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First seen in Majora's Mask, Barrels are common objects that have appeared in most of the more recent titles of the Legend of Zelda series. Like Jars, they usually reveal pickups such as Rupees, Hearts, Arrows and Bombs when broken. Depending on the game, barrels may also have other particular purposes or roles. In The Wind Waker, Phantom Hourglass and Spirit Tracks, an explosive variation of a barrel, likely a barrel filled explosive powder, may also be found.
Appearances and Function
Majora's Mask
Barrels make their debut in Majora's Mask, where they appear exclusively within the Pirates' Fortress and the Great Bay Temple. Appearing as large, keg-like objects, Barrels in Majora's Mask cannot be lifted, although they can be broken with Bombs, by rolling into them, or by punching them in Goron form. One particular Stray Fairy of the Great Bay Temple can be found inside a barrel. Barrels, being made of wood, can be latched onto with the Hookshot.
The Wind Waker
Barrels appear once again in The Wind Waker, although they are somewhat smaller and can be lifted (and thrown) by Link. As in Majora's Mask, they can be broken to reveal pickups. Since they can be picked up, barrels can be placed on Floor Switches to activate them. This technique must be used to obtain a Piece of Heart in the Forsaken Fortress, found in a Treasure Chest in a jail cell. As such, barrels in The Wind Waker are quite similar to the smaller Crates. Barrels are found all across the Great Sea, namely in the Forsaken Fortress (where they play their must important role), inside Dungeons, Submarines (which actually resemble floating barrels), and other indoor areas. Barrels also appear floating on the Great Sea, and are an important element in certain minigames.
Link hiding from the Moblins inside a barrel
An explosive barrel on the Great Sea
As Link travels to the Forsaken Fortress for the first time with Tetra's Pirate Crew, he is (unwillingly) placed inside a barrel and catapulted into to the fortress. The barrel shatters against the wall of the fortress, causing Link to lose his sword and drop down into the interior of the stronghold. This is in fact the first barrel encountered in the game, though many more can be found in the fortress. Barrels become an essential element of Link's first visit to the Forsaken Fortress; as he lost his sword getting into the fortress, he cannot attack the Moblins roaming the fortress head-on. He must instead use stealth, hiding under open-bottomed barrels to avoid detection from the dim-witted Moblins, who will not suspect Link is in the barrel (even if located in unlikely places) if he stays still when they face the barrel. Once the Moblin puts his back to Link, he can again start walking under the barrel, although he must keep a distance between himself and the Moblin. Hiding under a barrel also allows Link to evade detection from Searchlights.
When Link meets Tingle at the Town Jail on Windfall Island, he must open the jail cell by activating a Floor Switch hidden behind some barrels. Later on, when the Tetra's Pirate Crew weighs anchor on Windfall to collect Bombs, Link will find that the hull of Tetra's Ship has been filled with barrels supposedly containing the bombs.
Barrels also appear floating on the Great Sea, either on their side or upright. Barrels on their side can simply be sailed over, while upright barrels must either be avoided or jumped over to avoid smashing into them and being thrown off the King of Red Lions.[1] While sailing, Link will oftentimes encounter two barrels adorned with flags. Passing through these two flags triggers a mini-game where barrels, placed on their side, begin to appear with Rupees above them. The value of the Rupee increases as Link plays the mini-game, though getting the Rupee will become increasingly difficult as the game progresses. The mini-game ends when Link misses a barrel or approaches an island. A similar, more organized minigame can be played at the Boating Course. This minigame is a timed race in which Link must gather as many Rupees (found on barrels that are either on their side or upright) as possible on the course.[2] Barrels also serve as targets for the Barrel Shoot minigame run by Salvatore on Spectacle Island.[3]
When sailing towards the Forsaken Fortress, Link may encounter timed-explosive barrels that will knock Link off his boat if he is in close proximity of the barrel when it explodes. Like Bombs, explosive barrels will flash red with increasing rapidness, giving an indication as to when the barrel is about to explode. Explosive barrels are distinguishable by the white skull and crossbones painted on them.
The Minish Cap
In The Minish Cap, barrels only appear in areas where Link is in Minish-form, thus appearing to be large structures.[4] There are only two barrels in the entire game. The first is a house in the Minish Village that contains the Jabber Nut and Pico Blooms.[5] The second serves as the central hub and main puzzle of the Deepwood Shrine. Walking in a set direction (up or down) causes the barrel to roll, revealing different exits that allow access to different areas of the dungeon. Some exits are blocked by cobwebs that can be removed using the Gust Jar. To use the barrel, Link must first burn the vines holding it in place by lighting a switch-activated torch.
