~Hack~ The Legend of Zelda: Shadow of Night (NES)
- Estimated achievement difficulty: 7/10
- Approximate amount of time to master: ~20 hours
- Minimum number of playthroughs needed: 1
- Number of missable achievements: 8
- Does difficulty affect achievements?: Not applicable
- Hardest achievement: The Morning Sun has Vanquished the Horrible Night
The Legend of Zelda: Shadow of Night is a Zelda II hack made by the_icepenguin in 2011. The game has significantly overhauled assets and updated graphics to produce an immersive new setting that supports the game's theme. Some game play changes include a new spell that adds a new physics mechanic, lack of enemy stun lock, improved beam sword speed and distance, the need to revisit palaces to obtain previously inaccessible items and keys and much more.
The hack saw several updates from its initial 1.0 release to the final version 2.5. The final version comes with two patches, an Easy mode and a Hard mode. This set was created with the Easy patch because the only difference between the two is the amount of damage that Link does and takes and how many starting lives you are given. The game design is challenging enough that the added handicap to health, damage and lives does not add much more than frustration to the experience.
The achievements in the set are a mix of progression and challenge achievements. The progression achievements are pretty typical for increasing Link's strength, obtaining key items or reaching new destinations. The challenge achievements are mostly focused on defeating bosses/minibosses under certain conditions. None of the challenge achievements are frustratingly difficult or require a significantly abnormal approach to gameplay.
There is a long play of the hack available, but it was done with a slightly out dated version of the game. There are a few minor differences from the version of this game that is used for Retro Achievements such as a few item locations and palace design updates. This guide ensures that players have all the information needed to successfully master the set and understand what the differences in the long play videos and the current version of the hack are.
The achievements require the following linked hash:
Zelda II - The Adventure of Link (USA) + Zelda II - Shadow of Night v2.5 Easy
8b3f7ca04c82ed2b759152268f27ed80
Patch is available at https://www.romhacking.net/hack/728/
The below maps do not match the in game palette, but more clearly indicate the true assets. For example, in game the hammer breakable boulders are not distinguishable from regular mountain tiles, but these maps depict them in their true form. The white boxes indicate tiles with subareas, many of which contain lesser items not listed on the maps. The listed map items are those required to master the set. Some items will need certain spells to reach such as Jump, Dash or Fairy.
The missable achievements are all associated with defeating bosses and minibosses under certain conditions. The reason they are missable is because once a boss is defeated, it will not respawn. With a bit of caution, it is very easy to ensure you do not accidentally miss any missable achievements. All of the missable achievements will display the achievement icon in the bottom right letting you know when the achievement is active. If you accidentally make an error, simply die and restart the boss fight in order to attempt the achievement again. If you accidentally do kill the boss and miss the achievement, reset your game and restart from your previous save file. If you save after you kill the boss, the achievement will not be obtainable on this play through. The following are the missable achievements in this set.
- Death by a Thousand Cuts [m]
- Dont' Give an Inch [m]
- Helmet Fire [m]
- Stick and Move [m]
- As Luck Would Have it [m]
- Fight Fire with Fire [m]
- Ignore the Flanks [m]
- The Best Defense is a Good Offense [m]
Learn the Heal spell from the sage in the town of Rauru
In the town of Rauru, enter one of the houses with its lights on and proceed to the basement to meet a sage who will teach Link this spell.
Defeat Horsehead in the Desert Palace with attack level 1
Use the levels you gain from experience to increase your defense and magic until after you've defeated Horsehead in the Desert Palace. This achievement will pop immediately upon his death allowing you to increase your attack with the experience gained from defeating him if available.
Death by a Thousand Cuts [m] demonstration video
During the battle on the bridge in the Desert Palace, do not let Horsehead move further left than his starting position
This achievement is available the second time you fight Horsehead in the Desert Palace. As soon as you approach him and the battle begins, immediately execute a jumping, crouching attack to hit him backwards. Stay aggressive as he plods forward to ensure he will not progress further than his initial position. The key to success is to quickly land the first attack and continue to keep up the pressure thereafter.
Don't Give an Inch [m] demonstration video
Obtain the candle from the Desert Palace
After defeating the second Horsehead, retrieve this item from the Desert Palace as your reward.
Find the five missing golden leaves
See the map of West Hyrule in the Resources section for the locations of the five golden leaves.
Return five golden leaves to the sage in the town of Saria and be taught the Jump spell
Once obtaining the aforementioned five golden leaves, find the house in Saria with the person who is looking for them. Follow them inside and then proceed to the basement to meet the sage and learn the spell.
