Ice
Ice is a recurring theme in many titles of The Legend of Zelda series. It appears in many forms, sometimes as an obstacle for Link to overcome, as a mere hindrance, or even something to be used to Link's advantage. Ice and snow are found in areas with sub-zero temperatures, and are a common occurrence during the Season of Winter in Holodrum and the Snow Realm of New Hyrule.
Common Varieties
Icy Surfaces
Perhaps the most common appearance of ice seen in the Legend of Zelda are iced floors and surfaces. Icy surfaces reduce traction, causing Link to slip and slide (and even fall in The Wind Waker) when moving across it. Icy surfaces are always present in ice-themed areas and dungeons, and may serve to solve certain puzzles by pushing blocks, or ice blocks (see below) across its surface.
In Oracle of Ages and Oracle of Seasons, a ring called the Snowshoe Ring prevents Link from sliding on icy surfaces when worn. Also, in The Wind Waker, Link can use the Iron Boots to obtain a similar result.
Ice Floes
Ice Floes are a second common formation of ice. They appear often on the water in areas with cold temperatures. Wherever ice floes appear, Link must jump from one to the other to cross the body of water he is on. When preparing for a jump, Link must take into consideration the steady movement of the ice floes. Link must also be careful jumping from one floe to the next, as the icy platforms may cause him to slip off the ice floe. Should Link land in the icy water, he will have to swim back to the edge (sometimes taking damage from the freezing-cold water) and begin again.
In Majora's Mask, Link can create his own ice floes by shooting an Ice Arrow into the water. This is essential for the completion of the Great Bay Temple.
Ice floes appear in Zora's Fountain (when Link is an adult) in Ocarina of Time, in the Mountain Village in Majora's Mask, within the Ice Ring Isle in The Wind Waker, and at the entrance to Snowpeak in Twilight Princess.
Ice Chunks and Ice-Encased Objects
Ice Chunks appear most prominently in Majora's Mask, but appear in other titles as well. They usually serve as barriers or obstacles, often blocking off passages or covering openings or holes. These large chunks of ice can be melted with fire-based items (such as the Fire Arrows and the Fire Rod) or Hot Spring Water, or shattered by objects such as Link's Ball and Chain in Twilight Princess. If Link touches ice, it will temporarily freeze his entire body and sap his life energy until he breaks away from the ice encasing him. In Twilight Princess, ice chunks will not freeze Link to the touch; some can even shattered by regular attacks.
Ice chunks may also encase certain objects; anything from Rupees to Jars to Treasure Chests and even enemies. Just as for regular chunks, the ice must be melted by use of a Fire Arrow or Hot Spring Water to reveal its contents.
This appearance of ice has plot significance as well, for example, the Goron Elder of Majora's Mask who is encased in ice, and must be unfrozen using the Hot Spring Water from the Goron Graveyard (as Link has not yet obtained the Fire Arrows at the time). By doing so, the Elder can teach Link the beginning of the Goron's Lullaby, which will eventually allow the hero to access the ice-themed Snowhead Temple. Also, the boss of said temple, Goht is originally frozen in ice, and must be unfrozen by a Fire Arrow in order to begin the battle. In this manner, Kholdstare of A Link to the Past and Dela Zol of Four Swords must also be unfrozen with fire-based items in order to begin the battle. In these two latter instances, ice plays an important role in the battle; the first as an important strategic element in the defeat of the boss, the second as a method of attack employed by the boss to be avoided.
At certain a certain point in Ocarina of Time and Twilight Princess, Zora's Domain and the surrounding areas are exposed to subzero temperatures, causing it to freeze. The Zoras become encased in ice to be freed by Link on his quest. In Twilight Princess the ice of Zora's Domain is thawed by warping the Molten Shard of Death Mountain to the area.
Ice Blocks
Ice Blocks are another form of ice seen in the Zelda universe. Usually found within ice-themed dungeons, ice blocks are usually used to solve puzzles by sliding them across icy floors. In Twilight Princess, ice blocks do not appear, replaced completely by metal blocks. However, these blocks still serve the same purpose, as they must be pushed across ice to solve puzzles. Some blocks will be encased in ice, which must be shattered using the Ball and Chain.
