Hyrule Castle
| The Legend of Zelda Hyrule Castle   Hyrule Castle (64)  | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
     Hyrule Castle as it has appeared in theSmash series. | |||||||||
| Universe | The Legend of Zelda | ||||||||
| Appears in | SSB SSB4 Ultimate | ||||||||
| Availability | Starter (SSB andUltimate) Downloadable (SSB4) | ||||||||
| Crate type | Normal | ||||||||
| Maximum players | 8 | ||||||||
| |||||||||
| Article on Zelda Wiki | Hyrule Castle | ||||||||
| “ | A tornado spins about the stage, wreaking havoc on all that cross its path. | ” |
| —Super Smash Bros.' instruction manual | ||
Hyrule Castle (ハイラル城,Hyrule Castle) is a playable stage inSuper Smash Bros. and home toLink. It did not return inSuper Smash Bros. Melee orSuper Smash Bros. Brawl, although anotherHyrule-based stage,Temple, appeared in both games.
Hyrule Castle returned asdownloadable content in both versions ofSuper Smash Bros. 4 on July 31st, 2015, along withPeach's Castle. Like other returning stages from thefirstSmash Bros. game, some of the textures are slightly higher in quality, but the general overall primitive look of the original is retained. The stage also appears inSuper Smash Bros. Ultimate.
InSuper Smash Bros., it is the first stage in1P Game, and Link is the first to be fought.
Stage overview[edit]
The stage has a large main platform in the center. Three platforms float about midway across the main platform, with the middle to the right of the top and bottom ones. The bottom platform is just high enough forCaptain Falcon's up smash to be able to hit opponents standing on it. The platforms can allow combos such as theStairway to Heaven to be performed for longer, and situational vertical KOs can also occur on the top platform, KOing at unusually low percentages. Characters such asMario can also make use of the platforms to land vertical finishers, such as an up smash in Mario's case. Connected to the left of the main platform is a slightly lower, slanted platform. To the right of the main platform is a lower, connected platform with a dark green gazebo-like structure in the middle of it. Characters may stand on top of it, but may not jump through it. This portion of the stage is known in competitive play as the tent (see below for more information).
In competitive play, Fox generally dominates on this stage due to its large size and high amount of space allowing him to use hisblaster toprojectile camp much easier than onDream Land.Link is also much more effective on this stage for a similar reason. Both are also less vulnerable togimps and offstage combos on this stage, particularly Link, who relies on his projectiles tospace against opponents and avoid being hit offstage.
Tent[edit]
The structure to the right of the main platform, commonly referred to as theTent, theCombo Tent, or theGreenhouse, is known for its ability to start powerful combos, especially inSmash 64. By using aerials or throws that knock opponents into the walls of the Tent, powerful combos can be started, many of which can be finished with KO moves. This was made famous byIsai's "Greenhouse" combo withPikachu, which involves using multiple up tilts, a back throw against the left wall, back aerial against the structure, up smash on the main platform (where the opponent will get knocked after being hit by the back aerial), and then aThunderspike.
Forward and back throws can also be used tochaingrab the opponents against the walls to rack up more damage, and the up tilts may also be skipped if the opponent is already in the right position for agrab. Many other characters can perform their own variations of this combo. For example,Fox can use his back throw against the left wall to combo into a down aerial, which can subsequently lead into a regrab to continue the chain. He can also use the same throw to combo into an up aerial, which is a KO setup, especially againstfloaty characters.
Another advanced tent combo performed with Fox is the "shine pillar up smash" combo, popularized byThe Z. It involves launching the opponent to the top of the structure with an up tilt, jumping up to the top of the structure, cancelling aerial momentum with ashine, then immediately using an up smash to KO the opponent while they are still inhitstun.
Moves such asPikachu's up aerial andCaptain Falcon's back aerial can also be used to repeatedly knock an opponent against the structure.
Features[edit]
The only terrain effect are the four tornadoes, commonly called "nados" or the "nado" in theSmash 64 community, which spawn randomly over the stage. They tend to last around 10-20 seconds, and move randomly in a direction, although they may suddenly speed up and home in on a character. If caught, a character is held for about two seconds before being dealt 14% and thrown upward, KOing between 65% and 130% depending on weight of character and location of the tornado. The tornado's knockback is similar to a throw in which it cannot beSDI'd. It is possible to attack someone while they are in a tornado as well, and it is possible to hit the opponent with an aerial when they are released, including ameteor smash to knock opponents back into a tornado to rack up more damage. Tornados, due to their large vertical knockback, can also be used byPikachu players to set up Thunderspikes if the opponent is caught in one. If a tornado speeds up and/or catches a character, it tends to spend less time on stage. The image to the side show the locations of the four tornados/nados spawns.
