The Truth Behind the Chris Houlihan Room in The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past

For fans of Nintendo and retro gaming, the name Chris Houlihan is a legendary enigma—woven deep into the fabric of The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past, developed by Nintendo for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System.

This iconic adventure remains one of the highest-rated games in the Zelda franchise, with its North American release in 1992 marking a milestone for action-adventure titles on Nintendo platforms.

Yet, for decades, one special room in the game—the "Chris Houlihan Room"—has represented an unsolved Nintendo Power mystery, sparking curiosity among gamers, historians, and developers alike. The story traces back to a unique contest in Nintendo Power's September-October 1990 issue.

According to documentation and gathered evidence, Chris Houlihan was rewarded for his or his father's success in the magazine's "Warmech challenge," earning an unusual in-game tribute: a hidden room displaying his name.

While the room served a technical purpose as a fail-safe, it became a cultural touchstone, spawning countless attempts by fans, journalists, and YouTubers to discover the true identity behind the legend. Recently, astronomer and YouTuber Kevin Hainline took a significant step in unraveling this decades-old mystery by publishing a video recounting his direct encounter with Chris Houlihan.

Hainline declared, “Chris Houlihan is real.

The name in The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past references an actual contest winner.

I’ve noticed people often claim he’s fictional, but that's incorrect.

I have met him.” Hainline went on to detail meeting Houlihan at a social event and seeking confirmation about Houlihan’s identity.

His efforts led to a pivotal piece of evidence: a photograph of a letter, reportedly sent by then Nintendo Power editor Scott Pelland, congratulating Houlihan on his achievement.

The letter explained that Houlihan’s first name first appeared in the 1990 NES title, Nintendo World Cup, but Nintendo of America didn’t consider this sufficient recognition.

As alternatives, developers discussed honors in Super Metroid and Kid Icarus: Of Myths and Monsters, but the only available character references were “hideous ogres.” Ultimately, the decision was made to fully commemorate Chris Houlihan in The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past, further solidifying his place in Nintendo history. To address lingering doubts, Hainline reached out to Scott Pelland, who responded that the note, “appears authentic, though memory of it is hazy,” and confirmed that, “the facts regarding Chris, his father, and the contest align with my recollections.” While this evidence is compelling and aligns with details preserved by Nintendo, skepticism persists within parts of the gaming community, as independent verifications are ongoing.

Editors have contacted Pelland directly to secure further confirmation and will update readers as new information is obtained. The story of Chris Houlihan and his unique legacy in The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past, immortalized on Nintendo’s acclaimed hardware, exemplifies how community stories and developer decisions intersect to create enduring gaming legends.

As ongoing research brings closure to one of Nintendo’s most fascinating mysteries, it’s clear that the culture around Nintendo Power contests and developer Easter eggs remains as vibrant as ever.

Zelda A Link to the Past Nintendo The Legend of Zelda The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past Legend of Zelda Link Legend Chris Houlihan Nintendo Power Kevin Hainline Scott Pelland Super Metroid Kid Icarus: Of Myths and Monsters NES Yoshi's Cookie