Link's Awakening Secrets and Easter Eggs

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Musical Easter Eggs

Richard's Villa Secret Music: Totaka's Song

Go into Richard's house and wait until the music has looped a few times. Eventually it will stop (Wait around 2 and a half minutes), then play a little tune called Totaka's Song found in Mario Paint and Yoshi's Story, and then the regular music will start up again. The regular music for Richard's Villa is actually a remixed version of the main theme from the Japanese-only game Kaeru no Tame ni Kane wa Naru ("For the Frog the Bell Tolls") – hence all the frogs in the house. Richard was also the main character in that game.

File Select Screen Secret Songs

Like in many other Zelda games, choosing specific character names for a game file causes different songs to play in the "File Select Screen".

US/Europe Version

If you enter "Zelda" as your character name you'll hear the remixed version of the original main theme.

If you enter "Marin" as your character name you'll hear new music in the player select screen.

If you enter "Totakeke" as your character name you'll hear new music in the player select screen.

French Version

If you enter "Lolo" as your character name you'll hear Lolo's Song in the player select screen.

German Version

If you enter "Moyse" as your character name you'll hear Moyse's Song in the player select screen.
Claude M. Moyse was a German translator who worked on this and several other games. He is infamous for strange or perverted text he adds to some of his translations, and in Link's Awakening he even added his own song. However, for the remake on Game Boy Color, his song was removed and replaced by Totaka's Song. This song still takes the same file name ("Moyse") to unlock.

Japanese Version

If you enter "ぜるだ" (Zeruda) as your character name you'll hear the remixed version of the original main theme.

If you enter "とたけけ" (Totakeke) as your character name, you'll you'll hear Totakeke's Song in the player select screen.
This is a remixed version of Totaka's Song and works in both Japanese versions. This song was created by Kazumi Totaka, who was in charge of sound programming and special effects for Link's Awakening. He has hidden this same 19-note tune in almost every game he's composed for.

Fun with BowWow

The following easter eggs can be seen only when carrying around BowWow. This happens only once throughout the game.

Kill the Monkey

Take BowWow to the monkey in Toronbo Shores and he'll eat it.

Required Item(s): -

BowWow Fight with Kiki

Take BowWow to Kiki the Monkey in Ukaku Prairie and they will start fighting.

Required Item(s): Power Glove

Fun with Marin

The following easter eggs can be seen only when Marin is following you. This happens only once throughout the game.

Breaking Pots

Break a pot and Marin will say: "Ahhh! Ahhh! You are a bad boy, Link!"

Peeping in Drawers

Look in a drawer and Marin will say: "Link, do you always look in other people's drawers?!"

Digging

Dig with the shovel and Marin will say: "Great! Dig it! Dig it! Dig to the center of the Earth!"

Playing the Ocarina

Play your ocarina and ask Marin what she thinks of it. She'll say: "Not very good… Eh? What? Did I say something? No, you're hearing things…"

Attacking Cuccos

Attack a cucco.
The first time you hit it, Marin will say: "Poor chicken. Stop that! You're hurting the chicken."
Hit it 14 more times and she will say: "Ha ha ha! Do it! Do it! Do it moooore! ... ... Hunh? No, it's nothing... I didn't mean it."

Jumping in the Mabe Village Well

Jump inside the well in Mabe Village. Marin will also jump, accidentally landing on you. If you don’t move fast enough she’ll land on you and say: "Whew! What a surprise! Oh! I'm sorry! Are you okay?! Link?". If you instead move and manage not to be fallen on to, she’ll simply say: "Whew! What a surprise! "

Playing at the Trendy Game Shop

Take Marin to the Trendy Game Shop. She will ask if she can play. If you let her, she will pick up the owner as a prize.

Visiting a Dungeon

Enter a dungeon and Marin will say: "Eh? You want me to go in there? No, I think I'll wait here… take care of yourself Link!"
Exit a dungeon with many hearts and Marin will say: "Link! You are back! Are you hurt?"
Exit a dungeon with hearts low enough to hear the “beeping sound”and Marin will say: "…EEEK! You're hurt! Arrrgh! Don't be so reckless!"