Talk to Bagu at his home in the graveyard to get permission to cross the river in the town of Ruto
Use the map in the Resources section to find the forest tile where Bagu's house is located. Enter it and speak to him.
Learn the Fire spell from the sage in the town of Ruto after finding his daughter's lost cat on their roof
Use the Jump spell to reach the roof of the house and press the B button to find the cat in the location depicted below. Next, talk to the girl near the door to the house, enter it and learn the spell from the sage in the basement.
Traverse Death Mountain without dying
Starting when you exit the cave west of Ruto in Death Mountain, successfully reach the exit of the far western cave without dying for this achievement. If you do die, you can restart the achievement by exiting the cave near Ruto and reentering it.
Obtain the Handy Glove in the cave in the graveyard west of Death Mountain
The key to this cave is located just south of the entrance (see map in Resource section). Once past the locked door, reach the end of the cave to find the Handy Glove.
Learn the Jump Thrust technique in the town of Mido
Enter one of the houses with its lights on in the town of Mido and proceed to the basement to find the warrior who will teach Link the Jump Thrust technique.
Return to the Desert Palace once you have the Handy Glove and find and defeat Helmethead
After obtaining the Handy Glove, return to the room beyond the second Horsehead battle and break the destructible blocks in order to find Helmethead. Defeat him for this achievement.
Defeat Helmethead in the Graveyard Palace in West Hyrule only damaging him while the Fire Moa is on screen
During the battle with Helmethead in the Graveyard Palace near Bagu's house in West Hyrule, ensure that you only attack him while the Fire Moa is on screen. The Fire Moa will often fly off the side of the screen in a predictable pattern, so be patient with your attacks.
Helmet Fire [m] demonstration video
Obtain the Raft from the Graveyard Palace in West Hyrule
After defeating Helmetfire in the Graveyard Palace in West Hyrule, obtain the raft as your reward.
Sail across the sea to East Hyrule
After obtaining the raft, set sail from the dock near Mido to reach East Hyrule.
Learn the Dash spell from the sage in the town of Nabooru after finding his daughter's key at the very west edge of town
Search near the very western exit of the entire town to find the key, then talk to the girl who was missing it to gain access to the house. Proceed to the basement to meet the sage and learn the spell.
Learn the Down Thrust technique in the town of Darunia
Enter one of the houses with its lights on in the town of Darunia and proceed to the basement to find the warrior who will teach Link the Jump Thrust technique.
Find and enter the illusory floor near the column in the room with the magos
Fake Floor in the Forest Palace demonstration video
Defeat a Gooma in the Forest Palace without jumping
While there will be three Gooma fights in the Forest Palace, the first encounter is the easiest since there are no other enemies present. Use the Dash spell to increase your running speed. When you attack the Gooma, run in and execute a crouching attack and as soon as it hits run away. Try to preserve distance by hitting the Gooma with the tip of your sword. It is important to actually hit the Gooma to send it backwards and give yourself a bit more time to run away. You cannot be too passive in this fight or the Gooma will back you into the corner and you will likely not survive. If you are having difficulty, increase your attack level.
Stick and Move [m] demonstration video
Find and enter the first illusory wall in the Forest Palace
Note there might be more than one room that looks like this, so continue to explore if it appears to not work in the first similar room you find.
First Fake Wall in the Forest Palace demonstration video
Find and enter the second illusory wall in the Forest Palace after defeating the second Gooma
Second Fake Wall in the Forest Palace demonstration video
Obtain the Boots from the Forest Palace
After defeating the third Gooma, proceed forward to find this item.
Rescue the missing child on Maze Island
See the map in the resources section to locate the missing child. Note on the map that a necessary key is located in a secret grave in the clearing south of the cave's entrance.
Learn the Reflect spell from the sage in the town of Darunia after rescuing the missing child
Return to Darunia after rescuing the missing child and speak to the sage in the child's mother's house to learn the spell.
Find and enter the illusory wall in the Maze Island Palace by jumping high over the blue lava
Fake Wall Over the Lava demonstration video
Find and enter the illusory floor in the Maze Island Palace by dropping from the crumbling bridge into it
Fake Floor Below the Bridge demonstration video
Defeat Carock in the Maze Island Palace without leaving the center island until he is dead
See video for demonstration. There is an RNG aspect to this achievement depending where Carock teleports. Level up Defense if you are having difficulty and cast Heal to keep your health up.
