Current Events > Ultimate starter guide to Oracle of Ages / Oracle of Seasons >_>

(+) Yeah! (+)

Now that the Oracle games are on Switch Online, it's a good time for a lot of newbies to start the games. If you didn't know, these games are connected and beating one game gives you a password to start an enhanced game (called a Linked Game) in the other, as well as give you bonuses for both games via passwords. Seasons -> Ages and Age -> Seasons are slightly different experiences and give you different rings, bonus dungeons and side-stories as well.

"Yeah yeah, that's cool, but which Linked game would you recommend an Oracle n00b to do!?"

tl;dr: You can't go wrong with either, but personally I like Seasons -> Ages because it has a better dungeon difficulty progression and lets you 100% the map in Ages. Ages -> Seasons is still fine though and it does have a better side-story imo. I definitely recommend doing both at some point in your life, but Seasons -> Ages feels more organically better to me.

Now once you beat 2nd game, you unlock something called "Hero's Secret" (aka New Game+) on the game you just beat. This starts you on the Standard version of the game with an extra heart (so now you can get a nice even 16 hearts instead of awkwardly having 15 >_>), gives you a pretty triforce symbol on your save file, and you can keep all the rings from your last game as well as the Victory Ring. This is the only way to legitimately get all the rings into one save file (though you'll have to do it twice if you want to get it in both the Linked version and Standard version of each game).

Basically it goes:
Seasons (Standard) -> Ages (Linked) -> Ages (Hero's Secret Standard) -> Seasons (Hero's Secret Linked)
(opposite if you start with Ages obviously)

Now you can beat the game like 8 fucking times like a mad man to get all the rings in both versions of both games, but that shit's tedious. I recommend just downloading a password gen and giving yourself a Hero's Secret file in both games and then just play it from there >_>

https://www.zeldadungeon.net/wiki/Oracle_of_Seasons_and_Ages_Password_Generator

I also *highly* recommend just giving yourself all the rings in both those files cuz that shit can get stupidly tedious sometimes with grinding gasha trees, Maple drops, and minigame drops across 2 games. But if you're dead-set on not depriving yourself from the full grinding experience, at least give yourself the 2 GBA rings since they are literally impossible to get on the Switch version. You should also get the exclusive rings in Ages and Seasons since you can't do an opposite Linked game on the Hero's Secret file you generated.

If you're going Seasons -> Ages, give yourself these rings when you start Seasons:
Power Ring L-3 (Hero's Cave in Linked Seasons)
Spin Ring (Plen Secret only from Ages -> Seasons)
Snowshoe Ring (Mamamu Secret only from Ages -> Seasons)
GBA Time Ring (from the GBA shop in Ages)
GBA Nature Ring (from the GBA shop in Seasons)

If you're going Ages -> Seasons, give yourself these rings when you start Ages:
Armor Ring L-3 (Hero's Cave in Linked Ages)
Heart Ring L-1 (Temple Secret only from Seasons -> Ages)
Swimmer's Ring (Diver Secret only from Seasons -> Ages)
GBA Time Ring (from the GBA shop in Ages)
GBA Nature Ring (from the GBA shop in Seasons)

Now I don't know if you're able to gen yourself rings with the program on a save that's in progress, hence why I recommend doing it from the get-go >_>

That's pretty much it. I feel like doing it this way is the best way to experience the games imo. That way you don't have to worry about grinding out rings and can have fun messing around with them as you play, plus you dont have to play through the games an extra 4 times if you're dead set on unlocking everything. Plus your OCD will thank you for not having an awkward heart count in a non-Hero's Secret file.

This PSA was brought to you by CE's Resident Titty Meister >_>

Also Nayru > Din > Farore

Thanks for the info. It's been a long time since I played either of these so I forgot about most of the specifics of this stuff. I'll probably just start with a Hero's Secret run like you said, but I'm not sure which game I'll start with yet or if I'll give myself all of the rings from the start or not.

DKBananaSlamma posted...

Also Nayru > Din

They're both great, but I disagree, Din is better.

Din is way hotter! Why are you always wrong on these matters?!

