Unless you are a speedrunner who strides boldly through the front door of Hyrule Castle, chances are you’re going to make a couple of sneak attacks to, er, run some errands. One such errand takes you into the Castle to find the Saas Ko’sah shrine, thereby establishing a travel point so you can return again and again for, er, let’s call it shopping.
We recognize we have a different view of storming the Castle. For some, it’s a dashing adventure that offers a veritable trove of treasure to be raided. For us, it’s more like a rather awful mall we visit a few times before having a big throwdown with the manager at the Christmas shopping season. Nonetheless, here are a few thoughts on one early venture into Hyrule’s most rundown establishment…
We first sneaked into the Castle from the west, paragliding over the moat to enter through the old mine and ride around in an ore cart like Indiana Jones in the Temple of Doom. During a couple of subsequent visits, we again tried coming in from that side and walking around the landing area to find new points of entry, including the one required to open the aforementioned shrine. (Being old and essentially scaredy-cats, we rarely walked in the front door; sorry, speedrunners everywhere, we aren’t of your ilk.) And so it must be said right now:
The Castle map is for crap.
Once you cross the river, the familiar Hyrule map disappears, and a three-dimensional dungeon map appears, and THIS ONE IS FOR CRAP. Did we mention that? Even the Divine Beast maps, hardly praiseworthy, are better than the Castle map.
Thus, waltzing around the many levels of the castle whilst being under attack by enemies galore is just not a lot of fun. We never knew where we were, and this resulted in a lot of exchanges similar to the following.
Demelza: When we cross this point, we’ll be right where we are, unless we’re not there and we’re up a level.
Itzal: That’s like saying “I think, therefore I am.”
Demelza: At least Descartes would understand this map. Harrumph. Now, where are we?
Itzal: You have the interactive map! I just opened a treasure chest with bomb arrows, find that on your interactive map and help me out here!
Demelza: I lost the interactive map!
A Word About the Interactive Map
It’s true: We use an online map to help us navigate the overworld map accessible on the Switch, and the (crap) Castle map, ostensibly accessible but not really. Demelza has her favorite ( https://www.zeldadungeon.net/breath-of-the-wild-interactive-map/ ); Itzal has one that he uses when Demelza is not around ( https://www.ign.com/maps/the-legend-of-zelda-breath-of-the-wild/hyrule ). Demelza is forever losing track of her map on the iPad as she shouts instructions, leaving Itzal feeling like the skydiving student whose instructor loses her voice immediately after shouting, “The most important thing to remember is…” (utter silence).
At any rate, we suggest you find an online interactive map you like and use it to keep track of Korok seeds and treasure chests as you go. It’s useful for shopping at the Little Hyrule Mall and Scary Castle, but also, um, Everywhere Else.
Entering the Castle to Find the Shrine
The second time we played the game, when it came time to open the Castle shrine as a travel point, we decided to be smart and find an alternate way across the moat to avoid being lost on the island – it may not technically be an island, but it’s surrounded by water so that’s how we think of it – and, as a result, also to avoid shouting at each other. Thus, we flew from Woodland Tower over the Helmhead Bridge to the small island where you’ll find Hyrule Forest Park and one of the big scary pillars sticking out of the ground, facing the Castle’s east front across the moat.
Zelder Tip #1: The inside Castle map being crap, instead think of the outer island map as a clockface, with the top at 12 o’clock, et cetera. For purposes of this blog and finding the shrine, you are headed for the Docks, located (roughly) at that 12 o’clock mark. Paraglide across the moat and you’ll land at, say, 2 o’clock on the island map-as-clock. Walk counterclockwise, across the waterfalls, and you’ll find the Docks. They are denoted on the (crap) Castle map as the pink arch at water level – fly or climb down to this opening in the cliffs and then fly or swim into the cave. You’re in the Docks. You’ve probably already shouted at, or been shouted by, your gaming partner.
Run up the stairs, pass the bad guys, light the brazier, make a joke about Dairy Queen, and you’ll see the Saas Ko’sah shrine magically emerge from the dirt. You’ll be excited momentarily, thinking that it’s a blessing shrine, until you discover it’s not. Grumble about this for the rest of gameplay.
With a travel point now established inside – well, beneath – the Castle, you can sashay up here any time you want to explore or, as we did, shop for things you want.
Zelder Tip #2: On the aforementioned online interactive maps, you’ll see a host of treasure chests outside and above the Docks. A couple of them have dragon scales inside. When you’re on the hunt for these to open the Springs or upgrade armor, here’s a ready supply! Dinraal’s and Naydra’s are very close to the Docks, but up a (couple) levels.
Zelder Tip #3: The Castle is filled with other treasure chests and weapons left lying around. Be a shopaholic! With your travel point established, make little forays into the castle and collect things like you’re running to the mall for socks and coming home with shoes and a bag of candy. It will help you grow accustomed to the Castle and its soundtrack.
A Word About the Castle Soundtrack
Whenever you set foot on the Castle’s island, and inside the building itself, traditional Ganon-themed music from the Legend of Zelda repertoire plays. Loudly. Demelza loves this music, finding it pleasantly nostalgic, reminding of her when she was young and thin and living in a walk-up apartment in Brooklyn. Itzal hates this music, finding it not nostalgic but diastolic. That is, it sends his blood pressure up a few points and adds to the case of nerves with which he plays the unwilling hero.
At least the online interactive maps don’t come with music.