As Luck Would Have It [m] demonstration video
Obtain the Hammer from the Maze Island Palace
After defeating Carock, proceed forward and find this item.
Destroy the rock blocking the swamp cave entrance and find the medicine within
See the map of West Hyrule in the Resources section for the location of the medicine.
Learn the Fairy spell from the sage in the town of Mido after bringing his wife medicine
Return to Mido and enter the woman who needed medicine's house to find the sage and learn this spell.
Learn the Spell spell from the sage in the hidden town of Kasuto once your magic bar is seven blocks big
See the maps in the Resources section for the locations of the Magic Containers. Once you have obtained at least four of these Magic Containers, the woman in Kasuto will allow you in the house. The entrance to the basement is hidden near the middle of the room. See the picture below for the entrance to the basement.
Obtain the Flute in the hidden town of Kasuto
Use the Spell spell in the far right section of the hidden town of Kasuto reveal a hidden temple containing this item. Note the cloud position in the picture below and use the Spell spell at this location to reveal the temple.
Find and enter the illusory wall as a Fairy in the basement of East Hyrule's Graveyard Palace
Fake Wall Near the Ceiling demonstration video
Defeat the Fire Moa during the battle with Barba
See video demonstration. The Fire Moa is only vulnerable to Fire, so cast that spell and prioritize killing the Fire Moa. It will not respawn once defeated so killing it will also make the Barba fight easier.
Fight Fire with Fire [m] demonstration video
Defeat the third Rebonack in the East Hyrule Graveyard Palace without damaging the wizzrobes
See video demonstration. The wizzrobes can only be harmed by reflecting their own spells at them. If you do not cast Reflect, you cannot harm them. Their presence during the fight makes defeating Rebonack more difficult, but it is easy to not accidentally fail this achievement.
Ignore the Flanks [m] demonstration video
Obtain the Cross in the East Hyrule Graveyard Palace
After defeating the third Rebonack, proceed forward to find this item.
Obtain the Magical Key on the approach to the Grand Palace
See the map of East Hyrule in the Resources section for the location of the Magical Key. It is hidden in a breakable rock.
Find and enter the illusory wall in the Great Palace after navigating breakable blocks and lava
Fake Wall in the Great Palace demonstration video
Recover and learn the hidden Thunder spell in the Great Palace
Several rooms beyond the illusory wall in the Fake Wall in the Great Palace achievement, you will find the Thunder spell on an altar.
Find and enter the illusory wall that leads to a fairy in the Great Palace's long elevator
The long elevator is a puzzle that requires you to go up several floors, then down one then back up in order to progress. Each level has illusory walls, but the one with the fairy behind it marks the level at which you must go down and then back up to reach the top of the elevator shaft.
Fake Wall in the Great Elevator
Find and enter the illusory floor beneath the breakable blocks in the room with two blue bird knights
Fake Floor in the Great Palace demonstration video
Defeat Thunderbird in the Great Palace without using the Reflect spell
Reflect is used to block Thunderbird's fireballs. Without it, you will take damage if you touch a fireball under all circumstances. Just defeat Thunderbird without casting reflect to obtain this achievement.
The Best Defense is a Good Offense [m] demonstration video
Lift the curse of night on Hyrule by defeating Dark Link in the Great Palace
Defeat Dark Link in the battle after Thunderbird. Be careful of the lava on both sides of the room that will be hidden once the room turns dark. Jumping standing attacks work best against Dark Link. Use your magic to keep your health high.
Find two Magic Containers
Use the map in the Resources section to locate two Magic Containers.
Find five Magic Containers
Use the map in the Resources section to locate five Magic Containers.
Find two Heart Containers
Use the map in the Resources section to locate two Heart Containers.
Find five Heart Containers
Use the map in the Resources section to locate five Heart Containers.
Get your Attack to level 4
As you gain levels with experience, choose Attack three times to unlock this achievement.
Get your Attack to level 8
As you gain levels with experience, choose Attack seven times to unlock this achievement.
Get your Magic to level 4
As you gain levels with experience, choose Magic three times to unlock this achievement.
Get your Magic to level 8
As you gain levels with experience, choose Magic seven times to unlock this achievement.
Get your Defense to level 4
As you gain levels with experience, choose Defense three times to unlock this achievement.
Get your Defense to level 8
As you gain levels with experience, choose Defense seven times to unlock this achievement.
Collect a 1000 point treasure bag
See the maps Hyrule in the Resources section for the locations of the 1000 point treasure bags. Obtaining any one of them will trigger this achievement.
Thanks to the_icepenguin for the creation of this hack.