 DISCUSSIONS WITH VIDEO GAMER X In this section I will answer and discuss various topics submitted to the Odyssey of Hyrule by gamers regarding Zelda 64, the Nintendo 64, Nintendo the company, Video Games in general, and the website. Some sections on the site itself discuss and focus on a very specific topics, but this is intended to be a forum for more broader issues. Be warned if you make a narrow-minded, immature, or pointless statement an appropriate response will be supplied. I hope to get good disscussions going and make this website a place where notions and ideas can be shared openly. Take the time and say something insightful. MarysiaAY Discovered: I recently went on a trip to Switzerland. In a city called Lucerne, there are two famous wooden covered bridges. The bridges have wooden painted panels mounted underneath the cover. Some of them have shields in the corner. And what is on the shields? TRIFORCES! They even have little stars in the Courage, Wisdom, Power pieces. These things are hundreds of years old! The Triforce crops up in funny places sometimes... Nick Asks as well (Received 8/6/99): I was at my cousins house and I was playing with his lego's. Then out of the blue i found a black curved lego piece with the TRIFORCE ON IT!!!??? What is this? Video Gamer X Comments: Indeed, the symbol of the triforce is found in many places as logos (American Rental Association for example), decorations on structures, even clothing. The three trianges are also representative of a mathematical fractal called Sierpinski's Sieve. A fractal is a mathematical equation that makes repetative patterns to form an image, and in this equation, the patterns create infinite Triforces, circumscribed within each other. It's kind of cool actually. I even saw the Triforce painted into the suface of a table in a fancy Italian Restaurant. And the LEGO's...I don't know if anyone remembers the first series of Blacktron that came out in 1987, but those sets were black and yellow and many of the larger spaceships and space stations had Triforces on them. They discontinued that series in early 1990, with the new Blacktrons. (The old ones were way better) Just look around and you'll see how many things are Triforces. Tom Dayton Asks: I have a question that has stumped me. Where is Hyrule Castle in Zelda 1??? I have looked and looked and I haven't found it. Did Ganon destroy it? If you know please tell me. Video Gamer X replied: The Legend of Zelda, for the NES, was the first Zelda game to be made, but not the first in terms of storyline. You see from what I've been able to collect from varous sources, some officially put out by Nintendo, the Zelda 1 storyline takes place in a Dark Age of Hyrule when Link is called upon by Impa to save Zelda from Ganon, and reunite the Triforce to it's former glory. You'll notice in The Legend of Zelda one that many of the inhabitants are relegated to living in caves and are very grumpy. During this time Ganon's minions have overrun Hyrule and much of it's former glory has fallen into shambles and decay. In Zelda 1 there is a massive graveyard (The graveyard is expanded and moved northeast by the timeframe of Zelda II: The Adventure of Link, and includes the Tomb of the King of Hyrule) showing where so many people had died perhaps battling Ganon and his evil minions. More than likely Hyrule Castle was destroyed by this time and Kakariko as well. Remember Zelda 1 is supposed to take place AFTER Ocarina of Time, and A Link to the Past. [email protected] Comments: my friend loaned me his zelda 64 game and i played it-loved it-beat it-returned it. i then rented one from blockbuster and noticed two differences so far. 1.there is different music in the fire temple 2.when you beat gannon( as a human ) he spits out green stuff instead of blood. Video Gamer X says: Hmm...Different music 'eh. I discovered the blood difference, but music too? I played another Zelda 64 awhile ago, ver 1.2 and I hadn't noticed it. Are you sure it's different? Anna c^^ Has issues with: Okay, it took me two days but I finally managed to get 49 seconds on the horseback obstacle course. Now, Malon sent me a cow and it's in my house. What the heck am I supposed to do with it, just come back and get milk from it? It seems like a waste of time to do the course, unless you want to master the game. Video Gamer X says: That's really all the Horseback Obstacle Course is for, to master every aspect of the game. This is like the Hyrule Running Man, The Fishing Pond, finding all the Gold Skulltulas, and the Gerudo Archery, etc. They really don't do very much for Link or provide and amazing rewards, which is kind of a shame, but they provide extra replay value which is what the creators of the game originally intended. I really wish they made more hidden items or spells that actually did something really cool. PJslasher Wrote: Video Gamer X, First if all, great site. i recommend you to all my friends and chat buddies. I love your joke pages and your inspiring devotional to Princess Zelda. Plus your (false) rumors page and bug lists (love your code) are wonderful. i congradulate you on your fine web page. On a more serious note, i would like to share my ideas about zelda with you, and hope oyu will take me seriously. Zelda is, without a doubt, one of the best games in the world. however, it is only ONE of the best because it has a tied running mate, Final Fantasy VII. These two games are the current ultimates in gaming, but they really can't compete with each other. as described in your zelda vs. ff7 page, they are both wonderful, but for completely different reasons. Zelda is the more (sorry) childish of the two games, in that it is centered on puzzles, action, graphics, and time honered characters. it is lacking in plot, character development, playing length, variety in spells/weapons/transportation, and replay ability. one may ask why myamoto would create a game lacking in so many areas, and the awnser is simple. if he developed a strong individual plot, evtanded playtime, added spells, etc. he would have had to take away from one or more of the items it centered on.By the way, if you want a game that has no particular low points, pick up almost any other game at Toys r Us, and you will find one. Myamoto's genius in zelda was allowing these low points so as to have the high points described above. if you're ever played a racing game where you choose your car by stats, a car with everything average is average can be nice at first, but the cars with a high top speed but low acceleration is far better, because it has such a good high point. Final Fantasy VII is at the opposite end of the spectrum, being more adult in nature. It centers on character development, length of play, and variety. The plot is so deep the strategy guide reads like a novel and replay value is through