Zelda's Adventure/Unused Items
This is a sub-page of Zelda's Adventure.
Many unused items exist in the code for Zelda's Adventure, which can still be added to the inventory by using cheat codes. Unfortunately, their functionalities were (for the most part) removed before the game's release, so we can only speculate as to what the items did.
Accessing An Item
Put the following code in zelda.xml in your TinyCDI cheat folder. Replace the question marks with a valid item ID, then enable it in-game to add the item to your inventory.
<cheat desc="Add Unused Item">
<script state="run">
<action>maincpu.ppb@????????=01</action>
</script>
</cheat>
Alternatively, a NVRAM file containing a save with every unused item can be downloaded below:
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Download Zelda's Adventure Cut Item Save File
File: ZeldAdventure CutItems Save.zip (548 bytes) (info)
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Treasures
Vial of Acid
Item ID: 0027B6C5
A bottle full of orange-colored acid that was going to be handed out by Sirram Bew, the philosopher living in the Barachno Marsh. This item was mentioned in the CD-interactief guide, suggesting it was properly implemented in an earlier version of the game. Its sprite is still loaded when you enter his hut.
This item's effect appears to be bugged; it does nothing useful and, depending on what screen Zelda's on, causes something different to happen when used. The effects include:
- Playing the item error sound like normal. This happens on screens without enemies or NPCs, like most of the Vision Henge.
- Not playing said sound. This is the most common effect by far, happening on most of the game's screens.
- Freezing the game and playing the item pickup sound non-stop. This affects various screens through Tolemac and has no discernable pattern.
- Three of these screens are the entrance rooms of the Shrines of Earth, Destiny, and Fire. If the first save loaded after booting the console is in any of those Shrines, using the Vial at the entrance will make a normal error sound until a new save or screen is loaded.
- If a NPC has a two-part interaction and uses the latter half for more dialogue, item spawning, and/or vanishing, the Vial will start the second part when used. (For example, using it on the Forest of Torian's Broadsword screen will cause the item to appear and Shurmak's "You seem tired" line to play.)
- Subsequent Vial uses on screens with vanishing NPCs will freeze the game without playing the pickup sound.
- Normally, movement is disabled when boss apparitions talk to Zelda. By using cheats to enable inputs during them, you can use the Vial and make them disappear, though the game WILL freeze once their dialogue ends.
Alligator Shoes
Item ID: 0027B6C7
One of two cut items meant to be sold by the Barachno Marsh merchant. It would've allowed Zelda to travel through the Forest of Albon faster, according to unused dialogue that also names the item.
They can be acquired in the Version 1.10 prototype, appearing right next to the merchant. Interestingly, the Alligator Shoes can be picked up like a regular item instead of being sold for 100 Rubies like the Zola Repellent. They're used in the Swamp of Vendoss, the southern swampland bordering the Seacoast Plain; Zelda's walking speed is halved unless she has the Shoes in her inventory. This mechanic was cut from the final game. At one point, the Alligator Shoes were required to actually enter Vendoss, but this was changed before Version 1.10.
The Alligator Shoes can be accessed by loading a prototype save file that has it in the inventory, making it the only unused item that's acquirable without using the aforementioned code/NVRAM file. (Keep in mind, though, that it's useless due to the removal of its mechanic.) In addition, its sprites are still loaded whenever the Barachno Marsh merchant is visited.
Brown Jar
Item ID: 0027B6C9
A magical brown urn that, when present in Zelda's inventory, gets rid of the tornadoes whirling around in the opening rooms of the Shrine of Air.
This item is also mentioned in the CD-interactief guide, where it replaces the Bow and Arrow as the item obtained in the Shrine of Air's Loccasin room, and is listed as removing the falling crystal shards instead. (The Bow and Arrow itself would've appeared in the East Forest, southwest of the rebels.)
Brush
Item ID: 0027B6D1
What this handbrush could've been used for is a complete mystery, as it isn't loaded in any of the game's areas and doesn't get mentioned in the guide.
Raw Steak
Item ID: 0027B6D7
An uncooked bit of steak. Again, where this item could've been used is unknown.
Gold Trumpet
Item ID: 0027B6F5
One of two trumpet items cut from the game. According to an equally-unused line, it would've been sold by the living farmer in the Meadow of Skotness for five Rubies, though its sprite is never loaded like some of the other items. As for its intended use? Who knows.
Fishing Net
Item ID: 0027B70F
This fishing net is loaded at the shipwreck in the Seacoast Plain, but can't actually be acquired. Might have been a trade item for someone at the South Port, given the village's sea-faring nature and all.
The item's inventory sprite incorrectly renders the black background as transparent.
