Once you begin the game, you will be given a bit of a backstory before A Link to the Past. Long ago, the people of Hyrule heard of a Sacred Realm which held a Golden Power, the Triforce. In their lust for power, the people tried to enter that Sacred Realm and tried to gain control over the Triforce. However, the Sages of Hyrule used their powers and sealed up the gate to the realm, holding back the evil that lived in the Sacred Realm.

Now, long after the events of the Imprisoning War, an evil wizard named Agahnim is seeking to unleash the evil from the Dark World. He captured six maidens from all over Hyrule and one by one, he sent them to the Dark World, weakening the seal. The final maiden, Princess Zelda, can only pray and hope that she is saved.

Once Princess Zelda contacts you, your uncle will walk away to head for the castle, possibly getting the same message from Zelda as Link did. Walk over to the nearby chest and open it to get the Lantern. Next, head outside the house and proceed north towards the castle.

If you head over to the left, you can see there are some soldiers blocking the route towards a town called Kakariko village. If you talk to them, they will tell you what buttons to use to use items, your sword, and other interesting tidbits.

Head to the east side of the Castle and follow up stone path. Pick up the bush here in order fall into a hidden pathway into the center of Hyrule Castle. Here, you will notice you uncle, who is badly wounded. He will give you his sword and shield and his final words. He will also teach you how to use the Spin Attack: press and hold B till you sword glows, then release to unleash the Spin Attack.

Head down and then walk over to the right path, killing the soldiers in your way. Open the chest for 5 rupees in it. Pick up and throw the pots in order gain whatever was under them. Now head back left and down to gain entry to the castle garden. Beat the soldiers in your way and then head into the castle.

Take a right and head up the stairs and up into the next room. Walk along side the higher platform to avoid the three soldiers, then head for the door. In the next room, climb down the stairs and you will notice a blue soldier. Kill him with your sword for a key and then open the nearby chest for the Dungeon Map. Next, grab the key and then walk to the door to the south and open the door to proceed to the next room.

Kill the next few soldiers that are in your way. The best way to kill them is to pick up a pot and toss it into the face to either kill them or knock them off the edge. Continue to the next page and walk up the bridge to avoid the next soldiers. Proceed up and north, then kill the green soldier in the next room to open a door. Head to the room to the right and kill the soldier for a key and open the chest for the Boomerang. After which, return to the next room and then proceed up to the locked door and go down two floors.

On the dungeon floor, you will come face to face with a green soldier and a Ball and Chain Trooper. Eliminate the green soldier and then head to open cell in the dungeon. Ball and Chain Trooper is a pretty strong mini-boss and can deal a lot of damage right now to you. Pick up one of the pots and pick up the heart under it and then step out of the cell toward Ball and Chain Trooper. Throw the pot into the trooper to damage him. Grab another pot and toss it into him to kill him. The Ball and Chain Trooper will drop a Big Key after, allowing you to open Zelda’s cell.

Princess Zelda will then talk about all the things the wizard had done and will done. She will ask you to take her out of the castle, out of harms way. She says that there is a hidden route to the Sanctuary in the throne room and will ask you to take her there.

Head up to the throne room on the first floor. Near the entrance to the castle, head up north and you will notice a throneroom and two soldiers guarding the room, but they won’t do much harm. Head to the back of the room and push the shelf in order to reveal a hidden passageway.

In the next room, head forward while killing any enemies in your way and then head up north and east to a door. Go down the steps and you will find yourself in a small hallway full of Ropes. Kill all of them and then head down the stairs. In the next room, head up north and the to the right is another chest with a key in it. Head up north and open the door. Proceed forward and head through the sewers.

In the next room, head to the left side of the room and kill one of the few Rats in the room. Whatever one you kill will drop another key. After it does, head to the locked door to the right side of the room to the next room. Head up to the next room and kill any Rats or Keese in your way. Head to the blocks at the north end of the room and move the center block up.

In the next room a bunch of rats will be running around the room. You can kill them to get more Rupees or you can ignore them and head to the next room. In the next room, there are two switches you can pull on. Pull on the right one in order to open the next door. If you open the one to the left, a bunch of enemies will fall on top of you.

After Zelda and the Loyal Sage talk about how to defeat Agahnim, walk over to the chest to the left. Open it to get your first Heart Container.