An all around amazing game that still holds up all these years later.
I finished this game back in January 2022. Just catchin up on some of my game reviews.
I played this game on my Atomic purple Game Boy color way back in the day when it came out in 1993. I remember the game taking me a long time to complete and by the time I was done I had done everythhing there was to do in the game. I recently re played the game but this time I played the 2019 nintendo switch version. It was a great experience overall. The game didn’t take me as long to complete and some of the puzzles were burned into my memory but overall the game was enjoyable and as epic as I remember as a kid. I like taking trips down memory lane.
The game took me just under 20 hours to beat but I have played through it in it’s entirety before. Someone picking it up for the first time can probably expect to spend about 30 – 40 hours if they are familiar with the classic Legend of Zelda formula. The game is presented in a hybrid 2/3d style of overhead camera but the art looks more or less 3d and there is depth to everything. Overall absolutely gorgeous on the Nintendo Switch Console. Bright, colorful, and chipper soundtrack.
The Legend of Zelda: Links Awakening starts you off in rough seas as your boat is being thrashed. A bolt of lightning crashes and you wake up (famously) in a small village. A local girl named Marin found you washed up on the beach and brought you to her home, and from there your quest begins to figure out where you are and how to get home. As you journey through the game the story takes an unconventional twist that strait Fucked me up as a young teen. I won’t spoil anything here but anyone who has beaten this game knows what I’m talking about. It’s not bad or evil or out of the vain of Zelda lore but it’s a key twist that stayed with me for all these years.
The game is classic Legend of Zelda. You start off with basic equipment and as you conquer dungeons and explore the land you become stronger by finding hearts pieces and equipment. You gain access to previously inaccessible areas using the tools you find along the way and in dungeons. The game requires you to remember where obstacles are and you have to back track a little bit in your exploration to uncover all of the secrets and power-ups. It’s a pretty standard video game formula used through out times and in modern gaming. You can say “The Legend of Zelda” kind of pioneered the “open world” adventure action game.
Links awakening is a great game and retains all the features of the game boy color experience with some added levels and stuff to accomplish. The Nintendo Switch version has the color dungeon that was introduced in Links awakening DX for the Game Boy Color hand held game system. The switch version also includes a basic dungeon builder mode with some optional side quests attached to it to unlock an item. These optional side quests are not necessary to the story and game over all, but just an added tid bit new to this remade version of this game.
The graphics in this game are crisp and colorful and the music is great as well. The soundtrack is redone from the original 8bit sound and sound fully performed and little Marin’s voice sounds like an actual voice singing instead of a little beeping tone. Hearing her balad of the wind fish for the first time after all of those years brought a lil tear to my eye. Same feeling and emotion as I felt when I heard Zelda speak for the first time ever in Breat of the Wild. The catchy tunes and memorable jingles are part of the reason people like The Legend of Zelda video games. They are familiar, yet challenging games that have a certain charm about them that most games lack.
Gamers who like actions, puzzles, and exploration would like Zelda games, and this game in particular. The Legend of Zelda is a classic series that most gamers will have at least heard about. Zelda games are exclusive to Nintendo, which may alienate many players from an otherwise great experience. Nintendo has always been seen as a console more geared toward a family and younger demographic. Hands down, Zelda games are difficult and are not necessarily kids games. They require a level of thinking and problem solving that most younger kids may find too difficult.
I’m biased because I love The Legend of Zelda video games but I definitely recommend giving them a try if you never have or ever wanted to. For modern gaming I would recommend Breath of the Wild as a good Zelda entry point. It’s more free flowing and let’s you choose your own path, while classic Zelda games are more structured and require you to take a set path. If you like playing retro games, and remakes then this is a top notch title that is very worth your time if you own a Nintendo Switch.
Finally they are releasing a new entry and sequel to Breath of the Wild. It is slated to release sometime in 2022 but no exact date has been confirmed. Super stoked for that. As always thank you for reading this review and feel free to comment or chime in if you have anyting to add or discuss.
More games to play and write about. Stay tuned and check back for more!
Peace!