The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening

 Switch
User Score
8.4

Generally favorable reviews- based on 1698 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 1,413 out of 1698
  2. Mixed: 178 out of 1698
  3. Negative: 107 out of 1698
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  1. Atramentius
    Sep 23, 2019
    10
    Even though this is a remake of a remake of a 25+ year old game it still feels pretty fresh and is everything what you would expect from a modern 2D Zelda game.
  2. tdub154420
    Sep 23, 2019
    4
    I have to give a 4 on price alone. Great game, fun visuals, who gives an F about frame rate. This game is just as fun as the original and worth playing, but not at $60. This is an HD Remaster of a game boy video game. One of the best game boy games of all time, and one of the best Zeldas, but this is still just an HD Remaster of a game boy game that feels more deserved of 3DS pricesI have to give a 4 on price alone. Great game, fun visuals, who gives an F about frame rate. This game is just as fun as the original and worth playing, but not at $60. This is an HD Remaster of a game boy video game. One of the best game boy games of all time, and one of the best Zeldas, but this is still just an HD Remaster of a game boy game that feels more deserved of 3DS prices than Switch prices. In the same vein as Samus Returns or Link Between Worlds, I think this game is properly priced at $40 around launch. But to put this at the same value as Breath of the Wild or Super Mario Odyssey just makes it feel like there's a disparity in content. And that shouldn't be the focus because the game is great in its own right, but price by comparison makes it feel lacking. The moment this game is permanently reduced in price I will properly amend this score, but as it is now, it needs to be known that this is a great game boy remaster that is unfortunately disproportionately priced.… Expand
  3. Denriquez84
    Sep 23, 2019
    9
    Graphics are amazing, best graphics a ever see, music is awesome and is the best gameplay a ever play on Zelda’s game
  4. Neyyyi
    Sep 23, 2019
    10
    Amazing game one of the best game that I've played. People definitely you must buy this game.
  5. hakai124
    Sep 23, 2019
    6
    So this may be a mildly controversial opinion, the 1993 original was better. There's a fair amount of good and bad to discuss with the game though to be fair, the good points aren't anything to do with this iteration of the game but more just the original shining through.
    Pros:
    1. This is Link's Awakening, one of the best original Gameboy games from the early 90's. 2. Endearing art    So this may be a mildly controversial opinion, the 1993 original was better. There's a fair amount of good and bad to discuss with the game though to be fair, the good points aren't anything to do with this iteration of the game but more just the original shining through.
    Pros:
    1. This is Link's Awakening, one of the best original Gameboy games from the early 90's.
    2. Endearing art style even though some things look rather basic.
    3. These are all directly from the original; the item variety, the inclusion of enemies from other classic Nintendo games, the decent sized world to explore and find secrets in.

    Cons:
    1. Input lag, this is most noticeable when using the Roc's Feather so far.
    2. Framerate issues, the framerate chugs at times for no discernible reason.
    3. Horrible blur covering roughly the top and bottom 20% of the screen, this may have been an artistic choice but it looks really bad.
    4. Shaking text boxes, trying to read text that's constantly shifting around is a great way to get a headache.
    5. 8 directional movement feels out of place, this is purely subjective due to me playing the Gameboy version of this game a good amount.
    6. Control customization, it's not possible to move with a d-pad if you have a controller with one prominent, the A-button is used purely for context commands and interactions rather than being customizeable, you can only map items to X and Y which can mean some actions like jumping with the Roc's feather feel unnatural.

    Overall it's a decent remake but not for anything the remake did but because of how good the original is. If you're not a huge Zelda fan who simply has to play/own them all you can happily skip this.    … Expand
  6. nuba19
    Sep 23, 2019
    10
    10/10 tremendo remake para la mejor saga de video juegos de toda la historia

