Zelda III NES Proto FAQs

It seems that a lot of people have some questions about this game. Well, I'll answer every question I get and post them here. Before sending me any questions, please make sure it isn't already answered here.

Questions may get put in a new order depending on where I think the new questions should go so please look over all the questions every time you visit.

I'll answer questions in the following format:
#. Statement made by me, if one was made, that the question is about.
Q. The question that was asked.
A. My answer to the question.

1. There seemed to be a start of an experience system, not like the one in AOL.
Q. Can you describe this a little further? Maybe there were no experience points but you leveled up by collecting quest items? That would have been great.
A. It was hard to tell. It was clear that you were meant to level up. It felt like Dragon Warrior like you have to walk around and gain levels, but I don't remember actually being able to level up, so I think they hadn't implemented that yet.

2. You had the world map much like in AOL, but you didn't walk around on it, but rather you "traveled" to different areas.
Q. So it was like the map in Four Swords Adventures or Illusion of Gaia? The thing I like about this sort of map, is that it makes it look like Link is traveling a lot more than he would in your typical Zelda game (as you probably know, the area of the first game is "included" in the lower left of AoL)
A. Yeah, it was kind of like the Four Swords Adventures map, but didn't show Link, rather it had a little box thing with arrows pointing to directions you could go. It was almost like using the flute in ALTTP to select an area, but more advanced. Kinda hard to explain I guess.

3. It was almost like using the flute in ALTTP to select an area, but more advanced.
Q. Advanced? How? I mean what was different? Only in looks perhaps?
A. Well, in ALTTP you just hit buttons to rotate through the list more or less. On this map, you moved the selector or whatever you call it around to choose an area. Not really more advanced as much as more sophisticated.

4. You had the world map much like in AOL, but you didn't walk around on it, but rather you "traveled" to different areas.
Q. What was this map like? Entirely original? Or did it resemble one that we know (I think you said it was like ALttP... so you basically just moved to each location as if using a flute?)
A. It was a map of Hyrule almost identical to ALTTP's map. There were a few changes, like it took place at a different time, or they just hadn't decided what all to put on the map. There also seemed to be kind of a transition of the map, much like the Light/Dark Worlds of ALTTP, only I don't think you could use an item to get back and forth, but rather ended up in the other world eventually (maybe it was after beating a dungeon?). I don't think this feature was finished yet either, but it was working.

5. There also seemed to be kind of a transition of the map, much like the Light/Dark Worlds of ALTTP, only I don't think you could use an item to get back and forth, but rather ended up in the other world eventually (maybe it was after beating a dungeon?). I don't think this feature was finished yet either, but it was working.
Q. So, how did you trigger that? (I realize it was probably not in the way you were meant to, I'm just wondering)
A. If I remember correctly, you beat the first dungeon and ended up in the other world where you could get to the second dungeon. I'm pretty sure that's what caused the transition.

6. I don't think the story was even close to finished
Q. So the dialogues didn't reveal much? (Was there an evil wizard?) Oh and just how far could you go in the game? I mean how many dungeons could you complete (and were they somewhat like in ALttP/LA?)
A. Well, I don't remember following a story (or talking to characters for that matter). But the dungeons were there and you got an item in the dungeon as usual, and at the end collect a piece of something that looked like a rock. It didn't have the snazzy "You go the *** piece!" dialog, but rather the sound of getting an item, if you know what I mean. There wasn't a wizard, and I remember playing two dungeons, but giving up after that due to lack of understanding what I was doing. (No story and no guidance makes it harder lol)

7. I don't remember following a story (or talking to characters for that matter).
Q. No characters? Figures, I never would have guessed they'd leave those for last.
A. There were characters, I just have a tendency not to talk to them lol. Just like in AOL, I don't talk to characters unless I have to, and I don't believe there were any forced encounters with them like there is in ALTTP.

8. Apparently the eBay auction got pulled.
Q. Do you know why?
A. Yes. eBay doesn't allow protos/devs/betas to be sold through them. Someone turned in the auction and eBay pulled it.

9. eBay doesn't allow protos/devs/betas to be sold through them. Someone turned in the auction and eBay pulled it.
Q. Because of copyright infringement?
A. Exactly.

10. Q. About that title screen, the moment I saw "The Triforce Saga" written there I thought "lame hack", because just about every hack uses the word Triforce in its title... but then I realized something: this could very well be a religious free translation of Kamigami No Toraifosu cart to me
A. Well like I said earlier, there is no title screen in the proto. I don't think they'd add a title screen to a buggier version of the game AND make it that ugly AND that "generic" of a name. Sounds like he has a hacl burned to an NES

11. "About that title screen, the moment I saw "The Triforce Saga" written there I thought "lame hack", because just about every hack uses the word I don't think they'd add a title screen to a buggier version of the game AND make it that ugly AND that "generic" of a name. Sounds like he has a hack burned to an NES "
Q. It does look kinda ugly, but if you look carefully, it's clearly the cliff with the Triforce seen in ALttP's manual artwork, even with the circle around the Triforce, only made within the NES limitations. And Triforce of the Gods too has become a very generic name now, but it obviously wasn't so back then
A. Well, I don't think his image is the 8-bit version of that ALTTP image. It closer resembles LA's title screen with the egg sitting on the mountain surrounded by sky. Actually, it looks a lot like it, but with a triforce rather then the egg, which fits the original story of Zelda III. it just doesn't make any sense why his cart would have that title screen.

