Development:The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening (Game Boy)/Text

This is a sub-page of Development:The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening (Game Boy).

All the text for the original Game Boy version is located in the file GBMSDT.DMG (Game Boy Message Data).

(Translations: GlitterBerri)

Message Icons

Several versions of the list of icons used in dialogue boxes exist. In the English version of Link's Awakening DX, the font looks like this.

As you can see, the pictographs go in the order below.

D-Pad

Headshot

Yoshi

Hibiscus

Foot

X

Skull

Link

Marin

Tarin

Ribbon

Dog Food

Bananas

Stick

Beehive

Pineapple

Broom

Fish Hook

Necklace

Scale

Lens

Keep in mind that the letter icon is the headshot of Christine, referred to internally as a bromide, and that the necklace is the censored version of the brassiere that appeared in the Japanese versions.

NEWS

The recovered NEWS tapes found in other.7z contain at least two earlier versions of the graphics file for dialogue boxes. While the file NEWS\テープリストア\NEWS_04\home\arimoto\GB-zelda\moji.CGX contains only text characters (hiragana, katakana, alphabetical characters, and the like), NEWS\テープリストア\NEWS_04\home\arimoto\GB-zelda\moji.CGX.BAK has some icons, as well.

To do: Rip and upload this.

moji.CGX

moji.CGX.BAK

Unlike the final list of icons, it has a hand, a leaf, and what looks to be an enlarged view of part of the stick.

It's missing the skull, the X symbol that serves as a censorship mark, and the bananas.

ZMS.DMG

The following list is found in the file Source\Disk3\gbzelda\ZMS.DMG.

Unlike the final list of icons, it has a hand, a leaf, and an "R" ocarina (it's unclear what the R refers to).

It's missing the skull and the X symbol that serves as a censorship mark.

Content	Translation
; 絵文字 MK1 EQU $DA ;足 MK2 EQU $DB ;手 MK3 EQU $DC ;葉っぱ MK4 EQU $DD ;リンク MK5 EQU $DE ;マリン MK6 EQU $DF ;タリン MK7 EQU $BF ; R オカリナ MK8 EQU $EE ; + キー ; IT1 EQU $E0 ;ヨッシー IT2 EQU $E1 ;リボン IT3 EQU $E2 ;ドッグフード IT4 EQU $E3 ;バナナ IT5 EQU $E4 ;棒 IT6 EQU $E5 ;ハチの巣 IT7 EQU $E6 ;パイン IT8 EQU $E7 ;ハイビスカス IT9 EQU $E8 ;ホウキ ITA EQU $E9 ;針 ITB EQU $EA ;ブラジャー ITC EQU $EB ;ウロコ ITD EQU $EC ;メガネ ITE EQU $ED ;ブロマイド	-Emoji- Foot Hand Leaf Link Marin Tarin R Ocarina D-Pad Yoshi Ribbon Dog Food Bananas Stick Beehive Pineapple Hibiscus Broom Hook Brassiere Scale Lens Bromide

DEMO_zelda

Meanwhile, several versions of the icon list that exist in various files in the DEMO_zelda sub-directory have slightly different contents compared to above. The list below is from Source\Disk1\ゼルダの伝説_JP3_US3_EU2\DEMO_zelda\code.txt.

Unlike the final list of icons, it has an ocarina and a fishing rod.

Compared to the icon list in ZMS.DMG, it's missing the hand and the leaf, but it has the skull and the X symbol that serves as a censorship mark. It also dropped the "R" from the name of the ocarina.

