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<onlyinclude>{{Infobox|game
<section begin=infobox />{{Infobox|game
| name = ''Ancient Stone Tablets''
| name = ''Ancient Stone Tablets''
| logo = [[File:BS_Zelda_The_Ancient_Stone_Tablets_Logo.png]]
| logo = [[File:BS_Zelda_The_Ancient_Stone_Tablets_Logo.png]]
| release [[Satellaview]]  =  
| release [[Satellaview]]  =  
{{Region|jp|y=1997}}
{{Region|jp|y=1997}}{{ref|https://bszelda.zeldalegends.net/broadcast_dates.txt|name=broadcastdates}}
| publisher = [[St. GIGA]]
| publisher = [[St. GIGA]]
| related = ''[[BS The Legend of Zelda]]''<br/>''[[The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past|A Link to the Past]]''
}}
}}
</onlyinclude>
<section end=infobox />
'''''BS Zelda No Densetsu: Inishie No Sekiban''''', which translates into English as '''''BS The Legend of Zelda: Ancient Stone Tablets''''', was a [[The Legend of Zelda (Series)|''The Legend of Zelda'' series]] game created for the [[Satellaview]],  a Japanese only attachment for the [[Super Nintendo Entertainment System|Super Famicom]]. The "BS" part stands for Broadcast Satellaview, reflecting the fact that the game was available only through a combination of a download via satellite transmission to storage media and live, unstored sound. Rather than [[Link]], the protagonist could be chosen from the male and female Satellaview mascots, dubbed the "[[Hero of Light]]" in-game.


The Japanese title, '''BS Zelda No Densetsu: Inishie No Sekiban''', translates to '''BS The Legend of Zelda: Ancient Stone Tablets'''. It was basically a "Master Quest" for ''[[The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past|A Link to the Past]]'' for the [[Satellaview]] which was a Japanese only attachment for the SNES. The "BS" part stands for Broadcast Satellaview.
Broadcast only three times - in March/April 1997, June 1997 and November/December 1998{{ref|name=broadcastdates}} - the downloaded game data was later rediscovered and [https://bszelda.zeldalegends.net/bszelda.shtml made playable by volunteers], including English translations.


In Japan, this was a second game which built off of ''A Link to the Past'' released for the Super Famicon. This was the Ancient Stone Tablets and it released in [[1997]]. While following in the footsteps of ''A Link to the Past'', ''BS Zelda: The Ancient Stone Tablets'' also features a slew of differences from the title it is heavily based on in terms of gameplay and graphics. The game lacks a title screen, replaced by a simple loading one. Save file options are also lacking. Dungeons are completely revamped although smaller than their ''A Link to the Past'' counterparts. The 16 bit [[Link]] sprite is trashed with Satellaview ones in its place. Moreover, a time limit is in place. The software was playable via the Satellaview attachment. This accessory opened new realms of gameplay possibilities. Games on the system were partitioned by week meaning during every seven day cycle, a new portion of the game would be unlocked. The game was programmed to stream this content, two [[Dungeon]]s, per week at specific times. Due to being connected to a radio network, music was occasionally streamed while playing the game. This feature was known as "sound link". The story is rather intriguing as well, a cherry on top for a great but forgotten gem. The game takes place six years after A Link to the Past and begins unfolding by diving deeper into the story of [[Aginah]], the junior brother of everyone's favorite tongue twister [[Sahasrahla (A Link to the Past)|Sahasrahla]]. He finds your character along with [[Zelda|Princess Zelda]] and as the "Hero of Light" you must traverse the land slaying monsters as well as collecting the [[Ancient Stone Tablets]] hence the game's namesake.  
==Gameplay==
The game was built on ''[[The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past|A Link to the Past]]'', and uses the same [[overworld]] but with different dungeons, resembling the later ''[[The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds|A Link Between Worlds]]'' in some respects. However, as with some other Satellaview games, it was designed to be played only "live" in a one-hour weekly time slot for four weeks, outside of which the game was not available for play. During the live broadcast period, including approximately fifty minutes of actual playing time and cutscenes to open and close, sound was broadcast, including ''[[The Legend of Zelda: Sound & Drama]]'' tracks and voice acting for characters including [[Aginah]] and [[Zelda|Princess Zelda]].
 
Utilising the fact that the player could only play within a limited time, real-time events and sidequests were incorporated into the game directly. For instance, in Week 1 the weather changes several times - standard enemies are present when sunny, but for approximately seven minutes (~18:23-18:30) it rains, during which time all outdoor enemies are replaced by walking [[River Zora|Zora]] and [[bomb]]s do not explode in the rain.
 
Content was partitioned per week - of the eight dungeons, only two were accessible per broadcast. Dungeons from previous weeks were blocked off by [[Thief (Character)|thieves]], who would give the player any missed items from that dungeon when talked to, including if they had missed a week or weeks entirely.
 
==Story==
The game takes place six years after ''A Link to the Past''. In this time, [[Link]] has left for [[Koholint Island|other shores]], and [[Hyrule]] has been at peace. However, [[Zelda|Princess Zelda]] begins to have prophetic dreams of a shadow threatening the land. When a mysterious figure falls from the sky near the southern tip of the [[Eastern Palace Compound]] with a burst of light, she goes to investigate and meets [[Aginah]]. The old man was also warned of trouble by his brother [[Sahasrahla (A Link to the Past)|Sahasrahla]], who had gone in search of Link, and reached the figure slightly before Zelda. Recognising the youth's clothes as foreign, they took them to [[Sahasrahla's Hideout|Sahasrahla's former hideout]] to recover, noting their lack of wounds despite the events.
 