Going to the Beach

Take Marin to the lower left corner of Toronbo Shores. Doing so will trigger a cutscene where Marin says that this is going to be your secret place.

Visiting a Friend

Take Marin to the Animal Village and talk to Chef Bear. He'll say: "Hi HO! Little Marin! Welcome! Oh shucks! You are here too Link… Sorry."

Tree Treasures

Once you have the Pegasus Boots, you can dash into the trees to see what falls out. Sometimes you can shake Bombs, Fairies, and other useful items out of them. Link can find five trees that hiding treasures in their branches all over Koholint (not including two trees where you get secret seashells).

Mabe Village
Behind Marin and Tarin's House.
Mabe Village
The screen between Madam MeowMeow's House and Fishing Pond.
Ukuku Prairie
The lone tree near the Warp Hole.
Kanalet Castle
One screen to the right of the Kanalet Castle entrance.
Face Shrine Area
The lone tree near northeast corner of Face Shrine area.

Fun With Animals

Revenge of the Cuccos

This is a very popular secret in Zelda series. There are cuccos in Mabe Village. These seemingly harmless chicken can become deadly if you attack them. Hit them with the sword about 35 times and a whole army of chickens will attack you. However, they will stop if you go to another screen.

Required Item(s): Sword

Revenge of the Mutts

There are few mutts in Mabe Village. If you hit one of the mutts once, it will bite you.

Required Item(s): Sword

Summoning the Walrus

Play Ballad of Wind Fish in the entrance of Yarna Desert, and the Walrus will resurface because he thinks Marin is coming.

Required Item(s): Ocarina, Ballad of Wind Fish

Magic Powder Secrets

Kill Cuccos Mutts

Once you get the Fire Rod or Magic Powder, you can finally successfully slay the mutts and cuccos without retribution. This does not work in the 2019 remake, as, strangely enough, Cuccos and Mutts are invincible in this game.

Required Item(s): Magic Powder or Fire Rod

From Buzz Blobs to Cukemen

Sprinkle some Magic Powder on Buzz Blobs (cactus-like enemies with electric sparkles), and they'll transform into Cukemen.
Talk to a Cukeman and it'll give you information about the Ocarina and the three songs you can learn to play with it.

In the original version of the game, Cukemen would say something different every time you talk to them:

"Hey Mon!"
"You know me, I like short names the best..."
"It can display millions of polygons!"
"I definitely need it, as soon as possible!"

Required Item(s): Magic Powder

Talking Bone

Sprinkle some Magic Powder on the skeleton in the northeast area of Yarna Desert and he'll tell you about the three little devils that, if found, will increase the capacity of different items in your inventory. In the original version of the game, the talking bone instead says: "Ahhh... Yess... That dust was so refreshing... For that, I'll tell you a hint! Use a Bomb in a place where the sand swallows you... There is a treat on the other side of the wall... Bye!"

Required Item(s): Magic Powder

Ghost's Grave Secret

After you bring the pink ghost back to his grave, sprinkle some Magic Powder on the grave and he'll say:

"Cough cough...
Don't sprinkle that on me...
... I'll have to curse you!
Cough cough..."

Required Item(s): Magic Powder

Enemy Transformations

Sprinkle some Magic Powder on Gibdos, and they'll transform into weak Stalfos.
Sprinkle some Magic Powder on Sparks, and they'll transform into Fairies.

Required Item(s): Magic Powder

Shop Secrets

Stealing Items

If you don't have enough money to pay for these items, you can steal them! Just pick up the item from the shelf, go behind the guy, and out the door. If he's facing right, you will still have the item. But the next time you go into the shop, the shopkeeper will zap you to death and everyone on this island will call you "THIEF" for the rest of the game.

Required Item(s): -

Saving Money

Here's another way to save money when buying an item from the shop. You must have enough rupees to pay for that item. Grab the item and talk to the shopkeeper. Right when the shopkeeper starts collecting rupees, press A, B, select, and start at the same time. Save and quit the game. You will have the item, and you will have kept most of your rupees!

