Be a pro Zelda player in no time with these tips and tricks

Frankly I have very little experience playing 2D Zelda games, so keep in mind that this guide applies a lot more heavily to 3D Zeldas. With that pitiful introduction, let's proceed with some tips and tricks:

Master the Control Scheme
The foundation of any Zelda game lies within its control scheme. Fortunately, most Zeldas start out with some kind of simple quest or series of tasks that do an excellent job of easing the player into the controls and the overall feel of the game. The key is to use that introduction to your advantage. Take this time to just move around the game world and use all of the basic functions until you feel like you have a good grasp on the basics. Learn the interface backwards and frontwards. Make sure you know where all of the buttons you'll need to use are and what they do. Simple as that.

Explore
If you're in a hurry to win the next boss, to get to the next plot twist, or to just beat the game, then you're missing out on around 52% of the Zelda experience. That 52% is exploration. Trust me when I say that Nintendo has created some amazing worlds for you to explore in Zelda games. Not only will you familiarize yourself with these fantastic realms when you explore, you're also bound to come across hidden treasure, obscure secrets, and fulfilling side quests. Heart pieces will certainly aid you in the main quest, and collectibles can often be exchanged for a myriad of helpful items and upgrades.

Solving Puzzles
The dungeons in any Zelda game are simply packed with puzzles and brain-teasers galore. Getting stuck on a particularly tough obstacle is quite common for even the most seasoned Zelda player. The first trick is to never give up! There is always a solution. Think logically: what needs to happen in order to get past this obstacle? Is there fire in your path? Is there a high ledge that you need to reach? More often than not, your next goal will be clear...you just need to find a way to reach it. If you have the dungeon map, check it for hints, but don't rely too much on it. Once you've thought the problem through, try a variety of things, starting with what seems most logical. Use all of your items if you must, focusing on the item you acquired last. Never give up!

Fighting Enemies
Many enemies are simple enough to take out with a few sword swings. But some enemies take a little more patience or analysis. The first hint I can give you concerning enemies is this: there is an obvious distinction that will let you know whether your advances are doing any damage at all. Rely on both sights and sounds to know if your strategy is working. The second hint is to exploit the enemy's weak point if your basic sword moves don't seem to be working. Use your items, especially against dungeon bosses. Analyze the enemy's movement and attack style: does it move slow or fast? Is it obvious when it's about to strike? If so, be sure to dodge it, or use your shield if it's not too powerful an attack. Don't be discouraged if you die once in a while. It does take practice. Before long, you'll be practically invincible.

Three Steps For Your Dungeon Crawling Efforts

1. Once you have entered a new room, familiarize yourself with it. Don't do anything rash until you have a good grasp on the contents, shape, etc. of the room. You don't want to jump off a seemingly harmless ledge only to realize you can't get back up again.
2. Take out any enemies. It's a lot nicer to explore a room without having to worry about some sneak attack. Some enemies respawn after a time, but that generally means they won't bother you too much anyway.
3. Search for key features. Oftentimes, the switches, torches, etc. that you'll be dealing with in a particular room stand out a little bit or might even look somewhat out of place. Seek out these features and find out why they're there or how they work.

And with that, I take my leave. I hope you learned something, whether you're a Zelda newcomer or a series veteran. Good luck on your great adventure!