More than two and a half decades have passed since the original release of The Legend of Zelda: Link’s Awakening, and with its recent remake, a new generation of players gets to experience the magic of Koholint Island. However, while veterans may walk in with a mental map of every crack and secret, newcomers may find themselves overwhelmed. This guide is here to smooth your journey with vital tips, tricks, and secrets that the game itself may not be too eager to share.
Phone Booths: Your Hint System
At times, Link’s Awakening can feel vague about where to go or what to do next. Thankfully, scattered across Koholint Island are phone booths, your lifeline for moments of uncertainty. Calling Ulrira at one of these booths will provide helpful hints about your next objective. These aren’t vague philosophical riddles either—Ulrira’s tips can directly guide you back on track. If you ever feel stuck, make visiting a phone booth your first step.
Color Dungeon: Optional But Rewarding
Originally introduced in the Game Boy Color version, the Color Dungeon makes its return in the remake. Though it’s not a requirement to complete the main story, it is absolutely worth tackling after you’ve cleared the third main dungeon. Head to the library in Mabe Village to uncover the dungeon’s entrance. Inside, you’ll find a combat-heavy challenge that culminates in a choice: either a red tunic that boosts attack or a blue one that enhances defense. Both are excellent upgrades, so it’s all about your preferred playstyle.
Heart Pieces: Eternal Zelda Tradition
Longtime Zelda fans will know the drill, but newcomers should understand the importance of heart pieces. By finding four, you increase your total health by one heart—an invaluable advantage. These fragments are tucked away in caves, hidden corners, and overlooked nooks, so make it a habit to investigate everything. Your survival depends on it.
Seashells: Explore for Power
Heart pieces aren’t the only incentive for thorough exploration. Secret Seashells, hidden all over Koholint Island, are your ticket to a major power-up: the Koholint Sword. It’s significantly stronger than your starting weapon. Once you collect a decent number of them, head to the Seashell Mansion to trade them in. One early reward includes the Seashell Sensor, which beeps when a shell is nearby, making future hunts easier. Keep your eyes peeled for suspicious spots—it pays off.
Warp Points and Ocarina Travel
Traveling on foot across the dense layout of Koholint can be time-consuming. Warp points scattered across the map offer a welcome shortcut, but you’ll have to find and activate them first. That’s step one.
Step two? Unlocking the power of the ocarina. After completing the third dungeon, visit the Dream Shrine in Mabe Village to obtain the ocarina. Then, after the fourth dungeon, enter the nearby cave to the left of the dungeon entrance. A frog named Mamu will teach you a song that allows fast travel from anywhere. This also works inside dungeons, letting you warp to the entrance in a pinch. Strategic mobility has never been more musical.
The Infamous Trading Quest
One of Link’s Awakening’s quirkiest features is its elaborate trading quest, involving 14 trades between NPCs. While it may seem entirely optional at first glance (and the game won’t stop you from believing so), it’s actually mandatory to complete the game. It all begins at the trendy game shop, where you win a Yoshi Doll and give it to Mamasha in Mabe Village. From there, it spirals into a full-blown scavenger chain. Don’t fall behind on this—it’s core content disguised as a side quest.
Trendy Game Shop: Not Just a Gimmick
Speaking of the trendy game shop—it’s more important than you might assume. Aside from being the starting point for the trading quest, it’s also a great place to score goodies like heart pieces and rupees. While the claw-machine-style minigame may seem like a throwaway, mastering it is genuinely beneficial. Swing by every so often to see what new prizes await.
Fishing: A Relaxing Break With Real Rewards
While completely optional, the fishing minigame in Mabe Village offers both charm and utility. Catching fish earns you rupees and, more importantly, a heart piece and an empty bottle—perfect for storing fairies. These bottles can be literal lifesavers later in the game, especially in boss fights. Take a few casts when you need a break from adventuring.
The Village Shop: Stock Up Smartly
Returning to Mabe Village often isn’t just about rest. The shop there is your go-to for essential gear: bombs, arrows, and more importantly, the only place in the game where you can buy a shovel and a bow. The shovel helps you dig up hidden seashells, and the bow—essential for the eighth dungeon—can’t be skipped. Always monitor your rupee count and stop by the shop as needed.
Be a Thief (Literally)
Here’s a cheeky trick: everything in the shop can be stolen. If you’re low on rupees and have some moral flexibility, you can lift items while the shopkeeper isn’t watching. The catch? Once you do it, every NPC in the game will refer to you as “Thief” from then on. That includes your save file. It’s permanent, but effective. For players looking to save 900 rupees on a bow, it’s a valid strategy—just not a noble one.
Bonus tip: if you’re going this route, you can even name yourself “Thief” at the start for extra irony.
Rapids Raid: Rupee Farming Made Easy
If theft isn’t your style and you’d rather earn your riches, the Rapids Raid minigame becomes available after finishing the fifth dungeon. It’s a great source of fast rupees. Play it a few times and you’ll have more than enough to afford anything the shopkeeper is hawking. It’s one of the most efficient farming methods in the game.
Bomb Arrows: Unofficial but Explosive
Although the game doesn’t explicitly advertise it, Link’s Awakening allows you to combine items. One such combination is bomb arrows. Equip bombs and arrows simultaneously and press both buttons at once to fire an explosive arrow. It’s not a necessity, but it’s undeniably fun and incredibly useful in combat.
Final Thoughts
Whether you’re revisiting Koholint with fresh visuals or discovering it for the first time, Link’s Awakening is filled with charm, secrets, and opportunities to experiment. With these tips, you’ll not only survive but thrive, making the most out of everything this beautiful remake has to offer. Take your time, enjoy the journey, and never stop exploring.
And remember: it’s not stealing if nobody catches you—unless you’re a hero of legend.
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