Zelda CD-i: What's for dinner?

I can't believe it's been over ten years and this thing still holds up to some degree.

Zelda: The Wand of Gamelon - The OST

I can't believe you can listen to every single music track from this game on YouTube. Gotta love 1990s CD-rom production standards.

HalfBlindGamer plays Zelda: The Wand of Gamelon - Part 11 of 11

"What happened?"

"Nothing, Link. We were just about to have a feast."

"Great!"

*laughter*

Reesong Palace

Here is the map. Where do you wish to go? (by Seth 0708)

Unless you have the Fairy Lantern, the enemies will be invisible. You'll be dealing with Phyrandaii and Gargoyles in this section as you go right, drop down and go left to the archway.

When you make it to the second section, you'll meet Impa. According to the Triforce of Wisdom, you can only win by falling. Go right, avoid the falling rocks and enter the palace.

Light up the Fairy Lantern, then get to the next door. Jump on the rock to jump to the ladder. Take out the Goriyas and avoid the falling spikes.

New enemies are abound in the fourth section. Stone Heads.move around in circles and spit fireballs at you, while Flying Fish will try to home in on you. The second Stone Head carries a key, so kill it and take the key before you enter the next door.

The first door leads to Gannon, but you won't be able to open it yet. Enter the hole in the floor below the boarded up doors, Climb up the ladder when ou drop down and enter the archway. Destroy the Goriyas and avoid the falling spikes. The Goriya at the end has a key, so kill him and take it. Go back down and enter the grate at the bottom. You'll end up back at the entrance to the inside of the palace.

Head back to the door you skipped in the courtyard. Leap on the rock below the stone wall and then leap up and go left. You'll finally meet Gannon.

Gannon will kill you in three hits, so you'll want full health for this. Climb up the ladder, and try not to die. Throw the Wand of Gamelon at him and he'll be locked back in the Book of Koridai (I'm guessing this is the sequel to Faces of Evil.) 

Climb to the top of this room. Thankfully there are no enemies except for the falling spikes at the last door. Go in and talk to the King.

The King is saved, and Duke Onkled is forced to scrub all the floors in Hyrule. As for Link, you'll find out that Lady Alma's mirror (which we've never seen until now) was Link all along. How and why this was never addressed, as well as how and why Link was mentioned probably three times at most in the entire game, make up the biggest inconsistency I have ever known. Even stranger is that Link has no memory of how he got trapped in a mirror, with Zelda just shrugging it off by saying "Nothing, Link! We were just about to have a feast!" and Link saying "Great!" before Zelda and the King laugh.

If you couldn't tell already, you've just beaten the game.

HalfBlindGamer plays Zelda: The Wand of Gamelon - Part 10 of 11

We make some preparations for the final area...

The Fairy Pool

If your canteen is empty, go back here and refill on Water of Life.

Shrine of Gamelon

The Shrine of Gamelon is just northwest of the Nokani Forest. It's basically right next to it..

The Phyrandaii are the rolling fireballs that come down the hill leading to the shrine. Avoid them with the Magic Cloak.

When you meet Impa, she'll tell you that Omfak guards the shrine. Whatever he sees, he will devour by changing his head to a giant pair of lips. Climb up to the top of the path and enter the archway.

In the next section, you'll meet another new enemy as you climb some more: the Deadites, another flying enemy. When you reach the rocks in the middle of the second section, use the Magic Cape to jump the gap to the rocks on the left. Once you've made it over, jump to the altar at the top and enter. You'll meet Omfak. Wait for his head to change to the lips, then strike him. Be sure to use the Magic Cape to avoid taking damage.

When you beat Omfak, he'll leave the Wand of Gamelon. Take it.

HalfBlindGamer plays Zelda: The Wand of Gamelon - Part 9 of 11

"YOU KILLED ME!"

"Good."

Dodomai Palace

Here is the map. Where do you wish to go? (by Seth 0708)

The level starts with a new enemy: Deelers. These spiders will move towards you a little more quickly than other enemies.

You'll meet Impa when you go left. She'll tell you that The King and his royal retainer were captured by Gannon, and are now under the watchful eye of Hectan.

Bomb the wall, then ride the crocodile into the sewers.

