Looking inside the Ocarina of Time Cart: The things that never were PART ONE: Unused Text

This entry is going to be very long, and for that I must apologize in advance. After the jump, there will be a lot of photos, which I have personally taken. With that said, here's a proper intro.

The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time should be renamed The Legend of Zelda: Holy Crap What do we want this game to be hey let's just throw an ocarina in there and call it good. The game spent years under development, with footage being released that.... Well, it's completely different. However, I took the time to extract the actor and scene data from the game, and I have actually found quite a few things that either (a) don't add up, or (b) were shown in the "beta" iterations, but never made it to the final cut. Pictures and more after the jump.

For those who haven't looked into the development stages of Ocarina of Time, here are a few things you should know: the game was initially being developed for the Nintendo 64 Disc Drive, or Nintendo 64DD  for short, an addon for the console. You would connect the console to the 64DD using that questionable slot at the bottom of it, and would insert discs to play or add content to an existing Nintendo 64 game. The expansion, Ura Zelda, was to add more content and could be played alongside the game. However, sales of the 64DD were abysmal (we're talking only 15000 units), and Ura Zelda quietly dropped from Nintendo's release lists.

With that said, this isn't about Ura, we're manly focusing on beta content here, along with content that was scrapped for whatever reason during the final stages of development and when Ocarina of Time was converted to cartridge form. Using a ROM image of the leaked Master Quest debug ROM and a couple of applications you can dig through the cartridge data, allowing us to find objects and the like that were never released in the final product.

When Ocarina of Time started, it was running on a modified Mario 64 engine. The fight scene shown above was shown at Spaceworld, in 1995. Notice the drastic difference between this and the OoT we play today.

I won't go into details on how I managed to do this, but I will say it requires a specific application to actually view and render the files. Most of it's looks like a mess - especially character models - and some of the data seems to be either old or corrupted, and as a result they either don't render anything or result in the program crashing.

For this entry, I used the Master Quest Debug. However, some things left out of the game have been known to be found in older editions, such as the JP 1.0 cartridge. Here we will be discussing the text log, and actor rips. An additional entry will be posted at a later time. This is for entertainment purposes, obviously, so insert disclaimer here if the need arises. I will also note that, while I am doing this, it should be known this stuff has been done before, and most if not all of the information provided can be found with a quick Google search.

Let's start with the text log. This is a file generated by yet another program, which pulls all the textbox information from the game. Dialogue from cutscenes, shop options, etc. can be found in this document. However, there are a few things found here that aren't in the game - for reasons obvious or unknown.

Holy shit.... those tektites.

The following text was unused in the final version of the game:

Forest Temple

 This can be found on a sign in Kokiri Forest using the Beta Quest cheat code. However, there is no sign in game that uses this sign. However, it is present in one of the unused scene setups... in a random location.

Did something happen to the Great Deku Tree?

One can only assume this would have been brought up by a Kokiri after you complete the first dungeon.

Somehow, it seems that the air in the forest has changed.

It is theorized that this was intended for the Kokiri while Link is a child, but is never used.

Mister, do you know a boy named Link? He left the forest and never came back...

I wonder if Link will ever return? 

Obvious Kokiri Text

 It would be awesome to be big like you, mister! I really want to be big like you! I want to be big and strong and beat up the Deku Scrubs, but.... we Kokiri won't ever get bigger for the rest of our lives... What a bummer!

It is theorized that this was intended for the Kokiri (Maybe Mido, since he's the only one you see) as an adult, before Phantom Ganon is beaten.

 I have you now! In this gap between dreams and reality, soon all that will remain of you will be your dead body!

Um, excuse me sir, but what the ever loving fuck are you talking about? Due to the reference of dreams, it is possible this could be text for Phantom Ganon, before the fight starts. This thought is supported due to this line being found among the Forest Temple texts. However, the only boss that talks before a boss fight is Ganon (well, Koume and Kotake talk to you too...)

 Saria hasn't come back yet... But I know she'll return someday...

We'll all work together to protect the forest!

On the other hand, these seems to be used after Phantom Ganon is defeated.

Additionally, the following text is found, most likely for Deku Scrubs:

• I lost! Now I'll sell you a Deku Stick for 15 Rupees.
• I lost! Now I'll sell you Deku Nuts if you leave me alone. 5 pieces for 20 Rupees they are.

