon item has limited combat utility, Ghirahim steps up to fight Link himself for a second time. In addition to getting rid of his cape, he takes off his gloves (with no metaphorical meaning, I’m sure), revealing the metallic black skin underneath. He poses for the camera: “Behold! Such beauty! Such a pure form! Such an exquisite physique! Such stunning features! Yes, I’ve pretty much got it all. Though there is one teensy, tiny thing I lack… Namely, mercy.”
The first phase is basically identical to the first fight, except Ghirahim adds the extra complication of summoning a pair of knives that will block Link’s sword if he tries to slash through them. Then he adds a second pair. When he’s done messing around, he pulls out two swords that let him block in two directions like a Stalfos. That’s old hat by now, so he also summons rings of knives to throw at Link and rings of knives surrounding Link that need to be deflected with a spin attack. And sometimes he jumps at Link and gets his swords stuck in the ground for some free hits if Link doesn’t get hit or run too far out of position. Overall, this fight is easier than the first, although that’s partially that I’m more comfortable with the controls by now. Ghirahim isn’t so gracious in defeat this time, vowing to “drag [Link] into an eternity of torment” before teleporting out.
Link collects a heart container and heads to the room with Din’s Flame. Altar, Skyward Strike, flame, Fi goes bouncing around and lands at Link’s feet, flames into sword, and the sword transforms into the Master Sword. Well, so Fi says, but the crossguard wings aren’t there and there’s no Master Sword music. The top piece of the Triforce fills in on Link’s hand, so with that and the Flames all collected, it’s time to go back to the Sealed Temple. (How has Ghirahim not guessed that’s where the Gate is?)
Next: The goddess revealed.
[1] And to me, gives this dungeon the better claim to be the “earth” dungeon of the two fire dungeons. I guess they needed the Sky[view]/Earth theme naming for the two springs Zelda had to visit, though.
