Cadence arrives in an unknown Hyrule, whose residents are under Octavo’s spell. Play through the short introduction with Trill and try out movement, attack and digging. In the end you choose the path to Link or Zelda. This is how you define your first figure; in normal story mode, you can wake up the other hero later in Kakariko.
Calibrate the rhythm and controls
First move with individual, conscious inputs. An attack with the equipped melee weapon occurs when you move towards an enemy within its range. This doesn’t mean you have to touch every enemy directly: a long weapon reaches different spaces than a short dagger. Therefore, after changing weapons, check which fields in front of you are actually hit.
If the rhythm feels off despite consistent inputs, open the options and use latency calibration. It compensates for possible delays between sound, image and input. If the rhythm of the game is too hectic for you, you can activate the Fixed-Beat Mode. Then the opponent’s next move depends on your action; You can calmly consider a situation before taking the next step.
During the first fights, observe more than just your own character. A raised stick announces an attack; a cocked opponent can bridge a distance in the following turn. Don’t go in front of him when he’s about to strike. Clear individual enemies out of the way before allowing them to attack you from multiple sides at the same time. For Link, the shield helps against attacks from the front; Zelda has a different defense with Nayru’s Love.
The first safe routes through Hyrule
Leave your starting area and explore the subsequent fields. The location of major areas differs between saves. Your first goal is therefore to uncover accessible paths and activate Sheikah Stones. They serve as return points. Once you have the Lute, you can use the already activated stones for fast travel.
Find Cadence’s cave near a major dungeon region and speak to her to receive the Lute. Use it to travel to activated Sheikah Stones. Speak to Cadence again in the other regions as you explore.
A blue butterfly on a bush, pot or other destructible obstacle indicates a hidden entrance. Remove the obstacle and examine the stairs below. Take accessible Pieces of Heart and look in stores for a weapon with a range you are comfortable with. A long attack can give you more security in the first few fights than a risky step directly in front of the enemy.
If you find a shop with an empty bottle, it is a sensible purchase for later healing. Don’t confuse durable equipment with the tools you need to replace after a defeat. In particular, items with a durability meter can be lost. After failure, you can spend diamonds on a better equipped new attempt; a death does not reset the entire adventure to the beginning.
Kakariko and the Sleeping Hero
Once you find Kakariko, activate the Sheikah Stone in the village. Find the house with the sleeping figure and talk to the resident who took her in. There lies the hero you didn’t choose at the beginning. To wake up you need a special potion from the village crypt.
Go to the cemetery on the eastern side of Kakariko. Find the large tombstone at the back and push it aside. Below this appears the entrance to the Kakariko Tomb. Go in with your hearts filled first. If the fights are still too difficult for you, you can return later with better equipment using the activated stone.
The Potion from the Kakariko Tomb
Work your way through the enemies in the tomb to the completed boss area. As with the other created sections, the combat and spatial layout cannot be described by a list of individual turns that is valid for every game state. Find the connections that are actually open, clear the path and check the available keys before you end up in front of a locked door.
At the end you meet the shadow counterpart of the still sleeping hero: If you chose Link, Shadow Zelda awaits you; for Zelda it’s Shadow Link. Don’t constantly push forward. Pay attention to the opponent’s defense, stay out of his immediate range and use the free moments to score. You can also use Link’s shield and Zelda’s protection ability yourself to intercept risky situations.
After the victory, take the Hibiscus Potion and return to the house with the sleeping figure. Use it there to wake up. You can then switch between Link and Zelda using a Sheikah stone. When trying it out, keep in mind that not every weapon and every defensive ability is available to both characters.
With an activated village stone, a second hero and, if possible, a better weapon, you are prepared for further exploration. Next, look for the entrances to the four major dungeons. In the Lost Woods, Tingle helps you find the right path; on Lake Hylia the swimming equipment opens access to the frozen grotto.