Second Quest

Second Quest refers to a mode in several games within the Zelda series which allow the player to go through the game again utilizing new features. Typically these modes offer a harder difficulty of the game.

The Legend of Zelda
In, the second quest is unlocked after the player has beaten the game, and doing so would replace the file with a picture of Link holding a sword. This new quest consisted of the dungeons being located in different places with an added difficulty degree. The Heart Containers and some of the shops found in the overworld are also changed to better hidden locations. Gamers could also enter the first five letters of their name as "ZELDA" in the name input screen to start the second quest automatically. This quest was created because the programmers accidentally used only half of the Nintendo Entertainment System's memory and wanted to use the other half for something.

The Adventure of Link
Similar to The Legend of Zelda, the second quest can also be obtained after completing the game, and the file of the player would have a Triforce piece next to their name. The features included are that the player gets to keep all the spells learned in the previous quest, and the levels for Skill, Magic, and Life are also carried over. Special items found in palaces such as the Candle had to be retrieved again, as well as any Heart Containers and Magic Containers obtained.

Ocarina of Time
In, the game's then-unprecedented depth led many players to suggest that a second quest would be far from impossible. Countless discussions, theories and hoaxes about the alleged second quest to obtain the Triforce within the game spread around the internet, although any such endeavor has since been conclusively disproved by Nintendo and skeptical fans. The hype was most likely fueled by the aforementioned sense of depth in the newly-developed Ocarina of Time environment, nostalgia and internet pranksters.

Eventually, Ura Zelda ("Another Zelda") was announced for the Nintendo 64DD. Ura Zelda would have been an expansion disk for use with the original Ocarina of Time &mdash; if a player were to use this disk, they could access new content (allegedly including new Masks, sidequests, and even characters) and redesigned dungeons. Unfortunately, due to the commercial failure of the Nintendo 64DD, Ura Zelda was never released.

Years later, however, was developed and released for the Nintendo GameCube and given away in various promotions. Master Quest built on some of the ideas intended for Ura Zelda &mdash; the game features redesigned dungeons with an increased difficulty level, but the story remains the same as the original Ocarina of Time.

In, Master Quest is available after completing the normal game. In this slightly redesigned version, all of Hyrule is mirrored and Link takes double damage from enemy attacks and hazardous obstacles.

Oracle Series
In a manner of speaking the Oracle series actually has several Second Quests. The password-linking aspect of the files, allows one to continue a quest from one title to the next. Things maintained include: Link's given name, Bipin and Blossom's son's name and the Strange Flute. The File Screen will have a different icon. The icon changes yet again if the player uses a password to create a third quest file. This "Hero's Secret" allows one to play the first game again with an extra Heart and the Victory Ring.

The Wind Waker
also features a Second Quest, although more limited in change than its previous counterparts. The game's Second Quest makes primarily aesthetic changes — namely, Link will wear his initial outfit for the entire game (consequently obtaining the Hero's New Clothes as opposed to the Hero's Clothes in the First Quest), Aryll will wear her ending pirate outfit for the entire game, and all Hylian text will be translated into a readable dialect.

Link also starts with the Deluxe Picto Box, with the same pictures he had in the first quest, and enables the player to take photos of characters at the very start. Though it is very possible to obtain every photograph and every figurine in the first quest, the second quest tends to make obtaining all of the figurines a little easier.

There is, however, one important gameplay-related change; the locations of sunken treasure from Treasure Charts will be different - usually further away from the island than they were in the first quest. This makes identifying the island from the chart somewhat more difficult, as much less of the island is visible on the chart, and many islands look alike when only a small part is visible.

includes a Hero Mode similar to that of SS undefined, but is available upon the creation of a new save file. Hearts do not appear in Hero Mode, forcing Link to use Potions and Fairies to regain health. In addition, enemies deal double the amount of damage as in normal gameplay. Hero Mode can be activated or deactivated at any point during gameplay through the file select screen.

Skyward Sword
In Skyward Sword, the Hero Mode can be unlocked after completing the main quest. In this mode enemies deal double damage. Hearts and heart flowers no longer appear (unless Link is holding the Heart Medal), so Link must rely on Potions to recover his health. Furthermore, Link has access to all the hints the Sheikah Stones have to offer at the beginning of his journey, and he carries over any Treasure and bugs he collected from his first quest. An additional boss fight is added to the Lightning Round, bringing the total to 12. Finally, the Skyward Strike keeps its powered-up form from the first playthrough, and when strengthened again, the charge time is virtually eliminated.

A Link Between Worlds
The Second Quest reappears in again with the name of Hero Mode, where it is unlocked after finishing the main quest. The main difference in this mode is that enemies deal four times the damage than usual, but Ravio's Journal can also be accessed through this new mode as a hidden feature.