Pros: decent graphics, classic Zelda gameplay
Cons: perhaps a little too easy, switching items
The bottom line: This game makes my top 10 favorite gameboy games ever.
Thank You Nintendo For Backwards Compatibility!

First and foremost I must thank the Nintendo, specifically the design engineers for making the Gameboy Advance compatible with all the older Gameboy games. Without it, I might have had to choose between some of the older gems like Final Fantasy Legend II and III, and the newer games like Final Fantasy Tactics Advance and Advance Wars 2.

It is through this magic that I was able to discover this gem. In the twilight years of the old Gameboy, Nintendo was still trying to squeeze what little juice was left in the old portable platform. With the Gameboy Color on the way, it was then that some of the best Gameboy games were released. Released between the two new Super Mario Lands, there was Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening. This is a game that is true to the platform, true to the top down classic Zelda gameplay, and provides a completely new storyline.


And While You're At It, What's This Nintendo Thing?

If you haven't heard of The Legend of Zelda, let me start of by saying welcome to the world of video games. Hopefully if my writing is good enough you'll understand just why these games are so addictive.

The Legend of Zelda franchise centers around a hero named Link in a land called Hyrule. He is some sort of elf like creature that seems to always wear green. He is always the one who has to save Princess Zelda from the grasps of the evil Gannon (no not Rich Gannon, though Denver Broncos fans might like this Gannon more). This is all while trying to reclaim the powerful Triforce, whose possessor can obtain immense power. And no wonder it's up to Link to do all this; he swings a mean sword. Not only that but he's pretty skilled with a boomerang, bombs, bows and arrows, and even a candle, as well as many other weapons and tools. He uses these weapons to explore an enemy filled overworld and explore even nastier dungeons where a hideous super monster hides great treasures.

He doesn't necessarily go it alone. He has the help of the fairy community to help restore his life when he gets hit. He also can buy an assortment of the different weapons and tools he needs from shop owners by paying with rupees, the currency of Hyrule.


The Story of Link's Awakening

The story again centers on Link. However, this time he doesn't have to worry about Princess Zelda in peril or the evil Gannon. Link is traveling on a raft in a training mission to increase his skill. However, along the way he encounters a fierce storm and is shipwrecked. The people on the island he washes up on tell him that he must wake the Wind Fish if he ever wishes to leave the island. Armed with only your shield, you must solve this mystery, wake the wind fish, and get off the island.


The Gameplay ... What Has Changed, What Has Stayed The Same

Much of the gameplay remains intact from the top down Zelda mold. The mannerisms and appearance of the game is very similar to that of Zelda III, A Link To The Past for the Super Nintendo platform. The swinging of his sword, as well as holding down the button to do a whirlwind swing are all here. Enemies are livelier than the first Nintendo version.

Also true to the series, fetching items and solving puzzles is the main focus of this game. Finding items and giving them to different characters in the game is how you open up new areas in the overworld. Whereas performing certain tasks like defeating enemies in a certain order or moving blocks to a specific place is the key to opening up certain areas in the dungeons. Even defeating bosses and mini-bosses takes more brains than brawn. While they don't require any sort of hardcore puzzle solving skills, they do require you to find a pattern in their behavior and exploit it.

The general strategy behind the game also remains the same. You still explore an enemy filled overworld, while exploring eight different dungeons where a boss monster hides a clue to solving the mystery and ultimately beating the game. Bosses also hide heart containers that can increase your maximum amount of life (hearts). Being successful in this game doesn't mean you have to be a mean button masher. Using your head to solve the game's puzzles is the best recipe for success throughout the game.

The enemies in Link's Awakening are the same as the others who dwell in the other Zelda games. Monsters like keese, stalfos, like likes, Octoroks, and Moblins are all in this game as well as countless other favorites. Even some of the bosses and minibosses can be found in other Zelda games as well. Many of the bosses are original and require new bits of strategy to defeat them. The common theme behind the enemies in Link's Awakening as in other Zelda games is that each enemy has strengths and weaknesses. Many of the easier enemies have multiple weaknesses and one or two strengths. However as you advance farther in the game, the enemies can take more of a beating and they are weak to certain weapons and techniques. The game does a great job in ramping up its enemy difficulty so that you're never overwhelmed all of a sudden by a specific type of enemy or boss.

