Quick answers for The Legend of Zelda.

What does GRUMBLE, GRUMBLE mean in Level 7?
The hungry Goriya needs Bait. From the opening sword cave, go up one screen, left three and up three to the six-statue screen. Touch the top-middle Armos from the side, let it move and enter the stairs it reveals. Buy Bait for 60 rupees, equip it and press B near the Goriya in Level 7. Feeding consumes the Bait and clears the north passage. On a return trip, pass without another feeding if the Goriya is already gone.
How many hearts do I need for the White Sword and Magical Sword?
The White Sword requires five maximum Heart Containers; the Magical Sword requires twelve. Filled health alone does not meet the requirement. This route reaches the White Sword with six maximum hearts and the Magical Sword with twelve.

How do I finish Ganon in First Quest?

Ordinary shots need the Bow, purchased Arrows and rupees; buying Arrows does not supply a separate ammunition stock. Ganon needs the Silver Arrow upgrade from Level 9, and each shot still costs one rupee.

  • Collect Silver Arrows in Level 9; ordinary Arrows cannot finish Ganon.
  • Before going north beyond the final Patra, check Silver Arrows, healing and at least one rupee. Carry a reserve for missed shots.
  • Land four Magical Sword hits, equip the Bow and Silver Arrows, then fire while Ganon remains visibly brown/red.
  • If the shot misses or he disappears, repeat the sword attacks until the vulnerable color appears again.
  • Take the Triforce of Power, go north, strike the blocking flames with the sword and approach Zelda.

If trapped in the fight with no rupees, let Link die, then Continue or save and reload to return for supplies. Further sword blows cannot replace the Silver Arrow finish.

Continue with the complete route in the app.

What this First Quest guide covers.

StartsA new First Quest file in the original North American NES release. Use a name other than ZELDA.
EndsZelda's rescue and the First Quest ending after Level 9.
RouteAll nine dungeons in numerical order, with practical equipment and Heart Containers, overworld approaches, room directions, boss tactics, supply preparation and death/save recovery.
Not IncludedSecond Quest, glitches, speedrunning or an exhaustive catalogue of secrets.

A route from the first sword to Zelda

  1. Level 1: Bow, Boomerang and the first fragment
  2. Early Heart Containers, White Sword, Letter and healing
  3. Levels 2–4: Magical Boomerang, Raft and Ladder
  4. Twelve hearts, Magical Sword and the Lost Hills
  5. Levels 5–6: Recorder, Magical Rod and Gohma
  6. Levels 7–8: Bait, Red Candle and Magical Key
  7. Level 9: Red Ring, Silver Arrows, Ganon and Zelda

Know the room, the tool and the way back

Overworld directions count screen changes and confirm landmarks. Dungeon passages name the wall, door or block to use. Supply checks distinguish required resources from optional purchases, and the recovery instructions separate a dungeon Continue from loading a saved file at the opening cave.

More quick answers.

Do I need the Blue Ring and bomb-capacity upgrades?
They are optional preparation. The Blue Ring costs 250 rupees and halves damage. Each of the two capacity purchases costs 100 rupees and adds four bombs to the maximum. The guide separates these purchases from the tools and supplies its route requires.
Where do I restart after death or loading a save?
Continue after a dungeon death restarts at that dungeon's entrance with three filled hearts. Continue in the overworld and loading a saved file start at the opening sword cave, H8. Retained tools can be skipped when retracing; spent bombs, rupees and potion doses do not return.
How do I save the original NES Zelda game?
After death, select SAVE and press Start. With a second controller, open the subscreen using Start on controller 1, then press Up and A together on controller 2 for the menu. Wait for file selection before switching off; on original NES hardware, hold Reset while turning Power off.
Does this Zelda NES walkthrough cover all nine dungeons?
Yes. It follows First Quest Levels 1 through 9 in numerical order, ending with Ganon's defeat and Zelda's rescue. It includes practical upgrades and recovery instructions; Second Quest and exhaustive secrets are outside its scope.

Continue with the complete route in Retro Game Guides.

  1. Tap Open Guide in App.
  2. The supported game is added when a free library slot is available.
  3. The Standard Edition opens at saved progress and stays ready for offline reading.