Currently unnamed Link's Awakening hack

[Tetrahedrus]

Patch is for use with the U.S. 1.2 DX ROM.

Please note that this trial version does not reflect all the work I've done to date. It will always stop after the first dungeon.

I have started work on a hack of The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening which I haven't yet christened with a name, and quite frankly, I really need some feedback to tell me whether I did alright and should keep it up, or maybe I should change things so far and then go on with the hack, or perhaps even you think I should drop it and reconsider things and life. Screenshots will appear later in the post.

What I had done so far with this game in this patch (I have since made progress beyond this, but this demo will only have the following changes):

   
• Edited much (not all) of the text that is encountered before beating Tail Cave (even text that usually isn't even noticed by players, so look out for my changes).
• Edited the overworld to slightly alter your route on the way to the first dungeon.
• Began altering the order in which you get items.
• Completely changed the layout of Tail Cave's rooms and overall shape (just to clarify before anyone claims I missed something: there is one room which you won't be visiting for now, so that minimap tile will remain dark in this version).

Known problems with the hack, minor things that will be corrected for the actual release (unless I forget):

   
• The boss of Tail Cave has an abnormal palette. The boss is fine otherwise.
• The palette in the second room of TC is noticeably wrong, and is fixed upon going down the staircase and coming back out.

What I will work on for the future, aside from anything people don't like about the current version:

   
• Completely new text throughout the whole game.
• New layouts for each dungeon's rooms and minimaps. I should also probably change their names.
• Change locations of Secret Seashells.
• I will try to change to locations of the heart pieces, but there is an issue where if you place them on screens that did not originally have a heart piece, then the game forgets the last heart piece you collected (but you keep any other ones you collected). I'll see what I can do about this. Likely an easy fix once I start really looking into it.

Here are some screenshots, showcasing some visual changes throughout the short gameplay of this trial version:

     

In feedback, while any and every point of criticism is certainly more than welcome (please be respectful and constructive!), I'm mainly looking for what you thought of the first dungeon's layout, and if you thought it was fun or boring, since I feel that's the most important thing of this hack. If THAT aspect sucks, then I don't think it much matters how well I did in any other part. If you didn't like it, please tell me why. I'd also like to hear what you liked about it, if anything. But just remember that this is the first dungeon in the hack, and it's not meant to be a grand, too-terribly-challenging, masterful work of art of a level. The edited gameplay ceases after beating Tail Cave (in fact I actually force the game to come to an end).

The patch is for use with the ROM "Legend of Zelda, The - Link's Awakening DX (U) (V1.2) [C][!]"

The patch can be downloaded here:

http://www.mediafire.com/download/ijfldbwt3kj82ep/ULAHv0.4.rar (ULAH stands for "Untitled Link's Awakening Hack," if you're curious)

Please enjoy. Or let me know if you didn't. I have a Twitter account where I may occasionally post updates that are too small and insignificant for this thread. Or maybe I'll forget to use it. https://twitter.com/Tetrahedrus

Patch is currently version 0.4. Changelog:

v0.4: June 29, 2014

• North of the Mysterious Woods, there was a Like-Like that could be frustrating to get around without a sword (and you could lose your shield easily), so I moved it out of the player's way. Thanks to katage for pointing it out.

v0.3

• Fixed flaw in Tail Cave where you could get stuck in a certain room and would have to reset or die.


• Stealing was supposed to be impossible, but wasn't. It is now (I hope at least). Thanks Jeville for pointing this out.


• Restricted access to parts of overworld that could be reached earlier, just to cut down on how much you could wander aimlessly and pointlessly.

v0.2

• Removed powder pickups from Witch's Hut and blocked access to Trendy Game (so that powder can't be obtained) which enabled the player to get a certain item early.
• Minor visual changes to Mysterious Woods.

v0.1

• First trial release.

[mrrichard999]

How about the island of dreams

[kuja killer]

okay i totally give up..

I've been trying for over 3 hours straight since i downloaded this hack...on how to get to the sword...but i seriously see no possible way ..or entrance.. to where that staircase is that leads up to it.

I've gotten the power braclet, the tail cave key, 3 pieces of heart, feather, bombs, spent an hour collecting 200 ruppees for the shovel... trying to shovel every single piece of ground tile in the screens around the sword..

but i seriously dont know what im supposed to do..

have not tried out the Tail Cave yet cause of not having sword..
-------------------
besides that, the text is pretty cool, i laughed out loud a few times at how funny alot of text scripts were

[Tetrahedrus]

How about the island of dreams

I think that's equivalent to the original Japanese name, but it is a nice name regardless. I may not decide for some time, since I want to settle on a plot first, which'll probably influence my title.

I've gotten the power braclet, the tail cave key, 3 pieces of heart, feather, bombs...

Whoa whoa whoa WHAT...you got Roc's Feather? I am seriously disappointed in myself right now, you weren't supposed to get that yet, it should be inaccessible at that point. How did you get it?

but i seriously dont know what im supposed to do..

have not tried out the Tail Cave yet cause of not having sword..

Spoiler

So you've tried everything except entering the dungeon eh? Sounds as though you're not exactly outta options then.

