This is a sub-page of Development:The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening (Game Boy).

All the text for the original Game Boy version is located in the file GBMSDT.DMG (Game Boy Message Data).

(Translations: GlitterBerri)

Message Icons

Several versions of the list of icons used in dialogue boxes exist. In the English version of Link's Awakening DX, the font looks like this.

As you can see, the pictographs go in the order below.

Keep in mind that the letter icon is the headshot of Christine, referred to internally as a bromide, and that the necklace is the censored version of the brassiere that appeared in the Japanese versions.

NEWS#

The recovered NEWS tapes found in other.7z contain at least two earlier versions of the graphics file for dialogue boxes. While the file NEWS\テープリストア\NEWS_04\home\arimoto\GB-zelda\moji.CGX contains only text characters (hiragana, katakana, alphabetical characters, and the like), NEWS\テープリストア\NEWS_04\home\arimoto\GB-zelda\moji.CGX.BAK has some icons, as well.

To do:
Rip and upload this.

moji.CGX

moji.CGX.BAK

Unlike the final list of icons, it has a hand, a leaf, and what looks to be an enlarged view of part of the stick.

It's missing the skull, the X symbol that serves as a censorship mark, and the bananas.

ZMS.DMG#

The following list is found in the file Source\Disk3\gbzelda\ZMS.DMG.

Unlike the final list of icons, it has a hand, a leaf, and an "R" ocarina (it's unclear what the R refers to).

It's missing the skull and the X symbol that serves as a censorship mark.

Content

Translation

; 絵文字
MK1    EQU    $DA    ;足
MK2    EQU    $DB    ;手
MK3    EQU    $DC    ;葉っぱ
MK4    EQU    $DD    ;リンク
MK5    EQU    $DE    ;マリン
MK6    EQU    $DF    ;タリン
MK7    EQU    $BF    ; R オカリナ
MK8    EQU    $EE    ; + キー
;
IT1    EQU    $E0    ;ヨッシー
IT2    EQU    $E1    ;リボン
IT3    EQU    $E2    ;ドッグフード
IT4    EQU    $E3    ;バナナ
IT5    EQU    $E4    ;棒
IT6    EQU    $E5    ;ハチの巣
IT7    EQU    $E6    ;パイン
IT8    EQU    $E7    ;ハイビスカス
IT9    EQU    $E8    ;ホウキ
ITA    EQU    $E9    ;針
ITB    EQU    $EA    ;ブラジャー
ITC    EQU    $EB    ;ウロコ
ITD    EQU    $EC    ;メガネ
ITE    EQU    $ED    ;ブロマイド

-Emoji-
Foot
Hand
Leaf
Link
Marin
Tarin
R Ocarina
D-Pad

Yoshi
Ribbon
Dog Food
Bananas
Stick
Beehive
Pineapple
Hibiscus
Broom
Hook
Brassiere
Scale
Lens
Bromide

DEMO_zelda#

Meanwhile, several versions of the icon list that exist in various files in the DEMO_zelda sub-directory have slightly different contents compared to above. The list below is from Source\Disk1\ゼルダの伝説_JP3_US3_EU2\DEMO_zelda\code.txt.

Unlike the final list of icons, it has an ocarina and a fishing rod.

Compared to the icon list in ZMS.DMG, it's missing the hand and the leaf, but it has the skull and the X symbol that serves as a censorship mark. It also dropped the "R" from the name of the ocarina.

Content

Translation

; 絵文字
;   MK1 :足
;   MK2 :伏せ字
;   MK3 :どくろ
;   MK4 :リンク
;   MK5 :マリン
;   MK6 :タリン
;   MK7 :オカリナ
;   MK8 :釣竿
; アイテム文字
;   IT1 ;ヨッシー
;   IT2 ;リボン
;   IT3 ;ドッグフード
;   IT4 ;バナナ
;   IT5 ;棒
;   IT6 ;ハチの巣
;   IT7 ;パイン
;   IT8 ;ハイビスカス
;   IT9 ;ホウキ
;   ITA ;針
;   ITB ;ブラジャー
;   ITC ;ウロコ
;   ITD ;メガネ
;   ITE ;ブロマイド

-Emoji-
Foot
Censorship Mark
Skull
Link
Marin
Tarin
Ocarina
Fishing Rod
-Item Characters-
Yoshi
Ribbon
Dog Food
Bananas
Stick
Beehive
Pineapple
Hibiscus
Broom
Hook
Brassiere
Scale
Lens
Bromide

Cut Text

Several text IDs in the retail versions are completely empty, but have text written for them in the Japanese source code. GBMSDT.DMG files in localizations have these lines completely blank and noted as unused.