    Lo siento por los piperos
  7. caotri1986
    Sep 23, 2019
    10
    Very peaceful when played this game. The legend of zelda series are legends
  8. TruckHeck
    Sep 23, 2019
    8
    Great game. Gorgeous as handheld experience. Stellar sound design, not just the music (which is A+), but the actual pattering of footsteps, etc. Awesome game that is held back by 2 things; the frame rate is "gross looking" (meaning not game breaking) at times and the graphical fidelity falls apart A LOT when docked. The lack of actual new content (despite Dampe's Dungeon) doesn't offsetGreat game. Gorgeous as handheld experience. Stellar sound design, not just the music (which is A+), but the actual pattering of footsteps, etc. Awesome game that is held back by 2 things; the frame rate is "gross looking" (meaning not game breaking) at times and the graphical fidelity falls apart A LOT when docked. The lack of actual new content (despite Dampe's Dungeon) doesn't offset those flaws enough for me to give it a perfect score. Totally buy it though!… Expand
  9. KevWen
    Sep 23, 2019
    9
    Pretty good looking and tons of fun to play. However some irrational design due to its age.
  10. Jacknew
    Sep 23, 2019
    9
    This game have the essence of the original TLOZ Links Awakening released on the GameBoy, it is basically the same game with a new look, it don't have much innovations in comparison of the original but the 2 action buttons and the possibility of mark your objectives in the map
    The new chibi style make them look like toys, it look beautiful, all the game looks like a set of toys
    If you    This game have the essence of the original TLOZ Links Awakening released on the GameBoy, it is basically the same game with a new look, it don't have much innovations in comparison of the original but the 2 action buttons and the possibility of mark your objectives in the map
    The new chibi style make them look like toys, it look beautiful, all the game looks like a set of toys
    If you played a TLOZ before you actually know that the game is very simple and easy at the beginning, but it gets harder and harder while you advance in the game
    The remixes of the 8 bit songs and all the sound in general are pretty good
    If the game actually have a frame rate drop, i didn't notice it, so for me its not a big deal    … Expand
  11. mandydiazz81
    Sep 23, 2019
    10
    Hearth melting. An awesome remaster. You'll enjoy every single second of it. I promise. Nintendo almost never disappoints with these games.
  12. Nintendoboyblog
    Sep 23, 2019
    10
    Un joya maestra!! Amo sus gráficos!! Y la historia que se respeta con respecto al juego de Game Boy, exlecente juego.
  13. eriestmo
    Sep 23, 2019
    10
    Uno de los mejores remakes que haya visto!! Gracias Nintendo!! Grandes gráficos, gran historia y más que todo lograr que los viejos fans lo disfruten. Le daría hasta un 11 de calificación.
  14. Sijun
    Sep 23, 2019
    10
    I played this game back when it came out for the first Gameboy but I never finished it. I guess I was to young to get it done. That being said I only played it half through back in the days.
    Now, in 2019, I replayed this Masterpiece and can't praise it enough. Sadly it has some downsides. Lets break it down:
    Pros: - awesome and adorable graphics - stays true to the original (memories    I played this game back when it came out for the first Gameboy but I never finished it. I guess I was to young to get it done. That being said I only played it half through back in the days.
    Now, in 2019, I replayed this Masterpiece and can't praise it enough. Sadly it has some downsides. Lets break it down:

    Pros:
    - awesome and adorable graphics
    - stays true to the original (memories from my childhood)
    - awesome music / sound / atmosphere
    - beautiful, yet simple story
    - improved game mechanics
    - awesome world to explore
    - many secrets to catch
    - lovley characters
    - fun and well designed dungeons (but not that challenging)

    Cons:
    - framedrops are recognizable (you get used to it but in the beginning its kinda annoying)
    - if you dont know the game and are hoping for a long playtime (like BotW), this game might dissapoint you (playtime is around 10-15h, which is completely fine to me, but maybe not for others)
    - low difficulty (if it is your first time picking up this game and are an gaming enthusiast, it might be to easy for you - I highly recommend playing in hard mode, even for the first playthrough)
    - dungeon maker could be more than it has become (online sharing, more freedom to create dungeons)