[close]

besides that, the text is pretty cool, i laughed out loud a few times at how funny alot of text scripts were

Thanks a lot! If my dungeon designs are panned, but my text changes are well-received, maybe I could try a much simpler hack of LA, in which I concentrate mainly on the text and some graphics. Maybe still re-route on the overworld and order of items, but I would largely leave the dungeons be and not focus on changing them too much. I'm sure people still see value in those types of hacks.

[mrrichard999]

A good plot will point you the way to a good title.

[kuja killer]

Ah geez, totally makes sense now, about getting the sword now finally..

I've played zelda games all my life.. so i just didnt expect it would be like that. Just kind of felt a little bit weird to get it like that, "wont spoil for other people"

But... please tell me im not stuck again now. ...
The 2nd "closed door" room with 2 sparks, and a bunch of solid blocks..

I've seriously tried pushing every block possible in all directions possible. Only 2 can be moved.. i've tried every combination i could think of with just these 2, but nothing ever happens. I did kill the 2 little red jello guys... tried sprinkling power on the 2 sparks

Tried poking sword at every piece of the walls for bombs.. nothing ever opens the doors... ugh
---------------
also i do not even remember where i got the feather from specificially.

[Tetrahedrus]

Only 2 can be moved.. i've tried every combination i could think of with just these 2, but nothing ever happens.

Only one of those blocks is important, just worry about the one which can be pushed in more than one direction.

... tried sprinkling power...

Powder? You got the powder? ACK!! That's how you were able to get Roc's Feather! The powder also wasn't supposed to be available, but I can make a good guess that you probably picked it up in the Witch's Hut, so that was just me totally forgetting about that. I'll go ahead and remove those pickups. This will make for a version 0.2 then I suppose.

[Trax]

I can't see anything the least appealing in this "hack". To me, it's just a test ROM for changing a few things, and nothing that goes near to a workable demo. After 10 minutes, I realize I can't reach the Sword, as only a few screens are accessible, there's glitchy dialogue about violence and incest, and that's about it.

[kuja killer]

witch place ?? no, got it from the "crane" game in the town. where you play for 10 ruppee's.

and oh my god im so stupid. im sorry! there was "1 way" to push it.. that i never even tried after 10 or game overs..

Gahh. my fault. okay i can continue now

[Tetrahedrus]

I can't see anything the least appealing in this "hack"

Ouch. You put hack in quotes. You really got me good, didn't you?

nothing that goes near to a workable demo.

It's certainly not that much of a full-blown hack yet, it's more for people to tell me what they think of my efforts so far. But it's completed up until after beating the first dungeon. Small hack thus far, I'll grant you that. But you describe it rather unfairly.

After 10 minutes, I realize I can't reach the Sword

Yes. Yes you can. Trying to reach it from the overworld?

Spoiler

You can't, but it's gotten shortly afterwards. Just forget about it for now.

[close]

Also, you could have read the other posts to see that someone already asked about it.

After 10 minutes

At least you played that long! Thanks.

as only a few screens are accessible,

What's the problem here? You can reach every item you're meant to get in this trial version just fine the way I have it, and you can actually reach quite a few screens after getting a certain item, but you certainly can't access the entire overworld right now. This is a non-issue.

there's glitchy dialogue

Glitchy? What? It displays just fine. Did you mean something else?

about violence and incest,

Violence? I suppose some violence may have been alluded to, but I'm not sure it was so terribly violent.

And incest? I certainly don't remember putting that in there...hmm, where was this incest text?

Come on man. I wasn't expecting everyone to think this was good, I wanted feedback, but nothing you said was helpful. You're welcome to give me something more constructive after you go back and play all I have to offer, if you wish. And being rude then won't help either.
July 02, 2013, 09:21:03 AM - (Auto Merged - Double Posts are not allowed before 7 days.)

and oh my god im so stupid.

Nah, it's more like I'm the absent-minded one since I ALSO forgot about that stupid crane game. Sigh. Oh well, I have now taken care of it. Can't believe I missed that...but hey, I like that you're revealing major things I forgot about. This is a very early trial after all, so it's not as bad as an actual released hack having this major of a shortcut.

[kuja killer]

okay finally done now. I thouht it was pretty decent. I always like the thought of getting to play a new dungeon layout in a zelda hack. And im glad the level map was edited to reflect that.

Cause im always so obsessed with checking  maps all the time constantly, in any zelda games.

I did like the interesting looking layout.
and of course the cool little puzzle about a chest surrounded by the little non-walkable checkered tiles.. whatever the heck. i really was stumped there for a little bit, hehe.

So yea was pretty okay for a first hack.
The text was surely really funny a bunch of times.
so i got quite a bit of laughs from it

I played this on my TV with the  nintendo wii homebrew channel, by the way. It's much more enjoyable to play rom hacks on the TV.. as opposed to computer.

[Tetrahedrus]

okay finally done now.

Awesome! At least one person cared enough to see it all the way through!

I thouht it was pretty decent. I always like the thought of getting to play a new dungeon layout in a zelda hack. And im glad the level map was edited to reflect that.

