10 Random Nintendo Easter Eggs In Zelda Games
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VOICE OVER: Johnny Reynolds
WRITTEN BY: Johnny Reynolds
Zelda has had some pretty odd references to other Nintendo releases over its history. For this list, we'll be looking at Easter Eggs of other Nintendo properties or hardware found throughout “The Legend of Zelda.” Our list includes a game of "Donkey Kong" in "The Legend of Zelda: Oracle of Ages" (2001), Dee Ess Island from "The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass" (2007), multiple NPCs across the series that resemble the Mario Bros., and more!
Script written by Johnny Reynolds
Zelda has had some pretty odd references to other Nintendo releases over its history. For this list, we’ll be looking at Easter Eggs of other Nintendo properties or hardware found throughout “The Legend of Zelda.” Our list includes a game of "Donkey Kong" in "The Legend of Zelda: Oracle of Ages" (2001), Dee Ess Island from "The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass" (2007), multiple NPCs across the series that resemble the Mario Bros., and more! Did you know about all these references? Did we miss your favorite? Let us know in the comments.
“The Legend of Zelda” is packed with iconic music, though not many songs have appeared as frequently as the Fairy Fountain theme. Since the Super Nintendo’s “A Link to the Past,” this serene piece has played inside every fairy fountain as well as on most file select screens. However, it didn’t originate here. Composer Koji Kondo first used it in the seminal “Super Mario Bros. 3,” which was released a couple of years prior on the NES. It plays on the overworld map for the third world; it has a quicker tempo and a beat, but it unmistakably uses the same notes.
There are enough Mario references in “Zelda” to make up their own list. In “A Link to the Past” several houses in Kakariko Village hold paintings of the mascot. But “Ocarina of Time” did one better. One of the game’s most well-known Easter Eggs, although still one of the coolest to find on a first playthrough, can be found in Zelda’s courtyard. Looking through the window on the right, you’ll see portraits of Mario, Yoshi, Luigi, Peach and Bowser. It’s really nice to see Zelda and her father are such big fans. In the 3DS remake, these portraits have been replaced. Instead, you’ll see the layout of a level in “New Super Mario Bros.”
The masks in “Majora’s Mask” are very useful, but they also hold some pretty neat references. The Happy Mask Salesman holds a Mario Easter Egg. However, it’s inside Link’s inventory where you can find something even cooler. The order of several animal masks (the Keaton Mask, Bremen Mask, Bunny Hood, Don Gero’s Mask, and Mask of Scents) resembles the Star Fox team and one of their enemies, Pigma Dengar. Director Eiji Aonuma has said this could have been a coincidence, or a direct reference implemented without his knowledge. Considering the art director of “Majora’s Mask,” Takaya Imamura, also worked on the original “Star Fox” where an asteroid highly resembles this installment’s moon, we think it’s the latter.
In this handheld entry, Nintendo and Capcom paid homage to the game that put Nintendo on the map: “Donkey Kong.” However, finding the reference depends on if you played both “Oracle” games and in what order. If you played “Seasons” first and linked your save files, you’d gain access to an event that happens midway through “Ages.” Impa would show up at the Black Tower to tell you Zelda has been kidnapped by Vire, miniboss of the game’s sixth dungeon. Entering the tower would put you in a round of “Donkey Kong.” Instead of barrels, you’d hop over Vire’s fireballs. It’s only a single level, but it’s nevertheless an awesome reference.
Collecting tokens of the Gold Skulltulas throughout “Ocarina of Time” can lead to a lot of great rewards. Most of them are centered around Rupees, but for 20 tokens you can get the Stone of Agony. Why it’s called that is unclear as it’s actually really useful; it causes your controller to vibrate if you’re near a secret hole. It’s appearance is a direct reference to the groundbreaking peripheral needed to use it, the N64’s Rumble Pak. This wouldn’t be the last time Nintendo made an item resemble something the player was required to have. The Tingle Tuner, found in “The Wind Waker,” looks almost identical to the Game Boy Advance, which you’d need along with a link cable to reap its benefits.
In “The Wind Waker,” Nintendo wanted to include GC Island, a location that looked like the top of a GameCube sticking out of the water. Sadly, it was scrapped. But the team wasn’t going to miss out on a second opportunity. For the game’s sequel, Nintendo included a hidden place called Dee Ess Island. It’s a great place to gain some extra rewards, such as a bigger Bombchu Bag and a Gold Rupee that’s earned by blowing into your system’s mic while Link stands on the island’s corresponding spot. Yes it’s a bit silly to have an island shaped like the DS, but still a cool reference to the popular handheld.
