Letters to the Editor

1/14/99

The letters have been pouring in, and it's obvious that Zelda has a lot of you pulling your hair out. Hopefully my responses this week will help to resolve some mysterious issues, and perhaps even prevent you from going prematurely bald.

Another new section hitting Hyrule News this week is a Hyrule Comics page, which will feature funnies created by readers like like you. Each week we'll pick a group of the most humorous entries and post them for all of Hyrule to enjoy. Remember, you don't have to be a great artist to create a funny comic! To learn more about your chance to help the Hyrule News staff, click here.

As always, you can reach me, your humble Hyrule editor, by dropping me a line at: editor@zelda64.com. Let's see what you crazy questers have been up to this week.

Dear Ed,
I have beaten gannondorf, gotten out of the castle, Beaten gannon and watched the credits roll by(no easy task). Anyway, after the credits go, I am forced to turn the game off or reset it. It seems no matter where or how many times I save my game after or during the last two fights, I have to fight Gannondorf again when I turn the game back on. Must I get all of the Heart Pieces or kill every gold skulltula to acually complete the game? Will the marketplace ever be inhabited by hylians again? Please tell me if anything is left to do! --TYLER

Ed: Take a deep breath TYLER, because you're never going to see the marketplace restored to its full glory. Once you beat Ganon and view the credits, there is no way to save the game and explore a restored Hyrule. What does this mean? It means that you just worked your butt off and you won't get any of the glory. Sure, you get a loving glance from Zelda, but what about a victory parade? I bet the many shops throughout Hyrule would lower their prices for the man who saved their hides. But then again, since you return to a time when you're a kid, no one would know what you had done for them anyway. Actually, and this is pure speculation, I bet that Mr. Miyamoto would have loved to allow you to explore Hyrule after Ganon is defeated. My guess is that there was not enough time before the release date to add all of the necessary text boxes. Also, there are countless questions concerning the space/time continuum that would pop up. Just be happy you got to see the party sequence.

How do you beat the marathon man in a race? Ive tried racing him on foot, with epona, and warping to the lost woods and none work! Can you beat him, and if so how?? Im definetly stumped. --joe an inquiring mind that wants to know

Ed: No matter how quickly you make it to the bridge in the Lost Woods, that pesky Marathon Man will always beat you by one second. Why do you think he's huffing and puffing so hard? The only reason to race the runner is to improve on your own time. If you return to Link's house in Kokiri Village, there is a sign next to his bed that lists all of your best records. If you check this sign you can see how many Skulltulas you've squished, your biggest fish, your best marathon time, your fastest horse race time, and your highest score at horseback archery. What's it good for? For pumping up your ego, of course!

DEAR ED, I BEAT ZELDA BUT I WANT TO KNOW WHEN Z-2 IS COMING OUT. THIS IS DRIVING ME CRAZZZZY!!!!!! --FUNKO-MAN

Ed: What?? Zelda 64 finally hits the streets after an excruciating wait, and you're already biting your nails about a sequel? Actually, you're not the only impatient gamer who's inquired about the next Zelda game. The official response? There's nothing in the works. But let's get realistic. Do you really think a game as successful as Zelda would not spawn a sequel? I think it's safe to assume that another Zelda game will eventually be released, but definitely don't hold your breath.

I have a Nintendo 64 and I also have enough money to buy a new game and i am hoping to buy Zelda, but I have heard rumors that there is two different Zelda games: Zelda:Ocarina of time and Zelda 64 is this the same game or are they different, and which one is the best? --From Peter Dakin.

Ed: There is only one game. The official name is The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time. We use Zelda 64 as a loving nickname. Whether your catridge is grey, gold, or you've spray painted it blue, they all play the same.

In the game is it possible to turn from a child to an adult and back... i have tried everything to turn back but nothing works, is there some type of melody or what. I have missed out on so many things as a child and i want to be able to get them back. And i dont want to start all overs due to the fact of those boring cinemas.... i say they should kill off the owl.....Thanx's --Cartman

Ed: First of all, I think you should thank your lucky stars that the owl doesn't haunt you when you're an adult -- at least he only hangs around for the first half of the game. Don't worry about missing things as a kid. Traveling between time becomes a very important feature later in the game, and in fact you won't be able to complete the quest unless you warp through the ages. Time travel will make more sense once you complete the Forest Temple.

Hello!! My name is Raul and I'm from Ecuador. I want to know how can I find the "Eye of Truth". Please answer me soon. I'll be very thankful --Raul

Ed: Ah, the elusive Lens of Truth. The Shadow Temple is impossible without it, but finding it is a royal pain as well. The Lens of Truth is found at the bottom of the well in Kakariko village, but the trick lies in actually getting into the well. First visit the weirdo man in the windmill as an adult, and whip out your Ocarina to learn the Song of Storms. Change back into young Link, and then play the Song of Storms for the man in the windmill as a kid. This sequence will drain the well, which Link can only enter as a kid. As you're exploring the bottom of the well, remember that all is not as it seems.

