I just played Link's Awakening for the first time in... over 12 years.

Theres a way to permanently break the game..

Select Screen trick to get to Dungeon 7 at the start of the game. The result?: You are permanently STUCK AT THE ENTRANCE BECAUSE THERES NO STAIRS!

But if you did it to get there you can probably do it to go back. And if it's the start of the game it doesn't really matter.