How to get the GBA Time Ring and the GBA Nature Ring in Oracle of Ages & Seasons for the 3DS Virtual Console

Okay, this is a simple guide that explains how you can still get the missing rings on your 3DS VC versions of the Oracle games. As you might know, the 100 Rupee Advance Shops stays closed on the Virtual Console. You can't enter them to buy the exclusive rings. The rings are worthless, but you still might want them to complete your collection. And this is how you can do it.


1) Using password manipulation

For this you basically just use this table made by banjoo kazooie at GameFAQs on your already aquired Ring Secret. I haven't tested it yet, but I trust that it works just fine. All you need to to is swap the fifth and fourteenth character of your Ring Secret. The tricky part is getting the correct fifteenth character, which is a guessing game, where you have to try out all 64 different characters.

But this has the general advantage that this works with games, that you've already started. You can't get the rings until you've completed your first game, however. Of course this is not a real issue, since the rings are only there for completion.



2) Using the password generator

This only works if you start a new game. But it has some other advantages, so I would recommend doing this, if you haven't started a new game yet.

First of all download this password generator. It's the holy grail for every Oracle fan and lets you do many nice things. Just execute the file and follow these steps:

1. On the top right select "New Game (Hero's Secret)"
2. Enter your ingame name in the field "Hero's Name"
3. Chose your Game ID (a number between 1 and 32767) and write it down somewhere!
4. Check "Ring Secret" and click on "Choose..." right next to it.
5. In the submenu check "15. GBA Time Ring" and "52. GBA Nature Ring" and hit "OK".
6. Then simply click on "Make Secrets" to get your passwords

All the other variables are meaningless at this point. For the Hero's Secret it doesn't matter, which game you chose or what your animal buddy should be. That's still up to you. And the name of the child can be changed afterwards. (Don't get irretated by this! You can still chose your animal buddy! There won't be any linked events. It's like starting a fresh game.)

You should receive two passwords, the Hero's Secret and a Ring Secret for two rings. The Hero's Secret is nearly identical to starting a new game without any passwords except for four differences:

• The save file will be marked with a Triforce
• You start with four hearts (instead of three)
• You have the Victory Ring in your inventory (yet to be appraised)
• You can use Ring Secrets from the start

Yes, it's essentially a minor New Game+, but the part with the ring secret is very important.

Now chose the game, where you want to start. It doesn't matter, if it's Ages or Seasons, the Hero's Secret works both ways. Simply select an empty savegame slot, then select "Secret" and enter the Hero's Secret. You should get a new savegame with the name, which you've entered into the password generator, and a Triforce on it. Play and you'll notice that you're on the beginning of the storyline (and not in a linked game). After the intro sequence happened, you can go straight to Vasu's ring shop (the house with the ring sign on the roof). Talk to him to receive your ring box. Then talk to the red snake and tell her the Ring Secret that you got from the password generator. If you now check Vasu's ring list, you can see that you've gotten both missing rings!

From now you can keep playing like normal. At the end you will receive the normal secret for linking to the other game. Ask the red snake again to receive an updated Ring Secret, so that you'll carry over the GBA rings. That way you can copy over your rings to all files that you've started with the Hero's Secret and all files connected to them! So, let's say you started a new game in both Ages and Seasons with the Hero's Secret, you can already share between the games. It's pretty cool.

You can also use this system to cheat and get all 64 rings from the start. But that's lame. However, you need to remember your Game ID, if you want to generate any additional secrets. Without the accurate Game ID the passwords won't work. So, write it down when you generate the passwords!

You can find more information about the Hero's Secret and how to get all 64 rings in this post: Using the Hero's Secret to get all 64 Rings


3) Using old passwords

Probably the easiest approach. If you had the games for the GameBoy Advance you can also simply use your old passwords. Just look for the Hero's Secret and your latest Ring Secret and use them on the VC.