Is the 3DS version of “Link's Awakening” identical to the original?

Question

I've heard numerous interviews with Miyamoto stating that he'd love to see Link to the Past on the 3DS with 3D. As well it's my understanding that a few games on the 3DS Virtual Console (Excitebike?) have 3D added into them.

So my question is, is there 3D in the 3DS version of Link's Awakening? As well, anything at all different with this version over the DX or GB versions?

Asked by Jeff

Answer

It is a port of the DX version. It is not 3D whatsoever. It does include the Color Dungeon found in the DX version, and is in colour.

Answered by Derpy Hooves

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Where is the Nightmare's key in Catfish's Maw?

Question

I have completed everything I can think of, and my map shows no more rooms with Chests in, yet I do not have the Nightmare's key.

Where is it in this dungeon?

Asked by Ashley Nunn

Answer

• So whether you decided to fight gohma or not, backtrack down a screen, right, and up two screens to get back to where we first fought master stalfos. Continue right a screen and you’ll see a staircase here. If we head down this staircase at this point in time and go through the underground sequence, we will resurface and nearby we’ll find an owl statue that states, “Dive under where torchlight beams do cross…” The rest of the area leads to the same dead end that the stairs by Gohma led to. So, backtrack to the room just to the right of where we first fought Master Stalfos.

  • From here walk up a screen and push the central block once again before heading left a screen. Defeat or avoid the enemies and head up a screen. Defeat the four water tektites found in this room and then if you look at the walls, you’ll see four torchlights. If you were to connect the ones on opposite sides with lines, they’ll meet right in the center of the deep water. So just as the owl statue stated, let’s dive underneath.

  • Make your way through this underwater area, defeating enemy bloopers along the way. These are another example of Mario enemies found within this title. Resurface on the next screen to find yourself in a new part of the dungeon. Use the hook shot to grab onto the latch and extend a bridge across. Walk over to the treasure chest and open it to get the Nightmare’s Key. Backtrack through the underwater area.

Map Here

Answered by Foxtrot

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Where do I get the Bow?

Question

I was in Catfish's Maw, and noticed a few places with bunches of arrows floating in the air (so you can grab them using the Roc's Feather). Problem is, I have no use for them because I don't have a Bow.

Did I miss the Bow somewhere? Where can I find it? It would be a useful weapon to have.

Asked by Ashley Nunn

Answer

The Bow & Arrow can be found in the shop mid-way through the game for a whopping 980 Rupees. A lot of money, but the monopoly you'll have to do for this item is worth it.

I usually just stole this item as saving for it always became a pain... Its in the main shop in the first city you start in. Keep in mind, if you steal something, your name will forever be changed to THIEF!

Answered by Foxtrot

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Does the e-shop version of Link's Awakening have the Color Dungeon?

Question

The first time I played Link's Awakening, I played the DX version for Game Boy Color, which had the "Color Dungeon", which awards you with a choice of one of two different stat-boosting tunics if you finish it.

Does the version of Link's Awakening that you can get on the Nintendo e-Shop have this dungeon?

Asked by Ashley Nunn

Answer

According to this, yes indeed!

Answered by Matthew Read

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A key fell into a hole. How do I get it?

Question

I need one more small key in the Angler's Tunnel. I vaguely recall one falling into a hole earlier on, but I don't remember where it happened.

Which room is this key in? What do I need to do to get it?

Asked by Ashley Nunn

Answer

Here is the segment I found on that dungeon:

Once you defeat the two red zols in this room and a small key will fall from the ceiling, but unfortunately, it falls right through the holes in the ground. If we walk back to the right a screen and go down the stairs we will see the key, but we cannot get it quite yet. So instead, from where you defeated the zols, just head down a screen.

• Speak with the owl statue and it gives you a hint about the glint of the tiles that we will find in one of the rooms ahead. Keep that in mind as you avoid the enemies and head down a screen. Use roc’s feather to jump over the deep water that is marked by the dark blue color. Avoid the water tektites and peahats as you head left two screens and up a screen. There is a treasure chest in this room, but it is a dud and only contains a enemy zol inside. Avoid the enemies and then head up a screen.

