Difference between revisions of "The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening"

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[[Image:Legend of Zelda - Link's Awakening - GB - USA.jpg|thumb|256x256px|North American box art.]]
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{{Video Game
 +
| Title            = The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening
 +
| SortTitle        = Legend of Zelda, The: Link's Awakening
 +
| Image           = Legend of Zelda, The - Link's Awakening - GB - USA.jpg
 +
| ImageDescription = Game Boy - USA - 1st edition.
 +
| Developer        = {{VideoGameDeveloper|Nintendo}}
 +
| Publisher        = {{VideoGamePublisher|Nintendo}}
 +
| PublishedYear    = 1993
 +
| PublishedMonth  = 06
 +
| PublishedDay    = 06
 +
| Platforms        = {{Platform|Game Boy}}, {{Platform|Game Boy Color}}
 +
| Genres          = {{VideoGameGenre|Action video game|Action}}, {{VideoGameGenre|Adventure video game|Adventure}}, {{VideoGameGenre|Exploration video game|Exploration}}, {{VideoGameGenre|Metroidvania|Metroidvania}}
 +
| Themes          = {{MediaTheme|Adventure}}, {{MediaTheme|Cartoon}}, {{MediaTheme|Fantasy}}
 +
| Series          = ''[[The Legend of Zelda (universe)|The Legend of Zelda]]''
 +
| Distributions    = {{VideoGameDistribution|Commercial}}
 +
}}
  
'''''The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening''''' is an action adventure game made by [[Nintendo]] and released for the [[Game Boy]] in 1993. It's the fourth game in the [[The Legend of Zelda (Universe)|Zelda series]]. Later, an upgraded version with the addition of the letters "DX" was released for the [[Game Boy Color]]. The game doesn't take itself as seriously as the previous Zelda games and includes jokes, mergers from other Nintendo franchises, and fourth wall breaking.
+
'''''The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening''''' is an action adventure game developed and published by [[Nintendo]] for the [[Game Boy]] on 1993-06-06. The [[Super Game Boy]] supports this game. It's the fourth title in the [[The Legend of Zelda (universe)|''Zelda'' series]] and, though similar in game play to the first and third Zelda games, the game doesn't take itself as nearly as seriously and includes jokes, mergers from other Nintendo franchises, and fourth wall breaking. Later, an upgraded version, with direct support for the [[Super Game Boy]] was released for the [[Game Boy Color]]. Its title is appended "DX" in the USA and "Deluxe" in Japan.
  
I had first seen this game on my high school friend's Game Boy (around 1996), and he said it was just as good as [[The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past]], which I found hard to believe. But after playing it for a few minutes, I was surprised at how close it was graphically to the SNES game. I didn't do much with it, but around 2010, I decided to try and play the game through, and made it through the first few underworlds, but then got bored of it. I eventually returned to it and beat it on 2017-09-26.
+
==Personal==
 +
{{VideoGameStatus
 +
| Own      =
 +
| CantOwn  =
 +
| Won      = Yes.
 +
| CantWin  =
 +
| Finished = 2017-09-26.
 +
}}
  
==Status==
+
I had first seen this game on my high school friend's Game Boy (around 1996), and he said it was just as good as ''[[The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past]]'', if not better, which I found hard to believe. But after playing it for a few minutes, I was surprised at how close it was graphically to the SNES game. I didn't do much with it because I didn't want the game spoiled for me by playing his mostly complete save-file. Around 2010, I decided to try and play the game through, and made it through the first few underworlds, but then got bored of it. I eventually returned to it in 2017 and beat it.
I do not own this game, but I have beaten it..
 
  
 
==Review==
 
==Review==
* '''Overall:''' 7/10
+
{{Video Game Review|7|8|7|6|8|Game Boy Color}}
* '''Best Version:''' Game Boy Color
+
 
 +
{{Spoilers}}
  
 
===Good===
 
===Good===
 
* The pixel art is really good and fitting for the Zelda franchise.
 
