Equipment Run #2

Now, in any Zelda game, all of the time can't be spent going from one dungeon to another, with the time spent in the overworld simply for travel, right?  It's about time in this quest to take a breather from the underworld and to collect a few things that thanks to our augmented collection of items we can now collect.

There is always something seemingly special about adventuring in the over-world after one is nearly fully-equipped.  With a full inventory, there is no puzzle that can be thrown at Link to which he must inadvertently forfeit his efforts on, so the entire world is now open to him...with the grand exception, of course, being the final dungeon.  (The silly old man tells you that since you don't have the entire Triforce of Wisdom, you're a pathetic weakling...so go back to the world below and put it together, baby!)

Since in the very beginning of the game I uncovered a vast majority of the over-world hearts, there was only one left...one within plain sight that just couldn't be reached by any other means except that was available after this past dungeon.  Sillyness, I know.  One would think the game would make it easy to get the heart containers in plain sight.  Oh, well.  Digressions aside, I took the time to stock way up on rupees and to complete my inventory (with the exception of the future dungeon items).  The most important thing on this trip was the Magical Sword.

This is the final sword upgrade in this game (only three swords?  Awww.)  But ohh...this one is so sweet.  The magical sword augments Link's offensive power four-fold from the wooden sword (two from the White) so now, there's really no enemy in the game with a strong defense.  Not to mention, despite the eight-bit graphic, it has a pretty hilt that the other two swords lack!

Link finds the final over-world Heart Container

I finally have you...you've been so close, so far away for too long!

The other item to get in this run was the Power Bracelets.  While in most Zelda games after it these strength-imbuing bracers find much more use, purpose and necessity...they simply open more of the over-world for Link to explore in this game, and are not really required for him to finish it.  I have never liked items present in a game that don't have much use...rather than close it off period, have these areas open.  They are fun though, in that they finally open up Zelda's response to Super Mario Bros. "Warp Zones."  Although I must say, it seems that the Mushroom Kingdom's advancement in this technology is a little better.  Not to mention that not being lazy and wandering the over-world benefits Link in that he gets richer that way.

The Power Bracers - Useless!

All this thing does is makes it easier to do hard work...ugh!  Wonder why those Armos Knights made such big deal about protecting it from me...

To get to the Power Bracers and the much more important and essential Magical Sword, Link has to traverse the quintessential Lost Woods.  While they are a very simple puzzle in this game, these woods have made showings in some fashion in other titles in the series that were to come.  It was something that definitely became tradition in Hyrule.  And remember...ULDL.  That almost sounds like a word, doesn't it?

Link Traverses The Lost Woods

I think I might be lost...which way was I trying to exit again?

Link obtains the ultimate sword - The Magical Sword

 I can feel the power coursing through me...this thing is awesome!  I wish I had met this guy a long time ago.

Now that our equipment run is finished, it is back to dungeon running!