How Zelda Notes makes Ocarina of Time even better with a smartphone
Maps guide players to collectibles
Zelda Notes is available through the free Nintendo Switch app, and the article says a Switch Online subscription is not required. Players can view a map of Hyrule, select areas, and zoom in to see icons for collectibles.
Tapping an icon can reveal items or special requirements needed to collect it. Filters let players switch between maps for child and adult Link and show or hide categories of icons.
Clues help with tricky Skulltulas
Golden Skulltulas can be difficult to reach even when players hear their distinctive sound. The app can show where one is located and whether an item or a change in time of day is needed.
In the Shadow Temple, the writer spotted a Skulltula while descending an elevator but could not work out how to reach it. Zelda Notes indicated that the Scarecrow Song was needed to create a hookshot point, making that song the writer’s next priority after finishing the dungeon.
The app also reveals Heart Pieces
Zelda Notes helped the writer understand how to reach Pieces of Heart along Zora’s River. The map showed that a Cucco was needed to get to one ledge, explaining why a bird was near the area’s entrance.
Using a phone during a game can be distracting, the writer acknowledges. Still, the app offered quick clues, avoiding the need to search through online walkthroughs or videos.
A renewed hunt for all 100
The writer had previously found collecting all 100 Golden Skulltulas unappealing, despite spending many hours with the N64 game. With Zelda Notes, they have found more than 70 and now want to complete the set.
The app’s maps also cover other collectibles, including Pieces of Heart. For the writer, its short, targeted hints have made exploring Hyrule’s secrets more appealing.
Key points
- Zelda Notes maps show collectible locations and the requirements for reaching them.
- The app helped the writer find a Scarecrow Song requirement in the Shadow Temple.
- A map clue revealed that a Cucco could help reach a Piece of Heart.
- The writer has found more than 70 of the 100 Golden Skulltulas.