* The pixel art is really good and fitting for the Zelda franchise.
* The game has great music for a Game Boy game.
+
* The music and sound effects (the work of [[Minako Hamano]], [[Kozue Ishikawa]], and [[Kazumi Totaka]] are quite good.
* It's cute to see the inclusion of other Nintendo franchises like Goombas, Piranha Plants, and Dr. Wright.
+
* It's cute to see the inclusion of other Nintendo franchises like [[Mario (universe)|Goombas]], Chain Chomps, Piranha Plants, [[SimCity (SNES)|Dr. Wright]], [[Kirby (universe)|Kirby]], etc.
* Jumping was also a cool feature.
+
* Jumping was a nice addition and well-executed.
* I like that you can get regular hints about where you need to go next.
+
* I like that you can get regular hints about where you need to go next, because the game is pretty vague at certain times.
 +
* The designers made a fair amount of clever puzzles that didn't fit with the typical game play.
 
* The game has a pretty nice ending sequence with nice full-screen animation.
 
* The game has a pretty nice ending sequence with nice full-screen animation.
* The Game Boy Color version is really nicely updated.
+
* The Game Boy Color version is well-updated, not just with attractive colors, but with a whole new dungeon and the camera puzzles.
  
 
===Bad===
 
===Bad===
 
* I don't like having to switch items so often. I preferred the previous games where several items like the bracelet, boots, and shield were always on.
 
* I don't like having to switch items so often. I preferred the previous games where several items like the bracelet, boots, and shield were always on.
* There are only a few items to buy in the game, so rupees aren't very useful.
+
* There are only a few items to buy in the game, so rupees go mostly unused, and aren't a very welcome treasure chest prize.
 
* The anachronistic telephones are really out of place. A Zelda game should never have modern technology.
 
* The anachronistic telephones are really out of place. A Zelda game should never have modern technology.
 +
* Several of the dungeons contain puzzles that don't fit with the expected game play and left me needing a online hint.
 +
* I didn't like having to bomb random dungeon walls again. This should have stayed dead with the original ''[[The Legend of Zelda]]''.
 
* Several of the secret seashells are hidden obnoxiously well requiring you to have to dig nearly everywhere on the map to find them.
 
* Several of the secret seashells are hidden obnoxiously well requiring you to have to dig nearly everywhere on the map to find them.
 
* The super powerful boomerang, though a fantastic weapon, doesn't fit thematically.
 
* The super powerful boomerang, though a fantastic weapon, doesn't fit thematically.
 +
* There are a handful of bugs in the game that have been discovered over the years, but you rarely encounter them.
  
 
===Ugly===
 
===Ugly===
* I get extremely pissed every time I have to read that damn message about not being able to pick something up with my bare hands. The first time was informative, the second was a refresher, the thousandth was Game Boy throwingly annoying. You would think it would stop after you get the bracelet, but no! Same with acorns, triforce pieces, chests, black boulders, etc. It's really annoying.
+
* I get extremely pissed every time I have to read that damn message about not being able to pick something up with my bare hands. The first time was informative, the second was a refresher, the thousandth was Game Boy-throwingly-annoying. You would think it would stop after you get the bracelet, but no! Same with acorns, energy pieces, chests, black boulders, ice blocks, etc. It's really frustrating.
  
==Box Art==
+
==Media==
 +
===Box Art===
 
<gallery>
 
<gallery>
 
Legend of Zelda - Link's Awakening - GB - Japan.jpg|The original Japanese box art show a friendly scene with Link, Zelda, and some other characters that conveys the less-serious nature of the game.
 
Legend of Zelda - Link's Awakening - GB - Japan.jpg|The original Japanese box art show a friendly scene with Link, Zelda, and some other characters that conveys the less-serious nature of the game.
Legend of Zelda - Link's Awakening - GB - USA.jpg|The box art used for all other regions fits with the gold box art and shield art that we've come to expect from Zelda games.
+
Legend of Zelda, The - Link's Awakening - GB - USA.jpg|The box art used for all other regions just reuses ''[[The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past]]'' art and replaced the subtitle. Kind of cheap really.
 
Legend of Zelda - Link's Awakening DX - GBC - USA.jpg|The Japanese remake is similar to the original Japanese box, and the Western box art is similar to the Western boxes, only with the updated DX logo.
 