Content	Translation
; 絵文字 ; MK1 :足 ; MK2 :伏せ字 ; MK3 :どくろ ; MK4 :リンク ; MK5 :マリン ; MK6 :タリン ; MK7 :オカリナ ; MK8 :釣竿 ; アイテム文字 ; IT1 ;ヨッシー ; IT2 ;リボン ; IT3 ;ドッグフード ; IT4 ;バナナ ; IT5 ;棒 ; IT6 ;ハチの巣 ; IT7 ;パイン ; IT8 ;ハイビスカス ; IT9 ;ホウキ ; ITA ;針 ; ITB ;ブラジャー ; ITC ;ウロコ ; ITD ;メガネ ; ITE ;ブロマイド	-Emoji- Foot Censorship Mark Skull Link Marin Tarin Ocarina Fishing Rod -Item Characters- Yoshi Ribbon Dog Food Bananas Stick Beehive Pineapple Hibiscus Broom Hook Brassiere Scale Lens Bromide

Cut Text

Several text IDs in the retail versions are completely empty, but have text written for them in the Japanese source code. GBMSDT.DMG files in localizations have these lines completely blank and noted as unused.

Shop

Text 2B

The Fire Rod used rods as ammunition at some point in development. After the idea was abandoned, there was no need for this text anymore.

ID	Japanese	Translation	Developer Comment, Translation
2B	ロッドのもと　１０コ　１０ルピー 　　　　かう　　　ほしくない	Rod Base 10 for 10 Rupees Buy Don't want it	商品メッセージ（ロッドの素） Merchandise Message (Rod Base)

Text 37

Presumably this would've been used after buying the Bow. Was it possible to steal without repercussion?

ID	Japanese	Translation	Developer Comment, Translation
37	はっはっはっ　980ルピーも　　 くれよったわい　せけんしらずめ	Hahaha. You gave me a whole 980 rupees, you naive little fool!	騙されて商品を買ったとき Tricked into buying something

Text 3A

The shop sells 10 Bombs for 10 Rupees so this was probably removed for being redundant.

ID	Japanese	Translation	Developer Comment, Translation
3A	バクダン　２０コ　　２０ルピー　 　　　　かう　　　やーめよっ！	20 Bombs 20 Rupees Buy Nope!	商品メッセージ　（爆弾２０個　編） Merchandise Message (20 Bomb Compilation)

Map Names

Text 5F

For some reason the Tail Key was a map location.

ID	Japanese	Translation	Developer Comment, Translation
5F	テールのカギ	Tail Key	テールのカギ Tail Key

Obtaining Item

Text 9E

An alternate line for getting the Yoshi Doll. The text ID for the one used in the game is $44. The line is a pun that is formed by combining "yossha" (alright) with Yoshi.

ID	Japanese	Translation	Developer Comment, Translation
9E	わっ　よっしーや！	Wow, alright!	ヨッシーを手にいれたとき Obtained Yoshi

Bosses

Text B8

This seems to be an alternate intro line for the first encounter with Grim Creeper. The line used in the game is $25. Curiously, a table for boss intro dialogs references this old ID in the retail versions.

ID	Japanese	Translation	Developer Comment, Translation
B8	どうも、いけねえな　オチビさんよ おれさま、ホンキでおこっちまった いのちごいしても、むだだぜ！　　 かくごしなっ！　カーッ　ペッ！	You're not going anywhere, pipsqueak. I'm seriously pissed! No use begging for your life. Ready or not, here I come!	＃７のボス１Ｘ #7 Boss 1x

Text BB

An alternate defeat line for the second fight with Grim Creeper that is very similar to $29, the one used in the game. The final line has him speak slower at the end and the laugh is missing.

ID	Japanese	Translation	Developer Comment, Translation
BB	ま、まけたぜ. . . へへっ　　　　 まっシロに、もえつきちまった. . だがよ、オメエも　きえるのさ。　 「かぜのさかな」がおきちまえばな オメエも、オレさまとおなじ、　　 ヤツのユメだからな. ！　へっ！	I, I lost... heh heh. Everything's going white.. But if the Wind Fish wakes up, you'll disappear, too. Because, just like me, you're its dream too! Heh!	最後の７ボス２Ｘ Last 7 Boss 2x

Text BE-BF

Intro and defeat lines for presumably the second form of Hot Head.

