There is something in The Legend of Zelda games worth more than rupees, master swords, and tri-forces - combined. What is this thing that carries such value? Simply put, the answer is Heart Pieces. These valuable heart-shaped items increase the maximum health of Link; enabling him to take more damage.
Most of the Heart Pieces in the remake of Link’s Awakening are not overly hard to find – they kind of stand-out thanks to the bright, colorful graphics of the game. However, a handful of these Heart Pieces are either well hidden, placed behind puzzles, or are rewards for doing well in one of the mini-games scattered around the game-world.
10 Trendy Game Heart Pieces
These two Heart Pieces can be obtained at the building in Mabe Village labeled “Trendy Game” on the map. In this building the player can engage in a mini-game that requires both skill and luck to earn rewards. This game is essentially the “claw” game found in many real-life businesses.
The player positions an elevated claw above the desired prize, and when the player is ready they can lower the claw in an attempt to capture the prize. The first Heart Piece is fairly easy to snag. After winning enough Mario dolls, the player is given another opportunity to catch another Heart Piece.
9 The Sunken Heart Of Martha’s Bay
South of the dungeon in the middle of Martha’s Bay is a peninsula that ends with a staircase surrounded by bushes, and surrounding these bushes is a double row of holes. To get over the holes the player will need the Roc’s Feather for the jumping ability it confers on Link.
Now the player must jump over these holes while trying to clear a landing spot before Link lands. Expect to fall in the holes a few times. Once down the stairs, the player will be in a submerged cave. As soon as the cave turns left there is a submerged heart that can be difficult to spot. The player will need to have the Flippers to dive down to the Heart Piece.
8 Tal Tal Mountain Range
On the western edge of the Tal Tal Mountain Range area is a cave entrance blocked by three boulders. In other words, players will first need to get the Powerful Bracelet in order to clear these boulders out of the way. On the second screen the player will be able to see a Heart Piece in the bottom right corner.
Surrounding this Heart Piece are pit traps, pushable rocks, and purple crystals. Push the middle rock in the row of three down. Then push the rock on the left to the left, exposing the purple crystal. Smash the crystal and quickly move to the waiting Heart Piece to avoid falling.
7 Rapid Heart Piece
This Heart Piece is located in Rapids Ride; which is located on the eastern area of the map. The player needs to go to the northwestern part of the Rapids Ride during a Rapids Raid. Look for the narrow channel that runs west and has two small drops facing south.
Go down the second drop and attempt to go down the channel directly beneath this drop; this can be tricky due to the current pulling Link’s raft to the east. This channel eventually turns east and wraps around an island with a Heart Piece.
6 Rapid Heart Piece II
There is another Heart Piece in the Rapids area. This time the Heart Piece is obtained during the Rapids Race, instead of the Rapid Raid. The player must race through the course in under 40 seconds in order to win the Heart Piece. To get such a fast time the player should definitely have (and use) the Hookshot.
The quickest route through the Rapid Race is to use the first drop area, and then head east. Eventually the player will get to an opening in the trees that allows the player to head south. The player then needs to immediately use the Hookshot to move southwest – to the path that runs next to the small island. From there move southwest along an “L” shaped grouping of roots; then head east through the narrow channel.
5 In The Shadow Of Mt. Tamaranch
To get to this Heart Piece the player must head west across the rope bridge on the northeastern part of the Tal Tal Mountain Range. This leads to an area that sits against Mt. Tamaranch. The lone bush must be chopped down to reveal a hidden stairway.
After entering the underground area and dispatching the enemies by the stairway, the player needs to place a bomb in the small alcove below the stairs. It can be difficult to see that the wall is bomb-able due to the camera angle. The room to the south has some enemies and a path to the east; which leads to a Heart Piece.
4 The Seashell Mansion
The Seashell Mansion is located on the eastern edge of the Ukuku Prairie. Inside the Seashell Mansion is a spirit that is trying to spiritually cleanse the place. To do this it needs the player to collect Secret Seashells and bring them back to the mansion. As a reward, the player is given something after every five seashells are returned.
After returning five Secret Seashells the player is rewarded with a Heart Piece. These Secret Seashells are scattered across the map - there are six in Mabe Village alone, and one is located right outside the Seashell Mansion.
3 Animal Village
There is more than one Heart Piece hidden behind Animal Village, but the one for this entry can be difficult to acquire. The player needs to go north on the fenced-off path on the east side of the village. Where the path turns left alongside the rock wall is a spot that can be bombed to open a cave entrance.
Once inside the first room the player needs to head west, and then through the north passage. In this room the player must use exploding arrows to clear a path for the Hookshot. After the player Hookshots across the pit, the Heart Piece is only a few steps away.
2 Fishin’ For Hearts
The fishing mini-game in Link’s Awakening, located by the Fishing Pond in Mabe Village, is not something in which many players invested much time. Seriously, who wants to stop and fish in the middle of an adventure game? There are two big reasons to stop and catch some fish though – Heart Pieces.
After catching a fish a Heart Piece is given to the player. If the player keeps fishing and catches a “lunker”, which are the larger green fishes, they can win another Heart Piece. The first fish isn’t that difficult to reel in, but the “lunker” can be tricky if the player is impatient.
1 Dampé
Just south of Mt. Tamaranch and north of the Tabahl Wasteland is Dampé’s Shack. In this shack the player can participate in the Chamber Dungeon mini-game. This section of the game is optional, and is also not a favorite among players – many of whom find the Chamber Dungeon a bit tedious.
The player must advance through a series of challenges; each challenge rewards the player with an item when completed. The two challenges titled “Fill Up your Hearts” and “Passage Way Central” both reward the player with a Heart Piece. These challenges are much easier once the player builds up a sizable collection of rooms.
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