the roof. An interesting twist at the end is the stronger you are, the HARDER it is to beat the game! However, this game lacks in simple puzzles, graphics (except in the cinemas), and all the characters are new. This is like a car that has fast acceleration but a slow top speed. it's still much better than the average car, but for different reasons than the zelda car. The reason i call zelda the more childish game is because of it's general audience, though i know there are many senior citivens that are stuck on the water temple, is a younger audience. in most chat rooms i go in, it's the kids that like the game the most. it's simple to understand, not too chalenging most of the time, gives a sensation of really being your character, and can be won before a childs interest strays very far. FF7 is far more complicated, the plot takes at least playing twice to completely understand, the game takes about 50 hours to play, and spell combinations and strategies are endless. whenever someone says they didn't like FF7 i ask them how old they are, and they are always under 12. Most kids this age aren't ready to read crime and punishment, so why should they expect to be ready to play a game that's as long and complex. in the end, i think the games tie as twin "Best Games Ever Made". Like yin-yang, they are the opposite sides of the same coin. Either could survive without the other, but together they form an unbeatable pair. P.S. judgeing by your zelda site, if you made a FF7 site, it would probably be extremely popular. just something to think about. Video Gamer X says: Indeed, this gamer expresses exactly what I've been saying all along. Final Fantasy VII and Zelda: The Ocarina of Time, are two great games, so far the best ever made. They make a good "tie" in my regards, although some may disagree one way or the other. He is right when he says that one has something the other is lacking and vice verca. Like I've said before, Zelda 64 is designed for ALL audiences to enjoy, moreso toward the younger gamer spectrum i.e kids about 12 or less. I had fun playing Zelda because I could extract some of the more embedded symbolisms and relive the adventures that I had when I was younger. Also, I've said this before, the characters need development, but for younger kids to understand the intracasies of motivations, emotion, and psychological changes and adaptations, these aspects or concepts must be simplified and served in a more childlike package. Zelda 64 and all Zelda games are far deeper than many people realize, and that is one of the reasons why I play the game. It just has different meaning to different people able to perceive it. Final Fantasy VII is also a great game with an involving storyline, and developed characters, but what it lacks is a smooth as butter gameplay system and many puzzles. One thing that can be said about the two games is that they fall into two categories as far as format and storyline presentation is concerned. Zelda is a Fairytale (embellished mind you), Final Fantasy VII is an Epic. Cartoons are like Fairytales, that is why children are drawn to them. Fairytales are more often than not simple stories with a moral, and often involve characters with little background history or personal development. Anything that starts with "Once upon a time..." more than likely going to be a fairytale. Whereas, Epics involve long accounts of the history and development of a character or characters and the their environment as well as their psychological conflicts and development over time. For instance, The Greek poet/bard Homer's Illiad is an Epic. Often adults and older teenagers like Epics because they are better able to grasp the profound philisophical meanings from the writings as well as the delving into the many nuances of personality and ambition of the main character or characters. Some things like fantasy video games, books, and movies fall somewhere inbetween. All in all, it depends on you're own personal knowledge and insight to understand the meaning of a game or story like Zelda or Final Fantasy. By the way, I DID make a site for Final Fantasy VII. It's old, a retired member of My VIDEO GAME PANTHEON, but it should be useful to some gamers who may just have found the game. Visit The Epic of Final Fantasy VII or you can visit my new active website on Final Fantasy VIII, debuting June 1, at Final Fantasy VIII: The Adventure Continues Uptempo31 commented with Malicious Intent: your the biggest loser i have ever seen in my life. TO devote all your waking hours to video games is the dumbest thing ive ever heard. Go get yourself a girlfriend or if your as ugly as i picture you, get a hooker. Just please i hate seeing a man's life being ruined by the gaming experience, and do me a favor just to let you know im not doing this for publicity dont print this letter, but if you feel the need write me back Video Gamer X says: Well guess what? I printed it! You know, it's strange, I get many postitive comments about how much Zelda fans and gamers enjoy this site and the things that I write or discuss about on it. Then, there are those few handful of people that for whatever reason you can not satisfy. You know what, If you don't like something on the site or don't like me THEN GO TO ANOTHER SITE! I mean, there's loads of Zelda sites out there, if you don't like this one you can go play on another one. Basically, this is the way it is, if you don't like the site, THEN TOO DAMN BAD! This is MY site, and I pay money to put it up so what you see is what you're gonna get there pal. In regards to the comments about me having no life, being a loser, having no girlfriend, - You are COMPLETELY wrong! As a matter of fact, I do not play games all day long. I have a thing called a JOB, (you should try it sometime), AND I have an attractive girlfriend named Sara, AND she thinks I'm the best looking guy around. I have a social life, in fact today I went to see Star Wars with her and go to the mall, and yesterday I hung out with my friends, Matt, Ashley, and Daniel at a local Denny's then we went to a friend named Chad's house to listen to his new Subs in his truck. What you seem to imply in your complaint is that video games are for losers, well, I hate to break the newsflash to you but, they're here to stay, and they're really cool now and only LOSERS think Video Games suck! This reminds me of the assholes in school that would make fun of me because I was reading an EGM in class or talking about video games. They would say, "You're a dork! Or "You're a loser, video games are stupid!" Well here's the scary thing for them, just about everyone I know whose under the age of 30 plays video games or thinks they KICK SOME SERIOUS ASS. Even some of my bosses at work always come up and talk to me about the latest game they got, or ask me questions about them. Many