Letters to the Editor

2/19/99

The Triforce.

The Overture of Sages.

The internet is on fire with rumors about these mystical items, and we've even seen screen shots which apparently prove that someone has actually acquired them! Even after addressing this issue in my last column, I've been buried beneath mounds of email asking my opinion on this matter. Rather than spend an afternoon composing a long-winded response to these inquiries, I'll quote the words of Public Enemy court jester Flavor Flav. Simply stated, "Don't believe the hype."

And now, on with the show.

Dear Ed,
Where is the 4th bottle? I got the Lon Lon bottle, princess's Ruto's bottle, and the chicken lady's bottle. Where can I find the fourth and last bottle? I searched through the Town in front of the Castle, but I can't find it!
-- Terryg7244

Ed: The first three bottles are a piece of cake, but the one you're searching for is a royal pain in the tights. The Poe collector near the Market will give you the fourth bottle, but you'll have to run around Hyrule Field like the marathon man before you'll get it. Adult Link must find 10 Big Poes in Hyrule Field and return them to the Poe collector to earn the bottle. I will not disclose the locations of these Big Poes, for as Editor I feel obligated to withhold information which may spoil your enjoyment of the game!

Dear Editor,
I am really having a hard time finding all of the super or big poes in Hyrule Field. Can you help by giving me the locations of the poes or any other useful information on that subject? I have already beaten the game so don't think that giving me the locations is cheating. --Mitlap

Ed: You may have beaten the game, but you haven't mastered it yet. Remember when I wrote that I don't want to spoil the game for you? I lied. You didn't really think I would withhold information, did you? If you had the skill to find the Poes on your own, you wouldn't be looking here for advice! So for all of you cheating questers without the patience to find the Poes legitimately, here's a quick check list to spoil the game for ya:
1. Near a tree by the entrance to Lon Lon Ranch.
2. Near a grey boulder, south of the entrance to Kokiri Forest.
3. Near the sign for Kakariko Village.
4. Along the brick wall near Lon Lon Ranch.
5. Near the sign for Lon Lon Ranch.
6. Along the path that leads to Gerudo Valley.
7. North of the entrance to Gerudo Valley, next to a lone tree.
8. In the northwest corner of Hyrule Field, in the middle of some bushes by the stream.
9. In the southeast corner of Hyrule Field, near a green tree.
10.In the southeast corner of Hyrule Field, near a rock surrounded by brown trees.
Now go become a master, even if it means becoming a cheater.

Yo Ed!
As a child I played a song to the Scarecrow who remembers all. I played a song that I hadn't actually learned at that time and added a few notes. When I go to play to him as an adult, (Epona's song) my horse runs to me. How can I get the Scarecrow song now? I've tried changing back to a child and played a song again, That doesn't work. Am I doomed to start a whole new game? HELP!!!!!
-- Vicki Vail1

Ed: Most people don't remember the first song they play for the Scarecrow, so you're not alone. You're not doomed and you don't have to start a new game. The answer to your question is quite simple: return to the Scarecrow as a child and play a new song. The latest song will replace your original melody, and if you're smart enough to write down the notes you'll never have to go through this process again. This is one aspect of the game that went way over my head the first time I played through. When I bothered the gameplay counselors for advice, they laughed and called me a cheater.

DEAR ED,
POKEMON IS A COOL GAME GET IT!!! ITS COOL!!!!! THERES THESE PEOPLE CALLED POKEMON!!!!!!!!!U HAVE TO FIGHT OTHER POKEMON!! PIKA PIKA PIKACHU!!! PIKACHU IS COOL TOO!!!! BUT HE REALLY STINKS!!!!HE CANT KILL JACK!!!!!!!!!!! BUT HES COOL!!!!!!ZELDA IS IN THE GAME TOOOO BUT HE IS INVISABLE!!!!!!!!HE WALKS AROUND AND AROUND AND AROUND AND HE IS PIKACHU!!!!! ZELDA EATS GRASS!!!!!ZELDA IS PIKACHU!!! PIKACHU DOESNT HAVE A SWORD THOUGH!!!! THATS WHY HE STINKS!!!K BYE
-- N64CHEESE