Shop#

Text 2B#

The Fire Rod used rods as ammunition at some point in development. After the idea was abandoned, there was no need for this text anymore.

ID

Japanese

Translation

Developer Comment, Translation

2B

ロッドのもと　１０コ　１０ルピー

　　　　かう　　　ほしくない

Rod Base
10 for 10 Rupees

Buy   Don't want it

商品メッセージ（ロッドの素）

Merchandise Message (Rod Base)

Text 37#

Presumably this would've been used after buying the Bow. Was it possible to steal without repercussion?

ID

Japanese

Translation

Developer Comment, Translation

37

はっはっはっ　980ルピーも　　
くれよったわい　せけんしらずめ

Hahaha. You gave me a whole
980 rupees, you naive little fool!

騙されて商品を買ったとき

Tricked into buying something

Text 3A#

The shop sells 10 Bombs for 10 Rupees so this was probably removed for being redundant.

ID

Japanese

Translation

Developer Comment, Translation

3A

 バクダン　２０コ　　２０ルピー　
　　　　かう　　　やーめよっ！

20 Bombs 20 Rupees

Buy   Nope!

商品メッセージ　（爆弾２０個　編）

Merchandise Message (20 Bomb Compilation)

Map Names#

Text 5F#

For some reason the Tail Key was a map location.

ID	Japanese	Translation	Developer Comment, Translation
5F	`テールのカギ`	`Tail Key`	`テールのカギ Tail Key`

Obtaining Item#

Text 9E#

An alternate line for getting the Yoshi Doll. The text ID for the one used in the game is $44. The line is a pun that is formed by combining "yossha" (alright) with Yoshi.

ID	Japanese	Translation	Developer Comment, Translation
9E	`わっ　よっしーや！`	`Wow, alright!`	`ヨッシーを手にいれたとき Obtained Yoshi`

Bosses#

Text B8#

This seems to be an alternate intro line for the first encounter with Grim Creeper. The line used in the game is $25. Curiously, a table for boss intro dialogs references this old ID in the retail versions.

ID

Japanese

Translation

Developer Comment, Translation

B8

どうも、いけねえな　オチビさんよ
おれさま、ホンキでおこっちまった
いのちごいしても、むだだぜ！　　
かくごしなっ！　カーッ　ペッ！

You're not going anywhere, pipsqueak.
I'm seriously pissed!
No use begging for your life.
Ready or not, here I come!

＃７のボス１Ｘ

#7 Boss 1x

Text BB#

An alternate defeat line for the second fight with Grim Creeper that is very similar to $29, the one used in the game. The final line has him speak slower at the end and the laugh is missing.

ID

Japanese

Translation

Developer Comment, Translation

BB

ま、まけたぜ. . . へへっ　　　　
まっシロに、もえつきちまった. . 
だがよ、オメエも　きえるのさ。　
「かぜのさかな」がおきちまえばな
オメエも、オレさまとおなじ、　　
ヤツのユメだからな. ！　へっ！

I, I lost... heh heh.
Everything's going white..
But if the Wind Fish wakes up,
you'll disappear, too.
Because, just like me,
you're its dream too! Heh!

最後の７ボス２Ｘ

Last 7 Boss 2x

Text BE-BF#

Intro and defeat lines for presumably the second form of Hot Head.

ID

Japanese

Translation

Developer Comment, Translation

BE

これがさいごだ！　こぞう！　　　
きえるのは、キサマだけでよい！　
まんまと　あのフクロウに　　　　
りようされよって. . . いくぞっ！

This is the end, boy!
You should be the only one to disappear!
Being used by that owl...
Here I come!

