The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening (Nintendo Switch)

Another review for a loz title! So its a revamp of an old classic by the same name. The style isnt like windwaker or phantom hourglass but it is a cartoonie style animation (and i like it more honestly than the other cartoon styles theyve done in this series) so any way, youve probably asked yourself why did they do a remake/ revamp of this game for the switch? Well it makes sense if youve played hyrule warriors or youve downloaded the nes classics for the switch. In the classics that nintendo just released in 2019, they actually have the og to play. Then they came out with the revamp. It may have something to do with the time line story line that they having going for the series and also it maybe related to something in the new breath of the wild sequel. Knowing ... MoreAnother review for a loz title! So its a revamp of an old classic by the same name. The style isnt like windwaker or phantom hourglass but it is a cartoonie style animation (and i like it more honestly than the other cartoon styles theyve done in this series) so any way, youve probably asked yourself why did they do a remake/ revamp of this game for the switch? Well it makes sense if youve played hyrule warriors or youve downloaded the nes classics for the switch. In the classics that nintendo just released in 2019, they actually have the og to play. Then they came out with the revamp. It may have something to do with the time line story line that they having going for the series and also it maybe related to something in the new breath of the wild sequel. Knowing Nintendo its not just for fun, there is a reason for it. The game itself is normal loz game play for a handheld(tb to ds or gameboy) you wash up on shore on an island and get rescued by a local girl and her dad, Marin and Tarin( tb to oot) you awake to discover that you cant leave the island until you awaken the wind fish. To do this you have to beat all the temple/shrine/dungeons and get the mystical musical instruments( which there are 6). There are pleanty of side quests that you must beat inorder to have certain items you need for certain temples and you have to beat the temples in a certain order to have the special items they posess to beable to advance. If you find youre having trouble with the order a walkthrough video is your friend. There are plenty on youtube. ( tb to gameguides paperback ed) if you like a great puzzle game with a great story and interesting characters then look no further. This is your game. So please pick up a copy today and enjoy the game.

As Link, you awaken in a strange land away from Hyrule. To uncover the truth behind your whereabouts and rouse the legendary Wind Fish, explore Koholint Island and all its trap-ridden dungeons. In this new version of the game, the classic soundtrack has been reborn with new arrangements, and now you can equip more items at once, review key conversations, and navigate the map in new ways. Try your hand at the renovated mini-games to earn dolls based on the Super Mario series or Chamber Stones. These unusual stones can be used to arrange your own Chamber Dungeons. To earn more Chamber Stones, you must conquer the main adventure’s dungeons and mini-games or tap any amiibo featuring a The Legend of Zelda character to unlock Chambers exclusive to amiibo.

A cute remake of the 1993 classic

In contrast with the relative seriousness and gravity of other games in the Zelda series, this one revels in being goofy and whimsical, which reflects in the people, puzzles, plotline, and art direction. While you can explore freely, most of the required exploration is linear and well-hinted, and the fast travel system minimizes the pain of any backtracking required.I had a lot of fun with this one over a series of evenings. The game is not super long (making it more approachable than some of the other games in the series), and I was never bored while playing. Definitely worth a play.

Astounding remake!

I really REALLY love what this remake did. I had played the original Gameboy Color version multiple times, and while I still love it, I do think this one made some improvements, and is much more accessible to modern gamers. The original was limited in what it could do due to being on the Gameboy, now this one has far more buttons to use; so for example in the original you had only two items slots, which meant only two items could be used at a time and you had to go to the item menu every time you needed to switch items, the sword and shield were counted amongst those items. This remake still only has two "item" slots, however the sword and shield are always equipped, and when you get the Pegasus Boots and Power Bracelet those are also always equipped, so this remake ... MoreI really REALLY love what this remake did. I had played the original Gameboy Color version multiple times, and while I still love it, I do think this one made some improvements, and is much more accessible to modern gamers. The original was limited in what it could do due to being on the Gameboy, now this one has far more buttons to use; so for example in the original you had only two items slots, which meant only two items could be used at a time and you had to go to the item menu every time you needed to switch items, the sword and shield were counted amongst those items. This remake still only has two "item" slots, however the sword and shield are always equipped, and when you get the Pegasus Boots and Power Bracelet those are also always equipped, so this remake essentially allows the use of six items at once as opposed to only two items in the original. I also love the new music remixes in this game, one of my favorite remixes is the Face Shrine theme, it's very somber and rather emotional, it's now one of my favorite Zelda songs. I really like the "anime" cutscenes, it really makes me wish Nintendo would do a Zelda anime. This remake now allows the ability to switch between the red and blue tunics (something not available in the original). There is still more to this remake, but I don't want this to get too much longer. There is only one thing I wish they kept from the original DX version, which was the photographer side quest, as that had some additional dialogue from side characters that is no longer in this remake (although the additional Marin scenes are still present), the mouse photographer is utterly absent from this remake and is instead replaced with Dampe's Shack, a new place that has the new feature, Chamber Dungeons. This new feature allows you to rearrange existing dungeon pieces to create a "new" dungeon, I think it's a fun new feature. Overall, I say this game is absolutely incredible, I love the game. The little artbook found in the dreamer edition is really nice, it has really cool artwork and I love the hardcover feel, it feels likes it's of really high quality.