of them drive nice cars, have hot girlfriends, and go out on weekends or whenever they get a chance. Are they Losers? I really think the person who sent this letter should think BEFORE they write. It truly shows what totally ignorant and unthoughtful people there are in this world. SHWO Wrestler 8 Pondered: OK, remember when you are young Link and you talk to the Goron on the stairs going up from the giant spinning bottle. That Goron tells you how to preserve deku sticks, blah blah blah. OK then at the end he says "Oh yeah, I hid a stick somewhere...hehehe." My thought is WHERE IS IT? I thought that you might be able to, after finding this stick, jam it into the pedistal where the Goron's Ruby once stood. Then something would happen. Anyway I was in Nintendo bbs and I asked someone where it was. Someone replied and said that it was in the giant spinning jar. I tried almost everything- jumping into it, which teleported you to the triforce (just joking, it teleported you to where you last entered from) when the top was off, jumping onto it when the top was still on (which I thought I may had found but there was just the top stub there) and then of course trying numerous times to throw bombs inside, but none worked. Please tell me of this wild bewilderment. Video Gamer X says: Okay, the Deku Stick he's talking about is in that same area near the Goron who says that. It's in a pot. Break open the pot to find the stick. I think, if memory serves it's near another pot with a rupee or a heart in it, but don't quote me on that because I just can't remember what's in every pot in the entire game. You were sent to back to place where you entered because the game realized that you had put Mr. Link where he should be i.e. a place where he doesn't fit or belong. That happens occasionally. To prove what I mean go to the Spirit Temple as Adult Link. Remember that platform that rises from the main entrance room to the corridor that leads to the Big Statue Room, well if you Hang Link from that platform as it rises into the hole in the ceiling it will make a sound like you just fell off the edge of a hole or cliff and bring you back to the entrance again. This is programmers "save" to not have you break the games "rules" and go where you're not supposed to be i.e inside the wall or outside of the gaming environment. (T'yeah right, like that's stopped anybody from trying it and succeeding) Evan Expressed: Dear VGX, After I beat Legend of Zelda, I wondered of many things. The Triforce, Zora's Domain, the Blue Fairy, ect. Unlike others though, I wonder; what happened to Zelda and Link at the end. One of these things could've happened.-- I. Zelda and Link remember their adulthood and take it from there.II. One or the other remembers. III. Time repeats itself. Zelda and Link go through the same time path--the irony. IV. This one is particularly interesting. If you have beat the game, you know that Zelda sends Link back to the way he was supposed to be. But alas-he was supposed to be that way! He WAS Hylian, and he WAS supposed to be the "Hero of Time!" But the question remains; why didn't he tell her that? Why did he let time simply repeat itself? Because if he WAS Hylian, and she sent him back to being a Kokiri, then time will go the same was it did before. Video Gamer X Adds: Indeed the end of the game presents itself as a difficult paradox to decipher, but one must realize that there is a good possibility that this is a lead in to UraZelda or any add-ons Nintendo plans to bring out. Now, I could be wrong, but it seems that Zelda (by following the storyline) brings Link back in time to correct what went wrong and to make him young again to relive those lost years. One thing that we learn in Zelda is that events can have dual association in the past and in the future, case in point the Spirit Temple, The Hyrule Running Man, and the Well. It seems safe to assume that the Sacred Realm/Golden Land/Dark World does not work on the same priciples of Time that the rest of Hyrule's Light World does. Quite possibly the Sacred Realm could work on a principle of static omnipresence, meaning whether an event transpires in the Light World's future or past it's related effects transpire simultaneously in the Sacred Realm. I know this is hard to grasp but, when Zelda sent link back in time, she sent him back to the Temple of Time where he replaced the Master Sword and completed the seal to the Sacred Realm and returned to see Zelda in the past. It's a good probability that Ganon doesn't exist anymore in the Light World during Link's youth because he's been removed from the linear equation of space-time causing a new branch to form in the continuum. (Man, I feel like "The Doc" from Back to the Future) More than likely Link remembers the events that transpired in HIS past but Zelda doesn't remember events from HER future because it hasn't happened to her yet, but it already happened to Link. There's also the possible scenario that it is a neverending temporal loop (I mean what is Zelda looking at in that Window in the very last scene, Let's hope it isn't Ganon AGAIN, because that would really screw things up, Kind of like that Star Trek Episode where the Enterprise keeps crashing into another spaceship everytime it loops though the temporal anomaly) and she simply sends him back in time to the Kokiri Forest to start it all over again, but the storyline, and Zelda's own words contradict this possibility making the first scenario more likely. I could go on and on (pages, really) about this, but I would rather let you soak this all in first and come to some sense of closure. What's really going to make or break my theories is the Add-On/64 DD Zelda and all this psudo-sequel busness in the works. We'll just have to see what happens. Eric Chang Wrote: It's official that the Nintendo 64 Disk Drive will never come to North America, but they never say why. Why did they decide not to bring it here? Video Gamer X says: Yep, that's pretty much a given now, no 64DD, unless of course they decide to pop it out of nowhere and start producing them, but I doubt it. It just appalls me that we lost out on all the Zelda extras that we would have had with the 64DD. Total bummer. I think Nintendo felt that the peripheral wouldn't be well received both in Japan and in the States so it never entered mass production. There are prototypes of the thing in Nintendo's possession as well as a 64DD Zelda disk called Ura Zelda with additional quests, temples, and plot enhancements. I say we all petition Nintendo to cough it up and let us play and see if we don't like the 64DD. That will be the day right. Fragippali Points Out: I have noticed the obvious sign of Islam in this game: the cresent moon and star, which is all over the spirit temple and on the mirror shield. What do you make of this? Video Gamer X