最後の＃８ボス　１Ｘ

Last #8 Boss 1x

BF

グロウオオー　キ、キサマは、　　
きえるのが、おそろしくないのか？
わからん？　なぜそこまでして. . . 
わ. か. ら. ん. . . . . . . . .

Grooooar~
Aren't you afraid of disappearing?
You don't understand?
How can you be... so clueless...?

最後の＃８ボス　Ｘ

Last #8 Boss x

Owl & Wind Fish#

Text D1#

This line is very slightly different from the one used in the game, $D2.

ID	Japanese	Translation	Developer Comment, Translation
D1	`さあ！　かなでよ！　　　　　　　めざめのうたを！`	`GO, THEN! PLAY IT! PLAY THE SONG OF AWAKENING!`	`風の魚 Wind Fish`

Text D3#

Apparently you had the option to decline ending the game immediately and could instead leave the Egg!?

ID

Japanese

Translation

Developer Comment, Translation

D3

そうか、そうだね. . . . . . . . 
まだ、はやいのかもしれない。　　
ぼくは、いつまでも　まっている。
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

AH, I SEE........
PERHAPS IT IS STILL EARLY.
I WILL ALWAYS BE HERE, WAITING.
................

風の魚　（Ｄ０　Ｄ１　ＮＯのとき）

Wind Fish (When answering no to D0, D1)

Text CE#

This would've presumably been said by the Owl when returning to the Egg afterwards.

ID

Japanese

Translation

Developer Comment, Translation

CE

ホッホウ！　「かぜのさかな」は　
タマゴのなかで、まっておる。　　
さあ！カラのなかにはいるのじゃ！
　　　ホッホウ！　ホッホウ！

Hoot! Hoot! The Wind Fish
is waiting inside the egg.
Go on! Enter the shell!
Hoot! Hoot! Hoot! Hoot!

森のふくろう　（聖なる玉子）2

Forest Owl (Sacred Egg) 2

Text D4#

A dialog for the Owl in an unknown location.

ID

Japanese

Translation

Developer Comment, Translation

D4

タマゴのなかは、ユメとげんじつの
いりみだれた、じくうのはざま。　
じゃあくなるものの、けはいも　　
かんじる. . . 　ホッホウ！　　　
こころに、スキをつくるでないぞ！
「かぜのさかな」は、もうすぐじゃ

Inside the egg is a gap in space and time,
where dreams and reality are jumbled together. 
I also feel the presence of evil... Hoot! Hoot!
Don't let it into your heart!
The Wind Fish is very close, now.

森のふくろう　Ｘ

Forest Owl x

Text D6#

A dialog for the Owl after completing Bottle Grotto. The area can be left from three different directions, so it's unclear where or how this encounter would've been seen. You're also directed towards the Prairie after obtaining the Conch Horn, which makes this line rather redundant anyway.

ID

Japanese

Translation

Developer Comment, Translation

D6

ホッホウ！　このしまは、ひろい　
ぼうやに　あらたなチカラがつけば
みちは　ずっと　ひろがるじゃろう
. . . ウククそうげんにいきなされ
そこで　ある　かわったオトコに　
あうことになるじゃろう　　　　
「かぜのさかな」は　めざめをまっ
ておるぞ. . . .

Hoot! Hoot! This island is vast.
When you come upon new powers,
boy, your road will stretch onward.
...Go to Ukuku Prairie.
There, you will meet a strange man.
The Wind Fish awaits its awakening...

森のふくろう　（＃２クリアー後ウクク草原）

Forest Owl (Ukuku Prairie After #2 Clear)

Misc. Items#

Text EA-EB#

Two very similar lines for some sort of "pitari/pittari award". Pitari can mean "precise" or "exactly" so these were likely for the Seashell Mansion, which awards a Secret Seashell when entering with exactly 5 Shells and another for entering with exactly 10 Shells.

ID

Japanese

Translation

Developer Comment, Translation

EA

おめでとう！　ピタリしょうだよ！
しょうひんをおうけとりください！

Congratulations! It's the pitari award!
Please take this prize!