Light up the Magic Lantern, then leap on the rocks and go right. Avoid the Zoras and their projectiles (as well as the Keese) and enter the sewer grate. You'll be at the entrance to Dodomai Palace, which is guarded by falling spikes, Gleeok Heads and two Darknuts. Take out the Darknuts and get the key one of them drops. Don't even bother destroying the Gleeok Heads as they'll just respawn as soon as you get rid of them.

There are multiple doors to choose from as soon as you enter the palace. Climb up the curtain and enter the first door. Avoid the falling rocks as you climb up to the top and enter the door there. Take out the Armos and you'll meet Hectan. Slash him with your sword to defeat him and get another Heart Container, bringing your maximum life to six hearts.

Go right and enter the window. You'll meet the King's retainer. Cut the chains to free him, and he'll tell you Duke Onkled betrayed the King. He'll also tell you to strike the head of the portrait to enter Onkled's chamber. Take the key he leaves, then go back to the first room.

Avoid the Wallmaster. Enter the room down the stairs to the right and the key. Watch out for the Wallmasters and the Keese flying out of the grates. If you haven't killed Hectan first, you'll find Impa in the next room.

Go upstairs and take either of the first two doors upstairs. Go upstairs, and you'll find Duke Onkled. He'll tell you to enter Reesong Palace: go all the way to the left and use the rock, then take the key he leaves you to enter. The royal retainer will apprehend Onkled.

Your cursor will be trained on Nokani Forest when you leave this area. It's a little bit northeast of the tower at Shutoy Lake.

Nokani Forest

New enemy here: Goriyas. These guys will throw Boomerangs at you, but they don't return to them like in other Zelda games. Instead, the boomerangs just drop straight down after being thrown.

Keep going left, and take out the Bots and Gargoyles as you go. Enter the hole in the tree, then climb your way to the top. You'll meet another new enemy here: Moas. The Moas will fly around and home in on your current location to eat away at your health. Be sure to use the Magic Lantern when it gets dark.

When you reach the hole in the tree at the top, you're going to be doing even more climbing. Make sure you move away from doors before you use items. At the top, the woman from Hanyu Forest will give you the Fairy Lantern, which allows you to pierce the darkness around Ganon.

HalfBlindGamer plays Zelda: The Wand of Gamelon - Part 8 of 11

It's time to get some Water of Life, as well as some bread.

Shutoy Lake

The first door contains a bunch of Moblins and nothing else. The second one contains a key. The third door, which is all the way to the right, contains Impa. Impa will tell you that Wizzrobe has captured Lady Alma.

When you go back through the door, you'll appear at the other side of the hut. When you get on the crocodile to ride to the other side, you'll be attacked by Spearfish which are impossible to kill. Unless you have five hearts for your maximum health, you're not going to make it past this part.

At the other end is the tower in the center of the lake. Enter.

When you enter, you'll have to climb on the dark red bricks to the top of the tower, avoiding the falling rocks as you go (which is difficult unless you go somewhat fast).

Enter the door at the top of the tower, go a little bit to the right, and use the Magic Lantern. Drop down to the door. Wait for the Moblin to show up, then kill him and get the key to enter the next door. Inside is Wizzrobe. Since you have the Reflective Shield, you can duck down and deflect his projectiles back at him. It takes one to kill the guy. Take the key and go up to the door above. Bomb the wall and talk to Lady Alma. She'll tell you that he gave her his canteen for a kiss. It's empty, but you can still make use of it.

Exiting this area puts your cursor on Reesong Palace, the big red castle that towers over everything else in the game. It's in the center of the map, north of the Fairy Pool.

The Fairy Pool

Head back to the fairies and talk to them. You'll be able to fill the canteen with the Water of Life.

Sakado

Remember the third door? Well, you can finally go inside and talk to the baker. He'll give you some bread. When you use it, it'll keep the Arpagos from hurting you as they go for the floor. It does leave your inventory, so if you use it, you'll have to go back here and get it again. Since it's so late in the game, it's almost completely useless.

HalfBlindGamer plays Zelda: The Wand of Gamelon - Part 7 of 11

In this entry, we explore the Dordung Cave and get the Heat Crystal!