ID	Japanese	Translation	Developer Comment, Translation
BE	これがさいごだ！　こぞう！　　　 きえるのは、キサマだけでよい！　 まんまと　あのフクロウに　　　　 りようされよって. . . いくぞっ！	This is the end, boy! You should be the only one to disappear! Being used by that owl... Here I come!	最後の＃８ボス　１Ｘ Last #8 Boss 1x
BF	グロウオオー　キ、キサマは、　　 きえるのが、おそろしくないのか？ わからん？　なぜそこまでして. . . わ. か. ら. ん. . . . . . . . .	Grooooar~ Aren't you afraid of disappearing? You don't understand? How can you be... so clueless...?	最後の＃８ボス　Ｘ Last #8 Boss x

Owl & Wind Fish

Text D1

This line is very slightly different from the one used in the game, $D2.

ID	Japanese	Translation	Developer Comment, Translation
D1	さあ！　かなでよ！　　　 　　　　めざめのうたを！	GO, THEN! PLAY IT! PLAY THE SONG OF AWAKENING!	風の魚 Wind Fish

Text D3

Apparently you had the option to decline ending the game immediately and could instead leave the Egg!?

ID	Japanese	Translation	Developer Comment, Translation
D3	そうか、そうだね. . . . . . . . まだ、はやいのかもしれない。　　 ぼくは、いつまでも　まっている。 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	AH, I SEE........ PERHAPS IT IS STILL EARLY. I WILL ALWAYS BE HERE, WAITING. ................	風の魚　（Ｄ０　Ｄ１　ＮＯのとき） Wind Fish (When answering no to D0, D1)

Text CE

This would've presumably been said by the Owl when returning to the Egg afterwards.

ID	Japanese	Translation	Developer Comment, Translation
CE	ホッホウ！　「かぜのさかな」は　 タマゴのなかで、まっておる。　　 さあ！カラのなかにはいるのじゃ！ 　　　ホッホウ！　ホッホウ！	Hoot! Hoot! The Wind Fish is waiting inside the egg. Go on! Enter the shell! Hoot! Hoot! Hoot! Hoot!	森のふくろう　（聖なる玉子）2 Forest Owl (Sacred Egg) 2

Text D4

A dialog for the Owl in an unknown location.

ID	Japanese	Translation	Developer Comment, Translation
D4	タマゴのなかは、ユメとげんじつの いりみだれた、じくうのはざま。　 じゃあくなるものの、けはいも　　 かんじる. . . 　ホッホウ！　　　 こころに、スキをつくるでないぞ！ 「かぜのさかな」は、もうすぐじゃ	Inside the egg is a gap in space and time, where dreams and reality are jumbled together. I also feel the presence of evil... Hoot! Hoot! Don't let it into your heart! The Wind Fish is very close, now.	森のふくろう　Ｘ Forest Owl x

Text D6

A dialog for the Owl after completing Bottle Grotto. The area can be left from three different directions, so it's unclear where or how this encounter would've been seen. You're also directed towards the Prairie after obtaining the Conch Horn, which makes this line rather redundant anyway.

ID	Japanese	Translation	Developer Comment, Translation
D6	ホッホウ！　このしまは、ひろい　 ぼうやに　あらたなチカラがつけば みちは　ずっと　ひろがるじゃろう . . . ウククそうげんにいきなされ そこで　ある　かわったオトコに　 あうことになるじゃろう　　　　 「かぜのさかな」は　めざめをまっ ておるぞ. . . .	Hoot! Hoot! This island is vast. When you come upon new powers, boy, your road will stretch onward. ...Go to Ukuku Prairie. There, you will meet a strange man. The Wind Fish awaits its awakening...	森のふくろう　（＃２クリアー後ウクク草原） Forest Owl (Ukuku Prairie After #2 Clear)

Misc. Items

Text EA-EB

Two very similar lines for some sort of "pitari/pittari award". Pitari can mean "precise" or "exactly" so these were likely for the Seashell Mansion, which awards a Secret Seashell when entering with exactly 5 Shells and another for entering with exactly 10 Shells.