I'm glad to hear someone liked it. Even if it's just one. I hope more people give me their views on it. Constructive reviews.

So yea was pretty okay for a first hack.
The text was surely really funny a bunch of times.
so i got quite a bit of laughs from it

Thanks again about the text. I hope I continue to have the motivation (and time) to get a lot more work done on this. Hopefully I won't leave major holes in the game like I obviously did for version 0.1... :/

I played this on my TV with the  nintendo wii homebrew channel, by the way. It's much more enjoyable to play rom hacks on the TV.. as opposed to computer.

Really? That's pretty awesome, to think something I worked on was on someone's television. I should try that sometime.

[Sam Atoms]

I've been to every overworld screen I can reach, but I haven't been able to find the power bracelet... D-:

Dialogue is refreshing 

[Tetrahedrus]

I've been to every overworld screen I can reach, but I haven't been able to find the power bracelet... D-:

Did you apply the patch to a 1.2 ROM? I've heard from someone who used an incorrect ROM that not using 1.2 causes something else like an enemy to come out of the chest where you should have gotten the power bracelet.

Dialogue is refreshing 

Thanks!

[Trax]

I'm sorry for my previous harsh reply. When I tried the patch 0.1, I bumped into a fatal flaw that prevented the game to go on, probably because I used the wrong original ROM. When I opened the chest on the beach (which is not very hard to find), I got a buzzer sound (the sound of a dungeon puzzle solved incorrectly), and a weird enemy sprite comming out of the chest. Of course, without the Power Bracelet, it's no wonder I couldn't go forward in any way...

I finally had it working correctly, and I think it's a good start. Another reason why I reacted that way is because I've seen in the past this kind of hack of Zelda 1 on the NES, where the first Sword is hidden ridiculously far away form the beginning, with nothing to defend yourself. This case seem to be a bit more reasonable, although you can get lost quite far to the north...

As for the dialogs, I think I misused a word there. I guess it's just not my kind of humor, but it doesn't prevent the hack to be a good one...

[Tetrahedrus]

@Trax all is good my man.

probably because I used the wrong original ROM.

Ahh that's surely it. Now I understand why the text may have been glitchy. Can't believe I didn't think of this as a reason, which then might explain why you thought I had such things in my dialogue as extreme violence and incest, due to the way certain phrases may have glitchily appeared (not that I'm always above that level of humor, mind).

Another reason why I reacted that way is because I've seen in the past this kind of hack of Zelda 1 on the NES, where the first Sword is hidden ridiculously far away form the beginning, with nothing to defend yourself. This case seem to be a bit more reasonable, although you can get lost quite far to the north...

That Zelda 1 hack wasn't Outlands was it? Anyway, I have been continuing work on this (still titleless) hack, and I've somewhat narrowed the range of places you can go before entering Tail Cave, but mostly to the east. You might still find yourself wandering around in the north a bit.

I guess it's just not my kind of humor

Eh that one I understand, certainly not everyone can be satisfied with the dialogue, especially when trying to employ humor and references. Oh well...

I finally had it working correctly, and I think it's a good start.

Thanks man. Like I said, I have worked on it since. It might take me quite a long time to finish, so I hope I don't lose motivation along the way.

[Sam Atoms]

Did you apply the patch to a 1.2 ROM? I've heard from someone who used an incorrect ROM that not using 1.2 causes something else like an enemy to come out of the chest where you should have gotten the power bracelet.

Thanks!

Oh, you mean that weird spiny monster coming out of that chest wasn't supposed to happen?  Now it's time for some rom upgrading.  I edited my rom's original filename, so I don't even know how to check what version it is... 

[Trax]

While you wander in the north of the village to find the Key to the first dungeon, you can enter the Moblin's hideout, but it's completely empty. I presume the original programmers knew you couldn't access this place before a certain trigger is set. Access to the hideout should be restricted until you have a specific set of items...

[LocksmithArmy]

I am curious as to what this new story is... why are you hacking the game... there must be some point or reason...

I am excited to see a Z4 hack, not that I will play it till its finished but as said before, a solid story will help the name along. and its quite hard to hack a game with no direction. (altho if I were to hack a game with no direction I would choose a zelda game lol)

[Tetrahedrus]

I presume the original programmers knew you couldn't access this place before a certain trigger is set.

I guess the programmers weren't completely careful, since even in the original game you can reach that cave before triggering the kidnapped BowWow sequence, in which case it'd be empty and it would play the "puzzle solved" tune where you would later fight the moblins.

Regardless, I know what you mean, since it's infinitely easier to accidentally go there in my version, and you are right about it. Thanks for this bringing to my attention. I'll deal with it.

I am excited to see a Z4 hack, not that I will play it till its finished

I understand that feeling. Although it sounds like you'd be a good candidate for testing/critiquing even a (very) partial Zelda 4 hack, since you're apparently very interested in them (not to mention a past avatar of yours being the Wind Fish, unless that was someone else...). As said, this trial goes only up until beating the first dungeon, and even the parts in this trial might experience significant changes, so I personally don't think the player would really be ruining the finished hack for him/herself, but eh well, suit yourself.