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Old Men are recurring characters in The Legend of Zelda series.[3][4][5][6][note 1][note 2]

Biography[]

The Legend of Zelda[]

TLoZ Old Man Misc

An Old Man giving Link a 2nd Potion or a Heart Container from The Legend of Zelda

In The Legend of Zelda, there are several Old Men across Hyrule, each serving various needs, such as supplying Link with his first Sword,[9] or giving helpful advice regarding enemies such as the Dodongo.[10] Many helpful items can be obtained from these old men, and a mini-game can be played with them called the Money Making Game.[11] If he is found in dungeons and is stabbed, the Torches around him will fire energy blasts at Link, similar to those of a Stone Statue.

Link can receive the Letter from the Letter-Entrusting Old Man in a northeast cave of Hyrule.[12] When Link shows the Letter to various Old Women, they will sell him Life Potions and 2nd Potions.[13]

An Old Man is present in each Warp Hall. They inform Link of the area's function, transportation.[14]

Old Man's Advice

The Adventure of Link[]

In The Adventure of Link, one Old Man resides in each town.[15] They teach Link useful Magic once he has achieved the necessary prerequisites.[16] These magical abilities are usually required for access to the next area that Link must travel to.

Oracle of Seasons[]

OOS OldManCave

The secret home of the Old Man from Oracle of Seasons

In Oracle of Seasons, Old Men appear in caves that Link finds using by using the Shovel or burning Sapling using Ember Seeds. Some bribe Link not to tell anybody about their secret caves by giving him a large sum of approximately 300 Rupees. Others will thank Link, and charge him a large sum of money in order to repair their doors.

There are three special Old Men in Holodrum who differ from the rest. The first (and only required one) lives in a house in Holodrum Plain, accessible after getting the Flippers. At first, the Old Man will only mutter to himself about someone he is waiting for.[17] After getting the first five Essences of Nature, Link must visit and speak to him once more to receive the Round Jewel.

The second is a gold-robed Old Man living in a cave on the bottom of the river just below the Gnarled Root Dungeon, only accessible in Summer. At first, he will simply instruct Link to find and slay all four Golden Monsters; once Link has done so, he will reward him with the Red Ring.

The last one can be found in a hidden underground cavern behind the Clock Shop after beating a non-Linked game. This Old Man asks for a Secret, and if this secret is retrieved from a linked Oracle of Ages game and given to him, he will upgrade Link's Noble Sword to the Master Sword (or his Wooden Sword to the Noble Sword, if applicable).

In a linked version of the game, another Old Man can be found inside the Hero's Cave.

Oracle of Ages[]

Only one Old Man cave is present in Oracle of Ages and is found in Rolling Ridge Base. In the past it is inhabited by a generous Old Man, who would give Link 200 Rupees. On the opposite, the Old Man inhabiting it in the present would charge him 50 Rupees to repair the door.

Four Swords Adventures[]



There are multiple Old Men in Four Swords Adventures.

One Old Man appears in the Village of the Blue Maiden.

Another Old Man appears in Kakariko Village. He has lost the wife with whom he has been married for 56 years,[18] and now he feels lonely.[19] His wife wrote a Letter recommending him to get a cute Cucco as a pet.[18] If the Links give him a Cucco, the Old Timer rewards them with a Key,[20] allowing the young heroes to access a room in his house where they can find the Power Bracelet, and tells them to take as many Force Gems as they would like.[20]

Breath of the Wild[]

Main article: King Rhoam
BotW Old Man

Link meeting the Old Man from Breath of the Wild

In Breath of the Wild, an Old Man lives in the Great Plateau. He is first seen after Link emerges from the Shrine of Resurrection, beneath a small alcove. Link can steal the Baked Apple near the Old Man's fire, only to be chided for stealing.[21] However, the Old Man reveals this to be a joke, and welcomes Link to eat it.[22] He also invites Link to take the torch leaning against the wall behind him, though he asks what Link intends to use it for.[23] If Link replies that he plans to use it as a weapon, the Old Man will advise him to take the axe found nearby in a tree stump instead,[24] if Link tells him he plans to use it to light fires, he will tell him to use caution,[25] and if Link refuses to tell him, he will just let him be.[26] If Link interacts with him and tries to leave, he will insist that Link take a moment to talk with him.[27] If Link insists on leaving, he will let him go.[28] He will also comment on Link's silence.[29] He introduces himself as an old fool and informs Link that they are on the Great Plateau, the origin of the kingdom of Hyrule.[30] He then points out the Temple of Time, which was formerly a site of sacred practices.[31] When leaving, the Old Man will remind Link that he must go where the Sheikah Slate points him.[32] If Link asks him what he is doing, he will say that he is relaxing by the Campfire and that he must cook himself another Baked Apple.[33]

