Dungeon 6: Mermaid's Cave
Welcome to the treacherous Mermaid's Cave, the sixth dungeon in your quest to save Labrynna! This dungeon is unique as it spans both the Past and Present, requiring frequent time travel to navigate its puzzles. Be prepared to utilize your Mermaid Suit and Switch Hook extensively.
Entering the Dungeon
From the entrance in the Present, head right. You'll encounter a room with a large block. Push this block down into the water. Now, swim across to the right and climb the stairs. In the next room, you'll find a time portal. Step into it to warp to the Past.
Past Exploration - First Pass
Upon arriving in the Past, you'll be in a room with a shallow pool. Swim to the right and exit the room. In the following room, you'll see a small island with a chest. Use your Switch Hook to grab the Small Key from this chest. With the key in hand, return to the previous room and unlock the door to the north.
In this new room, you'll face a few enemies. Clear them out and then push the block to the right to open the path forward. Head right into the next room. Here, you'll find a series of blocks and a switch. Push the blocks to create a path to the switch, then hit the switch to open the door to the north. Proceed through.
You'll now be in a room with a large body of water. Equip your Mermaid Suit and dive in. Swim to the north, navigating past any obstacles. You'll find an underwater passage leading to a new area. Emerge from the water here. You'll be in a room with a time portal. Step into it to return to the Present.
Present Exploration - Second Pass
Back in the Present, you'll be in a room that was previously inaccessible. Head left. You'll find a room with a chest containing the Dungeon Map. This will be invaluable for navigating the complex layout of Mermaid's Cave. After acquiring the map, head back to the room with the time portal and warp back to the Past.
Past Exploration - Second Pass
Once in the Past, head left from the time portal. You'll be in a room with a series of moving platforms. Carefully navigate across these platforms to reach the western side of the room. Exit to the left. In this next room, you'll find a chest containing a Small Key. Grab it and return to the room with the moving platforms.
Now, head south from the moving platforms room. You'll find a locked door. Use your newly acquired Small Key to open it. In the room beyond, you'll encounter a mini-boss. Defeat it to earn the Compass. The Compass will help you locate chests and the boss in the dungeon.
After defeating the mini-boss, continue south. You'll find another time portal. Step through it to return to the Present.
Present Exploration - Third Pass
In the Present, you'll be in a room with a large block puzzle. Push the blocks in such a way that you can reach the northern exit. This puzzle can be tricky, so take your time. Once you've cleared the path, head north.
You'll find yourself in a room with a deep pool of water. Equip your Mermaid Suit and dive in. Swim to the left, and you'll discover an underwater passage. Follow this passage to a new section of the dungeon. Emerge from the water. You'll be in a room with a chest containing the Mermaid Suit Upgrade! This upgrade allows you to swim faster and dive deeper, which will be crucial for the upcoming challenges.
With your upgraded Mermaid Suit, dive back into the water and return to the previous room. Now, swim to the right. You'll find another underwater passage that requires the deeper diving capability of your upgraded suit. Follow this passage to reach a room with a time portal. Step through to the Past.
Past Exploration - Final Pass and Boss Key
You're now in a new section of the Past. Head right. You'll find a room with a series of underwater currents. Use your upgraded Mermaid Suit to navigate these currents. It might take a few tries, but with persistence, you can reach the eastern side of the room. Exit to the right.
In this next room, you'll encounter a challenging enemy encounter. Clear the room, and a chest will appear containing the Boss Key. Congratulations! You now have the key to face the dungeon's boss.
With the Boss Key in hand, retrace your steps back through the underwater currents room and to the time portal. Warp back to the Present.
Reaching the Boss
From the time portal in the Present, head left. You'll find a room with a large, locked boss door. Use your Boss Key to open it and prepare for the final challenge of Mermaid's Cave!