Everywhere I go I see those weird statues. I know that if you use the mask of truth they tell you something and bombs make them liftoff into outerspace and other weapons do different things. Is there a purpose to them or are these statues just there for looks. --John

Ed: Sheikah Stones (also called Gossip Stones) are wacky rocks that are basically only included in the game as a source of goofy entertainment. If you wack them with a sword, they'll tell you the time. This could be useful for some players, but personally I stopped smacking them after one or two tries. If you play any song in front of them, they'll release fairies. If you talk to them while wearing the Mask of Truth, they'll give you little snippets of information. In addition to bombing them, you can also use Din's Fire on the stones. They don't have a purpose which alters the outcome of the game, but they sure did perplex me for a while.

I'm a new player on Zelda, when does that mask shop in the market open????? --Pat

Ed: The Happy Mask Shop won't open until you give Zelda's Letter to the guard in Kakariko Village who blocks the path to Death Mountain.

Dear editor,
How do you get the 300 rubees bag. I think that you get it from the golden skelital spiders thingies but i cant seem to find any. I defeat them and they dont come back as a human like the one in kokoriko village yours truly,
the worlds biggest sublime fan (again) P.S. i think you've made a great game and me and my friends love it.

Ed: So you want to be rich, eh? There are two wallet upgrades in the game, both of which are found by hunting Gold Skulltulas. The Adult's Wallet holds 200 Rupees and is available once you eliminate ten or more spiders. The Giant's Wallet holds 500 Rupees and is available once you eliminate 30 Gold Skulltulas. You have to return to the House of Skulltula in Kakariko Village to collect your reward.

Why didn't you warn me that the cucco's brutally attack you if you hit one of their own too many times... --hiroll

Ed: It never crossed my mind that there would be sick people out there like you who would try to kill a Cucco. You got what you deserved.

Last week I voiced my apparently unpopular opinion that Deku Nuts are worthless items better suited for a Planter's can than an item sub-screen. As this next letter testifies, some of you disagree:

Deku nuts, useless? Hah! At some points, they are the most useful tools in the game. Most gamers think, "Sure, they stun some enemies, but they're mostly useless." Not true at all. At some points in the game, they can be the best possible weapon, particularly in Jabu-Jabu's belly. Before Link gets the boomerang, biris and other enemies seemingly have to be avoided, and the bubbles are a major nuisance. But with a Deku Nut, biris and baris fall to the ground, stunned, ripe for the slashing. Best of all, the bubbles instantly burst. Getting the compass can be accomplished in about 3 seconds with Deku Nuts. They douse the flames of skull bubbles. Even Ganon himself can be stunned by a Deku Nut, even when he has a blade raised and ready to strike. Do not underestimate the power of the deku Nut. --GlueseyZ

Ed: I've been playing through the game yet again lately, and I must admit that the Nuts are useful against the Lizalfos in Dodongo's Cavern. I hope you're happy. Last week's column also contained a probing question from a couple of concerned players who were perplexed about the relationship between Ganondorf and Ganon. Here is a copy of the original question, followed by a selection of responses from interested readers...

Please clear this up for me. My friends and I can't this story stright! How did Ganon come into the picture? Isn't he dead? In the final battle, once you defeat Ganondorf and you escape from the castle you fight Ganon. Is this Ganondorf in another form like the player's guide says or is it the real Ganon who says when he fights you it'll be harder than his phantom. Also the call Ganondorf's castle Ganon's castle, please define this: Who's Ganondorf's idenity, is he a gerudo or is he Ganon. Who's Ganon idenity? Please write back, this is a burning question in my school! --Daryk and Sarah Macrina

In response to the inquiry sent in by Daryk and Sara Macrina about Ganondorf/Ganon, I have been a fan of the Zelda series for a long time and I have come to this conclusion: In the Legend of Zelda: a Link to the Past you learn that the one known as Ganon was once named Ganondorf and was the leader of a gang of thieves, he became Ganon when he used the Triforce to grant his evil wishes. Ocarina of Time is a prequel to that game and thus Ganondorf has not yet gained the Triforce. When he does obtain and use it, he becomes Ganon by it's power. He does get the Triforce and when you defeat him you restore the Triforce and he doesn't return until a Link to the Past. It is sort of confusing when playing a prequel because you have to remember that all that is happening is supposed to have happened before the previous games. ---John Scott

It's really quite simple. Gannon and Gannondorf are one and the same. Gannon is the mutated final form of Gannondorf. Just like in The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past, Gannondorf is merely a lesser form of Ganon, just as Agahnim was a lesser form of Gannon. --Rhian Hibner

Ed: Thanks to everyone who offered their opinions and ideas regarding this burning question. I think John and Rhian have pretty much hit the nail on the head, but there is still the small question of why the castle is called Ganon's Castle, when Ganondorf is the one occupies it. Perhaps the name is foreshadowing the final battle, providing a hint that there is more to Ganondorf than meets the eye.

Since some of the gameplay advice in this column may not come in handy for you until you progress deeper in the game, I've decided to archive the old articles. Check the editions below to see if your question has already been addressed. --Ed