Wasn't planning to do another Zelda review so soon, but "the cookie knows best!" I will probably be writing much shorter reviews from now on in order to get all of them finished.
Genre: Adventure
Developer: Nintendo
Platform: Gameboy, Gameboy Color
Release: 1993, 1998
Rating: E
- Graphics -
The graphics are above-average, certainly. The intricate textures, amount of various objects, and high quality character sprites (keep in mind the size of these guys) give a very full and immersive experience.
Graphics: 7/10
- Story -
Honestly one of the weaker plotlines of the Zelda series, it doesn't even fully make sense at times. Unique, yes, which is a welcome change, but the fact of how little sense it can make means I need to take off quite a few points.
Long version: Link is shipwrecked and finds himself on a mysterious island. He must battle the evil Nightmares to wake up the Wind Fish, so that he can leave the island. Along the course of the game, the Island is revealed to be part of the Wind Fish's dream, and if Link wakes him up the dream will end.
tl;dr version: Link is shipwrecked and spends the entire game trying to wake up from his coma. Or something.
Problem: During the credits, Link is seen sitting on a piece of driftwood. He is never rescued on-screen, so how do we know he didn't just die of starvation/dehydration anyway? Maybe it's the end of the series story-wise? I have no idea.
Story: 3/10
- Gameplay -
Unfortunately, due to the fact that the Gameboy lacks the L and R buttons from the SNES, the gameplay isn't quite as fluid as A Link to the Past. However, the designers got around this problem quite easily by allowing the player to unequip the sword and equip any two items at the same time, one on both A and B. While it can be annoying to keep switching out Roc's Feather and the Power Bracelet, this incorporation of the controls into the primitive system does allow the player much more freedom. One issue was saving: In order to save, the player must press Select, Start, A, and B all at the same time. This is most easily done by pressing them one at a time and holding them, in that order. However, in the game itself the most direct instruction you get is "press all the buttons at once", which can lead to players trying to press all four directions on the D-pad in addition, or trying to time it properly and having trouble.
Gameplay: 7/10
- Music -
Honestly, Link's Awakening has some of my favorite unique themes in the entire game, such as Tal Tal Heights, Ballad of the Wind Fish, and even some of the dungeon themes. None of these were ever reused in the series. In addition, the quality of the music for that tiny little monotone-speaker is absolutely incredible. The music makes the game more memorable than perhaps anything I've covered so far.
Music: 10/10
Total Score: 6.5/10
Also available for Gameboy Color with the name "Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening DX" (1998)
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