This mode is closest to the original game. You will start in Link's bed, get a weapon from Uncle (depending on your Swords option, see below), and rescue Zelda before continuing with the rest of the game.
This mode starts with the option to start in your house or the sanctuary, and you are free to explore. There are a few point to note in this mode:
All sword upgrades are randomized. You won't start with a sword, and it might be a while before you find one. Bombs are a great early weapon, as are bushes and signs! Use whatever items you find to defend yourself.
If this option is combined with Standard Mode (see above), your uncle will graciously give you one of the following items to ensure you can complete the escape sequence:
Uncle always has a sword. The remaining upgrades are randomized.
All swords are removed from the game. Because the game expects you to have a sword, the following changes are present only in swordless mode:
This mode requires no advanced knowledge of the game. It's designed as if you were playing the original game for the first time.
Under this mode, you're prevented from getting stuck anywhere, regardless of how you use small keys within dungeons.
You may be required to save and quit in certain situations, like getting back to the light world when you're in the dark world without the mirror.
This mode requires some of the easier-to-execute overworld glitches. It's more difficult than simply using fake flippers to visit the hobo! The two types of major glitches are required:
Most minor gitches are also accounted for:
The following are NOT accounted for by the logic, so you'll never be forced to do any:
This mode accounts for everything besides EG and semi-EG. This mode is extremely difficult and requires advanced knowledge of major glitches, including:
Some additional changes have been made in order to ensure that the game functions correctly under this logic:
Just like the vanilla game, your goal will be to collect all seven crystals, fight your way through Ganon's Tower, and defeat Ganon.
You'll need to defeat all of Hyrule's dungeon bosses, including both incarnations of Agahnim. Only once they're defeated will you be able to face Ganon.
Collect the Pendants of Courage, Wisdom, and Power, and pull the Triforce from the Pedestal! Beware, you may have to venture all over Hyrule, including Ganon's Tower, in order to complete your quest.
The Triforce has been shattered and scattered into 30 pieces throughout Hyrule! Collect 20 pieces to win!
This mode is recommended for newer players. Easy makes travelling through Hyrule a little safer.
Finding the second ½ Magic will upgrade you to ¼ Magic.
While in Standard Mode, if Uncle has the Bow, Bombs, Fire Rod, Cane of Somaria, or Cane of Byrna, Link will be granted unlimited ammo for that item for the duration of the escape sequence.
See the Difficulty Comparison table below for full details.
In this mode you'll find all the items from the original game.
Item Pool:
Looking for a challenge? These advanced difficulties adjust the game even further to test your skills! Check out the comparison below for details.
| Easy | Normal | Hard | Expert | Insane | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Maximum Health | 20 | 20 | 14 | 9 | 3 |
| Heart Containers | 11 | 11 | 6 | 1 | 0 |
| Heart Pieces | 24 | 24 | 20 | 20 | 0 |
| Maximum Mail | Red | Red | Blue | Green | Green |
| # in Pool | 4 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Maximum Sword | Gold | Gold | Tempered | Master | Master |
| # in Pool | 8 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 |
| Maximum Shield | Mirror | Mirror | Fire | Fighter's | None |
| # in Pool | 6 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 0 |
| Shields Purchasable? | Yes | Yes | No | No | No |
| Maximum Magic Capacity | Quarter | Half | Normal | Normal | Normal |
| # in Pool | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| # of Silver Arrows | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| # of Silver Arrows (Swordless) | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| # of Bottles | 8 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 |
| # of Lamps | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Potion Magic Refill | 100% | 100% | 50% | 25% | 0% |
| Potion Hearts Refill | 20 | 20 | 7 | 1 | 0 |
| Bug Net Catches Faeries? | Yes | Yes | No | No | No |
| Magic Powder on Bubbles? | Faerie | Faerie | Heart | Heart | Bees |
| Cape Magic Consumption Rate | Normal | Normal | 2x | 3x | 4x |
| Byrna Grants Invincibility? | Yes | Yes | No | No | No |
| Boomerangs Stun Enemies? | Yes | Yes | No | No | No |
| Hookshot Stuns Enemies? | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No |
| Arrow / Bomb Capacity Upgrades | 7 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Enemy Drop Rates | 100% | 50% | 50% | 25% | 25% |
Seed is a number used to randomize the game. Most users will simply leave this option blank, and the site will fill it in automatically.
The closest option to the vanilla game.
The timer counts up from 0, with the goal being to finish the game with the best time on the timer. There are items throughout the world that will affect your timer, so finishing first doesn't necessarily mean you're the winner.
Do you spend time looking for a clock to get your timer down, or do you race to the end?
The following items have been added to the item pool:
In this mode you start with time on the timer, and found green clocks add time to the timer.
If your timer reaches zero, you'll enter One Hit Knockout mode, where anything will kill you.
Don't despair, though. If you are in OHKO mode and find another clock, you'll exit OHKO mode and get time on your clock, no matter how long you've been in OHKO mode.
| Difficulty | Starting Time | Green Clocks (+4 minutes) | Red Clocks (instant OHKO) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Easy | 20 minutes | 30 | 0 |
| Normal | 10 minutes | 25 | 0 |
| Hard | 7.5 minutes | 20 | 1 |
| Expert | 5 minutes | 15 | 3 |
| Insane | 0 minutes | 10 | 5 |
Take any damage, and Link is a goner. Not for the faint of heart.
Unfortunately, variations are incompatible with Triforce Pieces goal. This option changes your goal to Triforce Pieces.
Game not random enough for you? Looking for the real challenge?
FINE!
All Maps, Compasses, and Keys found in chests are no longer tied to their dungeons!
You will have to search high and low to find the keys you need to progress in dungeons. Keys found on enemies or under pots will remain the same.
Also, Maps and Compasses worth more: Your overworld map won't show any dungeon information until you collect the map for that dungeon (and if you thought the music would get you by, think again, that's been randomized). Compasses, well, those will show you how many chests you have checked in a dungeon after you collect it.
You're probably wondering how you know which key / map / compass you found. We've got you covered: There will be a text box that lets you know which dungeon it belongs to. The menu will also have a table to help you if you lose track.
Maps and Compasses are required by the logic to complete their respective dungeons.
A callback to the first entry in the Legend of Zelda series, Retro Mode links us even closer to the past.
Five shops out of a possible nine will be randomly chosen when the ROM is generated to have new stock. This does NOT include the Big Bomb Shop or the Witch's Potion Shop. The Wooden Arrow item will be available for 80 rupees, and Small Keys will be available for 100 rupees each. Small Keys will be able to be purchased multiple times.
Small Keys are no longer dungeon-specific. They are now shuffled into the general item pool and will be found outside of dungeons. Keys under pots or dropped by enemies have not been changed.
Ten keys have been removed from the item pool in Easy and Normal modes; fifteen have been removed from Hard, Expert, and Insane modes. Think carefully before using keys, and remember you can purchase some if you get stuck!
Big Keys, Maps, and Compasses remain dungeon-specific and have not been randomized outside their dungeons.
Four random single-entrace caves and houses which do not lead to an item location now lead to Take-Any Caves where players are given a choice between a Heart Container or Blue Potion refill. The Heart Containers have not been moved from the general item pool and bonus ones. However, you will not be able to have more than 20 hearts at once.
One random single-entrace cave will contain a mysterious yet familiar old man with a sword upgrade. This sword upgrade takes the place of one in the item pool.