The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening (Game Boy) Review

Well, being a Zelda game, don't read on expecting to find out about the best retro puzzler on the market. Well all know that Zelda is an adventure/RPG, and Link's Awakening makes no exception at all. Right from the start you know it's going to be adventuring galore. Link is on a ship back home to Hyrule after a bit of exploring, but he gets caught up in a storm, and the vessel gets struck by lightning. The ship is blown to pieces, killing all the crew apart from Link, who is washed up on some place with the name of Koholint Island. There, a young lady named Marin finds him unconscious on the beach, and takes him back to her house in Mabe Village. When he recovers, he learns that due to the tide, it is impossible to leave the island. So, boys being boys, he goes off to the beach to look for his sword and try and escape. The young lady was right, and he does not prevail. Then mysteriously, an owl flies down to explain something vital to Link. Without waking the legendary Wind Fish, there is no chance of him ever going back to Hyrule. So, his adventure really begins there, to climb the mountain where the Wind Fish's egg is and wake him up. Did nobody tell him that waking things up while they were sleeping was rude?

For an early GameBoy game, the graphics are brilliant, and the detail is great. Every character moves in their own little way, weather it be throwing a ball, or being in a panic because the town mutt has been dognapped. Even the leaves and grass blow when you swirl your sword near them. Remembering that this was one of the GameBoy's earlier games, it is great detail by Nintendo, even if it doesn't mean much. The graphics are pretty hot too; you'll see when you manage to get to the seventh dungeon, Eagle's Tower. The graphic style is very close to the one seen in the two Oracle games, just without colour (unless playing on a GBC or GBA). Minish Cap's graphics are superior to it, but that is over a generation later. In fact, the graphical style of Link's Awakening, is Pokemon-esque, just slightly improved.

The sound is again very much like those tunes heard in Pokemon. Simple little ditties are the type of music seen in both games, and both sound very alike. For instance, in Link's Awakening, when Link is mooching around in Mabe Village, a very light, innocent tune plays in the background, much like when Ash was in Pallet Town in Pokemon Red/Blue. When Link ventures to the Mysterious Woods, the music suddenly gets more sinister, much like when our favourite Pokemon Trainer infiltrated the base of Team Rocket. It's very similar, and you'll find yourself whistling along to the tunes as you play the game. The traditional Zelda tunes are still in there, such as opening a chest. Hardcore Zelda fans will be right at home here.

Like most Zelda games, the Main menu screen isn't detailed, nor do they have too many options. Obviously Nintendo concentrate more on the actual game... Once Link's Awakening is in your Game Boy, you'll be greeted with a small introduction movie with Link's ship being struck by lightening and him being found by Marin. Quite a nice little movie really, and the music adds to it. Then you have the usual stuff on the Main Screen, three files (why does OoT only have two?), and the option to copy or erase. It has a nice little ditty in the background, but name a file 'ZELDA' to get a better one...

Again, like most Zelda games, the Gameplay is exactly what you would expect, top-notch stuff. The aim of the game is to beat the 'Nightmares' inside the Wind Fish's egg, so that you can leave the island and get back to Hyrule. Of course, if you just to go straight up to the mountain where the egg was (love that Zelda freedom...) and beat the Nightmares, it would be very boring, so you need travel around the eight dungeons acquiring new weapons and items, learning more information and obtaining musical instruments to crack the egg open. Sounding familiar? The boss battles are also as great as ever, all very different in technique and personality. For example, one boss you will instantly recognise as the giant worm you have to slice the tail off, another is a giant blob of goo with one eye, and you will fight a huge fish in the depths of the lake. The Gameplay hasn't changed much from the other Zelda games, and it has certainly paid off.

Every decent game has side-quests to keep the player occupied for longer and make them go for 100%, and Zelda is no exception. Remember in Ocarina of Time where you had to keep going through processes to get the Biggoron Sword and the Lens of Truth? Well, processes much like these ones appear in Link's Awakening. If you manage to get hold of a Yoshi Doll (yes, that is the Yoshi of Super Mario fame), you're on your way to completing a vital part of the game. It is also possible to trade items to work to your advantage, and weapons such as the legendary boomerang can only be obtained through trading in the world of Zelda. And then there's the usual again, getting all the heart containers, all the bottles...there is loads to do in this game. And if you own the DX version, there is even more to do with an extra dungeon and the ability to take pictures with the underrated Game Boy Camera. Do Nintendo love us, or do Nintendo love us?

Like most Zelda games, Link's Awakening is truly a pleasure to play through. Unfortunately, it is also one of, if not the most, underrated games in the series. However, it really is a gem which is well worthy of a place in your Game Boy games collection. With a great storyline, cute little graphics, amazing bosses, loads of weapons, new characters to meet and so much to do, you really don't have an excuse to pick it up if you see it. As it's so old now it'll be in the shops for a very low price making this game irresistible. If you can't find it in the shops anywhere, try the internet, for you really must play this game. Even if you aren't a big fan of Zelda, I guarantee you will find this game enjoyable. And if you are a Zelda fan like so many people are, I can't find words that describe the feeling you get from playing the games. An absolute must-buy.