Searchlight
Searchlights are recurring Objects in The Legend of Zelda series.[1][name references needed] They are devices used by enemies to detect Link's presence. They appear in the Forsaken Fortress in The Wind Waker and in the Infiltration of Hyrule Castle stage in Four Swords Adventures. Both places are, fittingly, locations Link tries to infiltrate. Link must use Stealth to avoid being seen by the Searchlights.
Location and Uses
The Wind Waker
Searchlights are first seen in The Wind Waker as a part of the Forsaken Fortress's defense system. There are, in total, three pairs of Searchlights in the Forsaken Fortress (making six in total). Each pair of Searchlights is located on a turret of the fortress and is manned by a single Bokoblin.[2] Should the Bokoblin encounter a distraction, it will lift the Searchlight to the skies before leaving its post. It will return to its post as soon as the distraction disappears. If the Bokoblin is killed, the Searchlight will be permanently disabled.[3]
It is because of the Searchlights that Link is sent into the Forsaken Fortress via catapult on his first visit. If Link is seen by the Searchlights while sneaking around the Fortress, an alarm is sounded and Link will be thrown into a jail cell.[4] On his second visit to the Forsaken Fortress (when Link has his Sword to defend himself), Bombs will fire at Link and Miniblins will begin to attack him if he is detected by a Searchlight.[5] If Link hides underneath a Barrel and remains still, the Searchlights will pass over without detecting him.
One of the Searchlights shines directly on the ledge beneath the window of the chamber where Aryll, Maggie, and Mila are held captive. Link must disable that Searchlight to sidle across the ledge and reach the upper section of the Forsaken Fortress. Disabling the other two pairs of Searchlights is optional.
Four Swords Adventures
Searchlights appear at the beginning of the Infiltration of Hyrule Castle stage in Four Swords Adventures. They peer over the Castle walls as the Links try to find a way into the castle. Much like in The Wind Waker, if one of the Links is spotted, an alarm will be sounded and Link will be thrown in jail.
The Links can avoid detection from the Searchlights by diving underwater as it passes over them. If a Jar is shattered, the Searchlights will promptly converge at the source of the sound. Although this may cause the Links to be captured, it can also be used as a decoy to sneak past the Searchlights; if it is thrown away from the Links it will create a distraction for them when it shatters.
Nomenclature
 Names in Other Regions  | ||
|---|---|---|
| Language | Names | |
| This table was generated using translation pages. To request an addition, please contact a staff member with a reference. | ||
Gallery
-
The Links being caught by a searchlight in Four Swords Adventures
-
The Links evading the searchlights underwater in Four Swords Adventures
References
- ↑ The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker HD PRIMA Official Game Guide, Prima Games, pg. 72
- ↑ "There's a monster running the searchlight up there!" — Tetra (The Wind Waker)
- ↑ "If you can slay the monster, then just maybe it'll shut the searchlight down." — Tetra (The Wind Waker)
- ↑ The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker—Prima's Official Strategy Guide, Prima Games, pg. 38
- ↑ The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker—Prima's Official Strategy Guide, Prima Games, pg. 79