ぴたり賞　１

Pitari Prize 1

EB

おめでとう！　ピッタリしょうだ！
プレゼントは、こちらです！

Congratulations! It's the pittari award!
This is your present!

ぴたり賞　２

Pitari Prize 2

Dungeon Clear Text#

Text 158#

A hint as to where to go next is given after completing a dungeon. A blank but commented entry is present for a Level 9, presumably the Egg. This is of course unused.

ID	Developer Comment, Translation
158	`クリアＤＥＭＯ　ＬＥＶＥＬ９ Clear DEMO: Level 9`

Signposts#

Text 19F#

An earlier version of the inscription in the Southern Face Shrine? Who knows.

ID

Japanese

Translation

Developer Comment, Translation

D6

「かぜのさかな」は　ユメのなか　
さめることなき　ゆめのなか　　　
さめないユメの　さめるとき　　　
このよもきりと、なりにける. . .

The Wind Fish sleeps within a dream,
a dream from which it never wakes.
And should it wake, this world will be
lost to the mists of memory.

風の魚の詩

Wind Fish's Poem

Text 1C4#

Instructions on how to view and use the map. This is also explained by the quadruplets and a library book, so it's unclear where this would've been used. Clearly much effort was put into teaching this though.

ID

Japanese

Translation

Developer Comment, Translation

1C4

セレクトボタンをおしマップをみる
カーソルをうごかし、Aボタンおす
ちめいやフクロウのメッセージが　
よめるよ！　　　スタッフより

Press the Select button to view the map.
Use the cursor to move, and press the A button.
You'll be able to read place names, owl messages, etc.!
-The Staff

メモ機能有り

Have memo function

Tarin at Beehive#

Text 1BF#

Text for Tarin if you spoke to him without the Stick. The Stick is placed right on top of the bridge built by the monkeys so it's impossible to avoid. Even if the Stick is avoided by alternate means, the game code still assumes it was obtained when talking to Tarin.

ID

Japanese

Translation

Developer Comment, Translation

1BF

やあ、　　　　オラ、ハチミツ　
とりたいだよ。ぼうさがしてるだよ

Hey there! I want to get some honey.
I'm looking for a stick!

棒を持たずにタリンに会ったとき

When you meet Tarin without a stick

Town Library#

20F#

Text for reading the book with tiny print with the Magnifying Lens. The hint itself may have been undecided at this point, so this was probably used as a placeholder.

ID

Japanese

Translation

Developer Comment, Translation

20F

ガノンのじゃくてんは、　　　　　
「ぎんのや」です。

Ganon's weakness is
the Silver Arrows.

２０Ｄ　はいの時（虫メガネ有り）

Yes to 20D (With Magnifying Glass)

Tarin in Treasure Chest#

Text 22F#

Apparently Tarin would've been inside a treasure chest somewhere. This was mentioned by Yoshinori Tsuchiyama, the director of the DX version, in a staff questionnaire, and code exists in the final game for a treasure chest containing Tarin.

ID

Japanese

Translation

Developer Comment, Translation

22F

いやあ、みつかっ
ちゃっただが
じつは　かくれん
ぼしてたら、　　

かぎがかかって、
こまってただよ・
・・・・・もきを
つけるだよ

Oh, you found me!
Actually, when I was trying to play
hide-and-seek, I got locked in.
I'll be more careful from now on.

宝箱のタリン

Treasure Chest Tarin

Early English Localizations

Early and/or "uncensored" English translations are present for several lines by being commented out instead of deleted.

Hippo#

ID	Early	Retail	Developer Comment
AF	`Stop trying to take my towel! You aren't an artist! Quit it!`	`Leave me alone! I'm trying to sit still so Schule can paint my portrait!`	`Hippo model at Schule's house`

Facade#

ID	Early	Retail	Developer Comment
B6	`Hey dummy! Need a hint? My weak point is XXXX! Whoops! There I go, talking too much again...`		Whoops! There I go, talking too much again...