Zelda acquiesced to Aginah's request that she take shelter in [[Hyrule Castle]], but not before noting a strange power in the youth, dubbing them the [[Hero of Light]]. Soon after she left, a wounded soldier came from the Eastern Palace to warn of a horde of monsters who had killed the rest of his troop. When the "Hero of Light" awoke, they were sent by Aginah to investigate the situation at the Eastern Palace, and to ultimately collect eight [[Ancient Stone Tablet]]s and save Hyrule.
 
==Items==
{{Galbox|Ancient Stone Tablets Items}}
 
==Dungeons==
{{Galbox|Ancient Stone Tablets Dungeons|gallery_widths=90|gallery_heights=79}}


==Gallery==
==Gallery==
<gallery>
<gallery>
File:English_Logo_for_BS_Zelda.jpg|English logo for BS Zelda The Legend of Zelda: Ancient Stone Tablets
File:English_Logo_for_BS_Zelda.jpg|English logo for BS Zelda The Legend of Zelda: Ancient Stone Tablets
File:BS_Zelda_The_Ancient_Stone_Tablets_In_Game_Screenshot.png|In-game screenshot for BS Zelda The Legend of Zelda: Ancient Stone Tablets
File:BS Zelda Ancient Stone Tablets Magic Shop Fog.png|The [[Magic Shop]] in fog
File:Map Week 1 - AST.png|Week 1 map
File:Map Week 2 - AST.png|Week 2 map
File:Map Week 3 - AST.png|Week 3 map
File:Map Week 4 - AST.png|Week 4 map
</gallery>
</gallery>


{{references}}
==External links==
*[https://bszelda.zeldalegends.net/bszelda.shtml The BS Zelda HomePage]
**[https://bszelda.zeldalegends.net/ast_walkthrough_bc.shtml Walkthrough]
*[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fCX8vfUDSWU Recording of one of the original broadcasts of Week 1]
{{GamesFooter}}
{{GamesFooter}}
{{Cat|Ancient Stone Tablets| }}
{{Cat|Games|BS The Legend of Zelda: Ancient Stone Tablets}}
{{Cat|Games|BS The Legend of Zelda: Ancient Stone Tablets}}
{{Cat|Ocarina of Time|Ocarina of Time}}

Revision as of 14:23, March 9, 2021

Ancient Stone Tablets
BS Zelda The Ancient Stone Tablets Logo.png

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BS Zelda No Densetsu: Inishie No Sekiban, which translates into English as BS The Legend of Zelda: Ancient Stone Tablets, was a The Legend of Zelda series game created for the Satellaview, a Japanese only attachment for the Super Famicom. The "BS" part stands for Broadcast Satellaview, reflecting the fact that the game was available only through a combination of a download via satellite transmission to storage media and live, unstored sound. Rather than Link, the protagonist could be chosen from the male and female Satellaview mascots, dubbed the "Hero of Light" in-game.

Broadcast only three times - in March/April 1997, June 1997 and November/December 1998[1] - the downloaded game data was later rediscovered and made playable by volunteers, including English translations.

Gameplay

The game was built on A Link to the Past, and uses the same overworld but with different dungeons, resembling the later A Link Between Worlds in some respects. However, as with some other Satellaview games, it was designed to be played only "live" in a one-hour weekly time slot for four weeks, outside of which the game was not available for play. During the live broadcast period, including approximately fifty minutes of actual playing time and cutscenes to open and close, sound was broadcast, including The Legend of Zelda: Sound & Drama tracks and voice acting for characters including Aginah and Princess Zelda.

Utilising the fact that the player could only play within a limited time, real-time events and sidequests were incorporated into the game directly. For instance, in Week 1 the weather changes several times - standard enemies are present when sunny, but for approximately seven minutes (~18:23-18:30) it rains, during which time all outdoor enemies are replaced by walking Zora and bombs do not explode in the rain.

Content was partitioned per week - of the eight dungeons, only two were accessible per broadcast. Dungeons from previous weeks were blocked off by thieves, who would give the player any missed items from that dungeon when talked to, including if they had missed a week or weeks entirely.

Story

The game takes place six years after A Link to the Past. In this time, Link has left for other shores, and Hyrule has been at peace. However, Princess Zelda begins to have prophetic dreams of a shadow threatening the land. When a mysterious figure falls from the sky near the southern tip of the Eastern Palace Compound with a burst of light, she goes to investigate and meets Aginah. The old man was also warned of trouble by his brother Sahasrahla, who had gone in search of Link, and reached the figure slightly before Zelda. Recognising the youth's clothes as foreign, they took them to Sahasrahla's former hideout to recover, noting their lack of wounds despite the events.

Zelda acquiesced to Aginah's request that she take shelter in Hyrule Castle, but not before noting a strange power in the youth, dubbing them the Hero of Light. Soon after she left, a wounded soldier came from the Eastern Palace to warn of a horde of monsters who had killed the rest of his troop. When the "Hero of Light" awoke, they were sent by Aginah to investigate the situation at the Eastern Palace, and to ultimately collect eight Ancient Stone Tablets and save Hyrule.

Items

Dungeons

Gallery

References

External links