Legend of Zelda - Link's Awakening DX - GBC - USA.jpg|The Japanese remake is similar to the original Japanese box, and the Western box art is similar to the Western boxes, only with the updated DX logo.
 
</gallery>
 
</gallery>
  
==Documentation==
+
===Documentation===
 
<gallery>
 
<gallery>
Legend of Zelda - Link's Awakening - GB - Manual.pdf|Game Boy manual.
+
Legend of Zelda, The - Link's Awakening - GB - USA - Manual.pdf|Manual - Game Boy - USA.
Legend of Zelda - Link's Awakening DX - GBC - Manual.pdf|Game Boy Color manual.
+
Legend of Zelda, The - Link's Awakening - GB - USA - Manual - Rev 1.pdf|Manual - Game Boy - USA - Rev 1.
Legend of Zelda, The - Link's Awakening - Official Nintendo Players Guide.pdf|Official Nintendo Players Guide.
+
Legend of Zelda, The - Link's Awakening DX - GBC - USA - Manual.pdf|Manual - Game Boy Color - USA.
 +
Legend of Zelda, The - Link's Awakening DX - GBC - USA - Manual - Rev 2.pdf|Manual - Game Boy Color - USA - Rev 2.
 +
Legend of Zelda, The - Link's Awakening - GB - Nintendo Player's Guide.pdf|''[[Nintendo Player's Guide]]''.
 +
Legend of Zelda - Link's Awakening - GB - Poster.jpg|Poster.
 
</gallery>
 
</gallery>
  
==Gallery==
+
===Maps===
 
<gallery>
 
<gallery>
 +
Legend of Zelda, The - Link's Awakening DX - GBC - Map - Koholint.png|Koholint.
 +
Legend of Zelda, The - Link's Awakening DX - GBC - Map - 1 - Tail Cave.png|Tail Cave.
 +
Legend of Zelda, The - Link's Awakening DX - GBC - Map - 2 - Bottle Grotto.png|Bottle Grotto.
 +
Legend of Zelda, The - Link's Awakening DX - GBC - Map - 3 - Key Cavern.png|Key Cavern.
 +
Legend of Zelda, The - Link's Awakening DX - GBC - Map - 4 - Angler's Tunnel.png|Angler's Tunnel.
 +
Legend of Zelda, The - Link's Awakening DX - GBC - Map - 5 - Catfish's Maw.png|Catfish's Maw.
 +
Legend of Zelda, The - Link's Awakening DX - GBC - Map - 6 - Face Shrine.png|Face Shrine.
 +
Legend of Zelda, The - Link's Awakening DX - GBC - Map - 7 - Eagle's Tower.png|Eagle's Tower.
 +
Legend of Zelda, The - Link's Awakening DX - GBC - Map - 8 - Turtle Rock.png|Turtle Rock.
 +
Legend of Zelda, The - Link's Awakening DX - GBC - Map - Color Dungeon.png|Color Dungeon.
 +
</gallery>
 +
 +
===Graphics===
 +
* [https://www.flickr.com/photos/historyofhyrule/albums/72157629221332745 flickr.com/photos/historyofhyrule/albums/72157629221332745] - Official published art.
 +
 +
===Fan Art===
 +
<gallery>
 +
Legend of Zelda, The - Link's Awakening - GB - Fan Art - Caomor.jpg|Fan art by Caomor.
 
Zac Gorman - Link's Awakening.gif|Comic by Zac Gorman.
 
Zac Gorman - Link's Awakening.gif|Comic by Zac Gorman.
 +
Marinko Milosevski - Legend of Zelda, The - Link's Awakening.jpg|Fan art by Marinko Milosevski.
 
