Talk:Light Dungeon

Definition of a light dungeon

OK, so along the same lines as the conversation I started over at Talk:Earth Dungeon, I think we need to decide on a concrete definition of a light dungeon, because there's pretty much nothing the current members of the category all have in common that distinguishes them from other dungeons. We've got dungeons that use light puzzles (Spirit Temple, Ancient Castle of Ikana, Stone Tower Temple), religious structures (Spirit Temple, Tower of the Gods, Temple of Time, Tower of Spirits, Ancient Cistern, and maybe Stone Tower Temple), and dungeons set in places clearly associated with the side of good (both versions of Hyrule Castle, Tower of the Gods, Temple of Time, and Tower of Spirits). Note that none of these factors is exclusive to dungeons currently included in this category: the Earth Temple in The Wind Waker uses light puzzles, City in the Sky and Goron Mines are structures clearly built and used by allies to the protagonists (and really, an awful lot of the dungeons in this series are implied to be structures built by and for good guys that the bad guys took over rather than structures built by and for the bad guys or natural or otherwise unaffiliated structures), and something like half the dungeons in this series either currently are or originally were religious structures of some kind. So what exactly is a light dungeon, then?

I must confess I don't have a definition proposal ready to go the way I did with earth dungeons, but my hope is that we can hash one out here. Alternatively, if we can't really come up with anything, perhaps we should simply retire the category. If it's going to remain a nebulous grouping with shifting membership, I don't see much use for it. Obviously, we'd only do this if it became really clear that there was no useful concrete definition that people could agree on. --Osteoderm Jacket 15:26, 19 February 2012 (EST)

How about we use something similar to what you proposed for Earth Dungeons? You mentioned 3 criteria: the interior setting, puzzles and/or items related to the theme, and hazards. I've had some thoughts, so bear with me.

1-Setting. In the real world, many religions have a fixation with the heavens and with light. I think we all instinctively know that light is the source of all life; we need the sun to survive. Therefore, many religions have the sun or light as their main object of worship. Even to Christians, "The glory of God is... Light and Truth." While various religions may worship deities associated with other elements, the heavens and Light are the primary focus of worship (Ra of the Egyptians, Zeus of the Greeks).

Now, lets turn to the Zelda series. The Temple of Time, the Spirit Temple; many of these dungeons have a fixation with light. Lets have the setting be a religious structure devoted to, or focused on light.

2-Puzzles. The puzzles would be related to light in some way. The Spirit Temple and Stone Tower Temple feature mirrors to reflect light, and light-sensitive switches in the shape of the sun, in addition to using light arrows in the latter. The Tower of Spirits has Link gathering Tears of Light to power up his sword. The Tower of the Gods and the Temple of Time are more subtle; for example, pressing a switch to make a bridge of light appear, or using a rod that shoots out a ball of light. In any case, the puzzles focus on light.

Granted, reflecting light using mirrors is used in some Shadow Dungeons. This shows a subtle interplay of elements; while the dungeons are primarily Shadow themed, one must use Light to penetrate the Dark and advance. These dungeons are showing the relationship between light and dark. Though opposites, each is linked to the other.

3-Hazards. Are not the laser beams in these dungeons focused beams of light? Thus light acts as a hazard and a hindrance in Link's quest.

I hope that was plain enough. What do you think?--Feanor 02:43, 14 March 2012 (EDT)

Light Dungeon doesn't need to be changed in all seriousness. It's easy to define what it is, so why do we need to alter it? Lahmaster 7:25, 14 March 2012 (AEST)