Explains: Indeed, although I don't mention it in the symbolism page, the symbol for the Gerudo's is also an Islamic symbol. One thing you'll notice about Zelda 64 is that it really covers many bases when it comes to religious overtones and portent. Although there seems to be a prevailing Pagan (fairies, witches, magic, spells, goddesses) structure to it storyline there is a little Christian theological expression other than the symbolism embedded within the use of the number seven (Seven seals, seven creative days (yes, I know he rested on the seventh day, but you get my drift), seven trumpet blasts, etc.) contained in the notion of a chivalrous Knight protecting a damsel in distress. This has it's roots in the fundemental teachings of Midieval Christianity and old English Literature where such Knights would owe duty to God, Country, and Damsel (a symbol of purity and love). It really does amaze me, the more I think about the game's symbolism, the more it carries over into the multifaceted philosophical beliefs of many of this world's inhabitants both past and present. It makes you truly wonder about the man who thought this game up. What does he believe? What is the greater puzzle of Zelda? What's he telling us? That's a topic worthy of debate but I don't think anyone has the answer. Mary Stack (?)want to buy an ocarina? this site has different shapes and sizes, even one that's almost identical to the ocarina of time. www/songbirdocarina.com/catalog.html Hey that's pretty cool! They even have sound samples of the Song of Time played on a real ocarina! If you really want to be like link then this is must-have i suppose. Come to think of it you very well could find everything you need to be just like Link. You could Buy a Custom Sword and Shield, bow and arrow, boomerang, slingshot, grappling hook, cherry bombs, steel toed mining boots, winged booties, green, red, and blue fabric for the tunics, a huge sledgehammer, and an ocarina. In fact just you ULTIMATE zelda fans out there I'm going to make a page just for becoming Link supplied with links to pages where the stuff can be bought. Now, how's that for Immersive! Expect to see the page up sometime in early May. Daisy8140 Asks: I don't know, maybe it's just me, or maybe I HAVE heard it somewhere before...The Song Of Time...do you know where the people who made this game get all the tunes for the ocarina?? It sounds VERY familiar to me! Video Gamer X says: Actually it's kind of like Gregorian monks chanting and swooning. Want a good example of Temple of Time music, check out Enigma. It bears a striking resemblance to the Temple of Time music. Ahh, uhh, ahh, uhh, ahh, ahh, ahh, ahh, uuh, uhh, uhh, uhh, uhh. That's about what you'll get. (Didn't give name) asks: Are you a well-funded nintendo manager that is trying to boost ratings by pretending that your someone my age?? Video Gamer X replied: You mean...the secret's out? Shh...don't tell anyone. Sorry to inform you of an earthshattering revelation but, no, I'm not a Nintendo manager. I wish I was, man would I be rollin in the loot. Have a WAY better car too. I'm thinkin' Viper here. (POP) Okay, okay, I'm back to reality again. Xenophager Suggests: I think that the Nintendo, Playstation and Sega should all merge to form one Invincible and Unstopable company with a devistating system to the lengths that we have never seen. Using those three companies resources together to make the best entertainment we have ever seen. With their money they could use all the best and newest hardware to enhance the system. This would be great for not only the videogame industry but everthing in a whole. Don't we wish, but it might not all be roses. Indeed a merger of that magnitude would make a company almost as big as say...Microsoft. (notice I said almost) The funny thing of it though is that there would be no competition, and you know what competition does for us? -it makes us have better games and gaming systems. To gain a larger share of a market over a competitor a company is willing to go the extra distance to make a product that is better than it's competitor. For instance Sony has already done analysis on what it would take to overcome anything technologically that is currently avalable or will be avalable within the foreseable future and developed the Playstation2, a console that seems to be an utter "Dream Machine" for gamers everywhere. Now, when Nintendo sees this, they will look for ways to develop a better machine than Sony, out of fear of losing ground finacially and disappointing shareholders. If engineers cannot overcome the technological and marketing feats that Sony has accomplished within the timeframe to debut of the new system then most likely a different plan may be enacted based upon their own research and demand in certain production categories. For instance, Nintendo has a strong hold on the handheld market, to off-set any losses incurred in their console market, they will do something to enhance their handheld products and games (hypothetical) i.e. Pokemon Green, Sliver, Magenta, Turquoise, and Super-Ultra-Mega-Hot-Orange Collectors Limited Edition and brandish it with a slogan like "gotta' catch 'em all before it's too late". Until Nintendo's Engineers make a technologically superior console than Sony, they will continue having difficulties in that market, but they have always been the comeback kid so to speak and manage to revitalize an aging or outdated system, case in point the Donkey Kong Country Games for SNES and upcoming Rare titles like Perfect Dark (they must love Rare). The N64 still has a lot of life in it yet and we will be seeing some great games for the system in the near future, but there will come a point when it's day will be over, perhaps within a year and a half to two years. SEGA, has fared poorly in the last five years, and this trend looks like it may well continue. Sega's strengths lie in Arcades, but their console markets both in America and Japan have pretty much washed out. The Dreamcast will probably have a short life, and succumb to the Playstation2 when it finally debuts in 2000. Sure I'm going to get SEGA's toy when it comes out in fall of '99 just because I'm a HARDCORE gamer and it gives me a 128-bit taste of the Playstation2, a far better machine technologically (backwards compatable I might add). When it comes down to dollars and common sense, consumers will wait the extra six months or so to get a gaming system that is superior and supported by a reliable time-tested company like Sony, rather than SEGA that has repeatedly faultered on it's hardware support in recent years. I'm afraid the Dreamcast will appear with a bang, and end soon after in a whimper. SEGA just doesn't have the clout is once had at the beginning of the decade. Their safest bet is to release the system at a rediculously low price