The Old Man will also give Link some advice about Cooking and fighting.[34][35]

After Link causes the Great Plateau Tower to rise, the Old Man descends upon Link with his Paraglider at the base of the Tower. He greets Link and informs him that Sheikah Towers across Hyrule simultaneously arose, and asks Link if he noticed anything peculiar while he was atop the Tower.[36] Upon hearing of the disembodied voice that was guiding Link, the Old Man points out the caliginous force surrounding Hyrule Castle, declaring it the Calamity Ganon.[37] He tells Link that one century prior, the Calamity Ganon brought destruction upon Hyrule until it was contained within Hyrule Castle.[38] Warning Link of the inevitability of the Calamity Ganon's escape, he asks whether the young hero intends to confront it and draws attention to the fact that leaving the Great Plateau is impossible without a Paraglider.[39] Upon Link asking for the Paraglider, the Old Man directs him to the nearby Oman Au Shrine, telling him that he will trade the Paraglider in exchange for the treasure inside.[40]

After this, the Old Man is found north of the Old Man's Cabin, attempting to chop down a tree. If Link inquires what he is doing, he replies that he wants to use the tree as Firewood, and gives Link a few tips on tree-chopping.[41] He will also ask if Link will cut the tree down for him, since he is tired.[42] If Link does so, the Old Man will be grateful and invite him to take the Firewood obtained from chopping up the tree.[43] He will then walk over to the Cooking Pot in front of the Woodcutter's House and sit down. Inside, his diary can be read, giving Link a hint that if he can make the Spicy Meat and Seafood Fry, he can obtain the Warm Doublet from the Old Man.[44] If Link successfully makes this dish and shows it to him, the Old Man will thank him and give him the Warm Doublet.[45]

Alternatively, if Link manages to climb to the peak of Mount Hylia, the Old Man will give him the Warm Doublet there instead,[46] as well as telling him about the Sheikah Slate's Scope function.[47]

He can also be found in the Forest of Spirits, crouching behind a tree during the day. If talked to, he will say that he is hunting, and implores Link to crouch down as well, as not to scare away his prey.[48] However, even if Link does this, it will achieve nothing of significance. If talked to again, he will instruct Link about hunting, then make his way to the nearby Cooking Pot and sit.[49] At night, he will be sleeping in the ruin nearby.

After Link completes the Ancient Shrine, he is met outside by the Old Man, who congratulates him on obtaining a Spirit Orb and reveals the significance of the Spirit Orb in relation to the ancient civilization of the Sheikah, who constructed the Ancient Shrines across the land.[50] He amends his bargain and tells Link that there are three remaining Ancient Shrines on the Great Plateau, and that he will receive the Paraglider upon having completed them all.[51] Encouraging Link to use the Great Plateau Tower as a vantage point to locate the other Shrines, he teaches Link about the Sheikah Slate's ability to Warp to Sheikah Towers and Ancient Shrines that he's encountered before as a shortcut for ascending the Tower.[52]

If Link converses with him near a Cooking Pot, the Old Man will give him cooking advice.

Other Appearances[]

BS The Legend of Zelda[]

BSTLoZ Old Man Sprite
In BS The Legend of Zelda, various Old Men reprise their roles from The Legend of Zelda. The Player character automatically visits the Sword-Giving Old Man at the beginning of each week of gameplay, first to obtain the Wooden Sword, then to recall their progress in the subsequent weeks. At predetermined times throughout the adventure, an Old Man communicates telepathically with the Player, giving them valuable information and casting spells to aid them.
BSTLoZ Old Man Injured Sprite
With fifteen minutes remaining in the final week, the Sword-Giving Old Man is attacked by Ganon in his cave. The Player finds him face-down and injured, with a newly-created tunnel in the rear of the cave, leading to a room where Ganon can be battled if all eight Triforce pieces have been recovered. The Old Man recovers after Ganon is defeated.