    Verdict:
    All in all I am absolutely happy with this remake. It gave me a lot of memories and a really good time. I love the art and the overall atmosphere of the game. The story is simple but oh so beautiful. Framedrops are annoying but maybe they will patch that.
    If you are new to the Zelda franchise or never had the chance to play this game (or didnt enjoy the retro graphics on GB) now is your time to enjoy one of the best games ever made.    … Expand
  15. Veck8699
    Sep 23, 2019
    9
    The ost and the art is beautiful, the story is heartbreaking and a game to think and reflect
  16. Davix123
    Sep 23, 2019
    10
    Como un niño... he vuelto a la infancia con este juego cuando yo tenia la Supernintento y el Zelda... los gráficos.. su música... la historia.. gran trabajo de Nintendo. Lo que daria por ver el remaster de Legend of Zelda A link to the Past, seria la caña!!!
  17. KillingMoonZero
    Sep 23, 2019
    10
    Un pedazo de remake como la copa de un pino. Más compañías deberían aprender de cómo se hace un remake en condiciones. Junto al remake de Resident Evil 2, son los dos mejores remakes del año sin duda. Este Link's Awakening ha sido la excusa perfecta para comprarme una Switch Lite y poder sentirme otra vez como un niño. Reto conseguido, señores de Nintendo. Gran trabajo.
  18. Edswitch
    Sep 22, 2019
    10
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Jogo perfeito , a maior quantidade de botões, e o detector de conchas deixou o jogo maravilhoso, jogo do ano pra mim… Expand
  19. Mattaclysm
    Sep 22, 2019
    9
    The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening on the Nintendo Switch is a fantastic remake of one of the best games to have ever released on the Game Boy. There is a lot to praise in what has been accomplished in this version, however, Link's Awakening (on the Switch) does have one notable issue.

    The main issue that I had found with the game is the frame rate dips. These don't really detract    The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening on the Nintendo Switch is a fantastic remake of one of the best games to have ever released on the Game Boy. There is a lot to praise in what has been accomplished in this version, however, Link's Awakening (on the Switch) does have one notable issue.

    The main issue that I had found with the game is the frame rate dips. These don't really detract from the game in its entirety, but it does take a bit away from what I feel is an otherwise visually impressive game on the Switch. It mostly seems to happen in the open when there are non-playable characters or a number of enemies on the screen. At first I had chalked it up to loading, but after playing the game for a while, I had felt it was just due to the amount of things that seemed to be happening on the screen. That all being said, I don't feel that this is extremely detrimental to the experience, it's still a fantastic game - but it is still worth mentioning just because of the frequency that it occurs. It's just a shame.

    There are definitely more pros than there are cons, obviously, the Link's Awakening is definitely a great experience on the Switch. It took me around 12 hours to complete, never feeling disappointed the entire way through. There is a lot to explore, and a lot of unique items to play around with. I couldn't be happier with this game, it's nice to see a return to this style of Zelda.    … Expand
  20. Berke28
    Sep 22, 2019
    10
    Joyconboyz Joyconboyz Joyconboyz Joyconboyz Joyconboyz Joyconboyz Joyconboyz Joyconboyz
  21. SSCheetah
    Sep 22, 2019
    9
    Really solid title, extremely well-presented and fun to play. The dungeon maker minigame is actually a lot of fun; it's basically a puzzle-solving game that you beat by using rooms from dungeons you've already cleared plus a few specially-made ones. I was suprised by how much I liked this aspect of it. Overall cute characters, fun minigames, a well-presented world with fun combat andReally solid title, extremely well-presented and fun to play. The dungeon maker minigame is actually a lot of fun; it's basically a puzzle-solving game that you beat by using rooms from dungeons you've already cleared plus a few specially-made ones. I was suprised by how much I liked this aspect of it. Overall cute characters, fun minigames, a well-presented world with fun combat and exciting exploration; it's got everything I like in an adventure game.

    You can tell it's a third-party remake though; sometimes it's a bit rough around the edges (slow frame rate when first entering an area, no antialiasing, sometimes weird animations, motion isn't truly analogue with only 8 directions you can move). I got over that pretty quickly though and just settled in for the ride.

    Just don't compare it to Breath of the Wild (which is the best game I've ever played), since it's totally different. If you take it for what it is—a remake of a game from nearly 30 years ago—it's great. If you're not sure about the classic Zelda games as compared to BotW, check out A Link to the Past on SNES, which is now available for free on Switch if you are a Nintendo Switch Online subscriber. A Link to the Past is REALLY similar to this one. (Both games are of the same generation.)

