The second level of the Woodlands is Buzz Blob Cave. In the first stage, the Links start out separate, each needing to claim their bow and use it to pop a balloon to reach the central area. There’s one other new trick to this stage: the gate is locked. The key is in a balloon near the gate; one of the Links needs to pop the balloon, and then the key must be carried to the lock. The second stage has a switch all three Links must stand on to activate, activating two waves of Blobs (mostly buzzless, but it would be weird to have Buzz Blob Cave with no Buzz Blobs) to fight. The first wave comes in a circle, but that one Buzz Blob keeps it from being easy to spin attack and be done.
The third stage has the Links riding a set of platforms and needing to shoot two Totem Dekus and two switches to open the way forward. The boss of the level is a Giant Buzz Blob. It starts mostly unformed with the giant red orb that’s its weak spot at ground level, so a single Link can shoot it. After a couple hits, it forms up a little so that it takes a two-Link Totem to hit the orb. Then, of course, it stands up to full height, and a full Totem is required. In between phases, the Giant Buzz Blob sends out four lines of electricity in an X, rotating around the area. This is tricky to avoid, although less so in single player because inactive Doppels don’t take damage (except from falling.)
The third level is the Moblin Base, and it mixes up the item selection by giving one Link bombs. The first stage has some simple bomb and bow puzzles to show the player(s) know how to use the items. The second stage has a bunch of enemies: Totem Dekus for the bow, Life Likes for the bombs, and Buzz Blobs for either (but easier with bows). The Moblins show up in the third stage as the Links try to enter the actual Moblin Base; the highlight of the stage is a set of six crystal switches, one that needs to be hit with a bomb, then five at varying heights that need arrows. The final stage is a battle against a bunch of Moblins, including three mounted on Armos.
After three levels, a clear pattern is emerging: The first stage has some basic puzzles to solve with the items, the second stage has a stronger combat focus, the third stage is a longer series of puzzles, and then a boss (or boss-like) fight. The next level, the Forest Temple, follows the pattern fairly well. The items are two bombs and one bow. The first stage brings back shooting through torches to light unlit torches, and adds Mini-Margos, spiked enemies that move around in a pattern and can be destroyed by tossing a bomb into their back. The second stage has a bunch of Mini-Margos and some Tektites hopping around between pillars. The third stage has a series of long, narrow pathways with arrow traps continually firing along the paths.
The Forest Temple concludes with a boss fight against Margoma, a cross between the Mini-Margos (themselves based on Margomill from A Link Between Worlds) and Gohma. It spins around the room until it charges. Charging into a wall stuns it, allowing a Link to toss a bomb into its hole, further stunning it and revealing the eye. At this point, a Link needs to toss another on top of Margoma to hit the eye. After the first few hits, Margoma grows a second layer, requiring a Totem to get bombs into the hole and the Link on top to hit the eye. Eventually all that’s left is the eye, which hops erratically around the room; an arrow will stun it, and a few more sword hits kill it. In addition to the normal reward, Link finds the Lady’s Glasses in the chosen treasure chest.
As Link prepares to return to town, Sir Combsly calls him over to tell him he’s got a summons from King Tuft. Tuft tells Link that clearing an area unlocks extra challenges in that area (three per level). For the first level, these are to complete the level within a (very tight!) time limit, to carry an orb from start to finish of each stage (the orb lights a portion of the stage, any active Link outside the lighted portion takes damage), and to play with half as many hearts. Like with outfit collecting, I’m still deciding if this is something I want to bother with. Frankly, I don’t know that I’m enjoying the game enough to play it four times.
Next: Gonna lay down my sword and shield [1]…
[1] Does this Link even have a shield?
