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Zelda: The Wand of Gamelon
The Phillips CD-i gets a Zelda game

When King Harkinian vanishes on a mission to save Gamelon. Link takes off to rescue him. But soon Link is also missing and Zelda must free them both from their evil captors!

* Features 70 playfields including Palaces, Forests, swamps, and a mysterious Fairy Pool
* An wide array of Characters talking to you in full animation!
* Confront Sword-wielding Stalfos, floating Ghini, Dreaded Dodongos, Pinching Ghoma, and much more!
* Stunning visuals and animated cut-scenes
* CD quality audio and sound effects
* Original music

The Wand of Gamelon is a side-scroller game, also known as a "platform" game. That means we see the character from a side perspective, as she walks along the ground, walls, tree branches, etc. and jumps over obstacles or enemies. She can also climb ladders or ropes to change levels, and can deliberately fall to move down.

It's a simple, familiar system, and that's an advantage in this adventure game. The options are kept to a minimum, allowing the player to focus on exploration, fighting, and searching.

The game opens with an animated sequence setting up the story: the King, Zelda's father, has travelled to the land of Gamelon to join forces with Duke Onkled against the evil Gannon. A month goes by with no word, so the heroic Link goes after the king... and also disappears. Zelda sets off to find both of them.

The animation is charming and gives the game much more character than the text boxes of the Nintendo versions. Appropriate voice acting helps -- the king's regal, Zelda's innocent but determined, and Link is a complete jerk.

One effect that doesn't work, however, are some zoom-to-close-ups in the animation. The animation is pasted on top of a static background, so the background doesn't move even when the "camera" does. The effect is a little disorienting.

The player then gets a map of the land of Gamelon. He or she can move the "triforce" around to select an area of the country to start in. At first, only three will be available, although good play will open up more of the map for exploration.

A good place to start (aside from the handy "help" feature, in which Zelda tells you how to move her around) is "Sakado". The enemies on the street of this town are pretty easy to kill with your sword, and the rubies they yield can be used as money at the local shop. It's the first house in Sakado -- simply stand in front of the door and press button 2. Once inside, you can buy lamp oil, ropes, and bombs, for 5, 10, and 20 rubies each.

Hit the shopkeeper with your sword for more info -- hitting friendly characters brings up an animation in which they talk to you, give you information, etc. It's another welcome improvement over the text of the Nintendo versions. As with the other games, you learn more about the story with each person you meet, and it's not as straightforward as you'd initially think (there's a particularly nice twist in the ending!).

To use items bought or found in your quest, crouch and hit button 2 for a display of your posessions. Select the item you want to use. Next time you hit button 2, that item will be used -- meaning you'll throw a bomb, hoist a rope, drop the bread, etc.

There are two ways to get out of a land in Zelda. You can hit the "triforce" parchment with your sword -- there are two in each land, one where you started and one hidden somewhere within, usually after you've found a major treasure or defeated a major villain.

You can also bail out when you die -- Zelda has a series of hearts at the upper left representing her strength (the old "hit points" idea from Dungeons & Dragons and other role-playing games). She starts with 3 hearts, but can gain more as the game goes on. A minor hit will cost half a heart, while some monsters can wipe them all out in one shot. When all the hearts are gone, you get the option to "continue" from a nearby point in this land... but you only get three chances in any one land before you're sent back to the map of Gamelon.

Fighting in Zelda is hampered only by somewhat sluggish response from the controls -- the scrolling and movement can be a little choppy, probably because of the CPU firepower required to move the colorful and detailed backgrounds. Fortunately, discovery of a "power sword" early in the game gives Zelda a decided advantage.

Most of the gameplay involves meeting people and finding stuff that'll help you in your quest. For example, one woman wants an Arpagos Egg... find it later in the game, go back and talk to her, and she'll trade you for some object that'll help you open up new areas of the map or fight the nastier bad guys.

A nice feature of the Zelda games is its non-linearity. You don't just automatically go from a "level one" to a "level two". Instead, you can go anywhere you like in the available regions, any number of times. Sometimes you'll have to, because you're allowed into regions even if you don't yet have all the tools you'll need to prevail in them. Sometimes you'll even find you're absolutely stuck, at which point you need to backtrack through regions you've already traversed to see if you missed something. Here's a tip that would have saved me two hours of hacking and slaying: Sakado has a back street!