• There are five strange tiles found on the ground in this room, but we cannot do much with them just yet. Just ignore them for now and head right a screen. Open the treasure chest that is found in this room to get a small key. With the small key in hand, we need to backtrack left a screen, down two, right two, and up two to get back to the room where we defeated two red zols and a small key dropped. From here head up a screen to take on the dungeon mini-boss, Cueball.

• Cueball can be confusing at first, but is really one of the easiest mini-bosses in the game. Its weak spot is its giant head and there are multiple ways to go about attacking him. Cueball will simple move around the room trying to dash into you. One way to defeat him is to equip your Pegasus boots and dash around the room and eventually strike him in the back of his head. Another way is to equip Roc’s Feather and jump over Cueball and then deliver a sword slash. Perhaps the easiest way is to stand near one of the corners of the room so you are facing an area where Cueball has to change direction. Before he gets a chance to change the way he’s moving, slash him at the side of its body and you’ll deliver a blow. After a number of sword slashes, Cueball will be defeated and the door above will open up, so head through.

  ~ Flippers ~

• Equip the power bracelet and pull the lever back in this room as far as it goes to move the blocks apart. Quickly run to the left and go through the door before the blocks close in. Watch out for the fireballs that are shot towards you and defeat the red zol that are found in this room. Open the treasure chest here to get the dungeon item, the Flippers! These will now let Link swim in deep water as well as underwater. They are automatically equipped as part of your equipment and thus, they are not an equitable item. With our new goodies in hand, head down a screen.

• The new enemies here are known as iron masks and they can only be hit from behind. Use roc’s feather to jump over them and then quickly deliver a blow to the back to defeat them. This is the room that the owl statue was referring to earlier when it was talking about the glint of the tiles. There is a glint on the middle tile and once you walk over it, it moves to the tile at the bottom-left. What you need to do is just walk over the five tiles in a row, without walking over any of the other tiles. Once you’ve walked over all five of them the door above will open up. More importantly though, we now know the pattern of middle, bottom-left, top-right, top-left, and bottom-right. With that in mind let’s head down a screen, push the block, and then head left a screen.

  ~ Nightmare's Key ~

• There are five tiles on the ground in this screen and you have to walk over them in that correct order, middle, bottom-left, top-right, top-left, and bottom-right. (Order is random, can be different for you) Once you’ve done so a staircase appears at the top-right part of the screen so let’s head down it.

• There is another Mario based enemy here known as a thwomp. Walk underneath it and it will slam to the ground, so quickly step back. As it retracts to its original position, walk by it and continue to the left. Trigger this second twomp and walk by this one as well. Trigger it once more and then quickly climb the staircase, jump on top of it, and then jump to the ladder to resurface.

• Walk down a screen and open the treasure to get the nightmare’s key! With that goodie in hand let’s head up a screen, jump off the ledge, and swim right two screens. Swim up a screen and open the treasure chest found here to get a 50 rupees. With that in hand let’s go right a screen and up a screen to get back to the room just before the mini-boss.

> - If you haven’t already, defeat the red zols in this room to cause a small key to drop from the ceiling through one of the holes. Then walk right a screen and head down the staircase. Jump over to the screen on the left and then jump into the water to get the small key. Go back right a screen and climb the steps to resurface.

Answered by Foxtrot

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I need explosives! Where can I get them?

Question

I am currently working through the Angler's Tunnel, and apparently need more bombs than I currently possess. Is there a nearby place to get them? Or do I have to haul my butt all the way back to Mabe Village and pay the shopkeeper for some explosives?

Asked by Ashley Nunn

Answer

Apparently there are bombs in Angler's Tunnel:

there are bombs in Dungeon 4 [...] in the Angler's Dungeon go left in the first rm with the enemies and there are ten bombs

If you've already got them and broken all the pots and so on you'll have to leave the dungeon to find more (not in this case, see comments). I don't recall anything specifically nearby but the world map isn't too big, so if you ignore all the distractions along the way it shouldn't take long to get to the shop :)

Answered by Matthew Read

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Can you get rid of the title as “THIEF”?

