Welcome to Oracle of Ages, a classic Zelda adventure where you'll journey through the land of Holodrum, mastering its challenges and navigating the currents of time. As Link, you'll use a variety of items and your wits to solve puzzles, defeat enemies, and ultimately save the land from impending doom. This game is for anyone who loves a good adventure, with a focus on puzzle-solving and exploration across different eras.
This guide is here to help you conquer every aspect of Oracle of Ages. We'll cover everything from the basic controls and how to snag those early items to advanced strategies for maximizing your rupees and collecting all the hidden rings. Stuck on a boss? Need help finding a specific item? We've got you covered with expert tips for both the Nintendo 3DS and Game Boy Color versions.
Prologue
Learn about the Prologue in The Legend of Zelda: Oracle of Ages, where Din, the Oracle of Seasons, is trapped by Onox.
- 1In North Horon, walk right and talk to Din, who is dancing.
- 2Talk to everyone else in the Performance Troupe.
- 3Talk to Din again.
- 4After dancing with Link, Din notices the Triangle mark on his left hand.
- 5The campsite goes dark, and lightning strikes, destroying most of the camp.
- 6A voice identifies itself as Onox and proclaims Din is the Oracle of Seasons.
- 7A tornado appears, sweeping Din away while Link is tossed violently aside.
- 8Onox traps Din, the Oracle of Seasons, into a crystal, sealing her powers.
- 9Onox sinks the Temple of Seasons into the underworld, weakening the power of nature.
- 10When Link wakes up, Impa is by his side.
- 11Impa explains the situation to Link and tells him to deliver a message to the Maku Tree.
Quest for the Fertile Soil
Walkthrough for The Legend of Zelda: Oracle of Ages, detailing how to navigate Hero's Cave, obtain the Wooden Sword, and progress through Horon Village to unlock the Gnarled Root Dungeon.
- 1Head into Horon Village. Visit the Know-It-All Bird's Hut and Vasu Jewelers (obtain L-1 Ring Box and Friendship Ring). Exit via the western exit.
- 2Jump down the cliff gap, head left, around the wall, and to the right. Enter the doorway with roots to access Hero's Cave.
- 3Hero's Cave:
- 4Avoid Keese. Move the block to open doors and head up to A-2.
- 5At A-2, move the left block down and the right block right. Follow the path to A-3.
- 6At A-3, stand on the button to collect the Small Key from the chest. Exit to A-2.
- 7Back at A-2, head left. Move the left block up and the right block right. Follow the path to the next block, move it, and head down to B-2.
- 8At B-2, move the block to open doors, then head down. Use the Small Key on the door to the right, leading to C-3.
- 9At C-3, step on the switch, go around the pit, and head up. Open the chest to get the Wooden Sword.
- 10Exit Hero's Cave. Go left, up around the wall, and to the right. Slash a bush and drop into a hole to re-enter Hero's Cave. Open the chest for 30 Rupees. Drop down, move the block, and exit the cave.
- 11Return to Horon Village. In the eastern part, break the large wooden door with your Sword to reach the Maku Tree.
- 12Hit the Maku Tree's nose to wake it. After speaking about Din, the Maku Tree will explain the need to collect Essences of Nature to break a dark seal on the Northern Peaks. He gives you the Gnarled Key.
- 13Go to the Shop and buy a Wooden Shield for 30 Rupees.
- 14Exit Horon Village via the northern exit to find Impa.
- 15Head up, right, and hit bushes. Continue up, hit bushes to go left over a bridge. Use the Gnarled Key on the lock to make the Gnarled Root Dungeon rise. Enter the dungeon.
- The Know-It-All Bird offers basic game tips.
- Vasu Jewelers is where you can acquire rings.
- The Wooden Sword is obtained within Hero's Cave.
- A Wooden Shield can be purchased in Horon Village.
- Small Key
- Wooden Sword
- 30 Rupees
- Gnarled Key
Level 1 - Gnarled Root Dungeon
Complete walkthrough for the Gnarled Root Dungeon in The Legend of Zelda: Oracle of Ages. Find the Dungeon Map, Compass, Small Keys, Seed Satchel, and defeat the boss Aquamentus.
- 1From F-4, head up to E-4.
- 2In E-4, move the top right block to open doors, then go right.
- 3In E-5, defeat all Stalfos, collect the Small Key, and go left two screens to E-3, using a Small Key.
- 4In E-3, defeat all Stalfos and collect the Dungeon Map from the chest, then go up.
- 5In D-3, defeat the Zol (Blobs), then jump on the mine cart to C-2.
- 6In C-2, defeat the Moblins, move the middle block to open the door, and go left to C-1.
- 7In C-1, navigate the maze: walk left until you hit the block, push the block below down, push the block on your left to the left, walk up, left, down, move the block below down, push the block on your left to the left, head up to collect the Gasha Seed from the chest, jump down, and exit the room.
