You've finally made it past the weird, foggy woods and found yourself staring at the entrance of the first real dungeon in Link's Wii and GameCube classic. Honestly, the twilight princess forest temple walkthrough usually starts with a sense of wonder that quickly turns into "where the heck is that last monkey?" It’s a classic Zelda trope. You save a fuzzy animal, it helps you, and then you realize there are seven more of them hidden in places that defy the laws of primate physics.
The Forest Temple is a masterpiece of early-game design, but it’s also remarkably easy to get turned around in if you aren't paying attention to the wind. Most players remember the Gale Boomerang, but they forget the sheer verticality of this place. You aren't just moving room to room; you're moving up and down through a decaying, overgrown temple that feels like it’s breathing.
The Monkey Business Begins
First things first. You walk in and see a monkey trapped in a cage. Basic stuff. You break the cage, and now you have a companion. This is the core mechanic of the first half of the dungeon. You aren't just a swordsman; you're a rescue party.
The first room is actually a bit of a trick. You see the big spider (Skulltula) hanging out, and your instinct is to rush in. Don't. Use your slingshot. It’s the only time that item feels genuinely useful before it gets retired to the back of your inventory for the rest of the game. Once you clear the spiders, you need to light the four torches. This opens the door to the main hub.
Why the Hub Room is a Lie
When you get to the central room with the massive wind-powered bridge, you’ll notice it’s broken. You can't cross it yet. This is where a lot of people get stuck for twenty minutes. They try to jump it. They try to find a switch. The reality is much simpler: you have to go back. Or rather, you have to go sideways.
Look for the monkeys. They’re the key. You need at least four of them to create a swinging chain to reach the boss door area, but you won't get the Gale Boomerang until you face the mini-boss. The mini-boss, by the way, is a baboon named Ook who is being controlled by a parasite. It’s a bit sad if you think about it too much.
Taking Down Ook and Grabbing the Boomerang
The fight with Ook is iconic. He jumps around on pillars and throws the Gale Boomerang at you. It’s a rhythm game, basically. You wait for him to throw, you dodge, and then you roll into the pillar he’s standing on. He loses his balance, falls, and you go to town with your sword.
Once you win, the parasite—a Diababa larva—shrivels up, and Ook scurries off, leaving you with the best item in the dungeon. The Gale Boomerang is different from boomerangs in Ocarina of Time or Wind Waker. It doesn't just hit things. It carries wind. This means you can lock onto multiple targets (up to five) to trigger switches in a specific order.
The Wind Switch Puzzle That Trips Everyone Up
There’s a room with a series of platforms and wind-driven fans. You'll see a Z-pattern on the floor or some visual cue. Most people just try to hit the fans randomly. No. You have to lock onto them in the order shown on the floor or the map. If you mess up the sequence, the gate won't open. It’s the game’s way of teaching you that the "lock-on" mechanic isn't just for combat.
Rescuing the Rest of the Squad
After getting the boomerang, the twilight princess forest temple walkthrough shifts gears. You have the tools now. You head back to the hub room and start hitting those yellow fans above the doors. This is how you bridge the gaps.
- Monkey 5: Hidden behind a boulder that you need to blow up using a Bombling.
- Monkey 6: Trapped in a room with a Tile Worm. These guys are annoying. They hide under the floor tiles and flip you up. Use the boomerang to flip the tile first, then kill the worm.
- Monkey 7: This one involves a big water room. You have to navigate the bridges and use the boomerang to rotate them.
- Monkey 8: Usually the one people miss. It’s tucked away in a side room where you have to burn some webs and drop down from a higher ledge.
If you're missing a monkey, check your map for the red dots. Twilight Princess is actually pretty generous with its map icons compared to Breath of the Wild or Tears of the Kingdom.
The Big Bad: Twilit Igniter Diababa
The boss of the Forest Temple is Diababa. It’s a giant, two-headed carnivorous plant sitting in a pool of acid. At first, you can't even reach it. This is where the monkeys come back into play. One of them—the one you saved first—starts swinging across the room carrying a Bombling.
You have to time your boomerang throw. Target the bomb the monkey is holding, then target one of Diababa’s heads. The boomerang will carry the bomb to the mouth. Boom. Do this for both heads.
Then the main head emerges. It’s huge. It looks like something out of a horror movie, which fits the slightly "edgy" aesthetic Nintendo was going for in 2006. The strategy remains the same, but the timing is tighter. Once the main head falls over, you jump on its tongue and slash away at the eye. Repeat this two or three times, and you’re done.
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A Note on the Heart Container
Don't be that person who walks out without the Heart Container. It’s sitting right there on the ground after Diababa explodes into twilight particles. Midna will prompt you to leave, but grab your health upgrade first.
Hidden Secrets and Expert Tips
Most players breeze through and miss the Big Wallet or the early stamps (if you're playing the HD version on Wii U).
- The Heart Piece in the "Tile Worm" Room: There’s a chest hidden behind a fence. You have to use the boomerang to put out the torches that are already lit. It sounds counter-intuitive, but extinguishing the flames lowers the stairs.
- Bomblings as Tools: You can actually "carry" the wind from a Bombling to a distant enemy. It’s a niche trick, but it helps if you’re trying to do a minimal-damage run.
- The Ooccoo Factor: Don't forget to find Ooccoo. She’s the weird human-faced bird thing. She allows you to warp out of the dungeon and back in at the exact same spot. It’s useful if you realize you ran out of potions or just need a break from the monkeys’ screeching.
The Forest Temple sets the tone for the rest of the game. It’s melancholic, it’s a bit damp, and it relies heavily on environmental manipulation. Unlike the later Lakebed Temple (which is a nightmare of water physics), the Forest Temple is fair. It teaches you how to look at the ceiling, how to respect the wind, and why you should always help a monkey in a cage.
Actionable Steps for Your Playthrough
- Master the Gale Boomerang Lock-on: Practice hitting three objects at once in the main hub. It’s a skill you’ll need for the rest of the game, especially in the City in the Sky.
- Check the Map Frequently: If a room is still red on the map, there’s a chest you missed. Usually, it’s a small key or a Piece of Heart.
- Keep Your Lantern Full: The Forest Temple has a lot of dark corners and spider webs. If your oil runs out, the dungeon becomes significantly more frustrating. Buy an oil refill from Coro outside the woods if you're low.
- Watch the Monkeys: Their animations actually hint at where you need to go next. If they’re huddling near a door, that’s your objective.