The game takes a LONG time to play. Fortunately, there's a save feature which allows up to three players (or three versions of the same quest) to be saved in the CD-i's memory.

While the game isn't gory (bad guys generally just go "poof" and disappear), there are some moments here and there where the animation is thankfully blunt about the violence. One animated evil character, when hit, says "you've killed me!" as he dissolves. Cut to Zelda, who replies "good!".

In general, the game is a strong mix of arcade hack & slay with just enough searching, second-guessing, experimenting and communicating to keep it interesting. For all the CD-i owners, this Zelda is a keeper. For those gamers that played the original Nintendo classics, this Zelda game will make them want to have their money back.

Flare´s opinion
I think these games are rather hard because Link and Zelda can't run at all! So it's VERY hard to outrun or dodge enemies. The enemies are very easy though. Most of them only take one hit to kill off. Not very many puzzles at all.You run slower than a turtle in super glue and its not in it's true Zelda "overview" view. Yes I know Links Adventure was side scrolling but that game was harder and more fun than these 2 games.
Overall- I think this game could've been Way better! It seems as if 2nd graders slapped this game together without editing! I mean. Why does The King have the triforce of courage and why is the Triforce of wisdom wrong in saying the King would return safely and soon and not predict he would be captured by Ganon? And how can Link be missing? He's the Hero! He should have kicked some butts but what happens? He is captured...And Zelda has to save HIM?!?!?! Did I miss a meeting or something with Nintendo?! Zelda is the one who is supposed to be helpless...not Link! GOD!
Well...If you HAVE to play the game then go ahead. But, if you have a choice between that game and any other game...forget about Link and Zelda on the CD-I okay? It's not worth it. Don't get me wrong, I love the Zelda series ever since it first came out on NES. But these games are simply a disgrace. The best thing about this game is the Hilarious Animation sequences cause they are so poorly done it's funny! Also, these games are so much alike! Zelda: The Wand of Gamelon and Link: The Faces of Evil might has well be the same game except with different levels and you control different characters. Well, I will try to take more pictures if you want to see them!

Go to Sakado. Go right - as far as you can, killing all of the enemies as you go. Go back to the left until you come to the first hut (far left). Go into that hut (general store). Talk to the shopkeeper. Strike the Triforce and go back to Sakado. Kill more enemies. Repeat this until you have enough rubies to buy *at least* 1 BOMB, 1 LAMP OIL and 1 ROPE. Go in the general store and buy as many as you can afford. Go back out and go right - to the last hut. Go in it. Talk to the woman. Go back outside, back to the general store and strike the Triforce again.

Go to Kobitan. Go up, then left, then down. Go left and follow the lower path to the last house. Go into the house. Do the "duck-walk" to get next to the enemies. Kill them and get the LANTERN. Go back outside and go into the barn on the upper path. Once inside, walk to the right about 8 steps to get away from the door and use the lantern. Kill the Batman wanna-be and use a rope to get the KEY. Go back outside. Go down - into the first house. Talk to the woman.

Go back to Sakado and buy more bombs, etc. (You will need a total of 11 bombs minimum in your inventory)

Go to Ahitaru. Go to the far right and select the bombs in your inventory before you go in the cave. Use a bomb on the Gohma (giant crab). Go up. Go out the opening. Climb to the top of the rocks and go right. Jump over the
Gohma pit when you come to it (looks sort of like a volcano). Talk to the woman. She gives you WATER OF LIFE. Go right and use 10 bombs on the boulder that's blocking the fish's eye. Go in the eye. Talk to the fisherman and take the KEY he leaves.

Go back to Sakado. Go into the second house. Use the lantern when necessary.
Go up and go in the door. Kill all of the bats and take the POWER SWORD. Go back outside. Go back into the last house. Go out the upper window. Go into the first door to the right. Go through the other door. Go up and get the ARPAGOS EGG. Go back outside. Go right - into the last building. Talk to the blacksmith (a.k.a. the fisherman). Go back out, go left and into the crypt (small opening marked with a cross). Use a bomb on the skull wall. Go down the stairs. Go left as far as you can. Go up and get the KEY. Go back outside and go into the church (huge double-doors to your right). Go up to the top using ropes. Use the green shroud on Gibdo (the mummy).

