Early Testing

Filename: DarkHallway.jpg
Size: 13 KB
Source: Zelda Headquarters
Comments: Hmm... an odd picture, here.  It looks like Link is in a dark hallway, but I have no idea where.  The wall on the right suggests large windows to the left of the picture, unless it's just a strange texture.  Confusing...

Filename: EntranceToIceCavern.jpg
Size: 20 KB
Source: Everything Zelda 64
Comments: I think this is the entrance to the Ice Temple, but it's impossible to be sure.  They had changed the shadow routine here, but it didn't last long, according to the other screenshots.

Filename: GlitchedStalfo.jpg
Size: 31 KB
Source: N64.COM
Comments: The stalfo itself is primitive, as well as the sword, but the shield is very interesting.  I don't know if the face served any purpose, but it's a very unique design.  The backdrop is intriguing as well, but I have absolutely no idea what it could be.

Filename: GlitchedStalfo2.jpg
Size: 17 KB
Source: Zelda Headquarters
Comments: This picture gives us a much better idea of where Link is.  There seem to be gray pillars around, with a strange gray striped pattern.  The wall looks like stone, but it's hard to tell.  The above image shows more of the wall, but it's all blurry, so I can't be sure.

Filename: GlitchedStalfo3.jpg
Size: 14 KB
Source: Zelda Headquarters
Comments: This is much better.  Now we can see why the bottom of the wall seemed wavy: the wall has protrusions.  This almost looks like another angle of the first picture in this series, except from a different source.

Filename: HyruleTown+Malon....jpg
Size: 10 KB
Source: Unknown
Comments: An early rendering of Hyrule Castle Town, obviously.  The wall, ground, person, and house are very primitive (especially in texture), but the design is good.  The clouds seem to be purple for some reason (had they programmed sunset by this time?), and the girl is very plain.  My guess is that they only had the girl there so that they could test character interaction.

Filename: IceTemple.jpg
Size: 21 KB
Source: Nintendojo
Comments: I'm slightly confused by this picture.  The hearts are too low and are off-center, and the rupee icon is over the counter, not to the counter's left.  I don't think that someone could doctor as complicated an image as this, but its amazing what bored people can do!  Anyways, if this is "real," then I believe it's part of the Ice Temple, or if not, the Beta Dungeon.  I'm particularly interested in that box and hole on the left-hand side in the middle.  Any ideas?

Filename: IceTemple2.jpg
Size: 19 KB
Source: Zelda Headquarters
Comments: Another screenshot from the same room.  Those are definitely primitive stalfos... ugly.  We can see that box thing a bit better, but I can't see the hole.  The stalfos seem to be twice as big as Link!  Weird...

Filename: JumpingLink.jpg
Size: 18 KB
Source: GameFan
Comments: Our first and only demonstration of moonjump, perhaps?

Filename: LinkUpClose.jpg
Size: 16 KB
Source: Everything Zelda 64
Comments: This is the Ice/Beta Temple, you can tell by the wall pattern (if you can't see them, turn your monitor's brightness and contrast to full).  The ripples on his tunic seem detailed, and the shield seems to have some texture to it.  The facial expression is perfect-- it shows wariness, perhaps worry.  Maybe he saw a boss?

Filename: LinkUpClose2.jpg
Size:17 KB
Source: Zelda Headquarters
Comments: We can see the shield better, now.  The Triforce is on top, of course... it's been that way throughout the whole production of the game.  The Triforce piece on the bottom, though, seems to be divided in two... interesting.  There also seems to be a rupee-shaped indentation in the shield. Wonder why?

Filename: LinkUpClose3.jpg
Size: 16 KB
Source: Zelda Headquarters
Comments: Hmm...

Filename: LinkUpClose4.jpg
Size: 15 KB
Source: GameFan
Comments: Why does Link seem so nervous?

Filename: MoreOfTheGhostTown.jpg
Size: 22 KB
Source: Everything Zelda 64
Comments: Very cool arena, but the houses are kind of bland.  I like the cobblestone ground and the clouds, and the lighting isn't bad either.  I have no idea what that spike-like thing is, and it looks like there may be one person (you can see it near Link's left hand), but otherwise it's a ghost town.  A shame the place is so empty.
Recent comments: I received an email from Kim T. that reads: "You know that spiky thing in the backround you commented on? My hunch is that it is the Temple Of Time."  Well, that is a rather interesting guess.  It's unlikely to be a temple of Time, but it might be a temple or significant building itself.  Perhaps it has to do with the Temple of Wind?  It is rather unusual...

Filename: OldLakeHylia.jpg
Size: 24 KB
Source: Nintendo Power Source
Comments: No idea who the woman is, but you can see a dock and a port stump.  I doubt the building is a laboratory, as it is in our game.  The lake looks nice, and that far off hill is the distance just tempts you.  I'd also like to know why they had Navi from the beginning, despite the fact that from the looks of it, they didn't really have a storyline!

Filename: OnTheMountains.jpg
Size: 19 KB
Source: GameFan
Comments: Looks like Link is on the mountain, I think.  I know the picture is big, but the file size is surprisingly small, so it shouldn't take long to load.

Filename: Stalfos.jpg
Size: 10 KB
Source: Zelda Headquarters
Comments: Another stalfos, but where, I don't know.

Filename: Swish.jpg
Size: 29 KB
Source: N64.COM
Comments: Link is either near the desert, or he's near the mountain.  There's something mid-right of the screenshot, looks like a cavern.

Filename: Swish2.jpg
Size: 29 KB
Source: N64.COM
Comments: The swish is angular but a good effect, considering the development and the graphics engine at that time.

Filename: Temple.jpg
Size: 17 KB
Source: Unknown
Comments: Link is obviously in a dungeon/temple, most likely a Beta Dungeon.  Beta Dungeons are sometimes made by RPG and Adventure programmers and game designers so that they have an entire dungeon to test different doors, wall textures, floors, enemies, treasure chests, and other various things (even background music) that would never be released into the final game.  This was probably from such a dungeon.

Filename: TheGhostTown.jpg
Size: 12 KB
Source: Everything Zelda 64
Comments: It's pictures like these that really make my skin crawl.  The sun is setting into an eerie darkness, dark clouds flying overhead, and you're the only person in an entire town.  Sort of like a "last person on earth" thing.  Of course, that wasn't the purpose of this place.  Actually, this place was probably just to test arena sizes for towns.  They had no idea how big the towns should be, anyways... Quest 64 is pretty much the only other RPG game for N64, and the towns were unrealistic and difficult to get around in.  So they tested and tested and tested until they liked what they saw.  This is probably one of those few that they liked.

Filename: TheGhostVillage.jpg
Size: 16 KB
Source: Zelda Headquarters
Comments: The lighting effects here suggest morning, probably dawn.  The house in the far back looks too primitive, like a pink box with a triangle roof and a black hole that's supposed to be a door.  The road, believe it or not, is the same as the roads in all of the other Ghost Village/Town screenshots (which is very obvious, since they were all taken from the same arena!).  Also, I've just noticed something that seems incredibly obvious but just skimmed over my mind.  Link's tunic may be green, but unlike our Zelda game, where Link's sleeves were also green, this Link has brown sleeves!  Kind of strange looking...

Filename: Zelda1Hand.jpg
Size: 12 KB
Source: Nintendo Power Source
Comments: Link is obviously in some sort of maze, probably in our Beta dungeon.  The hand rushing towards him bears a resemblance to the hands in Zelda I, whereas the ones in our game bear more of a resemblance to the hands in Zelda III.

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