Shadow Nightmares#

ID

Early

Retail

Developer Comment

F5

If the Wind Fish
doesn't wake up,
this island will
never disappear!
We would have
become the gods
of this place...

If the Wind Fish
doesn't wake up,
this island will
never disappear!
We would have
been the masters
of this place...

THE LAST BOSS First Speech

Stone Slab#

ID	Early	Retail	Developer Comment
109	`First Pols Voice Last Stalfos...`	`First, defeat the imprisoned Pols Voice, Last, Stalfos...`	`STONE SLAB HINTS #2`

Quadruplet#

ID

Early

Retail

Developer Comment

122

Hey hey, bro!   
About the Dream 
Shrine there...
There's a XXXXX 
inside... ...   
I better not say
anything else   
as I'm just a   
kid!

Hey hey, bro!   
About the Dream 
Shrine there...
They say there's
something good   
inside... ...   
I better not say
anything else   
as I'm just a   
kid!

Boy by Dream Shrine

Owl Statues#

ID	Early	Retail	Developer Comment
1B6	`A SOUND, THE GOD STIRS IN THE EGG YOU ARE THERE...`	`MUSIC, THE FISH STIRS IN THE EGG YOU ARE THERE...`	`*OWL STATUES*, #1`

ID	Early	Retail	Developer Comment
1B8-1B9	`IN HUMUS SLEEPS SECRETS, BENEATH YOUR SOLES...`	`IN SOIL SLEEPS SECRETS, BENEATH YOUR SOLES...`	`*OWL STATUES*, #3/#4`

Mermaid#

ID	Early	Retail	Developer Comment
1EC	`Your ',ITA,' is now a pink swimming suit top ',ITB,'! L-l-lucky!`	`The ',ITA,' became a necklace ',ITB,'! L-l-lucky!`	`computer explains`
1F0	`When I was swim- ming in the bay, a wave came and took my swim suit top... If you find it, I will give you... XXXXX.`	`When I was swim- ming in the bay, the waves took a very important necklace from around my neck! If you find it, I will let you take a scale from my tail!`	`Talking to the mermaid`
1F1	`Hey! Quit it!`	`I have already looked around here!`	`When you dive near the mermaid`
1F2	`Ahh! That's it! My swim suit! Hey! Give it to me! Give it! If you give it back, I will let you take a scale from my tail! Yes! No Way`	`Ahh! That's it! That's my neck- lace! Give it! Give it back! I will give you a scale as I said! Give Keep`	`When you have swim suit top`
1F3	`A-Ah, only take one!`	`Promise! You'll only take one!`	`When 1F2 = Yes`
1F4	`Boo hoo! You're such a meanie!`	`You are heart- less and cruel!`	`when 1F2 = No`
1F4	`You took a scale from the mermaid' ,ITC,' and gave the ',ITB 'back to her. You are very happy!`	`You returned the' necklace ',ITB,' and got a scale ',ITC,' of the mermaid^s ' tail. How will ' you use this?'`	`computer explains`

Ghost#

ID	Early	Retail	Developer Comment
210	`...cemetary... ...take me... ...my grave...`	`...my grave... ...take me... ...my grave...`	`first ghost message`

Rabbit#

ID

Early

Retail

Developer Comment

24C

Anyway, I heard 
from a very good
source that they
have a Dream    
Shrine in Mabe, 
and that XXX is 
inside...  Is   
that true?

Anyway, I heard 
from a very good
source that they
have a Dream    
Shrine in Mabe, 
and that it has 
something good  
inside...  Is   
that true?

(Nothing)

Early French Localizations

Some early translations of lines are present in the folder `Source/Disk1/ゼルダの伝説_JP3_US3_EU2/CGB_zeldaFRANCE/cgb_f/Text`.

Early German Localizations

Some early translations of lines are present in the folder `Source/Disk1/ゼルダの伝説_JP3_US3_EU2/CGB_zeldaDOITU/cgb_d/TEXT`.

						D-Pad	Headshot	Yoshi	Hibiscus	Foot
Ribbon	Dog Food	Bananas	Stick	Beehive	Pineapple	Broom	Fish Hook	Necklace	Scale	Lens