with kick-ass lauch titles, and cut their losses to get their gains later on software. They should concentrate on building up a user base as quickly as possible then support that user base as the system ages. Nintendo is probably going to do what it has always done since the SNES, it is going to let everyone debut their Next Generation systems, and find a way to make something superior. That's at least what we hope. The N200X is likely to remain Top-Secret for awhile, but when making the machine I hope they take into account what we gamers are looking for and develop it with the "Next Millenium gaming experience" (someone's going to take my little Buzzphrase sooner or later - trust me) in mind. I suspect though that due to the popularity the Playstation has attained and will maintain, Nintendo will always be second man mostly catering to younger (your little brother/sister) audiences. Everything I've pointed out here is what competition does for us. In the end it is us gamers that win. If there was just one big juggernaut of a company, then we would have to pay $150 on a game and have a half-assed system to play it on. All this fervor over market share is like "Days of our Lives" corporate gaming company style, everything to woo the consumer. Dok Points Out: Hi, I was flipping through my instruction bookelt and if you havbe the english version look on page 21!! Link has been an adult but still has the fairy ocarina. And on the map next to him Gerudo Valley hasn't been exposed but look on the other side he has the mirror shield. And he has all the items but how could he do it with out the ocarina of time??? And look he still has the kid egg that you get from Malon outside of the castle, you need that to get in to see Zelda? Would nintendo make a mistake in a game booklet?? Video Gamer X Replied: This is another example of an error by Nintendo. They printed that manual most likely prior to the game being completed fully, and this image is either from the Pre-production Copy or a Debug version (as a recent Nintendo Power has claimed regarding the origination of unusual screenshots in its magazine) of the game. Printing these things only leads to confusion later on when a gamer asks, "Why can't I do that in the game?" Tyler Schmeckpeper Asks: is it possible that the red bird under the triforce on the hylian shield is the Owl? Just a thought. Video Gamer X says: Actually the Red Bird underneath the Triforce on the Hylian Shield is a Phoenix. At least that is my best deduction. Underneath the Phoenix is a an inverted Triforce section, this is just for decoration. Here's a theory, perhaps worthy of the Symbolism section, perhaps if you read the symbols from bottom to top, it says something about virtues of the Triforce. Like a phoenix the hero rises from the ashes of the self to encompass the three fold virtues of the Triforce, Power, Wisdom, and Courage. Don Reed Comments: Hey it's your number one fan! Scot I have found another cool secert. After Zelda gives you the Ocarina of Time after the small movie go into the town go to the back alley where the women with the dog named Richard is. DO NOT GO IN THE HOUSE! go to the other alley you will see a guard laying aganist the wall it pretty hard to see but walk around against the walls and your blue icon will say speak hit it and listen then do it again he DEAD! Video Gamer X says:Yep, strange huh. The only time you see that guard is right after you obtain the last Spiritual Stone and enter Hyrule Market Town after seeing the cinema of Ganondorf chasing Zelda/Impa. Apparently that guard was attacked perhaps as Ganondorf was leaving Hyrule Castle after Princess Zelda on his stallion. One thing it shows is that Ganondorf could have killed Link when he met him on the horse outside of Hyrule Market Town, but that would have ruined his ticket to the Triforce. Erin Bowe Asks: I was looking at the screen shots from The Odyssey of Hyrule web page today. I noticed some are screen shots from the Japanese game. Many shots look vastly different then my (American) game. I have played the game through several times and a few I couldn't even recognize! Is the Japanese version really that different? Is it obtainable? Video Gamer X Responds: Yes, you are right many of those screenshots are from the Japanese PRE-PRODUCTIONversion of the game. Pre-Production means that it happened before they mass produced the carts that they send to stores to put on the shelf for you to buy. Remember, a vast majority of Nintendo games are made in Japan before they come to America so those screenshots will more than likely be in Japanese. As development gets to an end they start translating the game into other languages like English. As far as I've been told the Japanese Final-Production version of Zelda 64 is IDENTICAL to the American version except for screen text of course. If you want to get a Japanese Zelda 64 there are stores that import games. And, until about three months ago I didn't know you could just take the piece of plastic off of the interior of the game slot of an American Nintendo 64 to play Japanese Carts. So it is possible to play Japanese games on a 'States N64 if you wanted to prove it to yourself. Joe8472 Says: im not entirely sure that you have included this in your site, but i have noticed another difference in the Gold cart and the Grey cart. In the final battle with Ganondorf, he says, "Beaten by this kid?". At this time, he spits out blood. In the Gold cart, he spits out red blood. In the Grey cart, he spits out green blood. My theory is after they produced the gold cart, some of the "higher ups" at nintendo thought the red blood was too graphic, and changed it to green at the last minute. I jus thought this was worth mentioning, thanks for your time. Video Gamer X: This is an interesting point that I hadn't noticed. I've only played other Zelda 64 carts besides my own a couple of times so I probably didn't notice that difference. Indeed in my 1.0 cart, red blood spews from ganon's body as Link tears into him in the final battle. Nintendo has always been real funny about blood in certain games and I never actually could understand this. The only thing that I derive is the fact that perhaps for the game to retain "Everyone" ESRB rank then the "Blood" was removed during later production runs of the game. They did a similar thing with the original "Mortal Kombat" game for the SNES. It was felt that blood was too graphic for young children to see so it was removed. Perhaps they didn't want to offend parents who shelter their kids from such things so they removed it from Zelda 64. Oddly enough when I was a child the most violent thing/place I encountered was, well, school. Kids would draw bloody knives or images of people being killed, kids in my elementary school used foul language on a regular basis, sexual inuendo