Man Im so glad this just got added. I just finished a replay of minish cap and was missing these games. About to go the emulator route but Id rather play it on switch

Calwings posted...

They're both great, but I disagree, Din is better.

Seaman_Prime posted...

Din is way hotter! Why are you always wrong on these matters?!

You guys are crazy!

https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/a/user_image/8/7/5/AAfOu0AAEt-L.jpg
https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/a/user_image/8/7/6/AAfOu0AAEt-M.jpg

Calwings posted...

Thanks for the info. It's been a long time since I played either of these so I forgot about most of the specifics of this stuff. I'll probably just start with a Hero's Secret run like you said, but I'm not sure which game I'll start with yet or if I'll give myself all of the rings from the start or not.

I really recommend just getting all the rings. Planting some gasha trees, killing like 40 enemies, then going around to get rings from the trees is tedious. As well as running into Maple and hoping she drops her rings. Or grinding out Goron dancing or Target minecart or Subrosian dancing, etc for hours. Trust me, just trying to get the Heart Pieces from the Gasha trees and Maple is all the RNG you'll ever want >_>

Nayru > Din

That being said, the real best girl is the waifu tree from Ages

LordOfTheCats posted...

That being said, the real best girl is the waifu tree from Ages

https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/a/user_image/0/0/7/AAfOu0AAEuAP.jpg

Nobody likes thicc Impa

;_;

https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/a/user_image/0/2/6/AAN5R1AAEuAi.png

I like how her phat tits are just out there

DKBananaSlamma posted...

I like how her phat tits are just out there

Her artwork was actually censored for the US:

https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/a/user_image/0/2/7/AAN5R1AAEuAj.jpg

Damn you America! Free the titties

DKBananaSlamma posted...

now you can get a nice even 16 hearts instead of awkwardly having 15

Pretty sure you can do this in every playthrough.

DKBananaSlamma posted...

You guys are crazy!

https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/a/user_image/8/7/5/AAfOu0AAEt-L.jpg
https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/a/user_image/8/7/6/AAfOu0AAEt-M.jpg

https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/a/user_image/0/3/3/AAEhCpAAEuAp.jpg

marthsheretoo posted...

Pretty sure you can do this in every playthrough.

No, you can get 14 hearts in a normal run, 15 hearts in a linked run, and 16 hearts in a hero's run.

You can also get 16 hearts in a linked run, but only in the second game since you start with 4 hearts instead of 3. Hero's run gets you 16 in both.
I think? Maybe the 4th heart is Hero's only, but I don't recall exactly...

marthsheretoo posted...

Pretty sure you can do this in every playthrough.

Nope, you can only get 15 hearts max in your first Standard game. Linked game onwards can give you an even 16

HylianFox posted...

Maybe the 4th heart is Hero's only, but I don't recall exactly...

Nope, regular Linked, Hero's Secret, and Hero's Secret Linked will give you 16 hearts.

HylianFox posted...

Nobody likes thicc Impa

;_;

https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/a/user_image/0/2/6/AAN5R1AAEuAi.png

Blimpa

Questionmarktarius posted...

https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/a/user_image/0/3/3/AAEhCpAAEuAp.jpg

I hope everyone agrees that Farore is always last, right?

Right? >_>

You shouldnt give yourself rings to start. The good rings would really fuck with the game balance. But eventually using a password to get rings is a good idea.

[LFAQs-redacted-quote]

For Animal buddies, they always let you mess around with 3 before you make your choice. Though the choice you make is unknown to you unless you know beforehand what action unlocks who.

If you're starting Seasons, after Level 2 but before you head to North Horon (might be before you meet Ricky actually):
Ricky - Don't do any other option and you'll unlock him
Dimitri - Play the Subrosian Dance minigame at this point and they'll give you his flute
Moosh - Buy his flute from the Horon Village Shop

If you're starting Ages, I *think* it's after level 3 when you get the seed shooter but before you go north of Lynna Village to look at the broken bridge
Ricky - Get a certain score in the Lynna Village Shooting Gallery in the past
Dimitri - Buy his flute from the Lynna Village Shop
Moosh - Don't do any other option and you'll unlock him

Ricky > Dimitri > Moosh imo

uwnim posted...