The Shadow Prince[]

Old Man (comic)

The Old Man in the A Link to the Past comic

In The Shadow Prince, Link can encounter mysterious Old Man if he chooses to take the Town of Ruto detour instead of going through the Midoro Swamp as he tries to reach the Water Town of Saria. Just as he is about to arrive to Ruto, he bumps into an Old Man, who gives the young hero a key.[53] The old man goes on to say that he shouldn't go through Ruto on his way to Saria since there is a traffic jam, and the old man disappears before Link can ask any questions.[54]

A Link to the Past (Ishinomori)[]

In the A Link to the Past comic by Shotaro Ishinomori, an Old Man lives in the Sanctuary, replacing the Loyal Sage from the game; however, he has a short role in the comic and only appears in the first chapter. Princess Zelda, after being rescued, suggests to Link that they go to the Sanctuary and see the old man living there so that he may help them with their next move.[55] Upon reaching the Sanctuary, the Old Man explains the consequences of Agahnim's plan: if Agahnim succeeds in opening the way to the Dark World and breaking Ganon's seal, the King of Thieves would gather his army against Hyrule.[56] He then warns Link that he should not underestimate Agahnim if he is going to fight against him, since he can sense that an evil force is guiding the wizard's actions.[57] The Old Man is last seen in the comic after Princess Zelda is kidnapped by Agahnim in the Sanctuary. He tells Link to not worry about him and find the Master Sword since he is the only one who can defeat the evil wizard.[58]

Super Smash Bros. Ultimate[]

The Old Man from Breath of the Wild can occasionally be seen Paragliding in the background of the Great Plateau Tower Stage in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate. He can also be seen landing atop the Tower to watch the Fighters brawling.

Other Similar Old Men[]

Trivia[]

  • In The Legend of Zelda, Link was originally going to have a choice between taking the Wooden Sword or the Boomerang.[59]

Nomenclature[]

TMC Forest Minish Artwork Names in other regions TMC Jabber Nut Sprite
LanguageNameMeaning
United KingdomEnglishBROld Man (BotW)
JapanJapaneseおじいさん (Ojīsan) (TLoZ)[60]Old Man
NetherlandsDutchOude man (BotW)
CanadaFrenchCAVieil homme (BotW)
FranceFrenchEUVieil homme (TLoZ | BotW)[61]Old man
GermanyGermanAlter Mann (TLoZ | TAoL | BotW)[62][63]Old Man
ItalyItalianAnziano (TLoZ)[64]
Vecchio (BotW)
SpainSpanishEUAnciano (TLoZ | BotW)[65]
Latin AmericaSpanishLAAnciano (BotW)
This table was generated using translation pages.
To request an addition, please contact a staff member with a reference.

Gallery[]

See Also[]

Notes

  1. Old Men were referred to as Little Old Men in Tips & Tactics.[7] However, as this contradicts the name given in Encyclopedia, it is not considered Canon.
  2. Old Men were referred to as Rupee Wise Men in The Legend of Zelda: Oracle of Seasons and Oracle of Ages — Official Strategy Guide by BradyGames.[8] However, as this contradicts the name given in Encyclopedia, it is not considered Canon.

