Beating every Zelda in timeline order 12/20:
If Twilight Princess is my depression comfort game, Link's Awakening is my cozy comfort game. The emotions it elicits from me are so hyper-specific and something no other game can do. I love this world, its goofy characters and how compact it all is. It's a small adventure in the Zelda canon, but that makes it one of my favorites. While A Link to the Past has a ton of well-designed dungeons, the hardware limitations (I assume) forced these dungeons into being the most tightly designed, compact lil puzzle boxes ever. Although the first couple dungeons are baby mode, the last four are some of my favorites in the series. There are some weird requirements for progression that the game doesn't do a very good job at conveying to you, and even on my fourth playthrough, I forgot about the rooster.
I debated for a long time whether to play the original or the remake, but settled on the remake for the enhanced music and atmosphere alone (although having a dedicated shield and Pegasus boots button helps as well). I'm willing to look past how iffy the game runs (and Dampe's half-baked Zelda maker (I'm really not a fan)) for arguably the best soundtrack of any Zelda game ever. I also love the animated portions that bookend the game.
Link's Awakening is an extremely dense, short and sweet Zelda adventure that I could replay forever.
If Twilight Princess is my depression comfort game, Link's Awakening is my cozy comfort game. The emotions it elicits from me are so hyper-specific and something no other game can do. I love this world, its goofy characters and how compact it all is. It's a small adventure in the Zelda canon, but that makes it one of my favorites. While A Link to the Past has a ton of well-designed dungeons, the hardware limitations (I assume) forced these dungeons into being the most tightly designed, compact lil puzzle boxes ever. Although the first couple dungeons are baby mode, the last four are some of my favorites in the series. There are some weird requirements for progression that the game doesn't do a very good job at conveying to you, and even on my fourth playthrough, I forgot about the rooster.
I debated for a long time whether to play the original or the remake, but settled on the remake for the enhanced music and atmosphere alone (although having a dedicated shield and Pegasus boots button helps as well). I'm willing to look past how iffy the game runs (and Dampe's half-baked Zelda maker (I'm really not a fan)) for arguably the best soundtrack of any Zelda game ever. I also love the animated portions that bookend the game.
Link's Awakening is an extremely dense, short and sweet Zelda adventure that I could replay forever.