12. Q. Oh and this is just a curiosity: I believe you said the protos are in English, do you know why Nintendo would do them in such a manner? Maybe they were meant for some expo like the CES?
A. I'm not sure if it was an English or Japanese proto. I played it years ago and there wasn't any text that I remember honestly. I don't even remember having the name thing. Odd how there wasn't much text in it, but maybe that was due to the lack of story created yet.

13. Q. Do you remember which items you found in the game?
A. Like I said earlier, when you complete the dungeons you got some kind of rock or stone thing. It didn't say what it was, it just made that sound of picking up an item from LOZ and AOL.

14. Q. How did the game start out? Not in Link's house and then Hyrule Castle to rescue the princess, I assume.
A. I don't think it was Link's house. It was just a house. Nothing special about it. Had it been on the LA map, it would be where Tarin and Marin's house was. Not sure if that's a coincidence or just where they started.

15. Q. About the two dungeons you've been to, what dungeons were they? Some that we know from other games? (Like Eastern Palace). If so, was the inside different or did they have about the same maps we got?
A. The Eastern Palace was KINDA there. I mean, it was a palace in the east. Not the same location I don't believe. Anyways, no it wasn't like the Eastern Palace we got in ALTTP. Totally different. Actually, that was the second dungeon. The first was located somewhere near where you start in LA. It was not like the other dungeon either.

16. The first was located somewhere near where you start in LA. It was not like the other dungeon either. Q. Can you describe it a little more? I mean, maybe the inside was bland being a proto, but what about the entrance? A. The dungeon itself was pretty well done. It's one of those things that's hard to explain though. You'd really have to see it for yourself. The entrance, however, looked similar to the entrance to the Eastern Palace.

17. Q. Wait, so the Dungeon that was NOT in the Eastern Palace's location had an entrance similar to it? Then did the two dungeons have a very similar entrance? Or did the one in the Eastern Palace's location have an entrance that was actually very different from that of the Eastern Palace? And in that case, what was it like?
A. They were very similar. Both looked a lot like the current Eastern Palace entrance.

18. Q. In your letter you said village-s- but then said you did not visit one in the alternate world. Does this mean there was more than one village in the original world?
A. I meant that there were 2 villages on the map, but I only visited one. The other I don't think I could get to.

19. I meant that there were 2 villages on the map, but I only visited one. The other I don't think I could get to. Q. Was one of them where Kakariko is on the map? If not, where were both of them? A. One was located where (or near) Kakariko is located. The other was located to the east of the castle.

20. One was located where (or near) Kakariko is located. The other was located to the east of the castle.
Q. So it was basically where they put those Octoroks and maybe Saharahla's Hideout, I see...
A. Yeah, right in that area, maybe a little higher up though.

21. Q. So did houses have two floors (at least judging from the outside) as in FFII?
A. More like two floors as in AOL. Well, it was set up almost that way.

22. Q. Did the game feature a magic bar? Did you make use of it?
A. Yes, it had a magic bar, but I don't recall using it.

23. Q. How did you acquire your proto game [and in what state did you get it]?
A. I got it from a friend who lives in Evansville, Indiana. I'm not sure where he got the game from, but I'm going to try to contact him and find out more info on it.

24. Q. Are these things easy to come by?
A. Far from it. As far as I know, there is only one cart (two if you count the one from eBay). Since I'm not going to sell my cart, I think it's safe to say they're almost impossible to come by.

25. Q. Do any rom chips show through [on the cart]?
A. No, there aren't any rom chips showing through. I haven't had a chance to look at the board yet, but I will next week when I get the tool to open it. I think I need the security bit to get those strange screws out (I've had someone donate one so this is not a problem). When I get it open, I'll be able to confirm it's a production board (used in protos) and I'll take pictures of it.

26. Q. Did you play it on an American NES?
A. Yes, I played it on my American NES.

27. Q. What's wrong with your cart? You have any idea?
A. I'm not sure what's wrong with it. Hopefully it's just dirty and needs cleaned. That will be the first thing I try to do to it. If not, it may mean the rom chip has gone out in it (that happens with protos as their chips sometimes don't last as long as other carts). If that's the case, I may see if I can get it dumped if there is any data left on it.

28. Q. Did you ever get the proto working?
A. Yes! I got the proto working the other day and I will be playing it in a week or so to get more info. I don't think I'll post screenshots as it would only lead to more arguments.

29. Q. Are you going to release a dump of the game sometime soon?
A. I will not be releasing the rom now, but that doesn't mean I have no intentions of doing so in the future. Only time, and the amount of positive feedback I get, will tell.

30. Q. What are your plans now that the cart is working again?
A. Only time, and the amount of positive feedback I get, will tell.