References

  1. The Legend of Zelda: Four Swords Adventures — The Official Nintendo Player's Guide, Nintendo of America, pg. 61(FSA)
  2. Encyclopedia, Dark Horse Books, pg. 223 (TAoL)
  3. Encyclopedia, Dark Horse Books, pg. 219 (TLoZ) & 223 (TAoL)
  4. Art & Artifacts, Dark Horse Books, pg. 209 (OoS | OoA)
  5. Encyclopedia, Dark Horse Books, pg. 265 & 266 (FSA)
  6. "Old Man" — N/A (Breath of the Wild)
  7. Tips & Tactics, Nintendo of America, pg. 11
  8. The Legend of Zelda: Oracle of Seasons and Oracle of Ages — Official Strategy Guide (Pocket Guide), BradyGames, pg. 19 (OoS)
  9. "IT'S DANGEROUS TO GO ALONE! TAKE THIS." — Old Man (The Legend of Zelda)
  10. "DODONGO DISLIKES SMOKE." — Old Man (The Legend of Zelda)
  11. "LET'S PLAY A MONEY-MAKING GAME." — Old Man (The Legend of Zelda)
  12. "SHOW THIS TO THE OLD WOMAN." — Old Man (The Legend of Zelda)
  13. "BUY MEDICINE BEFORE YOU GO." — Old Woman (The Legend of Zelda)
  14. "TAKE ANY ROAD YOU WANT." — Old Man (The Legend of Zelda)
  15. "EACH TOWN HAS A WISE MAN. LEARN FROM HIM." — Hylian (The Adventure of Link)
  16. "IN PARAPA DESERT USE THIS MAGIC TO SURVIVE" — Old Man (The Adventure of Link)
  17. "Soil, time, sun, rain, warmth... I await one who knows many essences..." — Old Man (Oracle of Seasons)
  18. 18.0 18.1 "Dearest, we've been married now for 56 years, and you've always been so good to me. After I'm gone, please don't let yourself be too sad for too long. If you get lonely, get yourself a cute Cucco as a pet. If you do, perhaps you'll be able to forget some of your sorrow. Good-bye, old timer. We'll meet again one day." — Letter (Four Swords Adventures)
  19. "... ... ... ... ... Darling... what will I ever do without you..." — Old Man (Four Swords Adventures)
  20. 20.0 20.1 "... ... ... ... ... Ah, what an adorable Cucco. It warms my old heart. After my wife passed on, I was prepared to spend the rest of my days alone... But now that I've seen that Cucco... Would you... let me take care of it for you? I'll give you this key, and you can even take as many Force Gems as you like. If I have that Cucco by my side, I won't need anything else." — Old Man (Four Swords Adventures)
  21. "I BEG YOUR PARDON! I do believe that is my baked apple! You can't just go about taking whatever you please!" — Old Man (Breath of the Wild)
  22. "Oho ho! Forgive me—I could not resist pulling your leg. Please help yourself." — Old Man (Breath of the Wild)
  23. "Well then, just help yourself to that torch there. And how, may I ask, are you planning to use it?" — Old Man (Breath of the Wild)
  24. "[As a weapon!] Innovative... However, that is probably best used to light fires. If you need a weapon, you can find something better. Many beasts roam the land past this point. You can take my axe with you, if you please. Assuming you can find it." — Old Man (Breath of the Wild)
  25. "[To set things on fire!] That is rather...unnerving. Please be cautious with that around any dry grass that might catch fire." — Old Man (Breath of the Wild)
  26. "[It's a secret...] I see, Well then, do as you please." — Old Man (Breath of the Wild)
  27. "[Bye.] Wait. Where are you rushing off to now? Is speaking with a strange old man truly such an awful use of your time?" — Old Man (Breath of the Wild)
  28. "[Bye.] Hmph. Well, do as you like, then." — Old Man (Breath of the Wild)
  29. "Oho ho! So you fancy yourself the strong silent type, eh?" — Old Man (Breath of the Wild)
  30. "It is a bit strange to see another soul in these parts. [Who are you?] Me? I'll spare you my life story. I'm just an old fool who has lived here, alone, for quite some time now. What brings a bright-eyed young man like you to a place like this? [Where are we?] Answering a question with a question. That is fair enough. As I cannot imagine our meeting to be a simple coincidence...I shall tell you. This is the Great Plateau. According to legend, this is the birthplace of the entire kingdom of Hyrule." — Old Man (Breath of the Wild)
  31. "That temple there... Long ago, that was the site of many sacred ceremonies. Ever since the decline of the kingdom 100 years ago, it has sat abandoned, in a state of decay. Yet another forgotten entity. A mere ghost of its former self..." — Old Man (Breath of the Wild)
  32. "[Bye.] Do you not have somewhere else to be, young one?" — Old Man (Breath of the Wild)
  33. "[What are you doing?] I'm relaxing by the fireside, or course... Although I'll need to cook myself another baked apple at some point..." — Old Man (Breath of the Wild)