While Nintendo is known for its games today, the company has been around much longer than video games have. “Majora’s Mask 3D” holds several references to Nintendo’s past toys. In the Clock Town Bomb shop, by the shopkeep and massive GameCube, you can spot the Ultra Hand, a popular toy from the 1960s. There are also other references to past Nintendo releases, like the hidden R.O.B. in the curiosity shop, though it is only visible when peaking in while at Kafei’s hideout. There’s also a stone WiiMote hidden away with Baby Goron’s toys.
One plaque found in “Super Mario 64” had players theorizing for years. Found in the fountain area of Princess Peach’s Castle, many thought the blurry text read “L Is Real 2401” and believed it a reference to Luigi’s secret inclusion in the game. But that isn’t the only place this inscription showed up. The second dungeon in “Ocarina of Time,” Dodongo’s Cavern, is a dark and dangerous place. On the dungeon’s second floor, Link finds a stone tablet that gives him a hint on how to proceed further. Fans may not have noticed right away, but the blurry inscription is the exact same that’s found in “Super Mario 64,” just on a different-colored stone slab.
There are a ridiculous amount of “Zelda” NPCs that resemble Mario and Luigi, so strap in. Perhaps the most well-known are the lazy Talon and the envious Ingo from “Ocarina of Time,” each dressing remarkably similar to their respective inspirations. There’s also their “Majora’s Mask” counterparts, Mr. Barten and the Gorman triplets respectively. Talon additionally appears in “Four Swords Adventures” and “The Minish Cap” while both he and Ingo appear in “Oracle of Seasons.” But we’re not even close to done. The bartenders in “A Link Between Worlds,” each found in different worlds, also resemble the plumbers. In “Link’s Awakening,” Tarin is the spitting image of Mario, even spending time hunting for magical mushrooms, while the Cucco Keeper takes after Luigi.
“Link’s Awakening” has an absurd amount of cameos from Mario games including Chain Chomps, Shy Guys, and Boos. But there are also many references to other Nintendo games. An enemy that looks like a different colored Kirby appears in the Eagle’s Tower dungeon. Dr. Wright from “SimCity” is part of the game’s trading quest. But the most obscure cameo, at least to Western players, is Prince Richard. He plays an important role in the story, but he’s from a Japan-only Game Boy game called “For the Frog the Bell Tolls,” whose overworld theme plays in his villa. No wonder he’s got a bunch of frogs hopping around his home.
Zelda has had some pretty odd references to other Nintendo releases over its history. For this list, we’ll be looking at Easter Eggs of other Nintendo properties or hardware found throughout “The Legend of Zelda.” Our list includes a game of "Donkey Kong" in "The Legend of Zelda: Oracle of Ages" (2001), Dee Ess Island from "The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass" (2007), multiple NPCs across the series that resemble the Mario Bros., and more! Did you know about all these references? Did we miss your favorite? Let us know in the comments.
The Fairy Fountain Theme
Various“The Legend of Zelda” is packed with iconic music, though not many songs have appeared as frequently as the Fairy Fountain theme. Since the Super Nintendo’s “A Link to the Past,” this serene piece has played inside every fairy fountain as well as on most file select screens. However, it didn’t originate here. Composer Koji Kondo first used it in the seminal “Super Mario Bros. 3,” which was released a couple of years prior on the NES. It plays on the overworld map for the third world; it has a quicker tempo and a beat, but it unmistakably uses the same notes.
Mario Portraits
“The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time” (1998)There are enough Mario references in “Zelda” to make up their own list. In “A Link to the Past” several houses in Kakariko Village hold paintings of the mascot. But “Ocarina of Time” did one better. One of the game’s most well-known Easter Eggs, although still one of the coolest to find on a first playthrough, can be found in Zelda’s courtyard. Looking through the window on the right, you’ll see portraits of Mario, Yoshi, Luigi, Peach and Bowser. It’s really nice to see Zelda and her father are such big fans. In the 3DS remake, these portraits have been replaced. Instead, you’ll see the layout of a level in “New Super Mario Bros.”
Star Fox Masks
“The Legend of Zelda: Majora’s Mask” (2000)The masks in “Majora’s Mask” are very useful, but they also hold some pretty neat references. The Happy Mask Salesman holds a Mario Easter Egg. However, it’s inside Link’s inventory where you can find something even cooler. The order of several animal masks (the Keaton Mask, Bremen Mask, Bunny Hood, Don Gero’s Mask, and Mask of Scents) resembles the Star Fox team and one of their enemies, Pigma Dengar. Director Eiji Aonuma has said this could have been a coincidence, or a direct reference implemented without his knowledge. Considering the art director of “Majora’s Mask,” Takaya Imamura, also worked on the original “Star Fox” where an asteroid highly resembles this installment’s moon, we think it’s the latter.
