Old Man
From Zelda Wiki.org
| Old Man | |
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| Title | Old Man |
| Race | Hylian |
| Gender | Male |
| First appearance | The Legend of Zelda |
| Latest appearance | Four Sword Adventures |
| Family | Woman from Rauru Town (daughter) Woman from Town of Ruto (niece) |
The Old Man is the title given to several characters serving different functions, appearing in The Legend of Zelda, The Adventure of Link, A Link to the Past, Oracle of Ages and Seasons, and Four Sword Adventures.
Contents |
Appearances
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,[1] or giving helpful hints regarding enemies such as the Dodongo.[2] Many helpful items can be obtained from these old men, and a mini-game can be played with them called the Money Making Game.[3] 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 a Letter from the old man in a northeast cave of Hyrule.[4] When Link shows the Letter to various Old Women, they will sell him Life Potions and 2nd Potions.[5]
The Adventure of Link
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In The Adventure of Link, there are several old men residing in many of the towns. These old men teach Link useful spells once he has achieved the necessary prerequisites.[6] These spells are usually required for access to the next area that Link must travel to.
A dwarf Old Man keeps the Triforce of Courage in the Great Palace. When Link enters the chamber of the Triforce, this old man stands atop a pillar before summoning Shadow Link out of Link's body as a final test. When Link defeats his dark counterpart, the dwarf old man hands Link the Triforce of Courage.
Oracle of Ages & Seasons
In the Oracle series, Old Men appear in caves that Link finds using by using the shovel or burning trees 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. One Old Man also appears in the Hero's Cave of a linked version of Oracle of Seasons.
Four Sword Adventures
Old men return in Four Sword Adventures, as spirits who will assist the four Links by giving them hints in form of bizarre remarks. One appears in the Cave of No Return, jealous over Link for having friends, something he himself never had. He informs them that they can make it over the chasm by throwing themselves over.[7] However, it is not a given that they'll give the four Links any hints or usable information, as sometime they'll just give bizarre remarks, such as the old man found at the graveyard. [8]
Non-canon Appearances
The Shadow Prince
Non-Canon Information! The following article or section is not Zelda canon, and shouldn't be taken as such.
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.[9] 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.[10]
Other Similar Old Men
- Sahasrahla, Aginah, and the Lost Old Man – in A Link to the Past.
- Ulrira – in Link's Awakening.
- Old Man in Kakariko Village – in Ocarina of Time.
- Lake Scientist – in Ocarina of Time and Majora's Mask.
- Old Man Ho Ho – in The Wind Waker.
- Sturgeon – in The Wind Waker and The Minish Cap.
Trivia
The Old Men share similarities with the Wise Men from A Link to the Past.
Gallery
 The Triforce Keeper behind Link and Shadow Link |
References
- ↑ "IT'S DANGEROUS TO GO ALONE! TAKE THIS" —Old Man (The Legend of Zelda)
- ↑ "DODONGO DISLIKES SMOKE" —Old Man (The Legend of Zelda)
- ↑ "LET'S PLAY MONEY MAKING GAME" —Old Man (The Legend of Zelda)
- ↑ "SHOW THIS TO THE OLD WOMAN" —Old Man (The Legend of Zelda)
- ↑ "BUY MEDICINE BEFORE YOU GO" —Old Woman (The Legend of Zelda)
- ↑ "IN PARAPA DESERT USE THIS MAGIC TO SURVIVE" —Old Man (The Adventure of Link)
- ↑ "Urrk urrrk... You...have friends... I'm jealous... If you have friends, you can toss 'em across chasms... I never had any friends. You're a lucky guy..." —Old man spirit (Four Sword Adventures)
- ↑ "I came to visit my departed wife's grave. Then she showed up, saying she came to visit MY grave... I wish someone would tell me which one of us is the ghost and which isn't!" —Old man spirit (Four Sword Adventures)
- ↑ "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 (Mammoth), pg. 69, 70)
- ↑ "'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 (Mammoth), pg. 70)