White Orbs
Item IDs: 0027B713, 0027B715
A pair of identical white orbs. They look similar to the Black Orb obtained in the Shrine of Illusion, so maybe they were going to appear there too?
Scroll
Item ID: 0027B723
A scroll wrapped up with a red ribbon. There are two possibilities as to what this item could've been:
- The Scroll of Shurmak. If so, it might've been used to communicate with Shurmak much like what's seen between her and Gaspra during the intro cutscene.
- A sealed letter with alleged magic powers, given out by a cut NPC named Rowell the Angry and possibly an early version of the Gold Necklace.
Wooden Spoon
Item ID: 0027B725
It sure is one. The Ubato Hills merchant, Kron the Pegleg, would've sold or given away this item, as one of his cut lines references it. (Said line can be played by using the Vial of Acid on his screen, though the spoon itself doesn't spawn once it's finished.)
There might be a connection between it and the Raw Steak given their ties to cooking, but nothing is confirmed.
Silver Trumpet
Item ID: 0027B727
The second trumpet item would've been given to Zelda by the talking mushroom in the Forest of Findo. It would've made something special happen when played in "a place where Gannon is insulted", though the exact place and effect are a mystery. Its sprites are still loaded whenever the toadstool is visited.
Weapons
Hourglass
Item ID: 0027B699
This weaponized time-keeping device would've been received by speaking to the husband in the old couple's house at the Seacoast Plain. It would've slowed down the movements of a single enemy.
Leather Book
Item ID: 0027B6AF
Originally, Shurmak would've warped Zelda to her retreat and taught the Princess how to use magic, and this spell would've been one of two freebies given to her. The tutorial's lines don't reveal much about the two spells - fire would've stopped the Leather Book's projectile, and that's about it.
Energy Orb
Item ID: 0027B6B1
A rather colorful orb of energy with a Flux Capacitor-shaped object in the middle. And that's all the info there is about this cut item.
Opal Amulet
Item ID: 0027B6B5
The other freebie spell that was going to be handed out by Shurmak. Unlike the other cut weapons, this one actually works properly!
When used, Zelda tosses a very slow teal projectile that makes the same sound as the Turquoise Ring. The Opal Amulet doesn't cost any Rubies to use; this, along with the spell's pitiful damage output, suggests that the two spells were only meant to be used in the magic tutorial. Despite its appearance, the spell's projectile only counts as one hit.
Both it and the Leather Book still have their sprites loaded whenever Zelda visits Shurmak's hideout. The Opal Amulet can be seen in Zelda's inventory as a Treasure in a pre-release screenshot.
Trident
Item ID: 0027B6BD
Another cut item located and loaded in the Seacoast Plain - this time, it's a trident that would've spawned on the screen directly north of the Seacoast shipwreck.
Sprites Only
The merchant in the Forest of Ogham sells a Candle for 100 Rubies and the Magic Shield for 500. He was also going to sell a key for 100 Rubies, but this was cut. Of note is that the Seacoast Plain merchant loads the same key graphics, but he also sells a Candle for the same price, so it's probably a leftover from Viridis copy-pasting the Ogham merchant.
The grey-clad woman at the Mobilin's Head Inn mentions that a Candle and a "silver key" will help Zelda in the Shrine of Earth. While a Candle is used to light up a dark room in the dungeon, there are no doors in the Shrine whatsoever. The only thing that might have required a key at some point is the talking chest that Zelda gets the Jade Ring from.
In addition to the Alligator Shoes, the Barachno Marsh merchant would've sold "deep-fried Octorok legs" for 300 Rubies. It's anyone's guess as to what it would've done. A way to add this item to the inventory hasn't been found yet, and was either removed from the code entirely, never implemented, or had its slot reused for one of the two White Orbs.
This dark, likely glitched key is loaded within the Forest of Torian, at the White Steed Lodge's exterior map. This might have been Waldensop's original item instead of the Feather spell he gives in the final game.
There are also three duplicate item sprites loaded with certain maps:
- A Candle is loaded inside the Mobilin's Head Inn. Maybe the woman inside the Inn would've given one to Zelda after her line played?
- The Harp is loaded at Yvonne's house in Great Wimbich, which is where Zelda normally gets the Flute. This was part of a cut system where Yvonne would hand you one of her instruments at a time; the Harp, at this point, was used to put a "fiery" enemy to sleep. In the final game, Zelda obtains the Harp - which now warps her to the first room of the Shrine she's in - in the shortcut cave connecting the Plain of Andor and Seacoast Plain together.
- A copy of the Bow and Arrow's sprite is loaded in one of the maps for the East Forest, southwest of where the two rebels are practicing. This was its original location back when the Brown Jar was still in the game.
