Going to turn this into a thread as I play through. This cartridge I picked up from a local shop already had a save file for “BUTT”. Looks like the person died 17 times and made no progress. No way I’m deleting that - I’ll save my file in slot 2.

I completely forgot about these screens where the camera suddenly shifts to being from the side rather than top down. Thought they only did this in Link’s Awakening! Also wild that you get BOTH the bow and the boomerang in the first dungeon, but if you actually want to USE the bow, you have leave the dungeon entirely, grind for money, and buy an arrow for 80 rupees! Wild game.

Finding the first dungeon was easy - it’s right on the map that comes with the game! One of the reasons I never made progress on this when I was a kid (in addition to being too young) is that I didn’t have the original manual or map. They give you SO many hints on where to go and what to try, it makes the game far less intimidating than I thought it was, and much more exciting to explore.

Wild if true !!

Outside the boss room with one heart. The fact that you can hear the boss roaring from a screen away is still terrifying

Update: I’m on Dungeon 5. I was getting my ass kicked by Darknuts (all time great video game enemy name), then realized that I needed to explore the overworld more. So glad I did. Secrets everywhere. Did you guys know that you have to bomb EVERYWHERE in this game?

I feel like I unlearned 30 years of game design today, and it was exhilarating. I've been trained to believe that every secret in a game is CLUED somehow. Instead, it never stops being shocking how many UN-clued secrets there are in LoZ. You just have to look for walls that COULD have an opening in them, and bomb them. I always thought this would be frustrating, but it's actually enormously freeing - secrets could be and ARE everywhere, right under your feet!

Progress update: I’m on Dungeon 6. Despite buying a blue ring (armor!) and getting most of the heart containers, the Wizzrobes in this dungeon are still kicking my ass! I need to find the Magic Sword, but have no idea where it is.

Also: I realized that the sword BUTT is holding means that this is a Second Quest save file. The previous owner of this cartridge beat the game! Great work, BUTT

Found the Magic Sword, finally! And it only took pressing on 100 graves and summoning 100 ghosts

I have never been more excited for an item pickup in my LIFE

Update: after realizing I had somehow missed picking up the Triforce in L4 (despite completing the entire map!) and the Magic Rod in L6, I am now ready for Death Mountain!

Got my Ganon kit together. On my way to the final battle

Like-Likes make my blood run cold. 25 years before Dark Souls’ basilisks, and just as terrifying. All because of what a pain in the ass it is to get a new shield! Incredible design.

I still have no idea what the “right” way to kill Blue Wizzrobes is. I just spam my sword at them and take a lot of damage until they’re dead.

Standing on the threshold, realizing that I have no idea what Ganon even LOOKS like in this game. Can’t even picture the sprite. No idea how this game ends whatsoever. Going in blind. Chills!