10 Video Game Decisions That Ruined Your Entire Playthrough

10. Stealing From The Town Tool Shop - The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening

The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening will basically brand you with a scarlet letter if you deign to commit thievery. 

If you manage to steal an item from Mabe Village's Town Tool Shop, a message will pop up reminding you that you got a five-finger discount before asking, "Are you proud of yourself?"

But that's just the start. Link will also be renamed to "THIEF" for the entire rest of your playthrough, with basically every NPC calling you it, ensuring you're constantly reminded of your misdeed.

Short of reverting to a prior save, you're stuck with the digital shame, and if you're brazen enough to then try and revisit the store for some more goodies, the shopkeeper will kill you with a blast of lightning that'd make Emperor Palpatine himself blush.

If Nintendo wanted to instill the ills of theft into the hearts and minds of their young players, then this was certainly an effective and memorable way to do it.