    Overall a great experience of a classic game with all the bells and whistles of modern games (including markers the player can place on the map to help you remember to go back for things—a really really good addition!!!). Not quite perfect, but cute, fun and well worth the purchase.    … Expand
  22. pkarapan77
    Sep 22, 2019
    9
    Overall, great remake of the classic gameboy game. My only gripe is they kind of went overboard with the cutesy looking art style -- that and the overly ostentatious violins (really? violins?) make the repetitive overland theme even more annoying than usual.
  23. Venom_
    Sep 22, 2019
    10
    An instant classic with fantastic graphics, art style, and a satisfying combat system. Link's Awakening is a must have for every Zelda fan out there. While frame rate dips are an issue right now, I would fully expect to see a near future patch released to stabilize performance.
  24. RatingYoda
    Sep 22, 2019
    9
    Beautiful art style and music. Keeps the classic feel of Zelda while introducing new game features. Few frame rate drops and sometimes a bit too confusing for me. Overall a great game and recommend.
  25. Ommzero
    Sep 22, 2019
    9
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Exelente juego, lleno de nostalgia para quienes lo jugamos en su época, mantiene sus mecánicas originales y ahora con las mejoras en switch, lo recomiendo… Expand
  26. Droplit
    Sep 22, 2019
    9
    Yes its a remake of a gameboy game, but the quality is up to par with A Link to the Past. Smaller scale yes. Its not like Breath of the Wild where its expansive and will give you around 100 hours of gameplay. But i argue that it has more replayability than Breath of the wild with its shorter length. The story is really great. Its simple but very effective. I love the overworld andYes its a remake of a gameboy game, but the quality is up to par with A Link to the Past. Smaller scale yes. Its not like Breath of the Wild where its expansive and will give you around 100 hours of gameplay. But i argue that it has more replayability than Breath of the wild with its shorter length. The story is really great. Its simple but very effective. I love the overworld and characters. The dungeons were really fun, the bosses were all easy but unique and fun to fight. The games content is all quality. No filler. I rather have a game with pure quality and it being 6-10 hours long, than a 30 hour game with 60% of it being quality and 40% filler. Its a worth wile adventure and worth 60$ thanks to the new graphics, quality of life fixes that it surpasses the original. The soundtrack is better than ever. The only downsides are the new chamber dungeons are just whatever, its not as expansive as Super Mario Maker buts its just okay. Theres a few framerate issues but it never drops below 30 frames so i got used to it. I hope they fix that but its definitely worth while and i think i enjoyed it better than A Link to the Past. And thats one of my top 3 zelda games. Keep in mind i never played Links Awakening for the gameboy, i tried but i couldn't get into it. But im happy this remake exists.… Expand
  27. Fulvius
    Sep 22, 2019
    0
    As a huge fan of the original, I really wanted to enjoy this game and had really high expectations.
    However, they decided to outsource the development to Grezzo, so forget the perfection you are used to get from Nintendo internal products:
    - Get ready to experience frequent, unjustified frame drops. It is so bad that at times it ruins the immersion. if Donkey Kong Country: Tropical    As a huge fan of the original, I really wanted to enjoy this game and had really high expectations.
    However, they decided to outsource the development to Grezzo, so forget the perfection you are used to get from Nintendo internal products:

    - Get ready to experience frequent, unjustified frame drops. It is so bad that at times it ruins the immersion. if Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze runs at a steady 1080p/60fps there is no reason whatsoever for this game to drop from 60fps to below 30fps at every scenery load.
    - The Depth of Field effect is just horrible. There is simply not enough perspective in the game to justify any DOF, and the emulated blurred bars look hideous.
    - 720p? Seriously?

    Note: my score is a 0 not because the game sucks, but because I don't feel to give any merit to the dev team.
    They had a complete masterpiece in their hands: storyline, dungeons, maps, everything was made for them 25 years ago.
    All they had to do is make it look great (which they did, to a level) and smooth (where they failed miserably).    … Expand
  28. FacelessAngel7
    Sep 22, 2019
    9
    TL;DR at bottom

    Full disclosure, Link's Awakening is my favorite Zelda game; not the "best" Zelda game per se but it's my personal favorite. The remake of Link's Awakening is an excellent homage to the original game. The changes, very small though they are, are welcome, bringing what was once a bland color palette with sprites that we had to use our imagination to flesh out the    TL;DR at bottom

    Full disclosure, Link's Awakening is my favorite Zelda game; not the "best" Zelda game per se but it's my personal favorite.

