Link’s Awakening (2019): New Features and First Impressions

Whether it be Ocarina of Time or Breath of the Wild, almost everyone has a favorite Legend of Zelda game. If you grew up a Game Boy, you probably explored Koholint Island and woke up the Wind Fish in Link’s Awakening. If that was you, you’re in luck! Nintendo and the folks over at Grezzo (Ocarina of Time 3D, Majora’s Mask 3D, Tri Force Heroes) have reimagined the classic adventure for the Nintendo Switch. Announced during that crazy Nintendo Direct earlier this year, this remake features new features, quality-of-life improvements, and a new art direction. Not sure if this game is for you? Keep reading and find out what’s new with Nintendo’s Hylian hero.

What’s New

If someone booted up their old Game Boy and played Link’s Awakening today, they might be in for a bad surprise. Unlike Link to the Past (LttP), Link’s Awakening does not hold up as well and might seem a bit clunky. This is largely due to the constant inventory management, as in having to switch items when they are needed. Luckily, the quality-of-life improvements in the remake is partly what makes this game extremely accessible for a modern audience. Now the sword, shield, and Pegasus boots are all mapped to designated buttons to prevent inventory management. Even that seemingly small mechanic makes the game more enjoyable.

While the inventory got an overhaul, something on the island itself is also new; the Chamber Dungeon. Have you ever played Super Mario Maker and wished the same toolset was available in Zelda games? Well now it is, kind of. Think of this mode as a simplified Zelda maker where you can place pre-made rooms on a map within a set of limitations. There will be more on this feature later, so keep reading!

Probably the biggest change in this remake is the brand-new art style. Nintendo took the arguably the smallest Zelda game and used that fault to create fitting visuals. The game now has a toy-box/diorama aesthetic to it which makes Koholint Island feel even more dreamlike. Even with this massive visual overhaul, the upgrades don’t stop there. Due to the technical limitations, most of the original Zelda maps are organized by squares. Once you left that square, the screen would go dark to load the next screen/square. Thanks to the Switch this is no longer an issue, now players can seamlessly explore the over world without constant delays and breaks.

Nothing is Perfect…

However, despite the massive improvements, Link’s Awakening is not without its flaws. To continue the discussion of visuals, the game does experience frame rate issues and slowdowns. While this issue is not very present in dungeons it can be experienced frequently in the overworld where players spend much of their time. Alongside this pressing issue is the problem with Guardian Acorns and Pieces of Power which give players a great advantage while playing, yet they are a huge distraction otherwise. The first time players pick up these items a text prompt comes up describing what they do, which is fine. The issue is that the text prompt is displayed EVERY time one is picked up. Even though they are useful in the game I often found myself avoiding these items just so it wouldn’t be such a distraction.

Speaking of avoiding something in this game, the aforementioned Chamber Dungeon is completely passable. Probably the biggest issue with this feature is that you can only place rooms that you have been in. This means that you aren’t free to design your own rooms and puzzles, instead you play through ones that you already completed. While this mode is essential if players want to get all of the collectibles, it is in no way essential to the story.

Final Thoughts

Despite performance issues and lackluster game modes, the quality-of-life improvements and upgrades have made Link’s Awakening just as memorable on the Nintendo Switch as it was twenty-six years ago. Now a whole new generation is able to experience Link’s most peculiar journey on Koholint Island. If you loved Breath of the Wild and want more Zelda or maybe you want to see how much the franchised has evolved, Link’s Awakening is not an adventure to miss.