ID	Japanese	Translation	Developer Comment, Translation
EA	おめでとう！　ピタリしょうだよ！ しょうひんをおうけとりください！	Congratulations! It's the pitari award! Please take this prize!	ぴたり賞　１ Pitari Prize 1
EB	おめでとう！　ピッタリしょうだ！ プレゼントは、こちらです！	Congratulations! It's the pittari award! This is your present!	ぴたり賞　２ Pitari Prize 2

Dungeon Clear Text

Text 158

A hint as to where to go next is given after completing a dungeon. A blank but commented entry is present for a Level 9, presumably the Egg. This is of course unused.

ID	Developer Comment, Translation
158	クリアＤＥＭＯ　ＬＥＶＥＬ９ Clear DEMO: Level 9

Signposts

Text 19F

An earlier version of the inscription in the Southern Face Shrine? Who knows.

ID	Japanese	Translation	Developer Comment, Translation
D6	「かぜのさかな」は　ユメのなか　 さめることなき　ゆめのなか　　　 さめないユメの　さめるとき　　　 このよもきりと、なりにける. . .	The Wind Fish sleeps within a dream, a dream from which it never wakes. And should it wake, this world will be lost to the mists of memory.	風の魚の詩 Wind Fish's Poem

Text 1C4

Instructions on how to view and use the map. This is also explained by the quadruplets and a library book, so it's unclear where this would've been used. Clearly much effort was put into teaching this though.

ID	Japanese	Translation	Developer Comment, Translation
1C4	セレクトボタンをおしマップをみる カーソルをうごかし、Aボタンおす ちめいやフクロウのメッセージが　 よめるよ！　　　スタッフより	Press the Select button to view the map. Use the cursor to move, and press the A button. You'll be able to read place names, owl messages, etc.! -The Staff	メモ機能有り Have memo function

Tarin at Beehive

Text 1BF

Text for Tarin if you spoke to him without the Stick. The Stick is placed right on top of the bridge built by the monkeys so it's impossible to avoid. Even if the Stick is avoided by alternate means, the game code still assumes it was obtained when talking to Tarin.

ID	Japanese	Translation	Developer Comment, Translation
1BF	やあ、　　　　オラ、ハチミツ　 とりたいだよ。ぼうさがしてるだよ	Hey there! I want to get some honey. I'm looking for a stick!	棒を持たずにタリンに会ったとき When you meet Tarin without a stick

Town Library

20F

Text for reading the book with tiny print with the Magnifying Lens. The hint itself may have been undecided at this point, so this was probably used as a placeholder.

ID	Japanese	Translation	Developer Comment, Translation
20F	ガノンのじゃくてんは、　　　　　 「ぎんのや」です。	Ganon's weakness is the Silver Arrows.	２０Ｄ　はいの時（虫メガネ有り） Yes to 20D (With Magnifying Glass)

Tarin in Treasure Chest

Text 22F

Apparently Tarin would've been inside a treasure chest somewhere. This was mentioned by Yoshinori Tsuchiyama, the director of the DX version, in a staff questionnaire, and code exists in the final game for a treasure chest containing Tarin.

ID	Japanese	Translation	Developer Comment, Translation
22F	いやあ、みつかっ ちゃっただが じつは　かくれん ぼしてたら、　　 かぎがかかって、 こまってただよ・ ・・・・・もきを つけるだよ	Oh, you found me! Actually, when I was trying to play hide-and-seek, I got locked in. I'll be more careful from now on.	宝箱のタリン Treasure Chest Tarin

Early English Localizations

Early and/or "uncensored" English translations are present for several lines by being commented out instead of deleted.

