Hard as it may be to fathom, The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past is almost 30 years old. It remains one of the most famous Zelda titles ever to grace a Nintendo console, and was responsible for selling more than a few SNES units in the beginning of the 1990s.
Decades later, gamers are still enjoying this action RPG for its charm, accessible gameplay, and a host of secrets that can be uncovered. There’s quite a few that many gamers may not have stumbled upon, even to this day, which is why we’re counting down a list of secrets that may deserve a second look. If nothing else, they’ll serve you well during your next playthrough.
10 Catch & Release
The Swamp Ruins in the southern portion of the map contain a secret that many gamers didn’t pick up on during their initial run. Inside the ruins, a switch can be thrown which drains the water from the pond.
If the player picks up a fish and tosses it into any deep body of water, the fish will respond in kind by thanking Link, and gifting him rupees. However, if the player carries said fish all the way to Kakariko Village, he will receive a larger reward from the Bottle Salesman.
9 Turtle Pull
There’s money to be had at Turtle Rock in the Northeast corner of the map. Once the player reaches this sealed dungeon, they can get a few rupees from the turtle itself, by getting creative.
Simply grab one of the Turtle Rock’s feet, hang on, and pull. Link will yank rupees free while falling backwards. It’s a small trick, but one many gamers never bother to think of.
8 Shack Loot
When the player reaches the Dark World, it’s wise to visit the Village of Outcasts, which is the dark equivalent of Kakariko Village in the Light World. There, a few secrets can be unlocked.
One involves finding a shack that does not seem to have a door. If Link places a bomb in front of it, the wall will shatter, leading to an interior space with a chest containing 300 rupees.
7 Fairy Dust
The evil equivalent of the game’s Fairies is the annoying Anti-Fairy, a skull surrounded by an energy field which serves to harass the player. This creature cannot be killed by conventional weapons. This pest can be dealt with while granting Link a boost at the same time.
Simply pull out the Magic Powder and sprinkle it on the Anti-Fairy to transform it into a true Fairy, at which point Link can recover health. He can also catch the Fairy in a net and place it in a bottle to save for a needed moment.
6 Run, Runner!
In Kakariko Village, most gamers will notice a man who spots Link, and then runs away from him. While most take this as a sign that the man believes Link is the villain who kidnapped Princess Zelda, there’s actually more to it.
If the player has acquired the Pegasus Boots, they can run down the man and catch up with him, at which point they will be commended for their speed and told that they don’t look like a villain. They’ll also be gifted with some advice about dashing into trees, to knock items out of them.
5 Honest Rewards
The Dark World’s Pyramid of Power contains a secret that many gamers already know, but not necessarily to the same extent. Heading up the first flight of stairs and turning left, the player can plant a bomb in front of a false wall, which reveals a small alcove containing a Mysterious Pond.
The player can throw multiple objects into the pond in order to gain various power ups and awards from a rather large Fairy. If the player selects an empty bottle, the Fairy will fill it with the Medicine of Magic.
4 Mummies On Ice
In the Dark World’s dungeons, Link will encounter Gibdo, the Mummified undead. These tough enemies take a few hits to knock out, but the player can choose an alternative method to get a much-needed magic boost.
If Link uses the Ice Rod to freeze an opponent, he can then switch quickly to the Hammer, and move in for a killing blow. Doing so can grant Link with a large Magic Vial to replenish the magic meter.
3 Chicken Non-Delight
The chickens in Kakariko Village produce several secrets that some gamers don’t know about. One of the most popular is the swarm of chickens that will attack Link if he continuously hacks away at a chicken for a prolonged period of time.
The lesser involves visiting a house with a mailbox. After heading inside, the player can lift the left of two pots in the back of the room and sprinkle Magic Powder onto the chicken underneath, turning it into a human with a few things to say.
2 Upgrade Arrows & Bombs
The Light World’s Fairy Fountain has a neat method to increase the player’s stock of arrows and bombs, provided they’re willing to pay for it. By tossing 100 rupees into the Fountain, a Fairy will materialize and offer the player a chance to upgrade their stock of either arrows or bombs.
By repeating this process, the player can max out their arrow and bomb cache to 70 and 50, respectively. It’s a great method that will serve the player well throughout the rest of the game.
1 Chris Houlihan’s Top Secret Room
The majority of Zelda gamers probably haven’t stumbled upon this secret, probably because of the steps required to achieve it. After getting the Pegasus Boots and the Power Glove, the player can start their saved game from the Sanctuary, which is the first step in a series that must be completed rather fast.
The player must dash out of the Sanctuary and straight down the outside path until a path opens up to the east. The player must dash a straight line east, careful to avoid the enemy soldiers in their path, before heading south across a bridge. Once there, turn west to Hyrule Castle and lift the large boulder blocking the way. Dash north without taking any damage, and enter the secret passage underneath the shrub. If the steps have been completed, the player will enter Chris Houlihan’s Top Secret Room, loaded with Rupees. Coincidentally, Chris Houlihan is the name of a Nintendo Power reader who won a competition in 1990 to have his name inserted into the game.
NEXT: The Legend Of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds - A Guide To The 10 Hardest Heart Pieces To Find