A Game of “Donkey Kong”
“The Legend of Zelda: Oracle of Ages” (2001)In this handheld entry, Nintendo and Capcom paid homage to the game that put Nintendo on the map: “Donkey Kong.” However, finding the reference depends on if you played both “Oracle” games and in what order. If you played “Seasons” first and linked your save files, you’d gain access to an event that happens midway through “Ages.” Impa would show up at the Black Tower to tell you Zelda has been kidnapped by Vire, miniboss of the game’s sixth dungeon. Entering the tower would put you in a round of “Donkey Kong.” Instead of barrels, you’d hop over Vire’s fireballs. It’s only a single level, but it’s nevertheless an awesome reference.
The Stone of Agony
“The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time” (1998)Collecting tokens of the Gold Skulltulas throughout “Ocarina of Time” can lead to a lot of great rewards. Most of them are centered around Rupees, but for 20 tokens you can get the Stone of Agony. Why it’s called that is unclear as it’s actually really useful; it causes your controller to vibrate if you’re near a secret hole. It’s appearance is a direct reference to the groundbreaking peripheral needed to use it, the N64’s Rumble Pak. This wouldn’t be the last time Nintendo made an item resemble something the player was required to have. The Tingle Tuner, found in “The Wind Waker,” looks almost identical to the Game Boy Advance, which you’d need along with a link cable to reap its benefits.
Dee Ess Island
“The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass” (2007)In “The Wind Waker,” Nintendo wanted to include GC Island, a location that looked like the top of a GameCube sticking out of the water. Sadly, it was scrapped. But the team wasn’t going to miss out on a second opportunity. For the game’s sequel, Nintendo included a hidden place called Dee Ess Island. It’s a great place to gain some extra rewards, such as a bigger Bombchu Bag and a Gold Rupee that’s earned by blowing into your system’s mic while Link stands on the island’s corresponding spot. Yes it’s a bit silly to have an island shaped like the DS, but still a cool reference to the popular handheld.
Nintendo Toys
“The Legend of Zelda: Majora’s Mask 3D” (2015)While Nintendo is known for its games today, the company has been around much longer than video games have. “Majora’s Mask 3D” holds several references to Nintendo’s past toys. In the Clock Town Bomb shop, by the shopkeep and massive GameCube, you can spot the Ultra Hand, a popular toy from the 1960s. There are also other references to past Nintendo releases, like the hidden R.O.B. in the curiosity shop, though it is only visible when peaking in while at Kafei’s hideout. There’s also a stone WiiMote hidden away with Baby Goron’s toys.
L Is Real 2401
“The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time” (1998)One plaque found in “Super Mario 64” had players theorizing for years. Found in the fountain area of Princess Peach’s Castle, many thought the blurry text read “L Is Real 2401” and believed it a reference to Luigi’s secret inclusion in the game. But that isn’t the only place this inscription showed up. The second dungeon in “Ocarina of Time,” Dodongo’s Cavern, is a dark and dangerous place. On the dungeon’s second floor, Link finds a stone tablet that gives him a hint on how to proceed further. Fans may not have noticed right away, but the blurry inscription is the exact same that’s found in “Super Mario 64,” just on a different-colored stone slab.
The Mario Bros.
VariousThere are a ridiculous amount of “Zelda” NPCs that resemble Mario and Luigi, so strap in. Perhaps the most well-known are the lazy Talon and the envious Ingo from “Ocarina of Time,” each dressing remarkably similar to their respective inspirations. There’s also their “Majora’s Mask” counterparts, Mr. Barten and the Gorman triplets respectively. Talon additionally appears in “Four Swords Adventures” and “The Minish Cap” while both he and Ingo appear in “Oracle of Seasons.” But we’re not even close to done. The bartenders in “A Link Between Worlds,” each found in different worlds, also resemble the plumbers. In “Link’s Awakening,” Tarin is the spitting image of Mario, even spending time hunting for magical mushrooms, while the Cucco Keeper takes after Luigi.
Non-Mario Cameos
“The Legend of Zelda: Link’s Awakening” (1993)“Link’s Awakening” has an absurd amount of cameos from Mario games including Chain Chomps, Shy Guys, and Boos. But there are also many references to other Nintendo games. An enemy that looks like a different colored Kirby appears in the Eagle’s Tower dungeon. Dr. Wright from “SimCity” is part of the game’s trading quest. But the most obscure cameo, at least to Western players, is Prince Richard. He plays an important role in the story, but he’s from a Japan-only Game Boy game called “For the Frog the Bell Tolls,” whose overworld theme plays in his villa. No wonder he’s got a bunch of frogs hopping around his home.
