Zelda: Start with boomerang instead of wood sword?

[Wavelflack]

I've wondered about this for many years, and I hoped I would see a resolution in the Zelda FDS vs. NES thread. It didn't happen.

Anyway, the manual for the original Zelda has a screenshot showing the old man giving Link a boomerang instead of the wooden sword. I assumed this was a difference between the Jp. version and the US version. There are a number of instances of this sort of thing happening (screens of the underground bunkers in Rush n' Attack, in the Nintendo Player's Guide, etc.)
When I saw the FDS Zelda thread, I thought that would be the first thing pointed out. It wasn't.

Is there another version of Zelda in existence with the boomerang as the freebie weapon instead of the sword?

[JR]

Doesnt the old man give Link the bomerang in one of the dungeons anyways? I think it might be a mixup on pictures, but I never heard Link getting the boomerang as the free weapon. It would also be tough for link to kill much when the boomerang just stuns enemies and does not kill them.

[Wavelflack]

No, the boomerang is just sitting there in the dungeon "basement", by itself. The only thing the old man gives you (aside from bombs and rupies) is the swords.

This picture is from the starting point, as I believe the text is shown in the picture as well. It's the same room (a fire on each side, etc.)

The JP version came out first, so it's not like the game was still in development when the US manual was being made. It's just odd.

I'll see if I can scan it.

[Wavelflack]

Ok, correction: It shows BOTH. Looks like you have a choice. Check it out (page 41 of the manual)

I have a scan, but my fucking image host is down.

It shows the old man standing there, and on the right side, there is the wooden sword. On the left side, there is the boomerang.

[Kilik Kurosawa]

The only thing the old man gives you (aside from bombs and rupies) is the swords..

And the letter for the old lady....just picking...

[JR]

Ahh yes the boomerang is sitting in the basement DOH! Hrmm strange I just looked at my manual and the old man is there with the boomerang and the wooden sword. Thats odd!

[whoisKeel]

yes, weird, i just took a look.

[JR]

The US version you dont get a choice. I know that for a fact! Only get a sword. I poped it in just to make sure I was right in the fact that there is no boomerang to choose from. The wooden sword is front and center.

[Ninja Blacksox]

Of course you only get a sword.

As for the boomerang, it's not just "sitting there" in one of the dungeons.

The boomerang is obtained by beating the three red Goriyas in one of the eastern rooms in dungeon one.

You have to work for that shit, people!

-A boy

[The Manimal]

i remember some thing about 'beating zelda without getting a sword'. ???.


i always thought it was bullshit, as you need the sword to get rupies to buy things by killing baddies and bosses and stuff. i know you can fight with the candle but you have to buy that, and that won't kill everything. also i know you need the sword for gannon (also arrows).

[studvicious]

i remember some thing about 'beating zelda without getting a sword'. ???.

yes, it's very possible to do.. but what they were referring to is not getting the WOODEN sword.

[ddockery]

Not that I've tried... but how do you do anything w/o the wooden sword? You start with no money, so you can't buy anything else. You need something else to kill enemies with and you definitely have to kill things to beat the first dungeon.

[studvicious]

I haven't tried it either but I don't think that you would try for the first dungeon right away, you would want to go for the one that has the boomerang.

[MarioAllStar2600]

In Four Swords the second Player Picks up Boomerang. That is the only weapon they have untill later in the game I believe.
So the first guy does have a sword..... but the second player never has one.

[NE146]

Not that I've tried... but how do you do anything w/o the wooden sword? You start with no money, so you can't buy anything else. You need something else to kill enemies with and you definitely have to kill things to beat the first dungeon.

Stolen from gamefaqs: Zelda Swordless Questing FAQ

[o2william]

Heh, I've been curious about this for years. I wonder if maybe the Old Man offered a choice of weapons in a development version of the game? The manual editors could have taken a screenshot from a prototype, and failed to update it after the programming was changed. It's a theory, anyway.

A friend once told me that he started a new game and the Old Man offered him a boomerang, just like in the picture. Never happened for me. I also heard that if you did something very obscure, like get exactly 200 Rupees, then die, then turn on the system while holding Reset, the Old Man would give you a boomerang. I'm sure it was just one of those wild NES rumors.

As to the Rush'n Attack thing... man, that's bugged me for years. I've looked and looked, but I can't find those bunkers. Again I wonder if that's something that only existed in the prototype stage.

Oh, and swordless Zelda is very possible. Challenging though. You can't beat Ganon because he's only vulnerable to a sword, but you can reach him with all items and full health. I've done it on both quests. The Second Quest is actually easier than the first when playing this way.

[Li Wang]

Heh, I've been curious about this for years. I wonder if maybe the Old Man offered a choice of weapons in a development version of the game? The manual editors could have taken a screenshot from a prototype, and failed to update it after the programming was changed. It's a theory, anyway.

Exactly. I don't know why they'd never fix it for the American instructions, but the same thing can be seen in an early promo video for the Famicom Disk System.

[rbudrick]

Nintendo did that sorta thing a lot....everyone remember SMB3 having that different world 1 map?

-Rob

[TRM]

Could someone post a picture of this boomerang/sword choice thing? Some people (like me) are unfortunate and don't have the manual...

[Ninja Blacksox]

Just to quickly address the "Rupies" issue in "The Legend of Zelda..."

No, you don't need a sword to get rupies.

Just head to the top right corner of the map. 100 rupies. "It's a secret to everybody."

There's your candle money.

-A Boy