Twilight Princess
Barrels in Twilight Princess appear much as they do in The Wind Waker, but can now simply be broken by a swing of the Sword. As always, barrels yield Recovery Hearts, Rupees, and other pickups.
In an optional sidequest, Link must carry a barrel of Hot Spring Water from Gor Liggs across the Eldin Province to the Goron outside the east entrance of Hyrule Castle Town who runs a Hot Spring Water shop in the town. While transporting the barrel, Link must take care to avoid having it destroyed by enemies who will attempt to attack him or else he will have to start over. He must also avoid dropping the barrel in cold water, which will turn the spring water cold. The barrel of spring water will also go cold if Link takes too long to bring it to the Goron.[6]
Phantom Hourglass
Barrels in the World of the Ocean King play a similar role to the ones of The Wind Waker. Regular barrels can be found on various islands (such as Mercay Island), and can be broken for pickups by lifting and throwing them. Explosive barrels also appear as an obstacle at sea, causing damage to the S.S. Linebeck if bumped into. They can be detonated from a distance using the Cannon.
In the Vintage set of Ship Parts, the bridge, shaped like a barrel, is called the Barrel Shack.
Spirit Tracks
In Spirit Tracks, barrels can be found floating on the waters of the Ocean Realm. Like the rocks of the other realms, these barrels can be destroyed using the cannon for Recovery Hearts and Rupees. Ocean Rabbits will hide behind these barrels (destroying them prompts the rabbit-catching mini-game). Explosive barrels, with their signature skull and crossbones, can be found protuding from the walls in the caves where Link fights the Rocktite. Exploding a barrel while the Rocktite is nearby harms it and forces its eye open, leaving it vulnerable to direct attacks from the cannon.
Trivia
In Spirit Tracks, one of the custom models of the Spirit Train has its engine mildly reminiscent of a barrel, both in shape and texture.
Gallery
- MM Barrel.png
A barrel in Majora's Mask
- TWW Barrel.png
A barrel in The Wind Waker
- TP Barrel.png
A barrel in Twilight Princess
A barrel from Telma's Bar in Twilight Princess
The barrel of Hot Spring Water in Twilight Princess
The flag barrels that trigger the Rupee mini-game on the Great Sea
A barrel floating on its side with a Rupee above it.
A barrel floating upright with a Rupee above it.
- Barrel House.png
The house made from a barrel in Minish Village
- Barrel Room.png
The room with the barrel in the Deepwood Shrine
- Inside Barrel.png
Inside the barrel in the Deepwood Shrine
Link preparing to be catapulted into the Forsaken Fortress
Link in a barrel about to be catapulted
Link being catapulted into the Forsaken Fortress in a barrel
Link sneaking around the fortress underneath a barrel
- Barrel Shack.png
The Barrel Shack
References
- ↑ "There's two kinds of floatin' barrels you gotta watch out for: the ones that float on their sides and the ones that float upright. You can get the Rupees above the barrels floatin' on their sides by just sailin' right over the barrels... But if you run into the barrels floatin' upright in the water, they'll rough you up." — [[Loot]] (The Wind Waker)
- ↑ "The deal is, you take your boat and sail over the barrels floatin' in the water and see how many Rupees you can bring to the finish line within the time limit." — Loot (The Wind Waker)
- ↑ "If you can manage to sink the 5 pirate ships you see off on the horizon, we'll acknowledge your skills with a cannon, you shrimpy little landlubber! HOWEVER! We won't tolerate any comments about how the pirate ships look like barrels!" — [[Salvatore]] (The Wind Waker)
- ↑ "Wow! Look at the size of that barrel! Hm? Oh, right! Right! How silly of me! It's not big we're just small!" — [[Ezlo]] (The Minish Cap)
- ↑ "You could use a Jabber Nut. It will allow you to understand our tongue. You should be able to find one in the barrel house just south of here." — [[Festari]] (The Minish Cap)
- ↑ "Hot springwater cools as time passes, so if you do not hurry, you will end up with plain old cold water, my brother!" — [[Gor Liggs]] (Twilight Princess)
 Names in Other Regions 
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