Dordung Cave

You'll want to jump left as soon as you go into that direction, or else you'll fall into a pit and die.

There's a new enemy here: the Jawbees. These things will vertically track you, much like the Gargoyles in the swamp did.

The cave to the left contains Gleeok heads that will spit projectiles at you. Use the ropes to get up the platforms, and you'll eventually meet the Gleeok itself. Bomb it to get the Heat Crystal.

When you leave this area, Dodomai Palace will be highlighted. It's the castle on the southeast corner of the map, just south of Sakado.

Sakado

Head back to the fisherman-turned-blacksmith and talk to him. He'll forge the Heat Crystal into the sword, giving you the ability to shoot beams even if your health isn't completely full.

Angry Video Game Nerd - Zelda: The Wand of Gamelon

Unlike the other Zelda games on CD-i, this is the only one to have its own separate AVGN video. Not surprisingly, the controls for this game are not good, and could have been better. And those cutscenes...THOSE CUTSCENES...

HalfBlindGamer plays Zelda: The Wand of Gamelon - Part 6 of 11

My cakes will burn!

Gobiyan Ship

When you reach the part of the dirt path that winds down to the left, you can go down the hill to the left. They actually managed to program that in. It's a miracle. When you suddenly drop down a little bit, go right. You'll go down the path and to the right. There really is a method to this madness.

You'll come across a new enemy here: the Zoras. Just like in the rest of the games, they'll spit projectiles at you. Throw a bomb on it, then get on the rock in front of the ship and enter.

When you enter, you'll find out that this ship appears to be haunted. Make your way up and to the right as you fight the Ghinis and Stalfos. There's a door in the mast just after the stairs to the top level. Enter it.

You'll now be climbing up some masts. Use the flute to stop the Ghinis for a little while (hope you have a lot of Rupees). You'll find an Arpagos Feather in the nest at the top as well as a key to the right of that. You'll also find that if you fall too far, the game acts a little glitchy.

When you exit this section, go to the right and enter the door. Get the Shield before you leave, as this one is better than the one you start with. This is the Reflecting Shield, and it allows you to reflect energy beams back at enemies.

When you head back to the map screen from here, your map cursor will be trained on the Shrine of Gamelon, just south of the ship.

Hanyu Swamp

Head back to the end of Hanyu Swamp and give the Arpagos Feather to the woman at the end. She'll make the shroud into a magic cape. This allows you to jump higher and longer at the cost of a few rupees.

Tykogi Tower

You'll meet Impa at the start. Talk to her, and you'll find out everyone has been taken here. All of a sudden, two people show up: some guy who says "This is illegal, you know" and a baker who is afraid that his cakes will burn.

You'll meet a new enemy here, as well: the Octorok. Just like in all the other games in the series, they'll spit rocks at you. This time around they can shoot in eight directions, and it can be a nightmare unless you can somehow finish them off before they can attack you.

There will be a rock blocking the entrance, but instead of wasting ten bombs on it, you can equip the Power Glove and break it in one blow.

You'll meet the baker as soon as you enter the tower. Once you talk to him, you'll find out Mayor Kravendish ("This is illegal, you know.") is also being held hostage. He'll leave a key, which you'll need later. Light up the tower with the lantern, and steer clear of the Wallmasters that are sticking out of the walls, ready to grab you. Sadly, they're indestructible.

You'll also meet the Armos, which move back and forth with a spear in their hands.

When you reach the top and enter the door, you'll meet Iron Knuckle, who wants to destroy you for defying him. Equip the Power Glove, then climb up and stab him to kill him immediately. Two Armos will see him lying on the ground destroyed, and they escape.

Destroying Iron Knuckle also reveals a Heart Container in his body, which Zelda will take, bringing her maximum health to five hearts. He also leaves a key behind. Grab it, then climb down to the brown door on the right. You'll free Mayor Kravendish. Jump up and attack to cut the chains after you talk to him, and he'll give you the Magic Lantern. This lantern lights up the room longer.

When you exit this area, your map cursor will be on Dordung Cave, which is north of the Hanyu Forest.

HalfBlindGamer plays Zelda: The Wand of Gamelon - Part 5 of 11

We fight off another boss and get some really useful items! The game should be a little easier now...