and teasing was frequently inflicted upon others as well as flagrant use of crude sexual terminology, some would fashion themselves weapons like chinese throwing stars and stabbing impliments to injure other students, theft was rampant and used as a social distinction, there was always a fight at least once a week in the cafeteria. Most of these things involved the boys, most girls were just into their own social sphere, although there were times I had a block or two thrown at me by a girl even though I didn't do anything to deserve it. In Middle School, this explicity was amplified TEN fold, with some students involved in gangs as well as doing legal/illegal drugs. High School - Need I say more. And the schools I attended were considered "accredited." I mean it made video games look extremely tame in comparison, and it seems that some parents priorities are not in the right place in this regard. Makes you wonder... I don't think such things as I've seen in school have ruined me as an individual, because I can look back on these things and make my own judgement call. At the time I just had to adapt to my surroundings and anylize the circumstances at hand, and based on my upbringing make a determination as to whether the transpiring events were morally right or wrong. Furthermore, the evening news can provide a plethora of violent images, disturbing content, and sexual discussion. I mean, our supposed paragon of "Role Model" the president of the United States himself is an adulterer and womanizer! It's funny, no matter how much you shelter your child from the harsh realities that exist there is that BIG world that smacks them in the face and brings these things directly to their attention. The best thing a parent can do is explain the meaning of these aspects of society and guide them to make productive decisions. Perhaps I have overdiscussed this issue, but it is a hot topic that is debated today and I figured I would put my two cents in regarding "Violence In Video Games" You never know maybe the 1.0 "Swordless Link"/ Bloody Ganon Zelda 64 could be a collector's item, seeing as people collect anything that is either odd or unusual in some way these days. Destin Jones Asks: Do you think Final Fantasy VIII will be better than Zelda 64? Video Gamer X Replied: To be totally honest, yes. Now I don't want a flame of Zelda fans to wollup me over the head with their deku sticks but I feel that as an older gamer, I will acquire a greater level of excitement while playing Final Fantasy VIII than Zelda 64. The story from what I've gathered is going to be phenomenal and the FMV graphics will be almost lifelike. I have several of these I downloaded off the internet right on my desktop for me to drool at occasionally and man are they "intense". Now don't get me wrong Zelda 64 is a great game, but I have a strong suspicion that as far as Storyline and overall "Gaming Experience" is concerned I think Final Fantasy VIII will surpass it. In my opinion I would say that Final Fantasy VII and Zelda 64 would get a tie for the best game of all time so far, but I'm getting a feeling that Final Fantasy VIII is going to be a big hitter. I'm not going to count my chickens before they hatched though because you never know maybe Square jam packed it with bells and whistles but made it too easy and too short. We'll see. It's out in Japan now, but we'll have to wait for several months before we acquire it here in the states. Miyamoto had better do some fancy footwork with that Add-on cart or Nintendo's Market share could succumb to the Almighty Square. I just can't figure why Nintendo let that license go. Square, I mean, come on, you let Square, the maker of ChronoTrigger and Final Fantasy III for SNES (works of art), go over to Sony and Electronic Arts? A Meryl quote (Metal Gear Solid) applies here, "What are you thinking?" Well, at least they have Rare, a shining light in a sea of lackluster 3rd party games. Jessica Bellis Wondered: I would like to know what happened to Zelda's Dad, the King. What did happen to him? Most presumably he is dead but if he was dead than wouldn't the falls to the entrance to Zora's Domain be ceased to run because it says when the King slumbers so do these falls? Did he go into a deal with Ganondorf and that's why the falls are still running? I don't get why the falls are still running if the True King of Hyrule is gone but they may still be running because Ganondorf is the new king. But who knows! Video Gamer X says: That is a good question regarding an issue that the game seems to overlook. I suppose we have to guess and say that Ganon used his great evil power provided from the Triforce sometime during the 7 year time period and vanquished the King and his imperial guard. This is most likely the case since there are no soldiers left after the 7 years. Perhaps the Zombies walking around in Hyrule Market Town are soldiers who have been turned into Zombies. Lumi56 Asked: That shark in the Lakeside Lab is really pissing me off is there any way to let it out, please before I shoot the TV and N64 HELP?? Video Gamer X: It's a flat polygon and there's no way to let it out. Sorry. Believe me, I tried. It's just there for show like the octopus in the tank. David Fuller Worries: First off i would like your advice on the subject as wether or not trade in my zelda 64 game....i know i know...of course you wouldent do that cus you have the gold cartridge but about me with the normal one ...the internet is running out of gamers who actualy find good tricks...well not runing out of them but there isint alot of other stuff that you can learn any more and once you have finished the game n'stuff and gotten everything that you could imagine (with the eception of the triforce) there isint alot youy can do.alot of the people that i know look at some new games like mario party and decide to trade in their zelda games for it...but i hesitate when i think of not having this game anymore...not ever playing it again....its wierd...if you devote a page to this subject my opnion would be that i'm not gonna trade it in..nno matter what Video Gamer X replied: Well first off, I've recently discovered that Add-On a.k.a. Lock On cartridge (Remember Sonic and Knuckles) will be made and released sometime later in the year so you had better hold on to that Zelda 64 cart our you'll be missing out. I did see this on a reputable big name gaming site so I'm going to assume that it most likely true but then again with Nintendo being as fickle as they are, it just may evaporate like the 64DD did. I've even heard that Fox Entertainment is going to be making a Zelda Movie that will aire on Television, but of this one I'm totally uncertain. Very little news is available on this, but when I get it there will be as much information on the subject I assure you. Keith Comments: I don't