- 8Return to C-2, head up the steps on the right, then go right. Hit the switch, collect the Compass from the chest on your right. Go back left, down the steps, and jump in the mine cart to C-4.
- 9In C-5, go left and collect the Bombs from the chest. Go back right, up the steps, then down the steps on the right. Follow the path to a switch, step on it to reveal a chest with a Small Key. Head back, go up the steps, then go left and Bomb the weak section of wall to B-4.
- 10In B-4, navigate the maze, hiding in the alcove to avoid spikes. Head up using a Small Key to unlock the door to A-4.
- 11In A-4, defeat the mini-bosses, the Twin-Minotaurs. Then go left to A-3.
- 12In A-3, move the far left block up, then go down the stairs. Collect the Seed Satchel with Ember Seeds. Use Ember Seeds to light Torches. Go back up the stairs, move the block below the far left one down, then go right and jump on the warp to D-3.
- 13In D-3, use Ember Seeds on the torches on the left to open the door, then go through it.
- 14In D-2, defeat all Moblins, open the chest to get a Boss Key. Go right, down, right, push the top right block, then go right. Light the torches, then go up to D-5.
- 15In D-5, avoid the Wall Masters and open the chest for a Magic Ring. Go right via the top path and use the Boss Key on the Boss Door to get to C-6 and Aquamentus.
- 16In C-6, fight Aquamentus the Unicorn Dragon.
- 17After defeating Aquamentus, collect the Heart Container, then head right to collect the Fertile Soil.
- Use Ember Seeds from the Seed Satchel to light torches and open doors.
- Be mindful of spike traps in B-4.
- The Twin-Minotaurs in A-4 are the mini-bosses.
- Aquamentus is the boss in C-6.
- Heart Container
- Fertile Soil
Quest for the Gift of Time
Follow this guide to get the Rod of Seasons in The Legend of Zelda: Oracle of Ages. Learn how to navigate Subrosia, master the dance mini-game, and brave the Tower of Winter.
Alright, so you've just finished the Gnarled Root Dungeon. As soon as you step outside, watch out! Maple the witch is gonna zoom by and crash into Link, scattering everyone's stuff. Quickly grab as much as you can, especially anything she drops – she might pop up again later, so keep an eye out.
Now, head south into Horon Village. Make your way to the very southeast corner where you'll find two little saplings. Talk to Sokra, the prophet; he'll wake up and tell you the four season spirits are calling for you. Once he's done, use your Ember Seeds to burn down those saplings. This opens the path to the Woods of Winter.
In the Eastern Suburbs, head up twice, then right. You'll meet Rosa, a Subrosian. She needs to get back to her village because a temple fell into her world nearby. The catch? You can't let her see you! Follow her through three screens, but be careful – she'll disappear for a second on the third screen, trying to trick you. Keep up, and once you reach the bushes, chop them down to reveal a vortex leading to Subrosia.
Welcome to Subrosia! Once you're through the vortex, head down the stairs on the left. Then, go left again, and down the next set of stairs. You're in the Subrosian Dance Hall. Find the Red Subrosian and tell him you're ready to dance. This is a 'Simon Says' style mini-game. He'll do a sequence of three moves: 'dah' (left), 'doo' (right), and 'dee' (pose/A button). Watch his moves carefully, then repeat the sequence to the rhythm. Nail it, and he'll reward you with the Boomerang!
Now, head back up towards the vortex. This time, take the stairs on the right to reach Subrosia Village.
Subrosia Village & The Temple of Seasons
Venture east from the village to find the Temple of Seasons. Head inside and go up. The Four Season Spirits will greet you, talking about how long they've waited. Keep going north to enter the temple proper. Walk through the water onto the podium, and you'll be gifted the Rod of Seasons! Pretty neat, huh?
Exit the temple, but don't head straight back. Instead, go southeast to the bluish Tower of Winter. Inside, use your new Boomerang to hit the switch. Cross the lava pit, then head up the stairs. You'll meet the Winter Spirit, who will bless the Rod of Seasons with the Power of Winter. Now, exit the tower and make your way back to the vortex to return to the overworld.
Back in the Woods of Winter, head right. Sokra will appear and tell you to use the Rod of Seasons while standing on a tree stump. Do it, and watch as the area transforms into Winter! Head roughly east until you find an ice shaft containing a Heart Piece. Grab it, then head north. You'll reach a house in a Summer Area. Go left, hop onto the tree stump, and change the season back to Winter. Head up the stairs on the right, over the snowdrift, and fall down the chimney. You're now in Holly's House. She's snowed in, so talk to her, and she'll give you the Shovel. Your job now is to clear the snow from in front of her house.
Once that's done, head back outside. Move the snow blocking the entrance. Go south until you reach the Heart Piece spot again, then go left. Change the season to Winter once more. Now, go left, then up. Clear away the snow to the right. Hit the tree near the owl statue to get some Mystery Seeds – these bring things to life, which might be useful later! Finally, go up, left, and enter the Snake's Remains.
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