All this text has been found to be unused in the final version of the game, and this is lightly scratching the surface. Now, to avoid constantly switching font sizes and the like, I'll just list these off with no explanation. Leave me a comment if you'd like to know what they are probably for.

Mountain Text:

• I sealed the entrance because I don't have much merchandise to sell. But you're quite a persistent customer, aren't you.
• You know, I'm so grateful to you. When I have a kid, I will name it after you!
• You pick the Bomb Flowers with (A) Press (A) again to set it
• I'm saved! Thank you! Here, take this!
• Link... Can't hold... anmore.... I can't hold it any longer... Get out of here!!
• Big problem! Everybody is gone! But I'll keep my business open!

Desert Text:

• Hey, newcomer! Wait a second and I'll open the gate for you.
• The entrance to the Past/Present/Future
• I am the Gerudo master of horseback archery! On top of that, I'm the Gerudo master of horseback riding! Want to try horseback archery for 20 Rupees? Yes No
• You have guts -- I like you. Follow me.
• It's out of the question if you don't have a horse!
• I won't have anything to do with a coward like you.
• Ah, you are not as good as you claim. Maybe next time.
• You did well. For today, I admit I lost. It seems I have a lot of room for improvement.
• Great Ganondorf's...Enemy...Must Die...
• Here, I'll give you this... It's a very important thing to me. Let's have a competition later!
• Link...see you again!

Owl Text:

• Hey, Link! Look over here! Beyond this point you'll find Kakariko Village. Watch your step. Hoot hoo!
• Link! This way! Hoo hoo! I wonder what Saria is doing now? How about going back to the forest sometime?
• Hoot hoot! Link, you look like you're getting more comfortable in your role as an adventurer. I think Princess Zelda is waiting for you to visit her again. You already have the Goron's Ruby, don't you?

Miscellaneous/Unsorted Text:

• You traded the Giant's Knife for the Biggoron's Sword! This blade was forged by a master smith and won't break!
• Sorry about that...OK, well...LET'S BOWL!
• Welcome! May I help you? (I want to shop/Just looking)
• You can't use a Big Poe here! Sell it to the man at the Hyrule Castle Town gate!
• All right, you're done! Please wait outside while I set up your next challenge!
• Link, what are you looking at?
• WHAAAT!? Look at all those flags! Can you figure out which ones are real?
• Those who find a Small Key can advance to the next room. Those who don't can go home!
• This door is currently being refurbished.
• The record time of those who raced against me was:       -- Dampe the Gravekeeper
• Treasure Chest Shop     We don't usually sell them....
• Happy Mask Shop      Now hiring happiness delivery men!
• Bombchu Bowling Alley     You can experience the latest in Bomb technology
• Bazaar    We have a little of everything!
• Potion Shop     We have the best quality potions!
• Goron Shop    Mountaineering Supplies!
• Gold Skulltula     This is also known as a Spider of the Curse. If you defeat it, you'll get a token as proof!
• Mmmm...mumble...mumble... Huh? Yeah, I'm awake? What? Hey, it's you! Welcome! Awww... That was rough! Malon yelled at me for a long time! You took care of us, so I'm proud to give you this milk! You can keep the bottle for yourself!
• Oh, Mr. Hero! Thanks for all your hard work! Wah ha ha hah!!
• There's a strange guy living in the windmill. Have you already met him, Mr. Hero?
• Oh no... He's not breathing... Link!?
• You found Princess Ruto! Now King Zora will give you the Spiritual Stone of Water... Well, Maybe. Huh?
• Do you want to continue fishing?     Yes     No
• Link! Finish him off with the sword of time, the Master Sword!
• Oh sealed door opened by the Sages... Close forever with the Evil Incarnation of Darkness within!!
• No... That's not what I want... I want something inside a bottle... I didn't mean that thing...
• Oh, a darling little fairy! I'll buy it for 25 Rupees! All sales final, OK?
• Hi, I'm a talking door!

In addition to these messages, using a GameShark code will make the following Japanese text appear on the item subscreen:

風のメダル 氷のメダル

These translate to "Wind Medallion" and "Ice Medallion", which of course suggests there were probably going to be two temples that would correspond tho these. However, many fans speculate that the Wind Temple became the Forest Temple, and the Ice Temple became either the Ice Cavern or the Water Temple. The latter speculation is somewhat supported by something I found browsing the actor data last night, but I'll be saving that for part 2!

With that said, I hope you enjoyed reading Part One, and will be starting part 2 as soon as this is published. Thanks for reading!