** (optional):

Go to Shutoy Lake. Stay at the far left-side of the screen and throw your sword repeatedly (approx. 10 shots each) to kill the two Dodongos (rhinos) and take the rubies. Go into the first hut. Go back out and kill them again.
Keep going in the hut, going back out and killing the Dodongos to get rubies quickly whenever you need them. **

Go back to Kobitan. Go into the first house and talk to the woman again.
She'll trade you a FLUTE for the Arpagos egg.

Go to Washubi Swamp. Go to the end of the swamp using ropes,bombs and riding alligators (it's a long, hard trek!). Go into the house. Talk to Grimbo.

Go to Hanyu Forest. Go right and go into the hole in the tree trunk at the end. Work your way down to the lower-left corner as far down as you can get and go right. Get the HANYU SPORE that's growing on the rock and jump up onto the upper path. Go right and talk to the woman. Go left and use a rope on the limb that has a rope hanging from it already. Go right.

Go back to Washubi Swamp for the last time and talk to Grimbo again. He'll take your glove and the spore and convert your glove into a POWER GLOVE.

Go to the Fairy Pool. Go left and climb the rocks. Go right and kill the three witches (use a rope to get up to the last witch). Talk to the Fairies.
They'll give you a LIFE HEART, FAIRY DUST, and WATER OF LIFE.

Go back to Sakado. Go back into the last house and talk to the woman again.
She'll take the fairy dust and make the purple MAGIC CLOAK for you.

Go to Gohiyan Ship. Go to the right as far as you can. Then go down and to the right. Toss a bomb at Zola (the critter in the water spitting at you).
Ride the alligators over to the ship. Enter the hole in the side of the ship.
Go up to the door in the mast. Go in it. Go up as high as you can and get the ARPAGOS FEATHER and the KEY. Go back down and out of the mast. Go right. Go in the big steel door.
Take the REFLECTING SHIELD.

Go back to Hanyu Forest. Talk to the woman again. She'll take the feather and change your green shroud into a MAGIC CAPE.

Go to Tykogi Tower. Go up and talk to Impa. Go right. When you get to the tower, use the power glove (or 10 bombs) on the boulder that's blocking the door. Go in the door. Talk to the chef and take the KEY he leaves. Avoid the Wall Masters (hands) whenever possible. Use a rope on the ledge above you and keep going up until you reach the door. Go in the door. Defeat Ironknuckle using the power glove. Take the KEY. Go in the red door. Talk to Mayor Kravindish. Jump and cut the chains. He gives you the MAGIC LANTERN.

Go to Dordung Cave. Go left as far as you can, climbing the trees when necessary. Drop down and go into the cave (lower-left corner). Go up using ropes and use a bomb or your sword on Gleeok. Take the HEAT CRYSTAL.

Go back to Sakado. Go into the third house (previously locked). Talk to the chef. He'll give you a LOAF OF BREAD. Exit the house and go talk to the blacksmith again. He'll use the heat crystal on your sword. You now can throw your sword even if you're low on energy. Go back out and go left. Go into the house on the dock. Talk to Impa. Go back the way you came.

Go to Shutoy Lake. Go into the second hut and take the KEY. Exit the hut. Go to the last hut and go in (stay as high as you can using the tree limbs when necessary). Talk to Impa. Go out the lower door. Now you must ride the alligator. Jump off it when you get to the other side and go right. Quickly go up and into the door. Go up using ropes when necessary. Go in the middle gray door. Carefully drop down the left side staying as far to the right as possible. Jump across the chasm and go in the lower door. Go down to the other door and wait in front of the (water fountain?) for the Moblin Spear- thrower to appear. Kill him and take the KEY he leaves. Go in the door.
Defeat Wizzrobe by moving to the right side of the screen, facing him and just stand there. Don't do anything! His Disintegration Spell will reflect off of your shield and back at him. Take the KEY. Use a rope to get up to the
second floor. Go in the door. Use a bomb on the skull wall and rescue Lady Alma. She'll give you the CANTEEN (EMPTY).

Go back to the Fairy Pool. Talk to the fairies again. Your canteen is no longer empty. It is now filled with water of life. You may use the canteen only once before you must refill it. Although, you may refill and use it as
many times as you need to.