Hippo

ID	Early	Retail	Developer Comment
AF	Stop trying to take my towel! You aren't an artist! Quit it!	Leave me alone! I'm trying to sit still so Schule can paint my portrait!	Hippo model at Schule's house

Facade

ID	Early	Retail	Developer Comment
B6	Hey dummy! Need a hint? My weak point is XXXX! Whoops! There I go, talking too much again...	Hey dummy! Need a hint? My weak point is... !! Whoops! There I go, talking too much again...	BOSS # 6, First speech

Shadow Nightmares

ID	Early	Retail	Developer Comment
F5	If the Wind Fish doesn't wake up, this island will never disappear! We would have become the gods of this place...	If the Wind Fish doesn't wake up, this island will never disappear! We would have been the masters of this place...	THE LAST BOSS First Speech

Stone Slab

ID	Early	Retail	Developer Comment
109	First Pols Voice Last Stalfos...	First, defeat the imprisoned Pols Voice, Last, Stalfos...	STONE SLAB HINTS #2

Quadruplet

ID	Early	Retail	Developer Comment
122	Hey hey, bro! About the Dream Shrine there... There's a XXXXX inside... ... I better not say anything else as I'm just a kid!	Hey hey, bro! About the Dream Shrine there... They say there's something good inside... ... I better not say anything else as I'm just a kid!	Boy by Dream Shrine

Owl Statues

ID	Early	Retail	Developer Comment
1B6	A SOUND, THE GOD STIRS IN THE EGG YOU ARE THERE...	MUSIC, THE FISH STIRS IN THE EGG YOU ARE THERE...	***OWL STATUES***, #1

ID	Early	Retail	Developer Comment
1B8-1B9	IN HUMUS SLEEPS SECRETS, BENEATH YOUR SOLES...	IN SOIL SLEEPS SECRETS, BENEATH YOUR SOLES...	***OWL STATUES***, #3/#4

Mermaid

ID	Early	Retail	Developer Comment
1EC	Your ',ITA,' is now a pink swimming suit top ',ITB,'! L-l-lucky!	The ',ITA,' became a necklace ',ITB,'! L-l-lucky!	computer explains
1F0	When I was swim- ming in the bay, a wave came and took my swim suit top... If you find it, I will give you... XXXXX.	When I was swim- ming in the bay, the waves took a very important necklace from around my neck! If you find it, I will let you take a scale from my tail!	Talking to the mermaid
1F1	Hey! Quit it!	I have already looked around here!	When you dive near the mermaid
1F2	Ahh! That's it! My swim suit! Hey! Give it to me! Give it! If you give it back, I will let you take a scale from my tail! Yes! No Way	Ahh! That's it! That's my neck- lace! Give it! Give it back! I will give you a scale as I said! Give Keep	When you have swim suit top
1F3	A-Ah, only take one!	Promise! You'll only take one!	When 1F2 = Yes
1F4	Boo hoo! You're such a meanie!	You are heart- less and cruel!	when 1F2 = No
1F4	You took a scale from the mermaid' ,ITC,' and gave the ',ITB 'back to her. You are very happy!	You returned the' necklace ',ITB,' and got a scale ',ITC,' of the mermaid^s ' tail. How will ' you use this?'	computer explains

Ghost

ID	Early	Retail	Developer Comment
210	...cemetary... ...take me... ...my grave...	...my grave... ...take me... ...my grave...	first ghost message

Rabbit

ID	Early	Retail	Developer Comment
24C	Anyway, I heard from a very good source that they have a Dream Shrine in Mabe, and that XXX is inside... Is that true?	Anyway, I heard from a very good source that they have a Dream Shrine in Mabe, and that it has something good inside... Is that true?	(Nothing)

Early French Localizations

Some early translations of lines are present in the folder `Source/Disk1/ゼルダの伝説_JP3_US3_EU2/CGB_zeldaFRANCE/cgb_f/Text`.

Early German Localizations

Some early translations of lines are present in the folder `Source/Disk1/ゼルダの伝説_JP3_US3_EU2/CGB_zeldaDOITU/cgb_d/TEXT`.