Washubi Swamp

Go through the swamp and meet up with the Swamp Wizard again. Now that you have the Hanyu Spores, you'll get the Power Glove.

The Fairy Pool

When you begin the level, you'll meet the Three Witches. They've frozen the Fountain of Life, made everything evil and made the whole place dark.

Turn on the Lantern, then kill the witches. The first one is at the start and can be killed more efficiently with a bomb. As for the other two, they're at the right. Use a bomb on them as well. The projectiles from the witch on top will kill you regardless of how much health you have, so be careful.

When you kill the Three Witches, the Fairies will show up. Talk to them, and you'll get an extra heart for your maximum health, a Water of Life that will refill your health and some fairy dust.

When you leave this area, your map cursor will be on the Gobiyan Ship, which is the ship at the top of the map.

Sakado

Head to the fourth house and talk to the woman there. Since you now have some fairy dust, you can now get the Magic Cloak, which costs five Rupees to use and allows you to turn invisible for a few seconds, making it so that enemies cannot see you. However, you are not invulnerable when you use it, so you must still be careful.

HalfBlindGamer plays Zelda: The Wand of Gamelon - Part 4 of 11

We've got some more quests that we can do as we look for both Link and the King!

Kobitan

Kobiran is north of Abitaru.

Give the Arpagos Egg to the woman who needed it. She'll give you a flute. This stops all flying enemies for about eight seconds, but it requires five Rupees to use.

Washubi Swamp

Be careful as you line yourself up with the Lowders to fire beams from the Power Sword, as precision jumping here is essential.

You can ride on the alligators' backs if you need to.

You'll have to go through two whole sections of this, as the hut at the end of the first section just leads to the second.

When you enter the house at the end of the second section, you'll meet the Swamp Wizard. If you can give him some Hanyu Spores, he can help you get more powerful.

You can exit from here. Your map cursor will be trained on Hanyu Forest, right on the southwestern coast of the map near Shutoy Lake.

Hanyu Forest

Use the Bombs on the Bots if you can't line up your Power Sword beams with them, and keep an eye on the sky for the Gargoyles, which mesh in with the trees in the background fairly well.

You do not want the Bots to touch you, as they will stick to you and kill you in mere seconds. Also, if you jump over them, they'll instantly turn around as soon as you're right above them and they'll begin to follow you.

After entering the hole in the tree at the end of the first section, you'll come across the Hanyu Spore on a nearby rock. Take it, and bring it back to Washubi Swamp.

The woman at the end of the second section will ask if you have any Arpagos feathers if you talk to her. 

Your cursor will be on the Fairy Pool at the center of the map when you exit.

HalfBlindGamer plays Zelda: The Wand of Gamelon - Part 3 of 11

"The shroud! It's cold! AHHHHHHHHHH!"

Abitaru

Head out to the right, taking out the Boons as they fly at you. Enter the cave, then stand there and repeatedly shoot projectiles at the Gohma until it dies. Exit through the other side of the cave, and take the upper path as you fight off the Arpagos. Talk to the woman and you'll get a drink of water that will refill your health. The woman will then notice a fisherman trapped in the fish skeleton. Climb up the fish head and blow up the rock with ten Bombs. (Don't you think one is enough, game?) There is a hole where the eye should be. Go in. Talk to the fisherman, and he'll leave you a key before saying he'll see you in Sakado. You can exit to the world map from here.

You can now play Shutoy Lake, which is on the southwest side of the map.

Sakado

Enter the fourth and last house. Go up the stairs and enter the window. Go left and enter the door. You'll find Impa. Talk to her, and you'll find out that the King has been captured and that Link has been in a terrible fight, the details of which are cloudy.

Leave this area, then go right. Enter the first door past the window you entered here from. Enter the door to the right, and go up the Arpagos-ridden tower. Use Ropes if you need to. At the top, you'll get the Arpagos Egg. Leave this area.

Go all the way to the right and enter the blacksmith's shop. The fisherman is now a blacksmith, and if you have a heat crystal, he can power up your sword.

To the left of this is a church as well as a green archway that leads to a mausoleum. Enter the mausoleum, and blow up the wall to the left with a Bomb. Shoot down the Ghinis and Stalfos as you go left to get the key.