    The remake of Link's Awakening is an excellent homage to the original game. The changes, very small though they are, are welcome, bringing what was once a bland color palette with sprites that we had to use our imagination to flesh out the world into a vibrant, colorful, detailed world.

    The story and most of the dialogue are unchanged from the original/GBC re-release. It's a strange game with characters from several other Nintendo franchises making appearances. The overworld is now one continuous open world to explore but nothing in the layout has been changed right down to each blade of grass. The dungeons still follow the one screen per room design of the original game which is used to create the new mode, Dungeon Maker. Some of the dungeons have been tweaked to be more user friendly in 2019 but nothing of any significance is lost.

    Some of the changes include dedicated buttons for sword and shield, as well as the Pegasus Boots and not having to equip the Power Bracelet to life objects, similar to how the Power Glove worked in A Link to the Past. These are very welcome changes, one of my biggest complaints of the original game was opening up the menu every few seconds to swap items. This change helps eliminate a LOT of menu swapping. There are also fairy bottles now which allow you to store a fairy for later similar to the rest of the games in the series. Small changes to the dungeons were made to bring the game into the modern era, very minor changes to increase quality of life. Some heart piece locations have been moved as well.

    The most major change is obviously the graphics. The toy/toon style might not be for everyone but it is perfect for the most obscure of the Zelda titles. I've played exclusively in handheld mode so far and noticed a few hiccups in the frame rate when in the overworld, the dungeons hold a consistent frame rate. My only, ONLY complaint about the game is that the edges of the screen in the overworld are blurred. I understand the reason for the design decision given the games story but it makes the screen feel a lot smaller and feels unnecessary. It wouldn't even be an issue if there was an option to turn it off but alas there is not. This is a minor complaint and the only thing that's keeping me from giving this game a perfect 10. Maybe I'll feel different when I play it in docked mode. I'll update if that's the case.

    It's not an incredibly long game but it is a fun one and one that any fan of the Zelda series should try. The puzzles are unique and the original spawned a lot of the Zelda series staples, such as fishing, the trading sequence and Kaepora Gabora (sp?) the owl.

    I honestly haven't messed with the dungeon maker at this point, I've been too busy reliving my childhood. The game definitely feels like it belongs in 2019 with a retro twist, similar to Bloodstained.

    TL;DR
    A great remake of a classic game with welcome quality of life improvements. Definitely worth playing if you're a fan of top down Zelda games    … Expand
  29. isaac7007
    Sep 22, 2019
    9
    The frame rate can be a little choppy, but as far as gameplay, story, and aesthetic goes, it’s fantastic.
  30. Collaps666
    Sep 22, 2019
    10
    Отличная игра, очень приятная и позитивная, много новшеств, куча секретов, из минусов - только подлагивания при подгрузке уровней.
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Awards & Rankings

10
#10 Best Switch Game of 2019
5
#5 Most Discussed Switch Game of 2019

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
87

Generally favorable reviews - based on 111 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 108 out of 111
  2. Mixed: 3 out of 111
  3. Negative: 0 out of 111
  1. Nintendo Force Magazine
    Apr 29, 2020
    95
    I can only hope that its sales success will lead to a patch that fixes the framerate dips, and more importantly, the development of more Zelda games in this style. [Issue #43 – November/December 2019, p. 10SH]
  2. Gamers Heroes
    Jan 2, 2020
    85
    If you need a nostalgia trip or haven’t played Link’s Awakening before, then you won’t be disappointed with this release. Just note that it is a bit more bite-sized when compared to more recent entries in the series.
    Read full review
  3. Game World Navigator Magazine
    Dec 6, 2019
    86
    Awakening’s world is much smaller than Breath of the Wild’s Hyrule. But within the island’s depths lies something that was missing from the last game – eight difficult, multi-layered dungeons, each with its own theme, traps and puzzles. [Issue#241, p.66]
See all critic reviews »