It has been four days since the remake of Link’s Awakening was released, and reviews are pouring in all over the internet. Developer Grezzo and Nintendo have worked hard to faithfully recreate the classic while still giving it a new level of charm. Originally Link’s Awakening was released in 1993 for the Game Boy, but now in 2019, the game is seeing new life in beautifully 3D rendering.
Many reviewers on the internet are saying that the game feels new. From the detailed visuals to the beautiful diorama-like presentation, it looks like a miniature world. It feels like a modern game and not simply a reboot. Some even are saying that it is a perfect example of what a remake should be. It holds the original charm that made the game memorable while making it look graphically appealing to a modern audience.
For those who do not know about the original release, it is safe to say your in for a good time. Instead of being set in the fantasy realm of Hyrule or featuring the many perils of Princess Zelda the game instead starts with Link crashing his boat and ending up on a strange island.
The main distinguishing part of this island is a large spotted egg that sits on top of a giant mountain. It is surrounded by clouds and seems to be capping off a volcano. It does not take long before Link learns that the egg belongs to a sleeping creature called a wind fish and the only way for him to leave the island is to wake it up.
So begins the adventure of our hero who must travel the island to find the eight instruments that will awaken the sleeping beast. This is a ton of legwork as you must walk from one end of the island to the other. The egg, meanwhile, sits menacingly upon the mountain watching your entire journey and reminding you of what you are striving to do.
Although this game is in 3D, it is styled in a top-down manner. This is similar to the SNES game A Link to the Past and Minish Cap, which both featured this viewpoint. It does hold true to many of the Legend of Zelda tropes, including dungeons that must be conquered and tools that are gained to help you progress.
The entire island acts as one big puzzle that you must slowly solve by gaining new abilities and items. This does mean that although it pretends to be an open world, there are many points where you can’t access until you gain the needed tools. Some rocks are too heavy for Link, and some gaps are too big.
Nonetheless, this game is a faithful reconstruction of the original experience. It is a Nintendo Switch exclusive and is currently being sold in both physical and digital forms for $59.99.
