Old Man

Old Man is a title given to several characters serving different functions, appearing in The Legend of Zelda, The Adventure of Link, A Link to the Past, Oracle of Ages and Seasons, and Four Sword Adventures.

The Legend of Zelda
In The Legend of Zelda, there are several Old Men across Hyrule, each serving various needs, such as supplying Link with his first sword, or giving helpful hints regarding enemies such as the Dodongo. Many helpful items can be obtained from these old men, and a mini-game can be played with them called the Money Making Game. If he is found in dungeons and is stabbed, the torches around him will fire energy blasts at Link, similar to those of a Stone Statue.

Link can receive a Letter from the old man in a northeast cave of Hyrule. When Link shows the Letter to various Old Women, they will sell him Life Potions and 2nd Potions.

The Adventure of Link
In The Adventure of Link, also known as Wise Man, one Old Man resides in each town. They teach Link useful spells once he has achieved the necessary prerequisites. These spells are usually required for access to the next area that Link must travel to.

In the Great Palace, a dwarf Old Man keeps the Triforce of Courage. When Link enters the chamber of the Triforce, the Old Man stands atop a pillar and summons Shadow Link out of Link's body. When Link defeats his dark counterpart, the dwarf old man hands him the Triforce of Courage.

Oracle of Ages and Oracle of Seasons
In the Oracle series, Old Men appear in caves that Link finds using by using the shovel or burning trees using Ember Seeds. Some bribe Link not to tell anybody about their secret caves by giving him a large sum of approximately 300 Rupees. Others will thank Link, and charge him a large sum of money in order to repair their doors. One Old Man also appears in the Hero's Cave of a linked version of Oracle of Seasons.

Four Sword Adventures
Old Men return in Four Sword Adventures, as spirits who will assist the four Links by giving them hints in form of bizarre remarks. One appears in the Cave of No Return, jealous over Link for having friends, something he himself never had. He informs them that they can make it over the chasm by throwing themselves over. However, it is not a given that they'll give the four Links any hints or usable information, as sometime they will just give bizarre remarks, such as the old man found at the graveyard.

The Shadow Prince
In The Shadow Prince, Link can encounter mysterious Old Man if he chooses to take the Town of Ruto detour instead of going through the Midoro Swamp as he tries to reach the Water Town of Saria. Just as he is about to arrive to Ruto, he bumps into an Old Man, who gives the young hero a key. The old man goes on to say that he shouldn't go through Ruto on his way to Saria since there is a traffic jam, and the old man disappears before Link can ask any questions.

Other Similar Old Men

 * Sahasrahla, Aginah, and the Lost Old Man – in A Link to the Past.
 * Ulrira – in Link's Awakening.
 * Old Man in Kakariko Village‎ – in Ocarina of Time.
 * Lake Scientist – in Ocarina of Time and Majora's Mask.
 * Old Man Ho Ho – in The Wind Waker.
 * Sturgeon – in The Wind Waker and The Minish Cap.

Trivia
The Old Men share many similarities with the Wise Men from A Link to the Past. In The Adventure of Link, the daughter of the Old Man Link meets in Rauru calls them "Wise Men". Also in The Adventure of Link, there are nine Old Men: one in each of the eight towns and one keeping the Triforce of Courage in the Great Palace.