</gallery>
 
</gallery>
 +
 +
===Videos===
 +
{{YouTube|Zt3N0zzIU98|Review - Game Boy Works.}}
 +
{{YouTube|Mi2KZjvF30E|Review - What's So Great About Gaming?}}
 +
{{YouTube|69m7d0iOcYA|Did You Know Gaming?}}
 +
{{YouTube|z2Blj9HVRSI|Comparing ports.}}
 +
{{YouTube|aCMu6GqD-CI|Son of a Glitch (DX version).}}
 +
{{YouTube|YzEU19PUVuE|Longplay, DX version.}}
 +
 +
==Representation==
 +
{{Representation
 +
| Media                      = Video games
 +
| StrongFemaleCharacterStatus = Fail
 +
| StrongFemaleCharacterNotes  = There are several female NPCs with Marin playing the largest role, but none are important.
 +
| BechdelTestStatus          = Fail
 +
| BechdelTestNotes            = No women ever talk to each other.
 +
| StrongPOCCharacterStatus    = Fail
 +
| StrongPOCCharacterNotes    = Although the Hylians aren't human, they all appear to be whitish.
 +
| QueerCharacterStatus        = Fail
 +
| QueerCharacterNotes        = There are no queer characters.
 +
}}
 +
 +
==Titles==
 +
{| class="wikitable"
 +
! Language !! Native !! Transliteration !! Translation
 +
|-
 +
| English || The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening || ||
 +
|-
 +
| Japanese || ゼルダの伝説 夢をみる島 || Zeruda no Densetsu: Yume o Miru Shima || Legend of Zelda: The Dream Island
 +
|}
  
 
==Links==
 
==Links==
 +
{{Link|MobyGames|http://www.mobygames.com/game/gameboy/legend-of-zelda-links-awakening}}
 +
{{Link|Wikipedia|http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Legend_of_Zelda:_Link%27s_Awakening}}
 +
{{Link|StrategyWiki|https://strategywiki.org/wiki/The_Legend_of_Zelda:_Link%27s_Awakening}}
 +
{{Link|GameFAQs|https://www.gamefaqs.com/gameboy/563277-the-legend-of-zelda-links-awakening}}
 +
{{Link|TCRF|https://tcrf.net/The_Legend_of_Zelda:_Link%27s_Awakening}}
 +
 
* [http://www.zeldadungeon.net/Zelda04-links-awakening.php zeldadungeon.net/Zelda04-links-awakening.php] - Zelda Dungeon.
 
* [http://www.zeldadungeon.net/Zelda04-links-awakening.php zeldadungeon.net/Zelda04-links-awakening.php] - Zelda Dungeon.
* [http://www.mobygames.com/game/gameboy/legend-of-zelda-links-awakening mobygames.com/game/gameboy/legend-of-zelda-links-awakening] - MobyGames (Game Boy).
 
 
* [http://www.mobygames.com/game/legend-of-zelda-links-awakening-dx mobygames.com/game/legend-of-zelda-links-awakening-dx] - MobyGames (Game Boy Color).
 
* [http://www.mobygames.com/game/legend-of-zelda-links-awakening-dx mobygames.com/game/legend-of-zelda-links-awakening-dx] - MobyGames (Game Boy Color).
* [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Legend_of_Zelda:_Link%27s_Awakening en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Legend_of_Zelda:_Link%27s_Awakening] - Wikipedia.
 
* [https://www.gamefaqs.com/gameboy/563277-the-legend-of-zelda-links-awakening gamefaqs.com/gameboy/563277-the-legend-of-zelda-links-awakening] - GameFAQs.
 
  
  
[[Category: Games|Legend of Zelda, The: Link's Awakening]]
+
[[Category: Video Game Prime Order - Adventure, Action, Strategy]]
[[Category: Video Games|Legend of Zelda, The: Link's Awakening]]
+
[[Category: Game Mechanic - Boss Rush]]
[[Category: Action|Legend of Zelda, The: Link's Awakening]]
+
[[Category: Game Mechanic - Unlockable Content]]
[[Category: Adventure|Legend of Zelda, The: Link's Awakening]]
+
[[Category: Game Mechanic - Unwinnable State]]
[[Category: Fantasy|Legend of Zelda, The: Link's Awakening]]
+
[[Category: Grayscale Graphics]]
[[Category: Games I've Beaten|Legend of Zelda, The: Link's Awakening]]
 

Latest revision as of 16:26, 7 March 2024

The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening

Legend of Zelda, The - Link's Awakening - GB - USA.jpg

Game Boy - USA - 1st edition.