Don’t waste your time or money on this garbage.

As someone who was introduced to the Zelda franchise by Breath of the Wild, this game infuriates me. Where BOTW has creativity and flexibility in how you can solve its ouzzles, this game has tedious rigidity. Beating this game bascislly requires you to have either plsyed it begore or constantly read walkthroughs to learn the obscure method for progressing a dungeon. Andif you mess it yp, there hoes30 minutes of your tome. Backtracking and traverings is a chore. Avoid this game at all costs. Someone would have to pay me to play this again.

Fun and cute smaller game

So, this game is a remake of a Gameboy game that came out in the 1990s, but I had never played the original, so this was my first experience with it. First thing I noticed is the graphics in the game are very cute - they are a cartoony 3D look that is very fun and gives the game a very nice aesthetic. The gameplay itself allows for a bit exploration and roaming around, but you mostly have to do things a certain way to advance. There are several dungeons that you have to do in order, and there are some quests, like a series of item trades, that must be done in order too. And sometimes what you need to do isn't all that intuitive. You will often get hints along the way, but I had to consult online walkthroughs several times to get past a part that had me stumped or ... MoreSo, this game is a remake of a Gameboy game that came out in the 1990s, but I had never played the original, so this was my first experience with it. First thing I noticed is the graphics in the game are very cute - they are a cartoony 3D look that is very fun and gives the game a very nice aesthetic. The gameplay itself allows for a bit exploration and roaming around, but you mostly have to do things a certain way to advance. There are several dungeons that you have to do in order, and there are some quests, like a series of item trades, that must be done in order too. And sometimes what you need to do isn't all that intuitive. You will often get hints along the way, but I had to consult online walkthroughs several times to get past a part that had me stumped or frustrated. There are some puzzles, but I would say they are generally pretty easy, but sometimes I sure found myself confused. Although this is a Zelda game, it's nothing like Breath of the Wild. I have only played these two Zelda games, but I have heard that Breath of the Wild is a major departure from the rest of the franchise because Breath of the Wild is an open-world game where you can go anywhere and do anything whenever you want. If you're gonna pay full price for a game and you want hundreds of hours of gameplay, get Breath of the Wild. But if you're looking for a smaller, fun and easy game where you stay on the rails and follow a set story, you'll get tens of hours out of this, depending on your play style. This game isn't at the top of my list for Nintendo Switch, but I do think it's cute and fun for what it is.

Great

The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening is a charming and captivating adventure that beautifully captures the essence of the classic Zelda series. The game's whimsical art style, clever puzzles, and richly detailed world create a nostalgic and immersive experience that keeps players engaged from start to finish. With its memorable characters, hauntingly beautiful music, and a heartwarming storyline, Link's Awakening is a must-play for fans of the franchise and a delightful entry point for newcomers to the magical world of Zelda.

Long time Zelda fan playing for the first time

I’ve been a fan of Zelda games since the original released for the NES. My personal favorite in the series is A Link to the Past and you can bet I spent a lot of time playing that game. I’m a huge fan of the top down versions of these games because there’s so much character and attention to detail with all of the maps. I never got around to playing Link’s Awakening when it released on the gameboy because I didn’t believe a huge sprawling world would be represented well on the portable format. I was wrong.Enter Link’s Awakening for the Switch! A top down Zelda that follows the same formula I grew to love with the original and A Link to the Past with a fresh coat of paint! The music is wonderful, the graphics are beautiful and the secrets are aplenty! There are ... MoreI’ve been a fan of Zelda games since the original released for the NES. My personal favorite in the series is A Link to the Past and you can bet I spent a lot of time playing that game. I’m a huge fan of the top down versions of these games because there’s so much character and attention to detail with all of the maps. I never got around to playing Link’s Awakening when it released on the gameboy because I didn’t believe a huge sprawling world would be represented well on the portable format. I was wrong.Enter Link’s Awakening for the Switch! A top down Zelda that follows the same formula I grew to love with the original and A Link to the Past with a fresh coat of paint! The music is wonderful, the graphics are beautiful and the secrets are aplenty! There are exclusive dungeons that have unique items in each of them that allow you to access different areas and huge bosses that are fun to battle. The over world map is detailed enough to plan where you need to go and I really like having the ability to leave markers for yourself to reference later if you come across a potential secret you don’t have access to. It’s a neat and tidy package that begs to be opened.With glowing praise there will always be cons and the issues I have with the game aren’t gamebreaking but rather minor annoyances. You are forced to use the analog rather than the dpad which imo felt more suited to this game and the frame rate is all over the place while exiting and entering buildings and caves. The game also isn’t very long either. My gametime clocked in at just under 25 hours which for a Zelda game is pretty low. The story is also a little shallow as well.My issues aside this game is absolutely worth playing if you’ve never experienced it before. I think $60 is a bit steep for the amount of game you get here but it’s Zelda in it’s finest format and that alone should warrant a purchase from the people that appreciate the format.