InSmash 4, the tornadoes no longer speed up randomly and stay at a constant slow speed. CPUs may try to dodge the tornado or simply just run into it.
Ω forms and Battlefield form[edit]
InSuper Smash Bros. 4, theΩ form is set on a flat version of Hyrule Castle that extends below theblast line. The threesoft platforms of the regular form and the gazebo-like structure are removed, and tornados do not appear.
InSuper Smash Bros. Ultimate, the Ω form andBattlefield form are identical toSSB4's Ω form; however, the main platform does not extend below the blast line and is resized and reshaped to matchFinal Destination andBattlefield, respectively. The three soft platforms of the Battlefield form are based on the ones of the regular form.
Ω form inSuper Smash Bros. for Wii U.
Ω form inSuper Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS.
Ω form inSuper Smash Bros. Ultimate.
Battlefield form inSuper Smash Bros. Ultimate.
Hazards Off[edit]
With hazards off inUltimate, the tornadoes do not appear.
Origin[edit]
This stage is based onHyrule Castle, a recurring location inThe Legend of Zelda series first appearing inThe Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past, with this stage's design based on its appearance inThe Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time.
InOcarina of Time,Young Link travels to Hyrule Castle to meet the youngPrincess Zelda upon the dying request of theGreat Deku Tree. Link sneaks past the patrolling guards and meets Zelda in the castle's courtyard where she spies onGanondorf, the king of the Gerudo, swearing his fealty to her father, the King. It is here that Princess Zelda teams up with Young Link to protect the titularOcarina of Time and theSpiritual Stones from Ganondorf, both of which act as the key to access theSacred Realm which contains the series' sacred item, theTriforce. After meeting with Princess Zelda, Link is tasked by her Sheikah guardianImpa to travel toDeath Mountain to retrieve the Spiritual Stone of Fire from theGorons.
InThe Legend of Zelda, arecorder can be played to summon a tornado, which teleports Link to dungeons dependent on the direction he faces. This is the only game in the series beforeOcarina of Time to feature a tornado.
This stage features multiple elements taken fromThe Legend of Zelda series. The main stage takes place on the roof of Hyrule Castle inOcarina of Time, albeit with some differences. The center tower features platforms, while the right side of the stage features a gazebo structure. The stage's background features Death Mountain, a volcanic mountain inThe Legend of Zelda series located in the northern region of Hyrule, with its design based on its appearance inOcarina of Time.
The tornado fromThe Legend of Zelda appears as a stage hazard, which can damage and throw a character upwards.
Tournament legality[edit]
Super Smash Bros.[edit]
According to the AmericanSmash 64 ruleset, Hyrule Castle has been considered to be a banned stage as of 2014. Although it was considered to be the second most neutral stage, behindDream Land, for a long time, the disadvantages of the hazards and features of the stage have become more apparent in the more recentmetagame. The tornado hazards on the stage are known for appearing completely randomly, without any indication of the position where the tornado appeared if the tornado is outside of the screen's reach. The tornadoes also speed up at random times, which can catch even more wary players offguard, and fully cover options that would have otherwise been completely safe. The stage's large size also allows significantcamping in certain positions, as in certain matchups it is possible for one player to camp on the far left of the stage and make it extremely difficult for the opponent to approach safely: a primary example isKirby againstCaptain Falcon, as Kirby can stay on the far left of the stage and space up tilts and back airs to cover all of Captain Falcon's safe approach options, witha match betweenMew2King andStranded involving this technique being infamous. It is also possible for several characters to camp the top platform, such asPikachu andKirby: this was made famous bySuPeRbOoMfAn who had a52 minute game withGerson.
Bane is often credited for being a significant contributor to the banning of Hyrule Castle, detailing the disadvantages of the stage in aSmashBoards thread namedA Case Against Hyrule, and also comparing the stage's legality to other stages. However, Hyrule Castle remains a popular stage among many players due to the unique combos possible in the tent portion and the strategies that are usable due to the stage's structure. Due to theGentleman's Rule, Hyrule Castle can still be seen in tournaments if both players agree to playing on it.
Hyrule Castle has always been banned in the Japanese ruleset, asDream Land is considered the only neutral and legal stage in said ruleset. The Peruvian ruleset contrasted with this for a long time, as Hyrule Castle was considered to be the main stage up until Boom went to Tacna. Hyrule has now been phased out entirely for Dream Land, due to the same reasoning.
After a significant period of not seeing competitive play, Hyrule Castle was made legal for64 tournament play atThe Off-Season 2, as a charity incentive, alongsideSaffron City.
Super Smash Bros. 4[edit]
Unlike inSSB, Hyrule Castle has been banned since launch. Alongside the cave of life, disruptive tornado and unfair advantage for certain characters, there were simply enough legal stages in this game to not consider it as a legal stage.