Question

There is a shop in the starting area on the island of Koholint, and if you are fast enough to dance around the shopkeeper, you can steal from him. Once you steal from him, though, your title in the game changes to "THIEF".

Here is a video of what I am talking about.

Is there any way to change your title back to your name without reverting to a different past save or starting over?

Asked by Foxtrot

Answer

There's no way to change it back. Only doing some romhacking, which will still be complicated.

Answered by Moonlighter

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How do I beat the Key Cavern boss?

Question

I finally made it to the end of the Key Cavern, but the boss is giving me a lot of trouble and I have died a lot of times so far.

How do I beat him? What are some strategies (beyond just what I need to do to kill him) that might keep me alive long enough to finish the job?

Asked by Ashley Nunn

Answer

First, as you may know, the Slime Eyes must first be found by slamming into a wall with the Pegasus Boots. Once that happens, you have to smack it in the middle until it is almost divided in two, then finish off with a Pegasus Boots charge. You'll know when it's thin enough when it seems to no longer react no matter how much you hit it. That will split it into two, and that's when you can start truly damaging the boss.

I recommend equipping yourself with the Roc's Feather in addition to the sword now. Each time you strike one of the two halves of the boss, it will leap up, and then slam into the ground at another spot. Unless you jump, you'll get stunned when it lands, so that's half the reason why you have the Roc's Feather equipped. The other half is because it can offer you some safer mobility to dodge or attack the Slime Eyes (jump attacks are very potent for extending your range if you play your movements right)

Try hitting them both at the same time with a Whirlwind Attack. Not only does this do substantial damage, but then both should rise mostly at the same time. This gives you a lot more breathing room than if you alternatingly strike them, or if you try to focus down one. Note that after hitting one, try to get close enough to strike one or two more times with normal slashes. There's a small window, but a window nonetheless, where you can sneak in additional hits before it flies up. They don't actually have a lot of health at this point, so it may only take as few as 2 rounds to vanquish the Slime Eyes.

The main focus is on keeping the pressure off of you. As long as you make sure to jump when they land, and also avoid being smashed as they land, then the push back from your sword should always keep them at bay. Your best defense once they're on the ground is a strong offense, so don't concern yourself too much about dodging. If they get close, swing!

---

If you still have trouble, by this point you should be able to purchase Secret Medicine from Crazy Tracy, located in Koholint Prairie that is south of Tal Tal Heights. This will heal you to full hearts should you lose them all.

Answered by Grace Note

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How do I stop the Pairodd from killing me?

Question

I am in the Key Cavern and am trying to kill a pair of Pairodd. Problem is, they keep killing me before I can kill them, and I would really like for that to stop.

How do I kill them?

For reference, this is the enemy I mean:

Answer

From Zeldapedia:

Upon Link's arrival in a room, they remain stationary and do not attack until he approaches them. When he does so, the Pairodds will briefly disappear, teleporting to a different area of the room. As they reappear, they fire a projectile at Link, which can be deflected with the Shield.

The trick to defeating a Pairodd is anticipating where it will reappear and being there to strike it as it reappears. If Link uses the Pegasus Boots, they can come within range of Link's sword before they ever have time to teleport out of reach; also, they may be defeated outright if Link charges at them with the Pegasus Boots while he has his sword equipped.

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Where is Madam MeowMeow's BowWow dog?

Question

I can't leave the town and go towards the beach, or the small children stop me and tell me how terrible the Moblin attack was, and mot other directions require me to lift rocks, which I cannot do.

The woman in the BowWow house (Madam MeowMeow) is super distraught over her missing dog, and I would really like to help her (as I assume this is the next thing I have to do to advance the story).

Where did they take her dog?

Answer

North of the village, in a cave near the Bottle Grotto Swamp, to the east of it I think.