You shouldnt give yourself rings to start. The good rings would really fuck with the game balance. But eventually using a password to get rings is a good idea.

DKBananaSlamma posted...

Now I don't know if you're able to gen yourself rings with the program on a save that's in progress, hence why I recommend doing it from the get-go >_>

I just give myself the Gold Joy Ring. It makes money grinding way less tedious. I don't mess with the Red or Blue Rings too much

Here's a jpg of every overworld map in Oracles (and Link's Awakening too). Go to the direct link to see the whole thing.
https://i.imgur.com/xSp2azd.jpg

Apparently you can just skip the trading quest in Seasons and get the Noble Sword by doing the secret? Is that really true?

...still waiting for these to get LA19'd.

Questionmarktarius posted...

...still waiting for these to get LA19'd.

I feel like them releasing it on NSO is a sign that they aren't going to do it anytime soon >_>

DKBananaSlamma posted...

Ricky > Dimitri > Moosh imo

Nah, Dimitri wins by virtue of not being a default partner. The other two are boring as a result.

Nayru > Din
Ages > Seasons

HylianFox posted...

Nah, Dimitri wins by virtue of not being a default partner. The other two are boring as a result.

Ricky is fast and can attack quickly and at range.

Dimitri can swim....which you can do too. He can swim up waterfalls and can slowly chomp stuff .....whoopie. You also need to throw his ass over holes cuz he's dumb and cant jump

Moosh is just a fat FUCK. Freaks out over water, attacks really slowly, and make the terrain in his section of the overworld ugly as fuck >_>

Imagine ever willingly picking Fat Fuck Moosh

This topic got me to start Seasons again

Just got the Dragon Key, omw to the DANCIN' DRAGGIN DUNJIN

Wow you should submit this to Gamefaqs.com....

Turbam posted...

Imagine ever willingly picking Fat Fuck Moosh

I played through them so much as a child that I picked all three multiple times.

Lairen posted...

Wow you should submit this to Gamefaqs.com....

lol

The kangaroo seemed most practical. Movement speed and attack. The water one sounded good but like how much time are you really in water?

tag for later

Lairen posted...

The water one sounded good but like how much time are you really in water?

Well that's the point, the landscape changes depending on which partner you have.

Water is the easiest to navigate, imo.

Dimitri just seemed pointless because you get the flippers later anyway. All it changes is like 4 squares on the map to accommodate the animal buddy.

But Ricky always seemed the most useful. There's ledges that arent in his area you can climb, he's fast and automatically jumps over pits, he hits quickly and can even attack long range. Dimitri and Moosh just dont compete

DKBananaSlamma posted...

Dimitri just seemed pointless because you get the flippers later anyway. All it changes is like 4 squares on the map to accommodate the animal buddy.

But Ricky always seemed the most useful. There's ledges that arent in his area you can climb, he's fast and automatically jumps over pits, he hits quickly and can even attack long range. Dimitri and Moosh just dont compete

In seasons, I preferred Dimitri. Rocs cape + Pegasus seeds was almost moosh and you could change the season to the one with vines on cliffs to get up them.

wow i guess i do not remember these games at all. do not remember companions one bit.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=njX85m_2O6A

huh, I never realized how similar it is to Dynamo Man Stage

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UDgoaAZS8eU

Pretty sneaky, Capcom

Topic made me start Seasons on NSO.

I never played Ages, but I had Seasons and I think I played half of it. I don't remember this game at ALL.

Finished Seasons, on to Ages!

For the record, I'm playing on 3DS, not Switch.

FUCK! I just realized

Gasha Seed = Gacha Seed

It took me 22 years >_>

[LFAQs-redacted-quote]

Yeah, here's the map comparisons from Seasons and Ages

https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/a/user_image/8/6/8/AAfOu0AAEus8.jpg
https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/a/user_image/8/6/9/AAfOu0AAEus9.jpg

Ricky's map looks the most visually pleasing. Dimitri is just a fuck ton of water, and Moosh looks ugly as sin

DKBananaSlamma posted...

Dimitri is just a fuck ton of water

Still the easiest to navigate, just go against the current

Don't have to worry about cliffs or holes