Go to Dodomai Palace. Go talk to Impa. Use a bomb on the skull wall. Ride the alligator. Jump off onto the rocks and go to the right. Exit the tunnel.
Use bombs on the soldiers. Take the KEY and go in. Climb up the curtain rope.
Go in the door. Climb the stairs. Use a rope on the ceiling to bypass the rest of the stairs. Go in the door. Go up and to the right as high as you can while avoiding the spells. Get as close to Hectan as you can (but don't cross
the gap) and slash at him with the sword. Go right. Go in the window. Talk to the man. Go back to the main door (where you climbed the curtain rope). Use the magic cloak and walk past the Wall Master (hand). Jump over the wall. Go into the first door. Go up the stairs. Jump and slash at the painting. Take the KEY. Go in the door. Talk to Duke Onkled. Take the gate KEY.

Go to Nokani Forest. Go up. Go left as far as you can. Go into the hole in the tree. Climb the trees. Go into the hole in the tree at the top. Climb the trees. Talk to the woman. She gives you the FAIRY LANTERN. Use a rope to get to the very top of the tree.

Go get about 400-500 rubies.

Go to the Shrine of Gamelon. Use the purple magic cloak to walk past the fireballs without taking damage. Talk to Impa. Go up to the top of the cave and go through the passage. Again, use the magic cloak to get past the fireballs. Go up the middle section of rocks when you come to a 3-way inter- section. When you've went up as high as you can, use the green magic cape to jump the chasm and get to the path on the left side of the screen. Climb up to the top and enter the shrine. Jump and hit Onfac in the head with the sword. Take the WAND OF GAMELON.

Stock up on everything (including rubies: 300-400) (except the lamp oil - you don't need oil if you have the magic lantern or the fairy lantern.)

Go to Reesong Palace. Use the purple magic cloak when necessary. Go right, down the ladder, left. Go in the doorway. Talk to Impa. Go left until you come to a bridge. Use a rope to get on the bridge. Go left and drop down to the boulder. Blast it with the power glove and go through the gate. Go over to the door and go in it. Use the purple magic cloak and go up. Kill the second floating head and take the KEY. Go up to the top of the cave and go through the door. Go right until you come to a pit. Drop down into it. Drop again when you land. You now should be on a drain platform (looks like a window with bars). Drop down a third time and climb the rocks to your right.
Climb up the ladder. Go in the door. Use a rope to get up onto the platform and go right (stay on the platforms). Kill the Goriya (boomerang thrower) and take the KEY. Go back to the left and go back out the door you came in. Go down the ladder and jump over onto the drain platform (or drop down and use a rope to get on the platform). Press button 2 to go through the passageway. Go back to the pit again. Go up, then left to the door. This is it! Ganon!
Select the wand of gamelon and go through the door. Go up the ladder as soon as you can and throw the wand of gamelon at Ganon. Climb up the chain and get the key. Keep going up until you get to the door. Go in it. Talk to King Harkinian to free him and win the game!

Items

Item / Where to get it / It's use / How to get it

ARPAGOS EGG / Sakado / Give to the woman in the first house in Kobitan / First door to the right on the backstreet of Sakado

ARPAGOS FEATHER / Gohiyan Ship / Give to the woman in Hanyu Forest / Go into the door in the mast and go up as high as you can

BOMB / Sakado / Destroy boulders & kill enemies / Go into the first house and strike it with the sword (if you have 20 rubies)

CANTEEN / Shutoy Lake / Carry water of life to use later / Rescue Lady Alma in Shutoy Lake

FAIRY DUST / Fairy Pool / Give to the woman inside the last house in Sakado / Defeat the witches and the fairies will give it to you

FAIRY LANTERN / Nokani Forest / It allows you to see all of the flying creatures at Reesong Palace / Go to the very top of the trees in Nakani Forest and talk to the woman

FLUTE / Kobitan / Temporarily stops all flying creatures (requires 5 rubies per use) / Give the Arpagos egg to the woman in the first house in Kobitan

GREEN SHROUD / Aru Ainu / Use it to defeat Gibdo / Go into the last house and talk to the woman

HANYU SPORE / Hanyu Forest / Give to Grimbo / Go to the right and go into the hole in the tree trunk. Go left as far as you can, then keep working your way down to the bottom of the screen. Go right, take the spore on the
tree stump.

HEAT CRYSTAL / Dordung Cave / Give to the fisherman on the backstreet in Sakado / Go left and into the cave. Go up to the top of the cave and defeat Gleeok.

KEY / Various locations / Unlock doors / Strike it with the sword

LAMP OIL / Sakado / Use in lantern / Go into the first house and strike it with the sword (if you have 5 rubies)

LANTERN / Kobitan / Light up dark rooms and caves (requires lamp oil) / Go into the last house on the lower path

LOAF OF BREAD / Sakado / Arpagos are attracted to it / Go into Tykogi Tower and talk to the chef upon entering. Go into the third house in Sakado and talk to the chef again.