In the Temple of Droplets of The Minish Cap, ice blocks may also encase keys. By opening trap doors on the floors above, these blocks can be slid under Light Beams, which will melt the ice and expose the key. After obtaining the Flame Lantern, ice blocks can be melted using it instead.
Ice Stalagmites and Stalactites
| File:MM IceStalactite.png | File:MM IceStalagmite.png |
These ice formations, usually seen in caverns of sub-zero temperatures, appear fairly often in The Legend of Zelda series, although they only interact with the environment in Ocarina of Time and Majora's Mask. Unlike ice chunks, stalagmites will not freeze Link when touched; they are simple barriers that can be destroyed using a Sword or another weapon. Occasionally, stalactites may fall on Link as he passes under them, causing him to take damage.
Chunkier stalactites can often be knocked down by Arrows. This can be used to Link's advantage by making the stalactite falling onto ice chunks below, shattering them and clearing the obstacle. In Twilight Princess regular (non-icy) stalactites appear in the Lakebed Temple. They can be knocked down using Bomb Arrows and can, once embedded in the ground, can be used as platforms to reach higher ledges.
Atypical Varieties
Red Ice
Red Ice is a variant of the Ice Chunk seen exclusively in Ocarina of Time, primarily in the Ice Cavern. Just like regular ice chunks, Link may also find objects encased within the ice. However, red ice will not freeze Link when touched. Red Ice can only be melted using Blue Fire. On his quest, Link must unfreeze King Zora who will be encased in red ice when Link arrives to the frozen Zora's Domain.
Mega Ice
Mega Ice is a type of ice seen only in Spirit Tracks. This powerful ice is used on several occasions, namely to calm the raging magma erupting in Goron Village. Obtained from the Noko the merchant Anouki at Wellspring Station, these large chunks of ice are carried in the freight car of the Spirit Train. Once Link exits the Snow Realm, the warmer climate will begin to melt the ice.[1] Therefore, Link must hurry to his destination in order to have enough ice to accomplish his task, whatever it may be.
Ice Crystals
File:OoS Ice.png {{{2}}} are magical objects (not unlike the Mega Ice of Spirit Tracks) seen only in the Sword & Shield Maze in Oracle of Seasons. They are an essential element of the dungeon, which has the peculiarity of having a fire-themed first floor and an ice-themed second floor. Three ice crystals, said to be magical and capable of freezing anything, are found on a raised platform on the second floor of the dungeon. Each crystal must be carried to one of the three openings in the floor, to be dropped down to the floor below. When the ice comes in contact with the lava of the fire floor, the magical ice crystal will harden the molten rock, allowing Link to progress further in the dungeon.
Ice Leaves
- See also: Snowboard Race
{{{2}}} are frozen, ice-encrusted leaves hanging from the lone tree at Snowpeak Top. These leaves, which can be knocked down by the tree, are used by Yeto as a snowboard in order to glide down the mountain to the Snowpeak Ruins. After seeing Yeto "snowboard" down the mountain, Link can knock down a "snowboard" of his own and follow suit. After completing the dungeon, Link can engage in Snowboard Races with Yeto and Yeta.
Ice-Based Items
Ice-Themed Areas
Various ice-themed locations (including overworld and dungeons) are seen on Link's various adventures, which usually contain several of the aforementioned ice formations. The following is a gallery of all such locations in The Legend of Zelda.
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Frozen Zora's Domain (Ocarina of Time)
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Frozen Zora's Domain (Twilight Princess)
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Frozen Zora's River (Twilight Princess)
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Temple of Ice (Four Swords Adventures)
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Temple of Ice (Phantom Hourglass)
Ice-Based Enemies
Ice-powered enemies are also fairly common in The Legend of Zelda series, often lurking in the ice-themed dungeons and sometimes overworld areas seen above. These enemies, some of which are constituted of what appears to be nothing more than animated ice, often have the ability to freeze Link on the spot using their powers, slowly sapping Link's life energy until he manages to break out of the ice encasing him. The following is a gallery of enemies that fall into this category.
Common Enemies
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Mini-Bosses and Bosses
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References
- ↑ "The ice is fine until ya get to warmer areas. Then ya gotta look out! If ya putter around too long in the grass, all that sweet cargo's gonna melt." — Noko (Spirit Tracks)