Revisting the Dream with a Nightmare Twist

As someone who grew up playing the original Game Boy version of Link's Awakening, I'm pretty familiar with the source material, but it sure didn't feel like it when playing this update for Switch. It was very recognizable, but also strangely foreign in almost every respect.The layout of the entire world looks and feels very different with the restraint of screen-by-screen scrolling eliminated outside of dungeons. It greatly alleviates the Game Boy version's feeling of cramped, and often tedious travel.In terms of visuals, this game couldn't change much to improve just how perfectly it's suited to my taste. Not only does it look great on its own terms, it also does an excellent job of re-creating the charm of the simple pixel art it's based on.There are ... MoreAs someone who grew up playing the original Game Boy version of Link's Awakening, I'm pretty familiar with the source material, but it sure didn't feel like it when playing this update for Switch. It was very recognizable, but also strangely foreign in almost every respect.The layout of the entire world looks and feels very different with the restraint of screen-by-screen scrolling eliminated outside of dungeons. It greatly alleviates the Game Boy version's feeling of cramped, and often tedious travel.In terms of visuals, this game couldn't change much to improve just how perfectly it's suited to my taste. Not only does it look great on its own terms, it also does an excellent job of re-creating the charm of the simple pixel art it's based on.There are improvements to the game design that run deep. The most impressive features for me were the expanded bonus games, like the raft ride, the crane game, and especially the fishing. Each one adds quite a bit of extra incentive to keep coming back, and they're each highly improved in terms of complexity and satisfaction in providing a fair, but demanding enough challenge that's just genuinely fun.The game didn't make its big transition unscathed, though. Essentially every single change to the basic play control -- movement and animation -- makes the game about 10 times harder to play, and quite a bit more frustrating compared to its retro counterpart.There were several great ideas implimented in the control scheme, like dedicating several of the buttons to the most-used actions, which vastly streamlines the tiresome routine of opening and closing the menu to change items for every little situation. However, Link feels more rigid to control, harder to aim with an analog stick, and his jumping feels disorientingly unwieldy.If you're used to cutting corners when jumping over gaps as was possible on Game Boy, you may find it difficult if not impossible to perform the same maneuvers on Switch.Lastly, the biggest detriment to the game is the dungeon building activity. You'll be tasked with using rooms you'll recognize from the dungeons you've cleared to arrange them in a layout of new dungeons, then you can play those dungeons. It sounds like a concept with a lot of promise, and while it's more intriguing than you might expect, it really doesn't live up to the potential.The worst part is that this segment isn't just an optional bonus. It's actually required to build and complete TWELVE arranged dungeons to earn all the items like heart containers for extending the player's life meter, seashells for upgrading the player's attack, and the last bottle for healing. Nine might have been tolerable. Three to five would have been fine, but twelve is completely unreasonable.This extremely tedious obstacle to complete item collection means that you can't just start up a game and enjoy the full adventure the way you would in the original. You're now burdened with a load of chores that you may not be on board with.Despite all that -- and I can't stress enough how big of a flaw it is -- I still HIGHLY recommend the game. It's worthwhile just for the novelty of seeing how the world has been re-imagined, but the rewards you'll find go well beyond that. Fans of Zelda will find this to be an authentic example of the best features in the series. Newcomers couldn't start with a better installment, beautifully updated for modern demands in visuals and control scheme conveniences.

Super Mario meets Legend of Zelda...sort of

Fun game that offers hours of challenges and item collecting. Combat isn't overly challenging, but there are some enemies that need special items to defeat. Don't worry, you collect them as you progress through the game. There's lots of characters from the Super Mario games, some good and some enemies. It's a top down game, but there are some side scrolling sections that are neat to see. I will definitely be doing another playthrough soon.