MAGIC CAPE / Hanyu Forest / Jump farther (requires 5 rubies per use) / Give the Arpagos feather to the woman at the end of Hanyu Forest

MAGIC CLOAK / Sakado / Become invisible to enemies (requires 20 rubies per use) / Go into the last house with the fairy dust and talk to the woman

MAGIC LANTERN / Tykogi Tower / Light up dark rooms and caves without the need for lamp oil / Rescue Mayor Kravindish

POWER GLOVE / Washubi Swamp / Destroy tough boulders that require 10 bombs to destroy otherwise, or to kill enemies (requires 10 rubies per use) / Talk to Grimbo when you have the hanyu spore

POWER SWORD / Sakado / You can throw your sword when all of your lifehearts are full / Go into the second house with the lantern. Go up to the top and go in the door.

REFLECTING SHIELD / Gohiyan Ship / To reflect spells (to defeat Wizzrobe) / Go in the door in the mast. Go up as high as you can and get the key. Go back down and out the door. Go right - over to the big steel doors. Go in.

ROPE / Sakado / Climb up to places you can't reach / Go into the first house and strike it with the sword (if you have 10 rubies)

RUBIES / Anywhere there are enemies / To buy items in the general store in Sakado / Kill an enemy

Value of different colored rubies: Red - 1 rubies
Green - 5 rubies
Blue - 10 rubies

WATER OF LIFE / Fairy Pool, Ahitaru / refills all of your life hearts (energy) / Talk to the fairies, talk to the woman who's located before the giant fish.

Faq - frecuently asked questions

How do I get the key to the houses on Sakado? Enter the last house on the street, go up the stairs and exit through the window. Out of the window, enter the first doorway to your right. Select the ropes from your inventory and enter the door on the right of the screen. Go to the top of the playfield and carefully take the Arpagos Egg.

How and where do I get the Power Glove? Go into the Hanyu Forest, kill everything in sight and take the Hanyu Spore from the tree stump. Return to the overworld map and go back to the Washubi Swamp. Go to Grimbo's shack, speak to Grimbo and he takes the Hanyu Spore from you and gives you the Power Glove.

How do I kill the metal man (Ironknuckle) in Tykogi Tower? Strike Ironknuckle with the Power Glove. He disappears and leaves a key.

Where do I find the Fairy Dust? Enter Fairy Pool and use the magic lantern to light your way. Kill the witches and strike the fairies once to get the fairy dust.

How do I kill the witch (Wizzrobe) with the spells on Shutoy Lake? Kill Wizzrobe by reflecting his spells with your reflecting shield.

Where do I find the reflecting shield? At the top right of the Gobiyan Ship is a cabin door. Enter and you will find the reflecting shield. Walk down to it and pick it up.

Where and how do I get the Wand of Gamelon? Enter the shrine of Gamelon. Use the magic cloak to get through the cave entrance at the top. Jump straight up the central rock formation and proceed to the extreme left edge of its summit. Use the magic cape to jump the chasm and enter the shrine. Shoot the head that appears in the mouth and it will leave you the Wand of Gamelon.

How do I kill Ganon in the Reesong Palace towards the end of the game? Climb to the top and throw the Wand of Gamelon at Ganon to kill him. Pick up the key he leaves and enter the green door. Talk with the King to set him free.

Screenshots

Zelda: The Wand of Gamelon
CD Cover - front
CD Cover- back
The title of the game of course!
and lets not forget the menu!
King Harkinian telling Link he's going to try and save Gamelon
Impa looking into the triforce of wisdom
Link sets out to find the King.Zelda cries in front of impa
The map of Gamelon! Zelda first travels to Aru Ainu...
Zelda on the fields of Aru Ainu
Zelda wanders in a hut to find a Rhino creature
A nice old lady gives Zelda a cloak to help ward off demons
Zelda visits Tykogi Tower where Link and the King are thought to be!
Tykogi Tower. Zelda meets up with Impa
Zelda arrives to the humble village of Sakado.
Zelda in the village of Sakado
Zelda escapes the horror outside and runs into a shop
Zelda travels to the country village named Kobitan
Zelda in the starting point of Kobitan
Finally...She reaches Kobitan village, But is her answers there?