3-Heart Challenge, the next level

Originally Posted by Hawke

Real men doing the three heart challenge in MM do it all without saving or even quicksaving.

Funny how nobody caught that.

My OoT run was without capacity upgrades, damage resistance upgrade, Biggoron Sword, abuse of glitches or unnecessary items. I got the Lens of Truth even though it's not required per se, it's purely convenience in the Shadow Temple. I used as little as possible, though.
So:
- Used no Deku Sticks to do increased damage early on.
- Used no Deku Nuts.
- Didn't use the jump-attack/crouch-stab glitch (would have massacred the bosses otherwise).
- Only used a bottle when needed. No fairies or potions; strictly for the fish to Jabu-Jabu and Blue Fire for the Iron Boots.
- I got the Zora Tunic, because I don't think stressing though the water proves much.
- No Biggoron Sword, as said earlier.
- No capacity upgrades.
- No fairy upgrades whatsoever except Din's Fire to enter the Shadow Temple.

I could have made it even harder by swearing only to use the broken Giant's Knife or something, but meh. It was hard enough.

I thought of attempting ALttP or Twilight Princess next, but I don't think so. ALttP was pretty hard for me even when playing normally, and I got some other games to play before I bother with TP again (recently replayed it). Nearly finished my first playthrough of Paper Mario on the Virtual Console, and I'm also struggling with Mega Man 9. That game is so deliciously difficult in the old-school way, yet it never feels like cheap difficulty. I know it's possible to dodge everything, ergo it's just my own skills that must improve. I love it. Finally the Metroid Prime trilogy comes out in late August/September.

Then I can return to Zelda, once the new game comes out.

Well, I did the 3 heart thing on TWW with one bottle, small magic and no upgrades. The only time I almost died was with puppet Ganon, I kept running out of magic for my arrows(small meter).

I'm currently working on a TP 3 heart challenge with no shield or upgrades. I'm currently on Arbiter's ground. I have one death....King bubllin OHKO'd me as I didn't have a shield.....

Yes, I like to show-off!

I completed OoT, TWW, TP all without using the shield, no targeting and no bottles (I actually turned on the gamecube with L pressed to make sure I never tatgeted), but in OoT I did use the defense upgrade... TP is so easy... I actually feel it gets easier later in the game.

I tried MM, but never finished it.... I did get far into the game... still, never finished.
Tried OoS too, but....... oh god no....
Tried MC too, but got bored about at the start of the 3rd temple.

I forgot I had the shield in WW. Used it all the time in OoT and TP however.

Real men does AoL without leveling up anything (life,magic,damage) and without the healing spell.

Originally Posted by "I Am Error"

Funny how nobody caught that.

Oh, I got it. It's impossible to beat MM without saving. You HAVE to play the song of time when you first go to the top of the clocktower, or you can never turn human. Plus, even with the song that slows down time it's impossible to legitly beat all 4 dungeons in the 3 day limit.

More on topic, I heard someone talking about a challenge that would be very hard. You have to beat an entire game without picking up heart containers AND you cannot pick up any source of healing. (Small hearts, fairy springs etc.) You can only heal when it's impossible to advance without. (Turning into adult Link for example)

This is a little off topic but in ALttP try beating it with a green mail and a non powered up master sword.

I finished the OOT 3 Heart Challenge but i forget how many deaths I got. I thin it was 40-50ish not sure. Im working on TP now

Originally Posted by Stick Link

More on topic, I heard someone talking about a challenge that would be very hard. You have to beat an entire game without picking up heart containers AND you cannot pick up any source of healing. (Small hearts, fairy springs etc.) You can only heal when it's impossible to advance without. (Turning into adult Link for example)

Damn...

Three heart runs completed with 0 deaths:
- OOT
- MM
- TP
- PH
- MC

In progress:
- WW (Tower of the Gods)

Minish Cap was by far the toughest to beat endgame-wise, which was incredibly refreshing. Vaati is officially one of the toughest bosses in the entire series, which is very unusual for a final boss fight.

I hang onto the broken Giant's Knife in OOT instead of getting Biggoron's Sword, in case I want to up the difficulty - might fight Ganondorf with it at some point.

I've beaten Majora with the Kokiri Sword and Mirror Shield and nothing else. The opposite of easy, and seriously fun too.

Originally Posted by Silver

3 heart challenges are for pussies.

Real men do it with 3 hearts, without Z-targeting, AND no capacity upgrades (Bombs, Quiver, etc.).

My approach to three heart runs:
- No heart pieces or containers
- No capacity upgrades
- No defense or magic upgrades if applicable
- No permanent weapon/item upgrades unless required to progress
- Inventory as complete as possible - any item that you can collect and choose not to use is fine

No Z/L-targeting seems a bit much to me - I've tried it, and it makes the game hard while taking away from the enjoyment. I need the game to feel fluid. I'll congratulate you if you succeed in clearing the game in such a manner.

Originally Posted by PimPSlaP

This is a little off topic but in ALttP try beating it with a green mail and a non powered up master sword.

Done that several times - great challenge. Tried fighting Dark Link like that?

@ Katuko: Fair play to you, sir. I am not yet insane enough to attempt an LOZ 3 heart run.


A question for those of you who've 3-hearted the Wind Waker. How many Heart Pieces did you collect? Please tell me zero - at the moment I've put it on hold because it looks like I absolutely have to collect the piece from the Killer Bees to get the Cabana deed, which I'll obviously be needing to get the Triforce Chart there. I've avoided picking up any up to this point - I'm not even checking the postboxes because that's the first thing it'll give me if I do.

I plan to do MM 3 heart challenge with these rules.
Only 3 hearts (Obviously)

No bombs only blast mask

only masks needed in order to progress in the game such as basic transformation masks such as deku goron and zora.

other masks that you dont have a choic ein getting such as great fairy's mask.

No fierce Deity

no Arrow/ Bomb capacity upgrates

Use Kokiri Sword/Hero's sword through out the whole game.

No fairy upgrates except magic which the first great fairy gives you.

No bunny hood

Epona only used to get to great bay, Ikana Canyon and horse racing.

No Chateu Romani Milk

No fairies

Sneaking past Gurudo Pirates without knocking them out.

No using scarecrows song

no slowing down time (thats a maybe)

Only 1 bottle

No Stone mask

Defeat twinmold without Giants Mask.

More to be added.

Originally Posted by Chaoto

I plan to do MM 3 heart challenge with these rules.
Only 3 hearts (Obviously)

No bombs only blast mask

only masks needed in order to progress in the game such as basic transformation masks such as deku goron and zora.

other masks that you dont have a choic ein getting such as great fairy's mask.

No fierce Deity

no Arrow/ Bomb capacity upgrates

Use Kokiri Sword/Hero's sword through out the whole game.

No fairy upgrates except magic which the first great fairy gives you.

No bunny hood

Epona only used to get to great bay, Ikana Canyon and horse racing.

No Chateu Romani Milk

No fairies

Sneaking past Gurudo Pirates without knocking them out.

No using scarecrows song

no slowing down time (thats a maybe)

Only 1 bottle

No Stone mask

Defeat twinmold without Giants Mask.

More to be added.

So basically the GameFAQs Ultimate Challenge then?

Originally Posted by MDK

So basically the GameFAQs Ultimate Challenge then?

Pretty much. Unless you can think of somthing different, harder but still possible.

i used an AR in WW and tried to beat the game without a sword (easy at frist but i failed at gohma)