After successfully navigating the perils of the Great Deku Tree and defeating the parasitic armored arachnid, Queen Gohma, your journey takes you beyond the familiar confines of Kokiri Forest. Upon your return to the village, you Mido near the exit, who may express his disapproval regarding the fate of the Great Deku Tree. However, your path now lies westward, towards the vast expanse of Hyrule Field.
As you head towards the western exit of Kokiri Forest, the doorway that was previously guarded by Mido, your loyal companion Navi will likely offer some guidance or encouragement for the path ahead. Before you fully leave the forest, your childhood friend Saria will appear to bid you farewell. As a parting gift, she bestows upon you the Fairy Ocarina, a mystical instrument that will become essential for your adventures, allowing you to play magical melodies throughout your quest.
Stepping out of Kokiri Forest, you will be immediately greeted by the sheer scale of Hyrule Field for the first time. A brief cinematic sequence will likely play, showcasing the vastness of the land and providing a glimpse of your ultimate destination: the imposing Hyrule Castle, standing majestically in the distance. As you regain control of Link, be prepared for an encounter with a very large and talkative owl named Kaepora Gaebora. This wise owl will descend and engage you in a lengthy dialogue, emphasizing your objective to reach Hyrule Castle and helpfully pointing out that you possess a map, even in this seemingly boundless area.
Kaepora Gaebora has a tendency to be rather verbose and may ask if you wish to hear his explanation again. To save time and avoid potentially repetitive dialogues in future encounters with this feathered friend, it is generally recommended to select the bottom option presented, which is often phrased in a somewhat misleading way (for example, selecting “No” when you actually want him to stop talking).
Once the talkative owl finally takes flight, your primary objective is to head north towards Hyrule Castle. Consult your mini-map located at the top of the screen to orient yourself and follow the main path that clearly leads towards the imposing castle structure in the distance.
Be mindful of the passage of time in Hyrule Field, as it operates on a distinct day-night cycle. If you linger too long exploring the vast field, night will inevitably fall. When this occurs, the drawbridge leading to Hyrule Castle Town will be raised, preventing your entry until the next day. Furthermore, if you stray off the main path during the night, you may encounter skeletal enemies known as Stalchildren. These nocturnal foes can be a nuisance if you are trying to reach the castle efficiently. If you wish to avoid these bony adversaries, it is best to stick to the main road, as they generally do not spawn there.
Alternatively, if night does fall, you can simply remain on the main road and wait until sunrise, at which point the drawbridge will lower, allowing you to proceed towards your destination. The initial journey across Hyrule Field serves as an introduction to the dynamic nature of the game’s overworld, emphasizing the importance of navigation, time management, and awareness of potential enemy encounters.
Head north and pass through the market reach the area just before the entrance to Hyrule Castle Town, keep an eye out for a lone tree situated to the left of the main path. Roll into this tree, and a Gold Skulltula will drop down. Defeat it with your sword and collect the Golden Skull Token. This hidden collectible demonstrates that even seemingly ordinary environmental elements can hold valuable rewards for observant players.
The guards stationed here are quite alert and will not allow a young boy to simply walk in. You will need to find a more discreet way to enter the castle grounds. Near the castle entrance, you will see a red-haired girl in a white dress standing near some green vines. This is Malon from Lon Lon Ranch. Approach her and speak to her. She is deeply concerned about her father, Talon, who went to deliver milk to the castle and has not returned. Talk to Malon a second time, and she will entrust you with a Weird Egg, hoping that you might encounter her father and be able to wake him up.
To bypass the heavily guarded main gate, look at the green vines growing on the wall directly beside where Malon is standing. Climb these vines.
Make your way across the cliff face you reach the end. From there, jump off the top of the gate to the ground on the other side. Now, follow the dirt path that leads upwards towards the castle. You will notice guards patrolling this area. To avoid being detected, stay to the left, moving along the grassy section. Do not attempt to go up the main stone stairs yet, as they are heavily guarded. Continue following the path along the left side until you see another set of green vines growing on the castle wall. Climb these vines as well. At the top of these vines, you will see the castle moat below. Take a leap of faith and dive into the water. Swim across the moat towards the far corner. Clamber out of the moat on the other side.
Follow the short path until you come across a man sleeping soundly on the ground next to a couple of milk crates. This is Talon, Malon’s missing father! By this point, the Weird Egg that Malon gave you should have hatched into a Cucco (a regular chicken). If it hasn’t hatched yet, simply wait until the next in-game sunrise, and it will. Stand next to the sleeping Talon and use the Cucco (assign it to one of your action buttons for quick use). The Cucco’s loud crowing will startle Talon awake. After a brief and humorous conversation, Talon will realize that he needs to get back to Malon at the ranch and will quickly run off.
With Talon finally out of the way, you can now move the Lon Lon Ranch milk crates that were blocking a small opening in the wall. Push and pull the crates into the moat. Stack the second crate on top of the first to create a makeshift platform. Use the stacked crates to jump across the small gap and reach a small opening in the castle wall, marked by the Triforce symbol above it. Crawl through this opening to finally enter the inner grounds of Hyrule Castle – the Castle Courtyard.
The Hyrule Castle Courtyard is heavily patrolled by guards. Your current objective is to reach Princess Zelda without being seen. If a guard spots you, you will be sent back to the beginning. The guards in the courtyard follow specific and predictable patrol patterns. Take some time to observe their movements. Wait behind the various topiaries, fountains, and other garden features until a guard turns their back or walks away from your intended path before making your move. You can even run behind the guards as long as you do not get too close. Maintain a safe distance to avoid triggering their detection. As you venture deeper into the courtyard, you will encounter guards with slightly faster patrol speeds, so pay close attention to their timing and adjust your movements accordingly. You will know you are in the main courtyard area when the background music changes. Continue to carefully navigate through the courtyard, utilizing the available cover to avoid being spotted.
Your ultimate destination is a young girl standing at a window on the left side of the courtyard. Approach her cautiously once the path is clear. As you approach the window, the young girl will turn to face you. Meet Princess Zelda, the princess of Hyrule. She will initially be surprised to see you, a young boy, within the castle grounds, but she will quickly recognize you as the Kokiri child who carries the Spiritual Stone of the Forest. Link shows Princess Zelda the Spiritual Stone you obtained from the Great Deku Tree. She will reveal a prophetic dream she had, in which you played a crucial role, and will explain the ancient history of the Triforce and the growing threat posed by the evil Ganondorf. Princess Zelda will entrust you with a vital mission: to gather the remaining two Spiritual Stones. She believes that only by collecting these stones can you hope to stand against Ganondorf and protect Hyrule. She will essentially place the fate of the kingdom upon your young shoulders. To aid you in your quest and as a sign of her trust and authority, Zelda will give you Zelda’s Letter. This letter will serve as proof of your mission and will be important for future interactions with certain individuals. This meeting is a pivotal moment, setting the direction for the rest of your adventure.
Following your conversation with Princess Zelda, her wise and formidable personal bodyguard, Impa, will make her appearance. Impa will recognize the importance of your meeting with Zelda and will proceed to teach you a new melody for your Fairy Ocarina: Zelda’s Lullaby. This song will prove to be incredibly useful throughout your adventure, often required to solve puzzles, open new paths, and interact with the world in various ways. Pay close attention to the sequence of notes she teaches you.
Once you have successfully learned Zelda’s Lullaby, Impa will provide you with your next crucial objective: to travel to Kakariko Village, located near the foot of Death Mountain, and seek out the next Spiritual Stone. To ensure your safe departure, Impa will then escort you directly back to the drawbridge in front of Castle Town, ready for you to embark on the next leg of your journey.
