Quest Notes, 7/21 – 1/9

Reminder: I use the spelling of characters, items, and enemies from the NES Manual. I am aware the spelling has changed in subsequent games.

Log:

I have returned from my journeys, but I’ve been playing. Oh, have I been playing. I spent a lot of time trying to get past Level 6, mostly trying to get a handle on the Wizzrobes I was having so much trouble with. I got every item in the level, but was still having a lot of issues actually getting to the boss. Finally, during a play session over Christmas break, I realized I was trying too hard to kill everything in a room, and started running through rooms like crazy except when I had to clear enemies to open a door. I got lucky on a run and still had half of my water of life potion when I got to Gohma, and it was, in truth, disappointingly easy. The old man in this labyrinth gives you a hint to strike the eye, if I’m remembering correctly. Maybe there was a glitch, but I one shotted Gohma with an arrow, and that was that. That said, I’m not complaining. Having such an easy time of the boss after how brutal the rest of the dungeon was seemed a welcome respite.

The very next thing I did was go straight to the graveyard and try to pick up the magic sword again, which finally worked to my relief. Cutting down orange Lynels in one hit is satisfying as HELL. In level 8, Wizzrobes were, thankfully, less of a challenge, and the fact that I found the entrance to level 8 very early in my play through didn’t hurt either. Level 8 seemed like it could be confusing enough to use a map, so I began laying out a basic map on graph paper as I went along, marking bombed walls and places where there might be secrets. Using this technique, I blazed through the level, but was just not finding the magic book. After about an hour I remembered there a previous labyrinth where the “eye” of the animal shaped layout had a secret, so I tried bombing a wall and finally found it. I was a little surprised to find that this level was essentially a boss rush, and not too difficult if you’re fully equipped. I was hoping that at the end of the rogues gallery of souped up enemies there would be a unique boss, so seeing Gleeok again was a little disappointing, but it was still a fun trip to use all the things I had learned to overcome the dungeon.

By the time I stepped into the sun again outside of the Lion Labyrinth, I was feeling really good. I had been going very quickly through the remaining challenges, so I felt ready and willing to take on the dungeon at Spectacle Rock (which took me a good bit of wandering to find again, even though I had found the dungeon previously). Level 8 had been a test of most of the skills I had gained in playing through the previous dungeons, but I didn’t have too much trouble with it. I thought that Level 9, the Skull labyrinth, would be similarly breezy for me. I was so, so wrong.



Although my newly acquired mapmaking skills would help me through (see the attached picture), even then this level was diabolical. If Level 8 tests the skills you know, Level 9 reverses those skills. Dead ends. New minibosses. Doors that lock permanently behind you. Red herring staircases. Bomb doors everywhere. And a pathway to the boss that is complicated and hard to remember even after you’ve been to every room in the dungeon and have a filled out map. This level is HARD. I couldn’t seem to find the red ring reduce my incoming damage by half again, so I waltzed in to Ganon’s lair thinking it would be another pretty standard boss where you find the weakness and exploit it.



This was a mistake.



Ganon is INVISIBLE, and shoots fireballs at you, teleporting around the room like some kind of dark wizard. Which I guess he is. I eventually found out how to start getting hits, and got him down enough to turn his color orange after several attempts, but for some reason I’m just having a ton of trouble not getting my ass kicked. I took a little time off, and per the rules of the original bet, I asked my friend Devin if he had any tips about the dungeon. It’s 90s schoolyard rules, so I can ask friends who have beaten the game for advice when I’m stuck. So I asked the only person I know who has beaten Zelda– Devin, the person who will owe me 100 bucks if I beat both quests.

Devin informed me of yet another way the final dungeon fucks with you: there are secrets hidden by invisible doors you can’t bomb. You just have to push up against a certain wall for a certain amount of time, and you’ll phase through. I think I know where this is, given a cryptic hint from one of the old men in Level 9 that just says “go to the next room. Originally I thought that meant the bomb door to the left, but that room had no treasures, just a bunch of Wizzrobes (my favorite).

I checked, and Devin’s trick did NOT work. However, I figured that space on the map was suspicious, and found a bomb door to it from a different angle that I hadn’t checked yet, thinking the room was a dead end. I FINALLY got the red ring, and went after Ganon yet again. With my newfound ability to absorb hits, I lasted longer, and realized Ganon is NOT changing color permanently. After several hits, he changes color and freezes, and then goes back to normal. After four cycles of this and dying again, I realized he’s leaving an opening to attack with something else. My wooden arrows, flute, and bombs do not work, so I must still be missing something.

The only thing I am missing is the Silver Arrows, and if my history with Zelda is any indication (light arrows required in Ocarina of Time), then that’s what I’m missing. But I have NO idea where to find them. I’m this close to beating the game, I can feel it, but I’ve hit a bit of a brick wall. My next thought is to ask Devin again, but I might also start mapping the secrets of the overworld so I can see what places I can rule out.



We’re this close to 50 bucks, folks. See you next time.

-Allen

Overall Progress:

Dungeon: Level 9

Inventory: raft, ladder, red ring, red water of life, power bracelet, magic boomerang, bow and wooden arrows, red candle, magic sword, flute, magic wand and magic book