Ed: There comes a time in your life when you have to step back and ask yourself, "Have I warped my mind with all these years of playing video games?" If you asked yourself this question, I think the answer would be obvious: heck no! It's clear from reading your letter, N64CHEESE, that video games have actually sharpened your intelligence and heightened your perception. I look forward to the day when I have played long enough to reach your elevated state of awareness. NOT!!

Yo Ed!
I can only find two hidden holes. The in one Kakariko Village and the one near the entrance to lake Hylia. Are there more?
--Wessels Family

Ed: There are a lot more than two hidden holes scattered throughout Hyrule. Since bombing every square inch would be time consuming and ecologically devastating, you should take advantage of the Stone of Agony. This stone is found in the House of Skulltula after 20 spiders have been eliminated, and once you have it it will automatically cause the Rumble Pak to vibrate when you're standing near a hidden hole. If you have a Rumble Pak, then happy hunting!

Hey ED!
In your latest edition (1/99/25) you gave steps on what to do if you beat the game. One question... What does it do???
-- Thanks, Matt

Ed: Hee hee hee. Only the brave will comprehend my secret ritual. After that, they'll probably track me down and set fire to my house. Matt, I can tell that you don't have the adventurous spirit necessary to attempt my secret trick. Let's just say that if you follow the steps I described in my last column, you may get a strong sense of déjà vu...

Dear Editor,
I have a real problem. I will simply ask for your help and hope that you reply. I cannot find din's fire, to get into the shadow temple, please explain to me where I can find it. Thank you.
-- patrick mcgee

Ed: You're pretty deep in the game at this point, but you could have found Din's Fire as soon as you acquired the Bomb Bag. All you have to do is return to the path which leads to Hyrule Castle and bomb the boulder near the guards. The passageway which opens is too small for an adult, so you'll need to take a trip back in time to squeeze through. You'll find a Fairy's Fountain hidden inside, where you'll have to play Zelda's lullaby to earn the spell.

Dear Editor:
How are you? I hope that you are well when you receive this e-mail! Got a question for you ed. In Z64, are there any secret ocarina tunes in the game? Is it true that you can play as sheik? And during the ending when link returns to his childhood, why does he return to the same scene when he meets Zelda for the first time? I hope you can answer this questions,thank you!
Sincerely: pappel64
P.S Oh and by the way, that trick about the menu, that was pretty lame!

Ed: Except for the song which you teach to the Scarecrow, the songs which appear on your sub-menu are the only tunes in the game. Why does Link return to the scene where he meets Zelda? This is an artistic gesture by the game's designers. It's open to personal interpretation, but I feel that it demonstrates the cyclical nature of life. It proves that Link's efforts were successful, and it causes you to wonder what will happen next in the lives of the two young characters. It holds special significance for people who are familiar with previous Zelda games, because when they view this scene they've already played through adventures which Zelda and Link know nothing about. Or, it could be a deeply symbolic scene which holds clues about how to play as Sheik. PSYCH!

Hey hey Eddie!
I'm trying to defeat the big spider in the bottom level of the tree. She keeps spawning 3 more spiders and I've continued to defeat them maybe 4-5 times until I finally die. How many times must I defeat them and is it worth it? What happens next?
-- Scott Snyder

Ed: Is it worth it? Are you nuts? You're at the very beginning of the game, with nothing but a spider standing between you and an epic adventure! Forget about the little spiders and shoot the big boss in the eye. Once you stun it, stab it with your sword as many times as you can. Soon enough you'll be holding up a heart piece and finding out what happens next.

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

Send your theories, questions, concerns and complaints to: editor@zelda64.com