Developer Nintendo
Publisher Nintendo
Published 1993-06-06
Platforms Game Boy, Game Boy Color
Genres Action, Adventure, Exploration, Metroidvania
Themes Adventure, Cartoon, Fantasy
Series The Legend of Zelda
Distribution Commercial

The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening is an action adventure game developed and published by Nintendo for the Game Boy on 1993-06-06. The Super Game Boy supports this game. It's the fourth title in the Zelda series and, though similar in game play to the first and third Zelda games, the game doesn't take itself as nearly as seriously and includes jokes, mergers from other Nintendo franchises, and fourth wall breaking. Later, an upgraded version, with direct support for the Super Game Boy was released for the Game Boy Color. Its title is appended "DX" in the USA and "Deluxe" in Japan.

Personal

Own?No.
Won?Yes.
Finished2017-09-26.

I had first seen this game on my high school friend's Game Boy (around 1996), and he said it was just as good as The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past, if not better, which I found hard to believe. But after playing it for a few minutes, I was surprised at how close it was graphically to the SNES game. I didn't do much with it because I didn't want the game spoiled for me by playing his mostly complete save-file. Around 2010, I decided to try and play the game through, and made it through the first few underworlds, but then got bored of it. I eventually returned to it in 2017 and beat it.

Review

Video Game Review Icon - Enjoyment.png Video Game Review Icon - Control.png Video Game Review Icon - Appearance.png Video Game Review Icon - Sound.png Video Game Review Icon - Replayability.png
7 8 7 6 8

Best Version: Game Boy Color

— This section contains spoilers! —

Good

  • The pixel art is really good and fitting for the Zelda franchise.
  • The music and sound effects (the work of Minako Hamano, Kozue Ishikawa, and Kazumi Totaka are quite good.
  • It's cute to see the inclusion of other Nintendo franchises like Goombas, Chain Chomps, Piranha Plants, Dr. Wright, Kirby, etc.
  • Jumping was a nice addition and well-executed.
  • I like that you can get regular hints about where you need to go next, because the game is pretty vague at certain times.
  • The designers made a fair amount of clever puzzles that didn't fit with the typical game play.
  • The game has a pretty nice ending sequence with nice full-screen animation.
  • The Game Boy Color version is well-updated, not just with attractive colors, but with a whole new dungeon and the camera puzzles.

Bad

  • I don't like having to switch items so often. I preferred the previous games where several items like the bracelet, boots, and shield were always on.
  • There are only a few items to buy in the game, so rupees go mostly unused, and aren't a very welcome treasure chest prize.
  • The anachronistic telephones are really out of place. A Zelda game should never have modern technology.
  • Several of the dungeons contain puzzles that don't fit with the expected game play and left me needing a online hint.
  • I didn't like having to bomb random dungeon walls again. This should have stayed dead with the original The Legend of Zelda.
  • Several of the secret seashells are hidden obnoxiously well requiring you to have to dig nearly everywhere on the map to find them.
  • The super powerful boomerang, though a fantastic weapon, doesn't fit thematically.
  • There are a handful of bugs in the game that have been discovered over the years, but you rarely encounter them.

Ugly

  • I get extremely pissed every time I have to read that damn message about not being able to pick something up with my bare hands. The first time was informative, the second was a refresher, the thousandth was Game Boy-throwingly-annoying. You would think it would stop after you get the bracelet, but no! Same with acorns, energy pieces, chests, black boulders, ice blocks, etc. It's really frustrating.

Media

Box Art

Documentation

Maps

Graphics

Fan Art

Videos

Review - Game Boy Works.
Review - What's So Great About Gaming?
Did You Know Gaming?
Comparing ports.
Son of a Glitch (DX version).
Longplay, DX version.

Representation

Strong female character?FailThere are several female NPCs with Marin playing the largest role, but none are important.
Bechdel test?FailNo women ever talk to each other.
Strong person of color character?FailAlthough the Hylians aren't human, they all appear to be whitish.
Queer character?FailThere are no queer characters.

Titles

Language Native Transliteration Translation
English The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening
Japanese ゼルダの伝説 夢をみる島 Zeruda no Densetsu: Yume o Miru Shima Legend of Zelda: The Dream Island

Links

Link-MobyGames.png  Link-Wikipedia.png  Link-StrategyWiki.png  Link-GameFAQs.png  Link-TCRF.png