You still have to collect rupees from fallen monsters and treasure chests to buy certain items in the shops. Enemies still drop hearts and the occasional fairy to restore your life hearts. One addition is that enemies can also drop items like triangles that increase your attack power for a short time and acorns that increase your defense for the same short period of time.

There are a few new aspects to the gameplay. This game features the ability to combine weapons. For instance you can combine a bomb and arrows to fire an arrow that will explode on impact. Another new aspect is the addition of a couple mini games. There's a skill crane game as well as a fishing game. These games either allow you to get new items for a reduced cost or to obtain storyline items. Finally, there are hidden passages in dungeons. While these generally are not new, the actual passage in between is something like a short Super Mario Brothers stage. You can still use your sword, but you have to jump from platform to platform to make it to the other side. These passages also feature Mario-like enemies from pipe flowers to goombas.


The DX Version

For those of you who have a Gameboy Color system, you might want to consider picking up the DX version instead. The DX version is a color-enhanced version of this game with a few extra features. One of these new features is there is an extra dungeon. While this dungeon isn't required to beat the game, it will allow you to get a bonus item. This item is a clothes change. You have the choice to change into a red or blue costume. The red costume increases your attack power and the blue costume decreases the damage you take. There is also a photo shop in Tal Tal Heights. This allows you to view certain snapshots in the game. These shots vary from interesting to funny. It also lets you print out these snapshots if you have a Gameboy printer. While the photo shop doesn't add all that much in my opinion, the new dungeon is certainly worth the price to get the DX version instead.


A Greyscale Game? Who Cares?

The graphics are like no other I've ever seen on the Gameboy before. The environments are smooth and refined, not blocky like I'm used to. Actions are smooth and visible. The scaling of the world isn't too big or two small. You can identify yourself, your enemies and your surroundings with ease. Even the cutscenes are amazing. As far as graphics go, I am very impressed to the point where I am stunned.

The sound in a word is incredible. The music is true to the Legend of Zelda series. The musical themes are catchy, and appropriately assigned. Ominous themes feature a lot of bass and low tones, something that many Gameboy games neglected to do. The music really set the mood of the game in incredible fashion. The sound effects were equally as impressive. Like the graphics, they were ported from the Zelda game for Super Nintendo. The results were amazingly accurate. I don't know how this game was able to overcome the platform's technical deficiencies with such amazing results. It did, and it makes this game legendary in this regard.


Control and Challenge

Part of making you feel like you don't need to mash buttons is due to the control of the game. Link's Awakening does this to an extraordinary degree. The control is so responsive that your movements and actions all seem fluent and natural. You're never left feeling like you're out of control.

As free as the control is, the game doesn't challenge you much to fully utilize the skills you have. The game starts out easy and manageable, but it never ramps up to a hard difficulty. The puzzles can be hard to figure out at times, but never enough where you're left trying to find a FAQ on the internet or consult a strategy guide. The game is also very forgivable in that you can make things harder on yourself by taking the wrong locked door in a dungeon, but never so much that you can't actually solve that dungeon and have to start the game over. The game is very easily solvable for Zelda veterans in that it will probably take 10 hours to complete, if not less. This is a good Zelda to start with for gamers new to the series. Secrets are hard to find, however, not impossible to find as they simply require bombing a wall or something like that.


Replay and Value

The game offers little replay value after the game is completed. There are some side tasks in the game like finding heart containers, seashells, and other items. However, they are usually all attainable when you first complete the game. Like a book, once you're done with it, most people put it down. Only the people who truly like the game will come back for seconds and that doesn't happen for months or years. Due to the strong gameplay and compelling story, I can see many people playing through this game more than once, just not in one sitting.

This game would be a good value at $10. While it's short and easy, it's never frustrating and the graphics and sound are very pleasing. I would pay $15 for DX version just because the color and extra dungeon does add quite a bit to the game. Fans of the series shouldn't hesitate putting down at least $10 for this game. Every gamer who owns a gameboy system should try this game out at least once. If you don't like it, you can always sell it back. I have a feeling most won't be disappointed.