Super Smash Bros. Ultimate[edit]
Hyrule Castle remains banned inUltimate for the same reasons asSmash 4. There are also now even more stages, further distancing it as potentially legal.
Video[edit]
Gallery[edit]
Super Smash Bros.[edit]
The four spawn points of the tornado. Note the location of the tornado on the upper platform that can kill at very low percents.
The Z's "Fox Pillar Up Smash" combo.
Super Smash Bros. Ultimate[edit]
TheMii Swordfighter using their dash attack nearVillager on the stage inUltimate.
Names in other languages[edit]
| Language | Name | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
 Japanese | ハイラル城 | Hyrule Castle |
 English | Hyrule Castle | — |
 French | Château d'Hyrule | Hyrule Castle |
 German | Schloss Hyrule | Hyrule Castle |
 Spanish | Castillo de Hyrule | Hyrule Castle |
 Italian | Castello di Hyrule | Hyrule Castle |
 Chinese (Simplified) | 海拉鲁城堡 | Hyrule Castle |
 Chinese (Traditional) | 海拉魯城堡 | Hyrule Castle |
 Korean | 하이랄 성 | Hyrule Castle |
 Dutch | Kasteel Hyrule | Hyrule Castle |
 Russian | Замок Хайрул | Hyrule Castle |
 Portuguese | Castelo de Hyrule | Hyrule Castle |
Trivia[edit]
- InSuper Smash Bros.,Maxim Tomatoes never appear on this stage, making theHeart Containers fromThe Legend of Zelda universe the only majorhealingitem to appear.
- This is the only stage fromThe Legend of Zelda universe to have ever been considered tournament legal in both singles and doubles.
- InSuper Smash Bros. for Wii U, five of the six available tracks are eitherThe Legend of Zelda's main theme or a remix of said music.
- However, all six songs contain the main theme in some way.
- Hyrule Castle is the only stage inSmash 64 to have no background characters.
- InUltimate, the grey tower is treated as being a background object, while the green spire next to it is treated as a foreground object, despite the latter being further back.
- InSuper Smash Bros. 4, inTraining Mode, if aSmash Ball is spawned, Tornadoes will disappear.
- When playing asPokémon Trainer, the trainer will stand on the center roof if they are Player 1 or 2, or on the lower right roof if they are Player 3 or 4.
- The followingAssist Trophies cannot appear on this stage:Skull Kid,Andross andDevil. Additionally,Lugia cannot be summoned here.
- InSuper Smash Bros. Ultimate, the background remains fixed in place when the camera is moving, creating the optical illusion that the castle itself is tilting or rotating during camera movements.
| Stages inSuper Smash Bros. | |
|---|---|
| Starter stages | Congo Jungle ·Dream Land ·Hyrule Castle ·Peach's Castle ·Planet Zebes ·Saffron City ·Sector Z ·Yoshi's Island |
| Unlockable stage | Mushroom Kingdom |
 The Legend of Zelda universe | |
|---|---|
| Fighters | Link (SSB ·SSBM ·SSBB ·SSB4 ·SSBU) ·Sheik (SSBM ·SSBB ·SSB4 ·SSBU) ·Zelda (SSBM ·SSBB ·SSB4 ·SSBU) ·Young Link (SSBM ·SSBU) ·Ganondorf (SSBM ·SSBB ·SSB4 ·SSBU) ·Toon Link (SSBB ·SSB4 ·SSBU) |
| Assist Trophies | Tingle ·Skull Kid ·Midna ·Ghirahim ·Moon |
| Bosses | Ganon |
| Stages | Hyrule Castle ·Great Bay ·Temple ·Bridge of Eldin ·Pirate Ship ·Gerudo Valley ·Spirit Train ·Skyloft ·Great Plateau Tower Underground Maze (Adventure Mode) |
| Items | Heart Container ·Bunny Hood ·Deku Nut ·Fairy Bottle ·Cucco ·Bombchu ·Beetle ·Gust Bellows |
| Enemies | Bubble ·Cucco ·Darknut ·Like Like ·Octorok ·Peahat ·ReDead ·Stalfos |
| Other | Bulblin ·Dark Link ·King Bulblin & Lord Bullbo ·King of Red Lions ·Koume & Kotake ·Majora's Mask ·Navi ·Phantom ·Sacred Land ·Tetra ·Yiga Clan |
| Trophies,Stickers andSpirits | Trophies (SSBM ·SSBB ·SSB4) ·Stickers ·Spirits |
| Music | Brawl ·SSB4 ·Ultimate |
| Masterpieces | The Legend of Zelda ·Zelda II: The Adventure of Link ·The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time |
| Related content | Fire Bar |