  34. "Simple foods such as apples are fine to eat raw, but roasting them on a fire makes them tastier and more nutritious." — Old Man (Breath of the Wild)
  35. "However, do not just swing it around without purpose. You must face your opponents and lock your sights on them!" — Old Man (Breath of the Wild)
  36. "My my... It would seem that we have quite the enigma here. This tower and several others just like it have erupted across the land, one after another. Very interesting... It is almost as though...a long-dormant power has awoken quite suddenly. Did anything...odd occur while you were atop that tower?" — Old Man (Breath of the Wild)
  37. "[I heard a voice.] Well now! A voice, you say? And did you happen to recognize this mysterious voice? [No.] I see. Well, then...that is a shame. I assume that you caught sight of that atrocity enshrouding the castle. That...is Calamity Ganon." — Old Man (Breath of the Wild)
  38. "One hundred years ago, that vile entity brought the kingdom of Hyrule to ruin. It appeared suddenly and destroyed everything in its path. So many innocent lives were lost in its wake. For a century, the very symbol of our kingdom, Hyrule Castle, has managed to contain that evil.. But just barely." — Old Man (Breath of the Wild)
  39. "There it festers, building its strength for the moment it will unleash its blight upon the land once again. It would appear that moment is fast approaching... I must ask you, courageous one... Do you intend to make your way to the castle? [I do.] I had a feeling you would say that. Here, on this isolated plateau, we are surrounded on all sides by steep cliffs, with no way down. If you were to try to jump off, well... no death could be more certain. Or more foolish. Of course, if you had a paraglider like mine, that would be quite another story." — Old Man (Breath of the Wild)
  40. "[Hand it over!] Oho! Certainly! Why not? But there is no such thing as a free item in this world, you know. Let's see now... How about I trade it for a bit of treasure that slumbers nearby? Come. Let me show you something." — Old Man (Breath of the Wild)
  41. "Oho! Fancy that! So we meet again. [What are you doing?] I thought this tree here would make for some good firewood. However...getting a tree to fall exactly where you want it to is quite an art. The trick is to turn your hips so that they face where you want the tree to land." — Old Man (Breath of the Wild)
  42. "So... I see you found my axe. Why not help me out and give it a few swings? I'm working up quite a sweat here...but these bones could use a break." — Old Man (Breath of the Wild)
  43. "Oho! I see you did my work for me. Wonderful! Go ahead and take some of that wood for yourself. Don't be shy, now." — Old Man (Breath of the Wild)
  44. "The old man's diary... On this desolate plateau, the only thing that gives me comfort is cooking. And today, I outdid myself! Truly, I created the perfect dish. I call it...spicy meat and seafood fry. This recipe not only restores health, but it also keeps me warm, even when traveling in the snowy mountains. With this dish on my side, I no longer have need of that itchy warm doublet. [Read more.] I do not know how I allowed this to happen, but it seems I forgot to write down a very important recipe. (...) If I did find someone who knew the missing ingredient, I would happily reward them with my warm doublet." — Old Man (Breath of the Wild)
  45. "If you're hungry, I have an empty pot you can use to cook yourself a meal. [I cooked something.] Wait... Is that... That looks just like my signature perfect dish, spicy meat and seafood fry! But how did you-?! Well, I suppose that is not important. Can I trouble you to share the recipe? (...) Well done! Now, please allow me to reward your culinary efforts with this warm doublet." — Old Man (Breath of the Wild)
  46. "You did well to make it this far without the proper clothing. Please take this warm doublet as a reward for your tenacity. I assume you will want to try it on right away, yes? I thought you might be eager to see how it looks... It's quite fetching! Well, I suppose it matters not. It is yours now. Do take care to put it on before you get too cold, though." — Old Man (Breath of the Wild)
  47. "Ahhh... I enjoy gazing out at the world from here. [B-b-breathtaking view...] This may be the best place to get a full view of the entire plateau. Did you know about the scope on your Sheikah Slate? Look through it, and you can stick a pin anywhere you'd like to mark on the map.
