Reviews have arrived for The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening on Nintendo Switch, praising the game's visuals, small improvements upon the original, and orchestrated soundtrack. Releasing this week, Link's Awakening is one of the most anticipated Switch titles coming up.
Whenever a new Legend of Zelda title is announced, fans listen. Alongside Super Mario, the Zelda series is synonymous with quality. The original Legend of Zelda on NES captivated players for its sense of adventure and exploration. The format was arguably better realized in The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past. In 2017, Nintendo released Breath of the Wild, ushering the series in a new era. One of the most beloved (and strangest) games in the series is Link's Awakening on Game Boy.
Link's Awakening had Link wash ashore Koholint Island, where he met some interesting characters. Nintendo surprised everyone back in February by announcing a remake of this game. Remakes can go either way in preserving what made the original game well-liked. But, it appears Nintendo has faithfully recreated what made Link's Awakening engaging, and made it even better.
As Link's Awakening draws near to its release, critic reviews have begun to roll in. Critics are praising Nintendo's faithful recreation of the iconic game, while implementing a few quality-of-life improvements. Criticism has been leveled at the new Chamber Dungeon mode, and the frame rate drops. Currently, the game's Metacritic score is a very solid 88. Though technically this puts the title toward the lower-rated Zelda games on the aggregator site, that just speaks how well-received the series is overall. Check out excerpts from some critic reviews below.
Game Informer: 9/10 - Jeff Cork
"Link’s Awakening has always held a special place in my heart, but asking someone to go back to the original release is tough. With this remake, people don’t have any excuses for not playing through one of the best (and strangest) entries. I envy those of you who will be experiencing this for the first time, though revisiting it all these years later is still an absolute pleasure."
IGN: 9.4/10 - Joe Skrebels
"Link’s Awakening retains the style and feel of its 1993 self, but looks and controls like a game – albeit a retro-styled one – made in 2019. In doing so, this feels like it was made in some alternate present, where games remained in 2D, puzzle-focused and strange, but tech improved to support it all. You could, I guess, call it time travel."
GamesRadar+ 4.5/5 - Sam Loveridge
"This is old-school Zelda at its best and most strange, reimagined for a modern audience. For those looking for a more traditional Zelda experience on Switch, this is the dream, with its inventive dungeons and puzzles galore (although don't make me do any more horse head bouncing), set in a world that'll keep you exploring for days to come. Regardless of whether you're familiar with the game or are experiencing it for the first time, this is a sweet slumber you'll want to slip straight into"
Forbes: 10/10 - Ollie Barder
"Overall, this is a excellent remake of an already faultless Zelda game. If you never played the Game Boy original, then you absolutely need to pick this up. If, like me, you grew up playing this game, then there is a lot of new content to keep you busy. While Breath of the Wild was the game many bought their Switch for, Link’s Awakening has only reinforced that decision for me. So buckle up and let a friendly owl show you what Koholint Island has to offer."
GameSpot: 8/10 - Peter Brown
"Though the remake has a couple of blemishes, it's still an easy game to recommend. People speak of Link's Awakening as the secret best Zelda game. That's a tough call to make, but it's definitely one of the best. If you haven't touched a classic Zelda game in a while, Link's Awakening will almost instantly transport you back to the '90s. It's simple, in many ways, but the orchestrated journey still conveys a sense of adventure, and this new version is without question the best way to experience it. And more than anything else, it will put a smile on your face. Remakes are a dime a dozen nowadays and often easy to overlook. Don't make that mistake with Link's Awakening."
Kotaku - Jason Schreier
"Link’s Awakening is a beautiful recreation of a legendary game, but it doesn’t have much to offer to players who already know the ins and outs of Koholint Island. For newcomers, or people who played Link’s Awakening two decades ago and can’t remember exactly how to finish the trading quest or track down that damn singing frog, this is a worthy remake and a must-play Zelda game."
Polygon - Russ Frushtick
"Link’s Awakening is a special adventure and a perfect introduction to even the youngest would-be Zelda fans, but it does fall short at times. The striking new presentation is stellar, even if the game can’t quite keep up with the splendor on the technical side. And the slight enhancements made to the original’s gameplay are mostly for good, even if the biggest new feature (Chamber Dungeons) doesn’t offer much."
Reviews are in agreement on a number of things. The game's toy diorama-like visuals have been heavily praised, breathing new life into the original pixelated visuals. Another common praise is the improved button layout when it comes to item slots. Another point of praise is the orchestrated soundtrack. While the Game Boy tunes were very good, to hear the music realized in a new, grand format is a massive update for fans, as well as newcomers getting to hear the music for the first time.
Finally, reviews are praising how close the remake is to the original. It seems nothing has changed in terms of dungeon layout, so if you have played the original game a lot, there won't be much in the way of new things. However, despite it being a replica of the original, some reviews are still staying it's worth checking out for Zelda veterans. Also, reviews agree that it is a must-play for newcomers to the game, or the Zelda series as a whole.
Reviews do agree on two key criticisms: the new Chamber Dungeon mode and the frame rate. First, it seems that those looking forward to a potential "Zelda Maker" within the game are going to be very disappointed with what's provided in Chamber Dungeon. With the frame rate, it is interesting that it takes a dip at times. The Switch is Nintendo's most modern console, so frame rate drops are not expected, especially from a Zelda title. Still, reviews say these two things are not enough to take away the enjoyment from the core game.
All in all, it appears Nintendo has yet another winner in its Switch lineup. Link's Awakening looks fun, and based on reviews, the island and dungeons are faithfully recreated from the original game. If one hasn't played Link's Awakening before, it seems picking up a copy tomorrow is essential.
The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening will be released on September 20 for Nintendo Switch.