It's obvious that as time goes on, more video game remakes will be released. The amount of games that exist is always increasing, and the more that exist, the more there are to remake. And with an ever expanding player base, there will always be a market for them; both for players that are wishing to play their old favorites on modern consoles, and for new players who want to experience the classics in the best way possible. But while it can be great to get these legacy titles on modern hardware, it's also an area that's ripe for nostalgia exploitation and disappointment. Obviously any resources spent on a remake could have instead been directed towards a new project, but even beyond that, many of them aim to do the bare minimum, offering barely any improvements dressed up with a $60 price tag. With this context, it's especially important to acknowledge when a remake actually does it right-by taking the core of a beloved game, fully repurposing it, giving it modern amenities and graphics-and competently recreates the feeling that the original gave players years ago. And if you're looking for an example, look no further than Grezzo's 2019 remake of Link's Awakening.
Link's Awakening was the 4th game in the Zelda series, first released for the Gameboy in 1993, so for a modern title, there was a lot to improve. The graphics were the first step, and beyond obvious advancements in tech, the 2019 effort's improvements suit the story as well. As the title implies, Link's Awakening takes place in a dream setting, and while hand-drawn animations bookend the game, all of the gameplay has a toylike, retro-modern design which is equal parts lovely and off-putting. It almost feels like the game takes place in a shoebox diorama, and it's a bold yet fitting aesthetic choice for a game that is defined by its subversion of norms. Both visually and sonically, Link's Awakening is respectful of its past without being a slave to it, and as a result, the music-box laden soundtrack and the tilt-shift layout help in successfully recreating the feeling of the original, while breathing new life into the title.
And, even more importantly, the gameplay is modernized right along with it. This was originally a Gameboy game, so simplicity was key. Link's Awakening did the best it could at the time, but what is a remake for if not to address the limitations of previous hardware? The sword and shield each have their own buttons now, many of the game's combat techniques feel far more natural to pull off, and you'll find yourself switching items in menus far less often. This isn't a complete redesign, so some of the dungeon bosses are still a bit simple, and this is still the Nintendo Switch, so it's customary to say that the game comes with some minor slowdowns and framedips. But it's emblematic of a game with no overworld loading screens that LA's menuing, just like its gameplay, feels as seamless as possible.
A lot of these elements would fit perfectly in any other 2D Zelda remake, but what sets Link's Awakening apart from the crowd is its utter commitment to a unique setting. After over 35 years, Koholint Island is still the series's most interesting; a curious and concise world that takes only a minute to venture across, but is filled with enough nooks and crannies and secrets to keep you engaged for hours. And while many point to this game as the one that was always a totally different Zelda experience, only time has revealed it to truly be so. There's the obvious things that stick out; no Zelda, no Hyrule, characters from other Nintendo franchises. But it's what just beneath the surface that makes LA such a jewel of the Zelda series. There's no conflict (at least, not immediately), and there's certainly no world-ending threat. Link acts only for his own preservation, and while the Wind Fish is saved by its awakening, the primary goal is always clear, just as the title states.
Perhaps that makes Link's Awakening the only Zelda game without a hero. As the game progresses, it becomes clear to Link that waking the Wind Fish will end the dream, and as a result, Koholint Island (and its inhabitants) will disappear. Of all the worlds you visit as Link, this is probably the most welcoming. Is their reward for their hospitality their own destruction? Did they ever exist at all? And if so, is Link responsible for their dissolution, or is the player? Beyond being an incredible game, LA is great because the memory of its themes persist like an oft-forgotten dream; carelessly floating in and out of our minds, directing our thoughts, guiding our actions. In a series of almost 20 games, Link's Awakening has no trouble remaining one-of-a-kind. Its seemingly simple premise is the springboard for an incredible amount of philosophical thought. And it's an incredibly fun game, updated with the modern charm and quality of life that it's deserved since 1993. This is one of Link's best adventures, and on the Switch, it's better than it's ever been.
Link's Awakening was the 4th game in the Zelda series, first released for the Gameboy in 1993, so for a modern title, there was a lot to improve. The graphics were the first step, and beyond obvious advancements in tech, the 2019 effort's improvements suit the story as well. As the title implies, Link's Awakening takes place in a dream setting, and while hand-drawn animations bookend the game, all of the gameplay has a toylike, retro-modern design which is equal parts lovely and off-putting. It almost feels like the game takes place in a shoebox diorama, and it's a bold yet fitting aesthetic choice for a game that is defined by its subversion of norms. Both visually and sonically, Link's Awakening is respectful of its past without being a slave to it, and as a result, the music-box laden soundtrack and the tilt-shift layout help in successfully recreating the feeling of the original, while breathing new life into the title.
And, even more importantly, the gameplay is modernized right along with it. This was originally a Gameboy game, so simplicity was key. Link's Awakening did the best it could at the time, but what is a remake for if not to address the limitations of previous hardware? The sword and shield each have their own buttons now, many of the game's combat techniques feel far more natural to pull off, and you'll find yourself switching items in menus far less often. This isn't a complete redesign, so some of the dungeon bosses are still a bit simple, and this is still the Nintendo Switch, so it's customary to say that the game comes with some minor slowdowns and framedips. But it's emblematic of a game with no overworld loading screens that LA's menuing, just like its gameplay, feels as seamless as possible.
A lot of these elements would fit perfectly in any other 2D Zelda remake, but what sets Link's Awakening apart from the crowd is its utter commitment to a unique setting. After over 35 years, Koholint Island is still the series's most interesting; a curious and concise world that takes only a minute to venture across, but is filled with enough nooks and crannies and secrets to keep you engaged for hours. And while many point to this game as the one that was always a totally different Zelda experience, only time has revealed it to truly be so. There's the obvious things that stick out; no Zelda, no Hyrule, characters from other Nintendo franchises. But it's what just beneath the surface that makes LA such a jewel of the Zelda series. There's no conflict (at least, not immediately), and there's certainly no world-ending threat. Link acts only for his own preservation, and while the Wind Fish is saved by its awakening, the primary goal is always clear, just as the title states.
Perhaps that makes Link's Awakening the only Zelda game without a hero. As the game progresses, it becomes clear to Link that waking the Wind Fish will end the dream, and as a result, Koholint Island (and its inhabitants) will disappear. Of all the worlds you visit as Link, this is probably the most welcoming. Is their reward for their hospitality their own destruction? Did they ever exist at all? And if so, is Link responsible for their dissolution, or is the player? Beyond being an incredible game, LA is great because the memory of its themes persist like an oft-forgotten dream; carelessly floating in and out of our minds, directing our thoughts, guiding our actions. In a series of almost 20 games, Link's Awakening has no trouble remaining one-of-a-kind. Its seemingly simple premise is the springboard for an incredible amount of philosophical thought. And it's an incredibly fun game, updated with the modern charm and quality of life that it's deserved since 1993. This is one of Link's best adventures, and on the Switch, it's better than it's ever been.
Mishelam
6 months ago