From the mausoleum, enter the church. You'll meet Gibdo. Turn on the lantern, and climb upwards. You'll meet Gibdo again. Throw the shroud at him to kill him, and you'll be able to exit Sakado.

You'll end up with the map pointer on Washbi Swamp, near Aru Ainu.

HalfBlindGamer plays Zelda: The Wand of Gamelon - Part 2 of 11

Let's explore a little more of the towns, and get another sword so we can shoot projectiles!

Sakado

Enter the second house. Take out the Keese as they show up, and watch out for the Moblins and their spears. Keep jumping upwards to get the screen to scroll in that direction. Enter the door at the top and you'll be able to get the Power Sword, which allows you to shoot projectiles out of your sword as long as your health is full.

Now it's time to head to the northwest corner of the map and enter Aru Ainu.

Aru Ainu

Make you way down, destroying the boars with the projectiles of your newly acquired Power Sword as you go. You'll want to get them before they can get you, as they can eat through your health like crazy. From there, go right, then jump up to the house. You have to jump to the part of the platform just left of the house, and you have to do it in a rather specific way. This makes getting around on hills that act like platforms harder than it should be.

Enter the house. You'll find a Dodongo. Go down and bomb the Dodongo, then grab the key it leaves behind. Climb up the rocks on the wall to leave.

There's another house to the right of the one you just left. Go inside and talk to the woman. She talks about how the Gleeok scared the townspeople away, then she gives you a shroud which will scare the wraps off Gibdo.

Your pointer will be on Tykogi Tower, near Sakado.

HalfBlindGamer plays Zelda: The Wand of Gamelon - Part 1 of 11

Finally... the Phillips CD-i.

Duke Onkled is under attack by the evil forces of Gannon. The King takes the Triforce of Courage to protect him. If he doesn't come back in a month, Link has to find him. All of a sudden, Link disappears as well. It's up to Zelda and Impa now as we start off one of the three games in the unholy trinity of Zelda CD-I games.

There are three places on the map that you can choose at the beginning of the game: Aru Ainu (northwest corner), Kobitan (northeast corner) and Sakado (south of Kobitan).

Sakado

To fight enemies, simply stab at them with your sword. Unlike other games in the Zelda series, you have to stab the Rupees with your sword in order to collect them. Red ones are worth one, green are worth five and blue are worth twenty (meaning that they got the red and green ones confused here).

The shield can deflect hits and protect you, but good luck getting it to work while standing up. Unless you're crouching, it doesn't seem to want to do its job.

You can jump in this game, but as you're going to find out, Link's Awakening does a much better job at the whole jumping thing.

The enemies here aren't too bad. Besides the Arpagos that move in one direction, you'll also have some Dairas who will throw axes at you. You can deflect the axes with your sword.

The first house is the shop. Lamp oil is worth five Rupees, rope is worth ten and bombs are worth twenty. If you press the attack button on the glowing Triforce symbol to the left of the lamp oil (which you'll find in all of the areas), you'll go back to the map screen.

The second house is dark, but will come into play later on.

The third house is locked.

The fourth house contains a woman. To talk to NPC, go up to them and press the attack button. In the first of many strangely animated cutscenes involving NPCs, she'll give you a cloak tell you to bring some fairy dust so she can make it a magic cloak.

Kobitan

To go up the hills, simply jump up to them. To go down them, simply walk around and you'll eventually find out where the "platforms" end. Watch out for the Moblins and their spears.

The house on the right is locked, but the one on the left is not. Use the duck walk (hold down-left or down-right on the Control Pad) to duck under the spears thrown by the Moblin kneeling on the floor. Once you beat him, it'll be easy to get the Lantern.

There is a house above the two we've just explored. Go in there and use the Lantern by bringing up the inventory and using it. This is very strange to do, as you have to hold Down on the Control Pad and press another button in order to open it. Remember that you need Lamp Oil in order to use the Lantern.

When you use the Lantern, the darkened house will be fully lit. Take out the Vire while avoiding its projectiles, then use a rope and climb up and get the key. Go down and enter the locked house. The woman inside will tell you that she'd do anything for an Arpagos egg after the Moblins have stolen everything from her. From here, you can go up the stairs and return to the map screen.