Chronarchy

Beating Zelda without a sword is like winning a fight with one hand tied behind your back

Having, I believe, gotten as far as one can in the original Legend of Zelda without a sword (level 4, apparently, is the first dungeon you cannot beat by moving through the game somewhat non-linearly, though I have one more trick up my sleeve to try: I don't yet have the wand, and I believe I may be able to best Gleeock using it as a sword),¹ I think it's time for a new challenge: the Three Heart Run.

I've just stumbled upon this type of challenge, and I'm looking for more information: it appears to be a minimalist run through specific bosses or levels (basically, you only pick up items absolutely necessary to the quest, and ignore superfluous things like Heart Containers). But me? I'm looking at the whole game as a challenge: to move through all of the original Legend of Zelda game with only three heart containers (the three you begin any Zelda game with) and no "continues."

Is it doable? I certainly think so. . . though I do wonder a bit about whether minimalist runs on 8-bit systems nearly as old as you are is particularly sane. . .

¹ - Update: I noticed while searching for a link to Gleeock that my suspicion about the wand replacing the sword is correct! I can pass Gleeock without the sword! Of course, further down, it informs me that I cannot kill Gannon without the sword. This is disheartening, but at least now I can get to him to test the theory!