know if this is unusual or not, but I was pretty excited when I started to reel in an eel! I was fishing as in adult in daytime with the sinking lure and all of a sudden something bit my line. At first it looked just like a normal 8 pound fish, but I eventually realized it was an eel! I caught it and Navi said it was a very unusual fish and that it weighed 35 pounds! It was hard to reel in, but no harder than an 18 pounder. Upon showing it to the fisherman guy he told me that it was a rare fish, too and he said it was called a Hyrule Loach. He said that the population of these weird fish has declined tremendously and that he was going to let it go free. He then gave me 50 rupees. Has anyone else out there caught this weird specimen. Zelda is a great game, the secrets never end. Video Gamer X: Yep, you did it you caught the "Hyrule Loach" an eel-like fish that appears at the bottom of the pond and can only be caught with the sinking lure (as far as I can tell). It seems to hang out mostly by the log at the center of the pond, but I've seen it near some stones before. Who need Bassmaster 64 when you have fishing right there in Zelda 64. You can't beat that for an added bonus. Although it isn't as exciting as hooking a REAL lunker on your pole in a boat, it's definitely provides added replay value that would otherwise have been missed. Leathal Pointed Out: If you look on the pullout(about trading to get the Biggoron's Sword) in the latest issue of Nintendo Power(the Mario Party issue) it says to get to the lakeside lab before 3 minutes is up, beat the Water Temple SO THAT ZORA'S DOMAIN UNFREEZES and you can use the underwater shortcut, wierd that IT DOESN'T UNFREEZE. Also, in the beginning of the last few issues, there is the little advertisement and offer for free stuff with a new subscription, under this is says: "Link's sword fighting moves include the powerful Swing Cut and the blistering Beam Attack. The power of the beam depends on how long you hold back the control stick. That much you do know. Want to know more? Get Nintendo Power Magazine." There's that Beam Attack again... strange huh?Video Gamer X: It sure does show that the editors at Nintendo Power aren't up on current events when it comes to Zelda, but what this does make you wonder about is if there WAS a way to unfreeze Zora's domain and use the Beam Attack in the Pre-Production copy of hte game. Since most of the things Nintendo Power prints is actually behind the actual date you or I receive the magazine it is likely that this information was sitting around for awile. Most likely the got from the Pre-Release version of Zelda 64 and made these statement and just sort of "cut n' pasted" into the next issue, and so on. I mean I've seen pictures of the Blue Fairy in a rather current issue and we all know that is NOWHERE in the game. Nintendo even says themselves that it's not in the game. In the Z-Files section of this website you will see 3 images of Link using the beam attack, but it also is nowhere in the game. This is a good demonstration of what aspects of Zelda 64 were removed or altered before the game reached store shelves. I will make the assumation that this was what happened at Nintendo regarding Zelda 64 - Miyamoto and his team were still working on the game prior to September and October but as the Christmas Shopping season approached in America and the demand for N64's waned dangerously low in Japan, Miyamoto was directed to wrap up development and send the game to production. In doing this, parts of the game that were supposed to be incorporated in the final version were cut for more a streamlined "to the point" Zelda 64. You'll notice that the storyline and inovation in the Dungeons and Temples at the beginning of the game is better than it is toward the end of the game and this is indicative of either an inability to incorporate all he necessary data due to memory difficulties or a cutting of the information due to incompletion. The third possibily remains that the Nintendo Power staff somehow obtained information about the 64DD version of the game and accidentally assumed it was part of the Zelda 64 we see today. I will reiterate that there WILL BE NO 64DD unless some miracle happens. Proof of this is shown in the release of the 4MB ram pack. That is all that remains of the glorious 64DD which was originally meant to incorporate an extra 4MB of Ram to add to the total ram of the system. It kind of makes you wonder though about Nintendo, because if you look at the bottom of every console system they've made, you see a little door that was eventually meant to be part of a peripheral i.e. Super Nintendo CD, or 64DD and not once has that been used. But, you can't blame them considering the total failure of Sega's peripherals like the SegaCD and the 32X. They just don't always seem to catch on. I hope this does answer a lot of questions about the 64DD and those erroneous statements in Nintendo Power. I personally wish the Blade Beam Attack was in Zelda 64 (the only Zelda without it) but what can I do? BobaFettcc Explains: I really liked your web site and everything.Talli Goodjob chap. You bring up some very interesting points about the game Zelda with your "Z" files and disscusion boards. But, off the congrats subject..... I'm going to have to agree with you and some other people also. Th whole spectulation of the TRIFORCE has to be true. Even if they did rush the game of Zelda to the stores to make an extra buck or two before Christmas, Miymoto has to know more to the game then what we know already. I also think that that rock (gray) in the middle of Hyrule field serves a prepose. Why would they make a game that you get 3 stones, trade, warp, grab 6 medallions, slautghter a pig and your done? That seems sort of boring. If they wanted to make an extra buck you would think that it would be the perfect game but it isn't actually.I could make a storyline better than that (challenging Miymoto and his team). Proving rushing the game was a mistake. Showing also that Nintendo made N64, and Zelda64 just to show Sony,Sega, and other companies that a classic glitched, rushed, and tanted game can beat there's with a good title and good reports. Don't get me wrong, but I love N64 and Zelda64 is the best game in the world but. The whole 7 hrs. combined it took for me to beat it is only that storyline. No, Miymoto has to of made it something more than that. It can't be a short storyline, proving that the "Z" files have to be true. I think that Miymoto will say something publically about the game soon, I have a feeling he will. If the storyline was that short wouldn't they lose sales for the next Zelda? It's logic you need to figure out that it wasn't just all of that to the game. He'd have to make more to the game, which is why it was called the best 64 game ever by him and the makers. Proving once again................ The Truth Is Out There. We may not be able to find it, for now, but it has to be there. If it is the storyline of all the Zelda's, why make it a day's worth of playing to the magority? To sum it all up, Miymoto has something more up his sleeve about the game and X, you should test the allagations of the TRIFORCE better then just a rutine check for all you know, it could be more than a invisible skullita....... Video Gamer X Says: This gamer does bring out some really good points. First off, to a really experienced gamer Zelda presents itself as a moderate challenge to initially complete. With a mediocre storyline in comparison to other RPG's (ChronoTrigger, FFIII, FFVII, XenoGears, Panser Dragoon Saga) some RPGers would be left a little unimpressed with Zelda 64, but you must remember that Zelda 64 is meant to appeal to ALL gamers, not just your hardcore RPG fans, but your Mario and Donkey Kong and Tomb Raider fans. That is why your little brother or sister (hypothetical) likes it and you like it. It may take a month for a six year old to just complete Zelda, but an avid hardcore gaming freak could nuke through the game in a good two or three days adding it to the mountainous pile of victomized carts and CD's. The thing you must do with Zelda is say first off, this is an experience - an adventure if you will, in it you must interact with every aspect of the game as you would in the real world. The 3-D environments allow this. Ride the horse just because you feel like it, not because you have to. Play the ocarina just because it is fun, not just to repeat a song from the Quest Status. Rather than simply playing the game to beat it, play the game to become it. Whether or not the Triforce is truly in Zelda 64, you must ask yourself 'what makes me play this game?' What drives me to explore this world? Then and only then will you understand the true purpose of Zelda: The Ocarina of Time. Draconetti Suggested: In the unsolved mystery website I noticed a question about the brick walls in Hyrule field...I don't know if i'm very perceptive or not...But nobody else has noticed this... If you study the map of Hyrule field (in the lower- righthand of the screen) There is a clear outline of Ganondorf's face (Three quarter, to the left...slightly tilted down). The brickwalls are shown on the map....The brickwalls are Ganondorf's Facial outlines. His right eye is LonLon ranch...You can even see his bald head!!!!! Video Gamer X added: Well actually after looking at it, I've made the determination that it is Link's Face. You can see his nose, ears, eye, hood, and hair. That is an excellent find though, and I hadn't noticed that the map looked like someone before. It also explains the placement of those odd brick walls in Hyrule Field [email protected] says: Hey, that trick that was sent in about the weapons you can use on Epona after you save your game when Ganon knocks your sword out of your hand sounds cool, but the problem is that I've gotten up to the part where he knocks the sword from your hand, but when I restart the game and choose my file, it ALWAYS starts out in Ganon's castle WITH the sword still set on B! What am I doing wrong?? I really wanna try that trick, but it's not working with me. Plus, I wanna compliment you on your site, this is the best site I've ever seen... But, please respond and tell me what I'm doing wrong with the trick, thanks a lot. Video Gamer X replied: I have some bad news and some good news. First off, the good, this prooves that Nintendo was lying when it said that all Zelda 64's were exactly the same. I don't know if this guy has the grey cartridge or not, but apparently a lot of people have not been able to do "Swordless Link." I can do it no prob. Apparently in the second or later production runs of the game there have been some bug fixes that were not in the earlier production runs of the game. The bad is that, well, you who have the newer version can't do "Swordless Link." and "Items on Epona," or "Air Surfin' Link." That's kind of a tough break I guess. Traitan Malory praised: Dear Video Gamer X, you are GOD!!!!! You're site is amazing! There is nothing that comes close to the quality that you put into the things you write about. I don't know who you are, but man would I like to meet you. This is the most awesome thing I've ever seen by far! I always enjoy everything you do on the Odyssey. I can't wait to see what's comeing up next!!! Video Gamer X says: Hey Thanks Traitan. I'm glad some people find something redeeming about my website. I try to appeal to wide audience of gamers. I'm actually rather modest about the site. I like it, but I always think there could be something better. Sometime I tinker with it to see if something looks good or not. Overall, I have found that is the content of this site that has made it more appealing than others. I don't have all those fancy frames, scripts, chat-lines, or annoying guestbooks, just Zelda. 100% Zelda. That's why people come to the site, to learn and read about their favorite game not to play with buttons and scroll bars. Jason Boaz Points Out: Hello, Gamer X. I am Jason Boaz. I am one who's stumbled onto something which might link Agahnim, the Dark Wizard from A Link to the Past, to the Sheikah from Ocarina of Time. You see, the symbol that Agahnim has on his cloak (which you can see in a Zelda; Link to the Past Instruction Manual) looks almost identical to the symbol of the Shiekahs. Except for a few differences, the symbols are almost the same. I've got a theory about this. I think Agahnim was a Sheikah once, but was banished when he did his evil magic. Then, after swearing ruination to the Sheikah and all of Hyrule, Ganondorf might've encountered him and given him more power in exchange for his loyalty and an opportunity for revenge. WAS Agahnim a Sheikah? I think that's another Unsolved Mystery for all Zelda fans, including me. But I'm certain that it IS possible. Well, see you soon. Video Gamer X says: You know he just might be on to something here. That is a quite possible scenario. Even though it is told that Impa is the last of her kind (I actually can't remember where I read this), it doesn't preclude that there are not Sheikah left somewhere in the vast world of Hyrule. Although I always believed Agahnim was a Light World manifestation of Ganon's Evil, there is the possibility that the Sheikah Agahnim experimented with dark magic and thus allowed himself to be posessed by the evil of Ganon and in this sort of duality he was a puppet for Ganon's master plan, to free himself from the Dark World and rule Hyrule once again. He does have that same Sheikah Eye symbol on him, that's for sure. Hmm...makes you wonder. You can see it on page 49 of the Zelda: A Link to the Past instruction manual.
 Back to the Odyssey of Hyrule |