Required Item(s): -

Other Secrets

Shoot Bomb Arrows

Equip both the Bombs and the Bow and Arrow to the "A" and "B" buttons. Press the A and B buttons at the same time and you will shoot "Bomb arrows"! This neat weapon has the power of a bomb and an arrow.

Required Item(s): Bomb, Bow and Arrows

Boomerang Rooster Attack

When you have the Rooster, Power Bracelet, and Boomerang, you can do this trick. Throw the boomerang and quickly grab onto the rooster before the boomerang comes back. You will be flying while the boomerang circles around you...and you can fly around while attacking enemies.

Required Item(s): Power Bracelet, Boomerang

Run in Place

To get Link to run in place, equip the pegasus boots and the shovel. Start a dash and use the shovel before he takes the first step.

Required Item(s): Pegasus Boots, Shovel

Secret Ending

If you successfully complete the game without dying, then during the ending sequence, Marin will fly across the screen with wings.
In the original Link's Awakening, it shows her sprite with wings flying across a black background.
in "Link's Awakening DX" and "Link's Awakening" for the Nintendo Switch, when Link is looking into the sky, it shows a picture of Marin's face. This picture slowly fades and you see a bird behind it, flying in the sky. This is assumed to be Marin.

References to other Nintendo Games

Characters

Marin bears incredible resemblance to both Zelda and Malon.
Tarin is similar in appearance to Mario and Talon.
Richard is a main character from a game called "Kaeru no Tame ni Kane wa Naru" ("For Frogs the Bell Tolls").
Mr. Write is a reference to Will Wright. The letter he got contains the picture of Princess Peach from Mario series.
Mamu is based on Wart, the final boss of Super Mario Bros. 2.
The Henhouse Keeper is similar in appearance to Luigi from Mario series.

Enemies

The Wind Fish egg is a reference to Yoshi egg.
Bow-Wow is a version of the Chain Chomp from the Mario series.
Goomba are enemies from the Mario games. If Link eliminates one with the traditional Mario stomp, they yield a heart as a reward.
Mask Mimics are enemies based on Shy Guys enemies from Super Mario Bros. 2.
Boo Buddy are based on Boo enemies from the Mario series of games, debuting in Super Mario Bros. 3 for the Nintendo Entertainment System.
Piranha Plants are Venus Flytrap-like plants that originated in the game Super Mario Bros.
Bombite are based on Bob-ombs, a living walking bombs from the Mario series of games. Blow them up with a bomb and they will leave a present of bombs in their place.
A Thwomp is an enemy that was originally from Super Mario Bros. 3 on the Nintendo Entertainment System.
A Thwimp is an enemy that was originally from Super Mario World.
Pokey are cactus-like monsters, better known as enemies in the Super Mario Bros. series.
Blooper, the white, squid-like enemies are based on the Blooper from the Mario series.
Cheep-Cheeps are common enemies from the Mario series.
Anti-Kirby is based on Nintendo's puffball hero, Kirby.
Sea Urchins found in Toronbo Shores are based on Gordo enemies from the Kirby series
Spiked Beetles, the turtle-like monsters with a black and spiny carapace, are based from Spiny enemies in Super Mario Bros. series.

Other References

The Yoshi doll that can be bought in the Mabe Village shop is based on Yoshi, the dinosaur who debuted in Super Mario World and has since had his own game.
The letter that Christine sends to Mr. White contains a picture of Princess Peach from the Super Mario series.

Japanese/English Differences

Subject of Schule's Painting

In the Japanese version, the Hippo that Schule is painting was meant to be a nude model. When Link enters, she will hide behind a towel and ask Link to leave. The sprite of the Hippo was changed in English version so that her breasts and her towel were removed. In the original, she crouches behind the towel so as to cover her chest up, but in the English version, she simply appears to sit down or crouch for no apparent reason. However, in both versions, she still yells the same thing: "Go away!".

Martha the Mermaid

In the Japanese version, Martha originally lost her top. When Link dives underwater near her, she will scream something that can be roughly translated as: "Kyaa! Pervert! Pervert!!!". In the English version, it was changed so that she lost a necklace.