Hi again! I'm going to post several replies now, this time without typing names of people. You know who you all are.
The flowers bounce because there's a constant flow of wind in Hyrule. Or maybe they're dancing, like the plants in SMB3. Although I like the flowers' movement, I'm considering stopping their animation by switching them to a non-animating tile. This would free up one that does animate, for a cool, secret purpose. What do you guys think?
Link's boomerang picks things up because it's magical. The magic also makes sure it returns to whomever threw it, no matter what. *I've* always wondered why arrows can pick up items in Zelda 1. It's like there's this special connection between Link and his items. They even shrink when not in use, as seen in the Zelda cartoon series...
The lantern in Zelda 3 makes perfect sense. It takes so little magic to shine ahead that it's negligible; you replenish it naturally as fast as it's consumed. But if you want to conjure up a huge flame for a torch, that's going to cost you a little. In Zelda3C, btw, it's a candle. The light still shines the same way due to a cover that directs the light away from Link's eyes.
As far as magic usage in general, Link activates certain items with his mind, like a spell, so that ice shoots out of the ice rod without any buttons or levers, and the medallions create chaos just by his lifting his sword. Incidentally, the ability to shoot beams from the sword must also require magic, but not so much that any measurable amount is used. Part of the wonder of the Master Sword!
The half-magic bat has a split personality. The world was better off with this schitzo asleep, but since Link revived him, his gratitude outweighed his evil. And yes, I've always planned to change the 1/2 to 2X to fit with a new character that gives you "double the magic"... Although Nintendo intended for 1/2 to mean "half off"...
I like over-analyzing games, especially when you can come up with answers! I remember that Nintendo Power responded to one question, "Why does Link use the other hand when heading the opposite direction (east vs. west)?" Although the true answer is that the game simply mirrors the sprite graphics instead of providing new ones, they responded that Link is superstitious about the powers of Death Mountain, and thus always keeps his shield facing north when possible.
Erock, I've actually thought of a great task for you to undertake. I'm sorry it didn't occur to me until after your 3 week break, but I'll email you with the details. When completed, you will have saved me a lot of time.
I don't *think* you can get the red boomerang from a chest, but it does feel like I've heard that somewhere...
I'm pretty sure certain chests are programmed to push the blue boomerang on you if you don't already have it, instead of its default contents. And most people probably know that if you don't take the lantern from the chest in your house, there are multiple chests along the way (including the Throne Room) where you will find it.
Hey, MysticalOS, long time no chat! You and I became friends ages ago. These days my wife and kids prevent such luxuries as chatting.
Hey, Josh! One of these days I'll get back into monsters and other sprites. You've provided some great graphics in the past!
I also played Zelda 3 years ago by only getting the required items and *nothing* else. (I've also done this for Zelda 2, complete with restricting leveling Link.) I had all the rules written down and called it "Zelda Challenge". Imagine my surprise when I discovered "Zelda 2 Challenge" one day! (This discovery is what led to my creating ZeldaC Outlands.)
As far as the Zelda 3 "Bare-Bones Challenge", I think you can hurt Ganon with the Lvl 2 sword, but ONLY when using the whirlwind attack. And, since at least one bottle is required to beat Trinexx, it is considered a required item.
Interesting that both boomerangs can be found in villages. The townfolk obviously know how to use 'em! As far as usefulness of this knowledge, each of the chests in the game can be set to any contents, and some of the options are the conditional combos we've described. You can even put a Pendant in a chest! (Too bad it locks up the game.)
I see that later posts give answers to things I've just addressed. (I'm replying while reading.) No point going back and editing. You can beat Ganon *without* the Silver Arrows? What??
Next time I go looking through the Indoors in HM, I'll take note of all the special, conditional chests in play, and post my findings.
I was always proud of myself for beating Agahnim with the bug-catching net. (Story says you need the Master Sword, but I proved otherwise!) Just sayin'.
It's acceptable to spell Ganon with two n's only because it occurs in Zelda 1's opening story, but all future spellings are with one 'n'. But then, we would have to accept the spelling of Hyrule's currency as rubies...
Interesting glitches -- glad I'm not using the Japanese version!
I've been wondering if I'll include the Super Bomb and the Golden (lvl 4) Sword in Zelda3C. The Super Bomb will be there in some form if I can make it work elsewhere. The Golden Sword will probablly be there too, even if the game is meant to be more challenging, but good luck finding it!!! lol
I guess I could post a new update while I have this window open. It has been very liberating to create new areas wherever fancy takes me, rather than restricting myself to new buildings, new graphics, new tile uses, etc. Instead of working westward, like I'd planned, I headed north to the river's source. There I've created a great waterfall you can walk behind. I don't mean, "walk into a secret door", I mean "walk alongside its length and hold your sword through different streams if you so desire." Can anyone imagine how this would look, in-game, without appearing strange?
