It's time to review a Nintendo remake! Guess what? It's good. Most Nintendo games are. There's a certain level of polish you can expect from the big N, especially when it comes to one of its flagship series. The Legend of Zelda is one of the biggest series in gaming, so there was little doubt that a remake of one of its 90s Game Boy titles would be given the works. That said, Link's Awakening is still Zelda at its most retro and experimental. It's way shorter and more limited than Breath of the Wild or Wind Waker, but it makes up for it by being simply joyful.

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I Accept Our New Toy Overlord

The Nintendo Switch version of Link's Awakening is a remake of a 1993 Game Boy game. As such, it gets a complete graphical overhaul. This is apparent immediately, with the game opening on an anime-style cutscene. I don't remember a time when Nintendo used another medium like this to introduce a Zelda game (this guy doesn't count). It doesn't last long, however, before Link ends up in a storm and is washed up on a mysterious island. Oh yeah, Link is sailing by the way. He's sailing a dinky boat back to Hyrule because... reasons. His island crash landing shifts gears immediately, introducing what might be my new favorite Zelda art style.

Just look at how adorable that little toy Link is. Everything on the island takes on the miniaturized appearance of model toys. This effect is even more pronounced by the fact that everything is viewed from a top-down perspective (minus some minor dungeon sections, which I'll address later).

It's all a clever ruse to make us forget that Link's Awakening was once a Game Boy game. The technological limitations, and the fact that Zelda just was a 2D series at the time, made it so the original was a very simple game visually. Everything in the Switch version is faithfully recreated. The world map, dungeons, even enemy placement is the same. Only now, the simplistic designs appear to be by design, thanks to the toy aesthetic. The fact that the developers were able to fully replicate a Game Boy game and turn its dated visual style into a strength speaks to the skill behind this game. The art team deserves major kudos. The music team also demands a shoutout for taking the old tunes and recreating them with orchestral whimsy.

Something Old, Something New

Anyone who has played a Zelda game will recognize the pattern of Link's Awakening. To awaken the godlike Wind Fish and leave the island, Link has to gather seven instruments. To do that, he needs to fetch them from dungeons. To get into those dungeons, he needs to find keys, help townspeople, and use an increasing series of items to reveal more of the land. Along the way, there are Pieces of Heart to collect and secrets to find.

Don't expect the depth of more recent Zelda games, though. Again, this is a remake of a 90s handheld game. There wasn't enough space in the old cartridge to include things like a cooking system or bug-collecting. As a result, the journey is pretty straightforward and the map small. I almost wish the remake developers took the liberty to expand the island and add more content. As it is, it's hard to see how Link's Awakening deserves to retail for the same price as Breath of the Wild. That's not to say it's an empty game by any means. Traveling through this colorful, bizarre island is a blast. It's just a very short blast.

That said, there are some things the developers did to extend playtime. A small change is more Secret Seashells hidden on the island. This gives veteran players a few new secrets to hunt for. The big change is Chamber Dungeons. The original game was compatible with the Game Boy Printer. There's no way to mimic that on the Switch, so we get a dungeon maker instead. You can use rooms from the game's actual dungeons to mix and match your own creation. Then you can take it on yourself or store it in the toy Link amiibo to transfer it to a friend's Switch.

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Chamber Dungeons feels like a half-hearted attempt to address the fan demand for a Super Mario Maker-esque Zelda game. The problem is that it's oversimplified. Super Mario Maker succeeded because it gave aspiring level designers a wealth of tools big and small. Since Chamber Dungeons limits you to entire rooms, and ones that you've already seen, there isn't much room for variation. I personally don't feel the urge to use it much, but maybe some people will. Whatever the case, Chamber Dungeons is at least a nice gesture on the developers' part. Maybe Zelda Maker is closer than we think.

Something Borrowed, Something...Mario?

There are Mario-esque side-scrolling sections in Link's Awakening. You hop on Goombas and dodge Piranha Plants that shoot out of pipes. I never played the original, so I didn't know this. I don't even really know how to address this fact in this review, other than to use it as an example of how strange this game is.

This is one of the few Zelda games that isn't about saving Zelda from Ganon. It takes place on an island where Chain Chomps are pets and walruses block pathways and life just goes on. You'll be going through a very Zelda-style dungeon one second, only to be assaulted by Boos the next. All of these touches of weirdness keep popping up to remind you that this is not your average Zelda game. The best part is, there's an actual story reason for why this game feels so off. It's not quite as ominous as Majora's Mask, but it certainly has its twists. For me, the sheer novelty of Link's Awakening makes it a standout.

That's what it comes down to, really. Link's Awakening is still the weirdo Zelda game it was in 1993. This remake gives it an adorable facelift and a so-so new mode. But the core is still there and as enjoyable as ever. If you love Zelda or Nintendo, this is definitely a worthwhile purchase. If you're the "I don't want to buy a Switch just for Smash" type, this game won't convince you otherwise. Breath of the Wild is still the premiere Switch Zelda game. Link's Awakening is that island vacation you look back on fondly and wonder what you were on the whole time.

4.5 Out Of 5 Stars

A copy of Link's Awakening was purchased by TheGamer for this review. Link's Awakening is available now for the Nintendo Switch.

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