    The pins on your map serve as reference points for your travels. Just stick a pin anywhere you're interested in! [How do you know?] Oho ho! Just a few tricks I've picked up after many, many years in the wild... You may take my advice or leave it. Go ahead and take a look if you feel inclined to do so.
    " — Old Man (Breath of the Wild)
  48. "Well, well, well... So we meet again. [What are you doing?] Can you not see that I'm hunting here? You'll scare off my prey like that. At least crouch down a bit." — Old Man (Breath of the Wild)
  49. "Quiet, please. I'm still hunting. [Got any tips?] First, crouch down and approach your prey quietly to ensure you will not be noticed. When you're close enough that detection is nearly imminent...draw your bow and let your arrow fly! Aim thoughtfully, and you should be able to take down your prey with a single arrow. I am rather tired... Yes, I think I'm going to take a small break." — Old Man (Breath of the Wild)
  50. "Seems you managed to get your hands on a Spirit Orb! Well done! [Paraglider, please?] Let's slow down for a moment there, my young friend. The appearance of those towers and the awakening of this shrine... It's all connected to that Sheikah Slate you carry on your hip there. [What do you mean?] It has been quite some time since I've seen or heard of the Sheikah Slate... Long ago, an advanced civilization known as the Sheikah inhabited these lands. It was the power and wisdom of the Sheikah that saved this land time and time again. But their civilization disappeared long ago...or so it is said. It is interesting, however, to think...that something of them might still remain hidden away in a shrine such as this. These shrines are tucked away in numerous places all across this land." — Old Man (Breath of the Wild)
  51. "On this plateau alone, I believe there are still three more. Secure the treasure from those shrines...and I will give you the Paraglider. [So I need more now?] I said "treasure," but I never said there would only be one treasure. Whether it's one treasure or four, what's the difference for a young go-getter like yourself?" — Old Man (Breath of the Wild)
  52. "If you will, allow me to teach you a trick for finding the shrines. It's always best to survey the area by looking around from a high point. Let's see here... Why don't you see if you can make your way up to the top of that tower again? [Are you joking?] Har har har... Hardly. Let me show you something... Take a look at the Map on your Sheikah Slate. Do you see those blue icons? One is a shrine, and the other is the tower. You can travel instantly to either of those places with the Sheikah Slate." — Old Man (Breath of the Wild)
  53. "An old man with a long cane suddenly appears in the road in front of them. 'Just a humble townsman,' the man says. 'And a friend to you.' [...] The man shuffles forward, waving his cane. 'That's right, young fella!' He smiles, showing a row of crooked, yellow teeth. Then he reaches into his cloak and pulls out something that glimmers like gold. [...] The man places it in Link's hand." (The Shadow Prince, Simon & Schuster, pg. 69, 70)
  54. "'A key!' he says with a wink. 'A key, that's what she is! Listen, take my advice and don't go through Ruto on your way to Saria. Terrible traffic jam in there.' Before Link can ask any more questions, the man turns and disappears into the tall grass by the roadside." (The Shadow Prince, Simon & Schuster, pg. 70)
  55. "We must escape and make our way to the Sanctuary!! The Old Man there will help us" (A Link to the Past manga, VIZ Media, pg. 13)
  56. "Yes...and were he successful, the master of evil would marshal his forces against this world again!" (A Link to the Past manga, VIZ Media, pg. 14)
  57. "Link? If you are going to battle the wizard Agahnim, do not underestimate him! I sense a powerful evil force is guiding his actions..." (A Link to the Past manga, VIZ Media, pg. 15)
  58. "Don't worry about me! Find the Master Sword! Link--it's up to you alone!" (A Link to the Past manga, VIZ Media, pg. 16)
  59. The Legend of Zelda manual, pg. 41
  60. Encyclopedia (Tokuma Shoten Publishing) pg. 217
  61. Encyclopedia (Les Éditions Soleil) pg. 219
  62. Encyclopedia (TOKYOPOP) pg. 219
  63. Encyclopedia (TOKYOPOP) pg. 223
  64. Encyclopedia (Magazzini Salani) pg. 219
  65. Encyclopedia (Norma Editorial) pg. 219

de-niwa:Alter Mann

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