Behind the line
What it means
Our interpretation.
Zelda II's translated villagers talk in clipped capitals, and a man literally named Error became the poster child for 1980s localisation oddness. The joke has a Japanese root: he was paired with a villager called Bagu, the Japanese word for bug, so the two names made an error-and-bug gag that only half survives in English. Nintendo knows the legend: Super Paper Mario has a brainwashed boss announce I am Error.
Context reviewed
In context
Spoilers for Zelda II: The Adventure of LinkShow the scene
In Ruto Town, one of the towns in Zelda II: The Adventure of Link, a man named Error speaks to Link with only this one line, written in all capitals like every villager line in the game. When Link later meets a second man in Mido Town and is told to ask Error about the way to the Island Palace, Error finally gives something useful: there is a tunnel south of the King's Tomb in Mido. The same character sprite is reused for other townsfolk, some of whom admit they know nothing and a few of whom give vital hints, like using the Fire spell.
Sources (1)
- Zelda Wiki: ErrorBiography, NomenclatureReference checked
Context reviewed