You need Bow Wow the Chain Chomp to eat the plants blocking your way to get to the inner swamp and dungeon 2 (Bottle Grotto).

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Where is the castle?

Question

I was told by a man to go to the castle and search it for the Golden Leaves that he lost there.

Problem is, I cannot find the castle. I have been wandering around in circles for a while now, and it is getting a little ridiculous.

Where is the castle? What is it near?

Answer

Here is the path you need to take:

(There will be a gate blocking your path directly above here for now)

(the bridge won't be there yet)

(there will be a bush over the steps)

Here is the complete map with the directions (view it in another page to see it in full size):

(images taken from wikicheats)

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Do I get anything for filling the Photo Album?

Question

There is a photo album that chronicles my journey, inside the camera shop.

Apparently I need 12 pictures to fill it.

Do I get anything for filling the album with pictures (other than a whole bunch of pictures that I can't print because this is a Virtual Console title so I can't hook up a GameBoy Printer even if I had one)?

Answer

No, there's no reward as far as I know. The Zelda Wiki doesn't mention one either, although it does say that it's possible to miss some of them, and there are a total of 13 possible (although you can only get 12 maximum).

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How do I kill Pols Voices?

Question

The Pols Voices I am encountering in the Bottle Grotto seem to be pretty immune to damage. Sword strikes won't kill them, and I don't really have anything else that I can use, it being so early in the game.

Sorry for the tiny picture, but that is the enemy I am talking about.

How can I kill it?

Answer

Pols Voice are susceptible to a number of non-sword attacks. Bombs, arrows, bomb arrows, and my personal favorite tactic of throwing pots at them are all functional for damage. If you're in Bottle Grotto, you're probably going to need to throw a pot.

In the instruction booklet for the original Legend of Zelda, it was mentioned that Pols Voice have a weakness to sound. While this never manifested in the original game for US audiences (as it required the microphone in the original Famicom's controllers), it manifests in Link's Awakening as instant death when hearing the Ocarina (specifically, play the 1st song).

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What do the Secret Seashells do?

Question

In Link's Awakening, sometimes I come across Secret Seashells, and the text that pops up says that if I collect a lot of them, something good is bound to happen.

what will happen if I collect enough? (How many is enough, anyhow?)

Answer

They can be brought to the Seashell Mansion at various points to earn things.

• 5 shells gets you a bonus shell.
• 10 shells gets you another bonus shell.
• 20+ shells gets you the Level-2 Sword, capable of shooting beams at full health (as well as being more powerful in general).

There are several extra hidden around the island (about a total of 25). After you've cashed in 20 of them, any extra ones in chests you haven't opened will turn into 20 rupees.

(Bonus fun fact: you can put bombs in the wooden wall at the end of the Mansion's insides. For some reason, they fall into it!)

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How can I get the larger fish by the shore?

Question

In the fishing minigame of Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening, you pay 10 rupees to play, get 5 back if you catch a small fish (net loss of 5) and get 20 if you catch a large fish (net gain of 10).

Now, I've managed to catch the large fish on the bottom left, but I now want to get the large fish in the hole on the right.

The fact you get a heart piece when you do is completely irrelevant ♫

However, no matter how I try to get the timing right and no matter how short I throw the reel (by holding right during the process), I can't just seem to get past the three small fishes. I've also tried going for the leftmost fish and then moving horizontally, but the other large fish won't let me do that.

Answer

You can continue playing after you've caught a fish - it's much easier to catch the big lunker in the lower right once you've removed the three smaller fish from the pond.

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What's the point of the bombable caves with golden statues?

Question

This has to be the third or fourth such room in the game. This particular room is deep within an area that can only be reached with the rooster. I imagine that if I can do something here, I probably can only do so here and now.

What's the point of these rooms? How do I activate them? What do I get from it?

Answer

This is a Fairy Spring. If you have taken damage, there should be a nice fairy there who will heal all of your hearts of damage. When you aren't harmed, however, it will just be empty.

'Tis why the statues are of fairies.

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