Let's Play 27: "Zelda: Link's Awakening" Quiz

Answer: Richard

"Kaeru no Tame ni Kane wa Naru" is a 1992 game that Nintendo published only in Japan. Nintendo used the game engine they developed for this title for "Link's Awakening" as well. The title means "For the Frog the Bell Tolls", and the plot revolves around frogs.

Appropriately enough, Richard's house is full of frogs. Link must get back the Five Golden Leavers for Richard. Once Link does this Richard will give Link the Slime Key.

Mr. Write is modelled after "Will Wright" from the SNES game "SimCity".

If you stay in Richard's house long enough, a short song will begin playing that appears in several other titles.

Kazumi Totaka is a video game composer. "Kazumi Totaka's Song" is a 19 bar tune that appears in almost every game he has worked on. Although famous for appearing in "Mario Paint", the Gameboy title "X" is the first known game with the tune. This tune has appeared in the following titles:

"Animal Forest"
"Animal Crossing"
"Animal Crossing: City Folk"
"Animal Crossing e-Reader cards (#P15, "Boy," "Who's Dunnit?")
"Animal Crossing: Wild World"
"Kaeru no Tame ni Kane wa Naru"
"The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening and the DX version"
"Luigi's Mansion"
"Mario Artist: Talent Studio"
"Mario Paint"
"Pikmin 2"
"Super Mario Land 2: 6 Golden Coins"
"Virtual Boy Wario Land"
"X"
"Yoshi's Story"
"Yoshi Touch & Go"

"The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening" was the first portable "Zelda" title.

Answer: The shop keeper will kill Link with a bolt of lightning

Apparently Koholint Island believes in capital punishment. The judgment is swift. As soon as Link enters the shop, the shop keeper will call you a thief and then promptly kill you with a bolt of lightning. The best thing to steal is the shovel, as it costs 999 rupees. Also, after Link steals whatever particular item he wants, he is rebranded in game as "Thief", and all NPCs refer to him as such.

Answer: Fryguy

Fryguy, referenced in the game as Hothead, is the boss of Turtle Rock. Wart also appears in "Link's Awakening" under his Japanese name Mamu. However, Wart is not an enemy in this game actually teaches Link a melody on his Ocarina. In the game manual to "Super Mario Bros. 2", Wart creates Fryguy from fire.

However, it appears in "Link's Awakening" Fryguy is no longer under Wart's control.

Answer: The Southern Face Shrine

Although never explicitly stated, it is implied the inhabitants of Koholint Island do not know about the Wind Fish, nor that they are part of a dream world. When Link asks a boy in the game regarding how they came to the Island, the boy acts confused.

The southern Face Shrine contains a mural of the Wind Fish, stating to wake the Wind Fish will end the existence of the Island. The Owl and possibly Marin know of the Wind Fish and its implications on their reality, and Marin can be found Tal Tal Mountain range.

Answer: False

Princess Zelda does not appear in "Link's Awakening". However, there is a brief reference to her, as Link misidentifies Marin as Princess Zelda when he is coming too.

Answer: The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past

The "Zelda" series is notorious for having a confusing and rather messy internal time line. Although "Link's Awakening" has been hotly debated, in the instruction manual the game is clearly intended as a sequel to "A Link to the Past" and is also referenced in the BS-X only game, "Ancient Tablets".

The "Zelda" series has always been a fluid timeline, however. Take, for example, Miyamoto's quote after "Ocarina of Time" came out in 1998.

""Ocarina of Time" is the first story, then the original "Legend of Zelda", then "Zelda II: The Adventure of Link", and finally "A Link to the Past". It's not very clear where "Link's Awakening" fits in--it could be anytime after "Ocarina of Time"."

Another theory (and most interesting to me) suggests that "Link's Awakening" takes place in the middle of "Zelda II: The Adventure of Link", which Link travels from the west continent of Hyrule to the east continent. Although interesting, this theory does not really match up with the story given in the instruction manual.

Answer: Papahl

Papahl and his wife have an infant son and four identical children. He tells Link when he first meets him that he will be lost in the Mountains later on. His family appears twice on the trading sequence.

There are fourteen total items in the trading sequence: Yoshi Doll > Ribbon > Dog Food > Bananas > Stick > Honeycomb > Pineapple > Hibiscus > Letter > Broom > Fishing Hook > Necklace > Scale > Magnifying Lens

Answer: Smasher

In 1998, Nintendo released a colorized version called "The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening DX". Nintendo included a bonus color dungeon which Link could access at any time in the game and the entrance is in the graveyard. Link can either choose a red tunic which doubles Link's sword damage and sends enemies flying like he has a Power Acorn. The blue tunic halves the damage Link takes, behaving like a Guardian Acorn.

The Color Dungeon features two mini-bosses, the Stone Hinox and Giant Buzz Blob. The final boss is Giant Hardhat Beetle. The Smasher is a mini-boss but not in the Color Dungeon. The Smasher also appears in "Oracle of Ages" in the Crown Dungeon.

Answer: The Legend of Zelda: The Minish Cap

The primary villain of "Link's Awakening" is simply known as Nightmare. The final form of Nightmare is a central eye with two large arms extending out. This form strongly resembles Vaati's final from from "The Minish Cap".

The Nightmare has six forms. The first form is a Giant Bot from "Zelda II: The Adventure of Link". Sprinkle Magic Powder on the blob three times, and it transforms into Agahnim from "A Link to the Past". After reflecting Agahnim's magic back upon him, Nighmare transforms into the Moldrom, the first boss from "Link's Awakening" and the boss of the Tower of Hera in "A Link to the Past". The fourth form is the Dark King Gannon. Link must charge Ganon with the Pagasus Boots and the Sword. The fifth form is the Lanmola, who first appeared in "The Legend of Zelda" only in the Skull Labyrinth (or Death Mountain) and also appears in the Desert Palace as the dungeon boss in "A Link to the Past". The final form is Dethl.

Answer: Evil Eagle

The first side-scrolling boss is the Angler Fish is the boss of the fourth dungeon, Angler's Tunnel. The second is Evil Eagle, and is the boss of "Eagle's Tower" which is the seventh dungeon. Oddly enough, Evil Eagle appears as a minion of the Grim Creeper, who is a mini-boss of the same dungeon.