Ahem. Sorry for the "late" reply, it only took me 9 years
I just found out that I had started this educational project in 2001! It was C++ with some assembly for tile drawing. The assembly idea got in when the original draft was being written, for VESA.
I left it at the proof-of-concept stage, but the player could walk fine around in the original Link's house
I am planning to make it build again and then I'll post a screenshot
The fun of archaelogical findings!